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AgrAbility Gives Disabled Farmers Freedom To Farm Again
Posted in Features
Tagged Agriculture, farmers
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Cesar Chavez Interns Meet Granddaughter of School’s Namesake
Interns from Cesar Chávez Public Charter School for Public Policy met with the granddaughter of Cesar Chávez during a three-week internship at the Farm Service Agency. Pictured (back l to r): Derrick Hazel, Derrick Murphy, Dondre Young, James Quigley; (front l to r): Keviar Myers, Christine Chávez, Tina Starr.
By Latawnya Dia, public affairs specialist, Farm Service Agency
Six rising seniors at the Cesar Chávez Public Charter School had the rare privilege of meeting the granddaughter of their school’s namesake.
Christine Chávez , granddaughter of Cesar Chávez and a farm worker coordinator in the USDA Office of the Secretary, spoke with students from the Washington, D.C. school who spent three weeks at the Farm Service Agency as part of a summer internship.
Chávez showed the interns a short video about her grandfather’s fight for social justice and spoke to the students about how he was successful in changing the plight of migrant farm workers. Students later had the opportunity to ask questions. Continue reading
Texas Man Sells Livestock Used as Collateral for FSA Loan
A Texas man pleaded guilty to charges of selling cattle that was used as collateral on a USDA Farm Service Agency Loan. Michael Kord Chapman sold about 158 head of cattle valued at more than $83,400 and kept the money instead of paying the loan. Chapman could receive up to five years in prison. Read more (KYTX 19).
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Federal Pay Freeze Extended Into Next Year
Federal employees hoping to see the 0.5 percent pay increase proposed by President Obama may have to wait until April 2013 before seeing any action. In a letter to Senate and House leaders, the president said he would exercise his statutory authority to set in place the pay increase for federal civilian employees, but it would not become effective until after a six-month continuing resolution expected to pass once Congress returns in September. Federal employees have been on a two-year pay freeze that was expected to end January 2013. Read more (Federal Daily), Washington Post, Huffington Post.
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Trumpeter Swans Released into CREP-Restored Wetland
Trumpeter swans were released back into the restored Madison Valley wetlands after years of being absent from the area. Photo by Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez.
Several trumpeter swans were given a new home with the help of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). A partnership between the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Audubon Society brought a signet and his four siblings to the Madison Valley wetlands. The area was once heavily populated with trumpeter swans until farmers drained the 8000-acre wetlands. Through a partnership with CREP — a voluntary land retirement program that helps agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat and safeguard ground and surface water — the wetland has been restored and returned to the swans. Read more (Bozeman Daily Chronicle).
Changes to Emergency Loans, Crop Insurance Provides More Help to Producers Affected by Drought
U.S. livestock and crop producers affected by the drought are receiving more help from the government. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will file special provisions with the federal crop insurance program to allow haying or grazing of cover crops without impacting the insurability of planted 2013 spring crops, a move that can help provide much needed forage and feed this fall and winter for livestock producers. The Secretary also modified emergency loans, allowing them to be made earlier in the season to help livestock producers to offset increased feed costs and help those who have liquidated herds. The announcement comes as USDA designates an additional 33 counties in eight states as natural disaster areas, with 23 of those counties named due to drought. A total of 1,692 counties across the United States have been named a disaster area due to drought during this crop season. Learn more.
Pennsylvania County Executive Director Awarded for Conservation Efforts
Michael Sherman not only helps farmers and ranchers implement conservation efforts on their operations, he sets the example. The Pennsylvania county executive director’s efforts have been successful enough to be awarded the Association of Conservation Districts Chesapeake Bay Education Office Clean Water Farm Award. The award recognizes producers who are environmentally conscious in the management of their operation and exhibit an understanding of the roles farmers play in protecting the state’s waterways. Read more (Williamsport Sun-Gazette).
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Homemade Cheese, New Business Plan Pulls TX Dairy Operation Out of Debt
Michael and Debbie Sams used the Farm Service Agency to change their business from a commercial dairy to local farm selling dairy products. The Sams have nine children and 24 grandchildren.
Michael and Debbie Sams needed to save their dairy farm. Knee-deep in debt with nine mouths to feed, they needed more than just a few dollars to pay off suppliers. They needed a new business.
In 1993, the Sams built Full Quiver Farms, a commercial dairy operation in Texas. “The first couple of years we were doing fairly well,” said Michael. Then the downturn came. With the turn of the new century, milk prices hit rock bottom and feed costs soared, sending the small dairy farm into debt.
“We had a limited number of anchors and few choices,” said Michael. “We either get bigger or we get smaller. If we get smaller we need some value-added products.” Continue reading
First Meeting of American Indian Council Provides Insight to USDA Officials
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) senior advisor to the Secretary for Tribal Relations Janie Simms Hipp of the Chickasaw Nation, adds a comment in support of USDA Office of General Council for Civil Rights Rick Gibson (standing), the lead attorney for the Keepseagle Settlement, during his briefing to the USDA Council for Native American Farming and Ranching (CNAFR).
Combative and defensive. That’s the attitude Henry Porter Holder expected from U.S. Department of Agriculture officials last week during the inaugural meeting of the Council for American Indian Farmers and Ranchers.
He left with a different perspective.
“I was a little worried coming here,” said Holder, a producer with the Choctaw Nation in Soper, Okla., and one of the original signers of the Keepseagle vs. Vilsack class action lawsuit that claimed the U.S. Department of Agriculture discriminated against Native Americans by denying them equal access to credit in the USDA Farm Loan Program. “The attitudes I encountered previously with USDA had been poor, but I have been very impressed with the attitudes and involvement of all USDA officials during this meeting. This has been a great start and I could not be more pleased. USDA has opened the door to heal old wounds and help Indian Country.” Continue reading
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Tagged FSA, Native American, tribal relations, USDA
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The Great Green Fleet Makes History
Diane Ley, state executive director, Hawaii Farm Service Agency, prepares to depart Hickam Air Force Base for the Great Green Fleet demonstration. USDA Photo.
By Diane Ley, State Executive Director, Hawaii State & Pacific Basin, Farm Service Agency
WOW! The word “wow” only moderately conveys the historic events that unfolded this summer during the Department of the Navy’s Rim of the Pacific Exercises (RIMPAC) Great Green Fleet (GGF) demonstration. The might and power of the United States Navy coupled with that of scores of other Pacific Rim counties was impressive, but moreover a number of the great ships and aircraft were fueled by a mix of algae and animal fats. Read more (USDA blog).
