Joining Gov. Nixon in his office for the proclamation presentation are (from left): Eddie Hamill, state executive director, FSA; Jon Hagler, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture; J.R. Flores, state conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service; Gov. Nixon; Janie Dunning, state director, Rural Development; and Bob Garino, director, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Missouri Field Office.

by Dana Rogge, public affairs specialist, Missouri FSA

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon joined Missouri USDA Service Center Agencies’ leaders in signing a proclamation recognizing USDA’s 150thaAnniversary.  During the event, Gov. Nixon acknowledged the importance of agriculture on the state’s economy and recognized the USDA agencies for their work in assisting Missouri’s agriculturalists. Gov. Nixon also applauded the agencies for their stellar performance in handling the disasters that have stricken the state, such as last year’s Missouri and Mississippi River floods. Also joining in the proclamation ceremony was Dr. Jon Hagler, director of Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Rufus Haucke prepares to plant lettuce mix on portion of his farm that was purchased with the help of an FSA loan.

by Cally Ehle, communications coordinator, Wisconsin FSA

On the scenic rolling hills of southwestern part of Wisconsin sits the 200-acre Keewaydin farm. Purchased in 1976 by the Haucke family, the farm has gone through several transformations over the years. Some of those recent changes are thanks to the innovation of Rufus Haucke, second generation owner of Keewaydin Farm. 

When Haucke’s parents purchased the farm, cows grazed on the rolling hills. Now those acres are home to organic produce that makes its way to markets in Minneapolis to Milwaukee and all locations in between. Currently the farm produces 20 acres of organic vegetables with five acres dedicated to a 100-member Consumer Supported Agriculture program and the other 15 acres to wholesale markets. Haucke is also setting up six hoop houses to accommodate additional produce for the 2012 season and has established a group of 60 local farmers to meet the demand for fresh organic produce to wholesalers through Keewaydin Organics LLC.

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An online tool is now available to connect retired and retiring landowners with beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. TIP Net — part of the Transition Incentive Program (TIP) — is a website developed by FSA to transition expiring CRP land from a retired or retiring owner to a beginning or socially disadvan­taged farmer or rancher to return land to production for sustain­able grazing or crop production. Enrollment in TIP is on a con­tinuous basis. Beginning or so­cially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and CRP participants may enroll in TIP beginning one year before the expiration date of a CRP contract. Read more about TIP Net and the Transition Incentive Program.

Scene in county agent's office, San Augustine, Texas. Farmer is receiving his AAA check. Photo by Russell Lee, April 1939, LOC.

Six.

That’s the total number of name changes the Farm Service Agency has seen since its birth in 1933. With each change came new responsibilities, new programs and new incentives for farmers and ranchers to produce affordable food and fiber for U.S. consumers.

The 1929 stock market crash combined with the dust bowl of the 1930s merged into the Great Depression, which created high levels of unemployment and a long list of farm failures. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected, promising Americans a New Deal. FDR stated in a speech that “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.”

Therefore, as part of the New Deal promise, FDR created the Agricultural Adjustment Administration in 1933.

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