Alabama A&M University
OCT. 2012– FEB. 2013
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1
S M A L L FA R M S R E S E A R C H C E N T E R
NEWS UPDATE
SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
United States Department of Agriculture
Office of Advocacy and Outreach
(OAO)
HIGHLIGHTS OF 10TH COMMUNITY OUTREACH CONFERENCE
Inside this Issue
10th Annual RM Outreach
Conference, Huntsville, AL
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SFRC Photo Gallery
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SFRC Photo Gallery
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Announcements: Family,
Farm & Fleece Day
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USDA Farm Service Agency
Programs Available
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Announcements: Revolving
Loan Program
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The Facts AboutHispanic
Organic &
Announcements:
D F Farmers
D S F I NClaim
S I DPeriod
E
Women
THopewell
H I S I Women
S S U EIn:
Announcements: AADA Low
Cost Irrigation Fund
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5
Editor’s Corner
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Upcoming SFRC Events
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Quote of the Quarter
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Small Farms Research Center
Alabama A&M University
4900 Meridian Street
James I. Dawson Building
RM #219
P.O. Box 700
Normal, AL 35762
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
We would like to sincerely thank all who attended our Tenth Community Outreach Conference, held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, on November 15-16, 2012, in Huntsville, Alabama.
The conference was a huge success and as always we look forward to this year’s event. Last
year, we addressed the following topics/issues such as risk management strategies, business
development, marketing, niche markets, sustainable agriculture, government agencies and programs, Urban Agriculture, Retirement Planning/ Estate Planning, Biodiesel/Renewable Energy,
Beginning Farmer & Ranchers Issues, Computer Training/Record Keeping, and Using Quick
books & Social Media. And through participants evaluations there were quite a few topics and
speakers, the audience thought were very memorable and enjoyable. (Please view their comments below.)
We would like to extend our thanks to all resource speakers. As well as, we would like to
give an special thanks to our keynote speakers Dr. Laurence Crane, National Crop Insurance Service; Dr. Chongo D. Mundende, Langston University; Mr. Terry Ezzel, North Regional Forester, Alabama Forestry Commission and our very own Dr. Virginia Caples,
1890 Administrator Alabama Cooperative Extension System/Alabama A&M University.
Finally, the Center would like to extend a warm thanks to our biggest supporters Atlanta
Urban Gardening Association, Fort Valley State University (Mr. Terrence Wolfork & Mrs.
Yolanda Surrency), Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network, and Alabama Cooperative
Extension System (Administrative Assistants; Ms. Nancy McCray & Jackie Collier).
Participants comments on what they enjoyed the most:
Finance, Estate Planning, and Biodiesel Fuel
Enjoyed it all
Dr. Mundende & Dr. Ekanem
Meat Goat Marketing & Biodiesel Food,
room, and some of the speakers
Fellowship & Learning more about farming
Luncheon
Incubator speaker, & biodiesel
Dr.Chongo Mundende and Mary Mafuyai-Ekanem
The Presentations
The Entire Conference
All the information
Computer training; Record Keeping II
Financial Estate Planning
Luncheon Speaker presentation
All subjects and the food was delicious
Great speakers
I enjoy Luncheon Speaker, good & short
Opportunity to network with others
Computer class
Connecting with other farmers; explaining infor.
Everything
The discussion about the community Food Systems
The visual, food, and presenters
Information provided.
Everything was good, meeting new people and socializing
Meeting new people and the information was very good
Mr. Marshall Hunt, great speaker provided info and encouragement
I have enjoyed meeting people and hearing great discussions. Enjoyable
Making new contacts, learning new information,
and the fact that no one has even been negative in any way
The effectiveness of speakers to convey message and the questioning and answer sessions
This was my first conference and I really enjoyed everything
Panel discussion on Food Systems, especially the open discussion
To see scenes from the Tenth Annual Community Outreach Conference, please view page (2) and (3)
SFRC photo gallery.
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PHOTO GALLERY: 10TH COMMUNITY OUTREACH CONFERENCE, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.
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SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL RESOURCE SPEAKERS& OUR AUDIENCE!!!
ANNOUNCEMENT: FAMILY FARM & FLEECE DAY, MARCH 30, 2013
Tennessee Valley-Women-In-Agriculture Association
The Tennessee Valley-Women-In-Agriculture Association in collaboration with the Alabama A&M
University’s Small Farms Research Center will host its Family Farm & Fleece Day, on March 30,
2013. The event will be held at the Alabama A&M University’s Agribition Center located at 4925
Moores Mills Road, in Huntsville, Alabama 35811.
Schedule of Activities
 Sheep Shearing
 Alpaca Petting
 Fiber Artists
Free Children’s Activities
 Farmer’s Market
 Baking Contest/Sale
Meet Peanut the potbelly pig
Coloring competition for prizes
 Crafters and Painters
 Classes and Workshops
Meet a life-sized My Pretty Pony
Face Painting
 Sheep, Goat and Cow Exhibits
 Cotton Spinning and Historical Wool
Meet Manny the alpaca
Make a Bird Feeder
Processing Demonstration
Puppet theatre
Make a bracelet or necklace
 Repelling Demonstration
 Fleece Auction
from alpaca fiber
 Benefit Auction
Weaving
Hand carding
 Vendors
 Door Prizes
 Seed Swap
 Live Music
For complete information, vendors list, downloadable coring pages, contest and fleece auction rules and entry forms and directions, visit the website at http://www.familyfarmandfleeceday.com. Please review attachment for additional details.
Reference: Tennessee Valley-Women-In-Agriculture Association, Huntsville, Alabama.
USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is equitably serving all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners through the delivery of
effective and efficient agricultural programs for all U.S. citizens. Please find below the current programs available.
Sign Up for ACRE/DCP Underway. The sign-up period for the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (DCP) and the
Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) began Feb. 19. Changes to this year’s program allow producers to choose to
enroll in either program. Originally, producers who signed up for ACRE could not move out of the program for at least five
years. With the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, those rules have changed, giving farmers an option to move out of ACRE into
DCP or vice versa. Read more about DCP and ACRE or contact a local county office to sign up.
USDA Announces 45th General Sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program . Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a four-week general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), beginning May 20 and ending on June 14. CRP has a 27-year legacy of protecting the nation's natural resources through voluntary participation, while providing significant economic and environmental benefits to rural communities
across the United States.
Currently, about 27 million acres are enrolled in CRP. Producers that are accepted in the sign-up can receive cost-share assistance to plant long-term, resource-conserving covers and receive an annual rental payment for the length of the contract (10-15
years). Contracts on 3.3 million acres of CRP are set to expire on Sept. 30, 2013. Producers with expiring contracts or producers
with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP.
Additional sign-ups for continuous CRP programs such as Highly Erodible Land Initiative and Initiative to Restore Grasslands,
Wetlands and Wildlife will be announced in spring 2013.
For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA service center or www.fsa.usda.gov.
Reference: Vickie Lane, , Public Relation/Outreach Liaison, USDA Farm Service Agency State Office, Montgomery, Alabama
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ANNOUNCEMENT: REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM
North Alabama Revolving Loan Fund a program of Neighborhood Concepts
In keeping with its mission to not only feed the needy, but also find proactive solutions to end hunger and poverty the Food
Bank of North Alabama has graciously provided seed capital for the Hiatt Fund. The Hiatt Fund is designed to create employment opportunities as well as greater access to healthy foods while nurturing a locally based food system.
In addition, to providing financing for business's that provide jobs for low to moderate income persons or services in underserved neighborhoods, Hiatt funds will first be made available to those local farmers, food producers as well as food related
business's within the 11 county service area of the Food Bank of North Alabama.
To learn more about the program and to obtain an application, please contact the Calling Neighborhood Concepts at (256)5340075 or Mr. Lee Mcbride, Local Food Coordinator at (256) 539- 2256, extension # 109.
ANNOUNCEMENT: HISPANIC AND WOMEN FARMER AND RANCHER CLAIMS PERIOD
Compensation of Claims of Discrimination
USDA has announced that Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by the USDA in past decades can
file claims between Sept. 24, 2012 and March 25, 2013.
The process offers a voluntary alternative to litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer and rancher who can prove that USDA
denied their applications for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and
2000.
Call center representatives can be reached at 1-888-508-4429. Claimants must register for a claims package (by calling the number or
visiting the website) and the claims package will be mailed to claimants. All those interested in learning more or receiving information
about the claims process and claims packages are encouraged to attend meetings in your communities about the claims process and
contact the website or claims telephone number. Website: www.farmerclaims.gov
ANNOUNCEMENT: AADA OFFERS LOW COST IRRIGATION FUNDING
The Alabama Agricultural Development Authority (AADA), Executive
Director John Gamble recently announced an expanded AADA loan program to enhance row crop, vegetables, fruit and nut tree production in the
state via the adoption of irrigation technology. According to Dr. Gamble,
production can nearly double or triple given proper irrigation management.
AADA has committed an initial $500,000 to this program. Low cost loans
up to $20,000 at a 3.5% rate with a four year amortization are now available. Funds from these loans can be used separately or in conjunction with
other funding sources to meet individual needs.
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries and AADA Chairman
John McMillan stated, "Irrigation is most likely not the answer for every
producer, but it can take a lot of climate risk out of the production equation. Quality of product, volume of product, and more potential farm profit
are all benefits from wise irrigation usage."
Alabama only has 120,000 irrigated acres as compared to Mississippi and Georgia who each report about 1.5 million acres of
crops under irrigation. Furthermore, Alabama imports $1.4 billion of corn and soybeans to support the Alabama poultry industry. With irrigation, Alabama farmers could likely capture a large percentage of this market. If this becomes a reality, local economic development would explode and local investment would dramatically increase.
For more information, contact Dr. John Gamble or Harold McLemore at 334-240-7245 or email john.gamble@agi.alabama.gov.
Information packets and an application will be provided.
Reference: Amy Belcher, Communications Director, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Montgomery, Ala5
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SMALL FARMS RESEARCH CENTER
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Cooperating Units: USDA Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO), USDA /NIFA/ Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Development Program (BFRDP), USDA/OAO/Outreach Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
(OASDFR) Program , Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems, and Alabama A&M University.
EDITOR’S CORNER
QUOTE OF THE QUARTER
If you would like to submit articles related to agriculture issues, or would like to make
an announcement of your event, please forward your information to:
Ms. E’licia L. Chaverest (Lisa)
Elicia.Chaverest@aamu.edu
Office: (256)372-4970/Fax: (256) 372-5517
Check out our website: http://www.2aamu.edu/saes/sfrc/webdocs/SFRC.html
“Logic will get you from A to B.
Imagination will take you everywhere.”
____________________
Albert Einstein
UPCOMING SFRC & COMMUNITY EVENTS: MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Small Farms Research Center (AAMU) Events

March 30, 2013. Family Farm & Fleece Day, Agribition Center, Huntsville, Alabama. (Please review attachment for
additional details.) To learn more about the event, please check out the Website: www.familyfarmandfleeceday.com

April 18, 2013. Beginning Farmers & Ranchers Workshop: Financial Management, Huntsville, Alabama. The
Small Farms Research Center will host a series of beginning farmers workshops/short courses. The goal of this project is to grow the next generation of farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs who will experience, skills and land stewardship to improve and enhance sustainability and productive capacity of Alabama. The short courses will assist beginning farmers and individuals wanting to begin farming about the various financial avenues and resources available,
profitable and emerging enterprises, and research based information from the experts, specialist, and fellow farmers.
(More details and dates will follow shortly.)

2013 Risk Management & Business Development Training Workshop, Huntsville, Alabama.

2013 Risk Management & Business Development Training Workshop, Mobile, Alabama.
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