Alabama A&M University
MARCH -JUNE . 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)
NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS & RANCHERS PROGRAM
Inside this Issue
New & Beginning Farmers
& Ranchers Program
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TVWIA Success Story
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SFRC Photo Gallery
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SFRC Photo Gallery
3
USDA Farm Service
Agency Programs
4
USDA Natural Resource &
Conservation Services
4
The Facts About Organic
Announcements:
DFarmer
F D S FofI the
N S Year
IDE
THopewell
H I S I Women
S S U EIn:
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Announcement :
ASAN's Website Launch /
Membership Drive
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Editor’s Corner
6
Upcoming SFRC Events
6
Quote of the Quarter
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Are you interested in farming? Have you
been farming for less than 10 years? Do
you want to learn more about or try a new
farm enterprise? The Small Farms Research Center at Alabama A&M University is pleased to announce the availability
of outreach training and technical assistance for new and beginning farmers and
ranchers in Alabama and neighboring
states. The assistance is made possible
through a Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program funded by the
National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). For more information about
the Program and its services and to find out if you qualify, please contact Ms. E’licia L. Chaverest at
256-372-4970 or 1-866-858-4970.
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SUCCESS STORY: 2013 FAMILY FARM & FLEECE DAY
Huntsville, AL. The Tennessee Valley-Women-In-Agriculture
Association in collaboration with the Alabama A&M University’s
Small Farms Research Center held its first Family Farm & Fleece
Day, on March 30, 2013. The event was a fun-filled day with various activities for the children and courses for the adults. Also, if
you enjoy viewing fiber there quite a few fibers owners available
with merchandise for purchase and an silent auction for the organization.
Over 700 participants attended which included agricultural producers, 4-H participants, community
leaders and organizations, volunteers and people that love every aspect of agriculture. Special
thanks to all our volunteers, vendors and exhibitors, and those of you just came by to support the
organization. Presently, the organization is preparing for next year’s event and its going to be bigger than this year. So, go ahead and mark your calendar now for March 29-30, 2014. To see scenes
from the Family, Farm, and Fleece Day, Huntsville, Alabama. Photo gallery pages (2) and (3).
Small Farms Research Center
Alabama A&M University
4900 Meridian Street
James I. Dawson Building
To learn more about the program and/or volunteer for next year, and if you are interested in joining
the Tennessee Valley Women-In-Agriculture Association, please contact President Margaret
Mazikowski (4mazfarms@gmail.com). Also, look for our pink Tennessee Valley Women-InAgriculture shirts and bags (the lady on the tractor) coming to your nearest farmers market soon.
All proceeds go in support of all events and activities held by the organization.
RM #219
P.O. Box 700
Normal, AL 35762
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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PHOTO GALLERY: FAMILY, FARM & FLEECE DAY, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA. MARCH 30, 2013
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SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR VENDORS, EXHIBITORS, VOLUNTEERS & (YOU) OUR AUDIENCE!!!
Photos taken by: Jerome Saint Jones M.Ed., Ed.S., Director, Office of Marketing & Public Relations, Alabama A&M University.
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.
Crop Certification Deadline is July 15, 2013.
After spring planting, producers should certify their 2013 acreage. Filing an accurate acreage report for all crops and land uses,
including failed acreage and prevented planting acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits for a variety programs. Failed acreage
must be reported within 15 days of the disaster event and before disposition of the crop. Prevented planting must be reported no
later than 15 days after the final planting date. Acreage reports are required for many FSA programs. For crops enrolled in programs other than NAP (Noninsured Drop Disaster Assistance Program), acreage reports are to be certified by the July 15th.
Deadline for corn, cotton, grain sorghum, peanuts, soybeans, and many other crops, including many fruits and vegetables.
Farm Reconstitutions Must Be Requested by August 1, 2013.
For FSA program purposes, tracts having the same owner and operator are grouped under one farm serial number. When changes in ownership or operation take place, a farm reconstitution is necessary. The reconstitution is the process of combining or
dividing farms or tracts of land based on the farming operation. Note, reconstitutions must be requested by August 1 for farms
enrolled in the specific programs.
These programs listed are just a few highlighted, but to learn more about USDA FSA programs and in-depth requirements
for one’s listed, please visit your local USDA FSA office.
Lane, Vicki. Public Relations/Outreach Specialist, USDA/Alabama FSA State Office. USDA FSA Newsletter, June 2013.
Montgomery, AL.
USDA NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE
NRCS works with landowners through conservation planning and assistance designed to benefit the soil, water, air, plants, and
animals that result in productive lands and healthy ecosystems. Please find below the current programs available.
Conservation Stewardship Program Application Due June 14, 2013.
The voluntary program allows producers in conserving natural resources while also maintaining or increasing the productivity
of their operations. Although applications are accepted all year, farmers, ranchers and forestland owners interested in CSP
should submit application by June 14 to their local NRCS office to ensure they are considered for their year’s funding.
Wetlands Reserve Program & Grassland Reserve Program.
The Wetland Reserve Program helps landowners resource and protect wetland ecosystems on private and tribal lands. They may
select a permanent or 30 year easement or a restoration cost share agreement, retaining ownership of the land once the agreement is in place. More than 11,000 private landowners participating in WRP are already protecting more than 2.6 million acres
of American’s wetlands. A year round of funding authorizes $225 million to enroll up to 100,00 additional acres in WRP and
$47 million to enroll up to 200,000 additional acres into GRP, both nationwide.
To learn more about NRCS programs, please visit your local USDA NRCS office: http;//offices.sc.egov.usda.gov.
Yates, Julie B. Director of Communications, Marketing and Outreach. USDA NRCS News Release. Montgomery, AL.
ANNOUNCEMENT: FARMERS OF THE YEAR
The Minority Landowner Magazine will publish their 5th Annual Farmers of the Year issue this summer. In this issue they
will feature minority "Farmers of the Year" as formally or informally selected by universities, community-based organizations,
USDA agencies, and state agriculture and forestry agencies. For those who would like to submit a farmer, rancher or forest landowner for this recognition. Whether your process is formal, or informal, you are still eligible to participate. Your company or
organization is invited to select a minority Farmer of the Year and share their story with others across the country through this
special issue of Minority Landowner Requirements: (1) Name of the 2013 Farmer of the Year recipient (2.) Recipient's mailing
address, phone number and email address (3) Name of selecting organization (4) Selecting organization's contact person, mailing
address, phone number and email address (5) A high resolution jpeg digital photograph of the Farmer of the Year (6) A 200 word
narrative summarizing the outstanding accomplishments of the Farmer of the Year.
(continues page 5)4
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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:
“A wise man learns by the mistakes of others,
Ms. E’licia L. Chaverest (Lisa)
Elicia.Chaverest@aamu.edu
Office: (256)372-4970 & Fax: (256) 372-5517
Latin Proverb
a fool by his own.”
__________________
Check out our website: http://www.2aamu.edu/saes/sfrc/webdocs/SFRC.html
ANNOUNCEMENT: FARMERS OF THE YEAR
Send all information by email to minoritylandowner@earthlink.net or mail it to Minority Landowner Magazine, Farmer
of the Year, PO Box 97033, Raleigh, NC 27624. The deadline is June 28, 2013 for our Farmers of the Year issue. This is
not a competition, but rather an opportunity for you to share the story of a farmer, rancher or forest landowner who is doing great work in their community representing agriculture.
To apply or learn more about the announcement, please feel free to contact Mr. Victor L. Harris, Cierra Publishing Company. Minority Landowner Magazine, at (919) 215-1632 or by email ccpublishing@earthlink.net and website
www.minoritylandowner.com.
ANNOUNCEMENT: ASAN's Website Launch / Membership Drive
The Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network (ASAN) be launching a new website in July, and in conjunction will be
coordinating a membership drive to build support and awareness of the work we do.
Between July 19 and July 29, they are asking members and supporters to host coordinated promo events across the state,
to help us connect with new and old friends and to roll out the new website. Farm-to-table dinners, movie screenings,
special-deal days, potluck picnics -- we're wide open to anything you may want to plan.
Please consider being part of one of these events. For more information, see the attached PDF. If you're interested or
would like more information about this endeavor, please feel free to contact Alice Evans, Statewide Coordinator, Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network by email alice@asanonline.org or by phone (256)743-0742 by Tuesday, June 25.
UPCOMING SFRC & COMMUNITY EVENTS: MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Small Farms Research Center (AAMU) Events
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
August 21-23, 2013 Risk Management & Business Development Training Workshop, Mobile, Alabama.
New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program, Huntsville and Madison, Alabama.
More details will follow shortly. (Courses will begin August 2013).
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