Alabama A&M University
OCT.-DEC. 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
COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURAL, LIFE
AND NATURAL SCIENCES
United States Department of Agriculture
Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO)
NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS & RANCHERS PROGRAM
Inside this Issue
New and Beginning
Farmers &
Ranchers Program
1
SFRC Success
Story: RM Workshop
1
SFRC Photo Gallery
2
SFRC Success
Story: NBFR Kick-off
Workshop-ValueAdded Course
3
D F D Farm
S F I NService
SIDE
USDA
3
Upcoming SFRC
Events
4
THIS ISSUE:
Huntsville, AL ---- The New and Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Program at Alabama A&M University has been developed to improve opportunities for new and beginning farmers to establish and
sustain viable agricultural operations in Alabama through the development and enhancement of innovative educational programs, services, and social networks. The purpose of this project is for the
AAMU Small Farms Research Center to deliver outreach and technical assistance, so that beginning
farmers and ranchers can successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain sustainable farming and
ranching enterprises.
Through this project, AAMU Small Farms Research Center and its partners will train farmers and
deliver agricultural information, enhance and increase farm knowledge, skills and abilities that will
enable beginning farmers and ranchers to participate in USDA agricultural programs, services and
benefits.
The Center has a series of short courses (October 2013 - October 2014) that will assist beginning
farmers and individuals interested in farming. The overall program will cover the following courses:
Land Acquisition and Tenure, Production Practices & Management, Business Planning & Financial
Management, Markets and Marketing, and Capital and Access to Capital. The courses will be offered
every quarter.
Save the dates: October 24, 2013 - Business Plan Development; November 7, 2013 - Capital
& Access to Capital; and December 4, 2013 - Land Acquisition & Tenure. To learn more about
the program, please feel free to contact us!
The Facts
About
Organic 43
Quote
of the
Hopewell Women In
Editor’s Corner
43
SFRC Upcoming
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SUCCESS STORY: AGRICULTURAL RM & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
WORKSHOP
Mobile, AL ---- The Small Farms Research Center (AAMU) in collaboration with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Mobile office) held its Agricultural Risk Management (RM) and Business Development Training Workshop on August 21-23, 2013. This was a successful workshop with
90 plus producers and landowners (not including extension agents, community outreach leaders and
speakers) that were engaged with many topics such as the following: business plan development, programs and credit worthiness, leasing lands, record keeping, livestock management, USDA Farm Service Agency Microloan Program, NRCS and NCAT. The training included a farm field day at Alma
Bryant High School, where they were taught how the Australian red claw crawfish is produced .
Please find below attendees’ comments :


Small Farms Research Center
Alabama A&M University
4900 Meridian Street
James I. Dawson Building
RM #219
P.O. Box 700
Normal, AL 35762
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


Enjoyed the knowledgeable way the presenters spoke about their areas of expertise;
First time going to a workshop; it was very interesting and learned a lot, great information that is
helpful to me e.g. record keeping and business plan;
Enjoyed how the speakers broke down their presentation that was understanding to the participants;
More aware of the importance of understanding the leasing contract.
The majority of the comments were quite positive. Many thanks to all speakers for making this workshop possible and a success story. Special thanks to the audience for your eagerness to learn. Hats off
to each of you!! Scenes from the Agricultural Risk Management & Business Development Workshop,
Mobile, Alabama (page 2)
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Photo Gallery: Agricultural Risk Management Workshop, Mobile Alabama. August 21-23, 2013
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NBFR PROGRAM KICKOFF COURSE: Value-Added Agriculture
Huntsville, AL ---The Small Farms Research Center (AAMU) had two kickoff
courses for the New and Beginning Farmers & Ranchers (NBFR) Program. The
first included an Organic All Natural Soap-Making Course, September 5, 2013;
followed by All Natural Lotion Making Course. Both courses were demonstrated
by Margaret Mazikowski, Owner of 4Maz Farms.
Both courses totaled (25) participants which included local producers, landowners,
entrepreneurs and farmers. The courses discussed how to get started, precautions
used while making soap and lotion, and marketing your product. There were many
questions from the courses and hands-on participation made the sessions interesting.
Participants kept our demonstrator on her feet. This was a great course to kickoff
our series of the New and Beginning Farmers & Ranchers educational courses.
Both courses also included a presentation about opportunities and services at the
Margaret Mazikowski (standing)
Small Farms Research Center (AAMU), as well as a presentation on Adding Value to respond to a participant.
Agriculture Products. The two kick-off programs combined to make another successful story. Once again special thanks to our presenter/instructor Mrs. Margaret Mazikowski and participants.
takes time to
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 one of the few programs available.
Microloans up to $35,000 available through FSA. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) developed the Microloan program to better serve the unique financial operating needs of beginning,
niche and the smallest of family farm operations by modifying its Operating Loan (OL) application, eligibility and security requirements. FSA offers applicants a Microloan aimed at bolstering the progress of producers
through their start-up years by providing needed resources and helping to increase equity, so that farmers may eventually
graduate to commercial credit and expand their operations. The microloan program will also provide a less burdensome,
more simplified application process in comparison to traditional farm loans.
Under the Alabama Strikeforce Initiative, Alabama FSA will host a Microloan Workshop to help farmers understand the Microloan program, eligibility requirements and application process in the following areas:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the FSA Microloan workshop scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2013, in Marion,
Alabama, has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience that this cancellation may cause.
Tentative Event: October 17, 2013: Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund Auditorium.
Epes, Alabama. 3:00p.m. - 5:00p.m.
To register for attendance, call: (205) 553-1733, Ext. 2. For more information, contact one of the following persons:
Gretchen Thomas at (205) 553-1733, Ext. 2; Gretchen.Thomas@al.usda.gov; John Zippert or Susan Bambo at (205) 6529676; fscepes@mindspring.com. Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this workshop should contact Cassondra Searight at (334) 279-3501, or by email at Cassondra.Searight@al.usda.gov, or Federal
Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
Reference: Vickie Lane, Public Relations/Outreach Specialist, USDA/Alabama FSA State Office, Montgomery, Alabama
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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.
UPCOMING SMALL FARMS RESEARCH CENTER EVENTS (AAMU): MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

REGISTER TODAY!
October 24, 2013. New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program: Business Plan Development.

November 7, 2013. New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program: Capital & Access to Capital.

December 4, 2013. New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program: Land Acquisitions & Tenure.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUESTED. The short courses will be held on the campus of Alabama A&M University
with the Small Farms Research Center. The courses will be located in the James I. Dawson Building Room #240, 4900
Meridian Street, Normal, AL. There is a $5.00 non-refundable registration fee for each course. This does include materials and light refreshments. Please find the attached registration form.
EDITOR’S CORNER
QUOTE OF THE QUARTER
Welcome Good People!
I am JaMarkus Crowell, Program Assistant with the Small Farms Research
Center (SFRC). My responsibilities include, but are not limited to working
diligently to assist minority, limited resource and socially disadvantaged
farmers, producers, landowners, entrepreneurs, extension personnel and government officials and agencies. As a program assistant, I have joined the team
to provide outreach and technical assistance throughout the state of Alabama.
Furthermore, I am the new editor for the SFRC Newsletter News Update!
“The very substance of the ambitious
is merely the shadow of a dream.”
William Shakespeare
_______________
As the new editor, I would love to hear from you on agricultural issues, as
well as announcements on upcoming events in the community. I am very eager to update you on agriculture opportunities available through our program,
USDA programs, and the agriculture community, in general. I am ready to
serve you but, mostly I am here to motivate and assist you in keeping focus
on your objectives in your agribusiness.
If you would like to submit articles related to agriculture issues, or would like
to make an announcement of your upcoming event s), please forward your
information to:
Mr. JaMarkus Crowell
jamarkus.crowell@aamu.edu
Office: (256) 372-4424 & Fax: (256) 372-5517
Check out our website: http://www.2aamu.edu/saes/sfrc/webdocs/SFRC.html
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