Alabama A&M University
JULY-SEPT. 2014
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 4
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)
SPECIAL
ATTENTION
Inside this Issue
2014 RM Workshop
1
New and Beginning
Farmers and Ranchers
Program: 2014 Courses
USDA FSA
2
USDA NRCS—
Conservation
Stewardship Program
USDA announces
support for Beginning
D F D Sand
FIN
SIDE
Farmers
Ranchers
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2014 AGRICULTURAL RISK MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
Mobile, AL — The Small Farms Research
Center (AAMU) in collaboration with the
Alabama Cooperative Extension will host its
Agricultural Risk Management and Business
Development Training Workshop on August
20-22, 2014. This two-day event will be held at
the Jon Archer Agricultural Center, 1070
Schillinger Rd. North Mobile, Alabama.
The workshop will begin with a farm field day
(Wednesday, August 20th) at Humming Star
Alpacas, 19700 Blueberry Lane Silverhill, AL
36576. Sessions will follow (August 21st-22nd)
at the Jon Archer Agricultural Center focusing
on risk management, business development and new and beginning farmers issues. Registration begins Now. See attachment for additional details.
THIS ISSUE:
Success Stories:
Community Outreach
The FactsEfforts
About Organic
3
Hopewell
In
Editor’sWomen
Corner
3
4
Quote of the Quarter
SFRC
Update
Upcoming Community
Activities and Events
Small Farms Research Center
Alabama A&M University
4900 Meridian Street
James I. Dawson Building
RM #219
P.O. Box 700
Normal, AL 35762
NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS PROGRAM:
2014 COURSES
Huntsville, AL —— The New and Beginning
Farmers and Ranchers Program (NBFR) at
Alabama A&M University has been developed to
assist 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 goal of this project is to grow
the next generation of farmers, ranchers,
agribusinesses and entrepreneurs in the state of
Alabama.
The Small Farms Research Center (AAMU) has
scheduled the 2014 New and Beginning Farmers
and Ranchers (NBFR) Program courses for October 2-3, 2014. This two-day workshop will be held
at the James I. Dawson Building that will focus on two of the three areas: Production Practices and
Management, Marketing and Business Planning and Financial Management
To learn more about the 2014 NBFR Program short courses, please see attachment or visit us on the
web at www.aamu.edu/sfrc
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA)
The Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a private lands environmental improvement program that allows
participants the opportunity to enroll acreage in conservation practices that will reduce soil erosion, improve water and soil
quality and provide wildlife habitat and food sources. To be eligible for enrollment in the Continuous CRP, participants and
acreage must meet certain requirements. Provided the eligibility requirements are met. FSA will automatically accept
enrollments of acreage into Continuous CRP.
Landowners may enroll in the program at any time during the year. Continuous CRP Practices include but are not limited to:
Filter Strips, Riparain Buffers, Farmable Wetlands, Wetland Restoration, Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands,
Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds, Pollinator Habitat Initiative, and Longleaf Pine Initiative. Contact your local FSA Office for
more details and a full listing of CRP initiatives.
2012 & 2013 Losses Must be Filed by Aug. 1, 2014 for Honeybee, Livestock and Farm-Raised Fish Losses
Producers who suffered eligible livestock, honeybee or farm-raised fish losses for 2012 and 2013 program years have until
August 1, 2014, to submit a notice of loss and application for payment under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock,
Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).
ELAP provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish that have losses due to
disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not
covered by the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
For more information, producers can review the ELAP Fact Sheet on the Farm Bill webpage. Producers are encouraged to
make an appointment with their local FSA office to apply for these programs.
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation
systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. This program benefits participants
USDA NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE
to take additional steps to improve resource condition including soil quality, water quality, water quantity, air quality and
habitat quality, as well as energy.
CSP provides two types of payments through five-year contracts: annual payments for installing new conservation activities
and maintaining existing practices; and supplemental payments for adopting a resource-conserving crop rotation. Producers
may be able to renew a contract if they have successfully fulfilled the initial contract and agree to achieve additional
conservation objectives. Payments are made soon as practical after October 1 of each fiscal year for contract activities installed
and maintained in the previous year.
Producers with expiring U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts have from July
11 until Sept. 12, 2014 to renew and add conservation activities that will support their natural resource improvement activities
and fine-tune their conservation plans.
“CSP farmers are conservation leaders and go the extra mile to conserve our nation’s resources,” said Natural Resources
Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller. “The 2014 Farm Bill continued that strong commitment and heightened the
program’s focus on generating conservation benefits. This program allows landowners to reach the next level of conservation
and opens the door to trying new conservation activities.”
To learn about technical and financial assistance available through CSP, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted, the Conservation
Stewardship webpage or local USDA service center. For more on the 2014 Farm Bill, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/FarmBill.
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USDA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS
USDA has announced the implementation of new Farm Bill measures and other policy changes to improve the financial
security of new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Harden also unveiled http://www.USDA.gov/newfarmers, a new website
that will provide a centralized, one-stop resource where beginning farmers and ranchers can explore the variety of USDA
initiatives designed to help them succeed.
“New and beginning farmers are the future of American agriculture,” said Deputy Secretary Harden. “The average age of an
American farm is 58 and rising, so we must help new farmers get started if America is going to continue feeding the world and
maintain a strong agriculture economy. The new policies announced today will help give beginning farmers the financial
security they need to succeed. Our new online tool will provide one-stop shopping for beginning farmers to learn more about
accessing USDA service that can help their operations thrive.”
USDA’s http://www.usda.gov/newfarmers has in depth information for new farmers and ranchers, including: how to increase
access to land and capital; build new market opportunities; participate in conservation opportunities; select and use the right
risk management tools; and access USDA education, and technical support programs. These issues have been identified as top
priorities by new farmers. The website will also feature instructive case studies about beginning farmers who have
successfully utilized USDA resources to start or expand their business operations.
Gadsden, AL——The Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama (CTNEAL) held their annual meeting on June 21, 2014 at the
SUCCESS STORIES: COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS
Elliot Community Center in Gadsden, Alabama. The Small Farms Research
Center served as guest speaker for this event that provided outreach to the
farmers, producers, landowners and entrepreneurs of Etowah county. The
Center discussed its New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program and
its overall goal to grow the next generation of farmers and ranchers in Alabama through educational short courses, farm tours and demonstrations.
This meeting served as a great outreach outlet to serve producers of Etowah
county with educational material and one-on-one consultation after the
meeting. The Center began with a follow-up with each individual that
expressed a special need/technical assistance within their farm operation(s).
The Center will continue to work closely with the CTNEAL and the farmers
and producers of the community.
Athens, AL —— Limestone County Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the
Small Farms Research Center (AAMU) held a joint Producers Outreach Meeting on June 24, 2014. This meeting was
centralized around farm program tools available to the many producers and farmers of Madison and Limestone counties.
William Seay, County Executive Director, highlighted various programs that FSA has but his main focus was the county
committee elections. Joyce Lane, District Conservationist, emphasized the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and
other programs that are essential for producers where funding is available. JaMarkus Crowell, Program Assistant, targeted
specific programs and events that serves as an educational tool for new and beginning farmers provided through the center’s
New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (NBFR) Program.
This was a great meeting that has resulted in great feedback from our producers of Limestone and Madison counties. This joint
meeting has been on-going for two years and will continue to serve the producers, farmers and landowners within the state of
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.
EDITOR’S CORNER
Greetings!! Please save the following dates and pay close attention to the various
attachments regarding the events below.
 2014 Agricultural Risk Management and Business Development Training Workshop
on August 20-22, 2014.
 New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (NBFR) Program Workshop on October
2-3, 2014.
 First Thursday Group Meetings will be held monthly in Huntsville, AL. Tentative
dates and locations will be posted upon our website and Facebook page.
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:
QUOTE OF THE
QUARTER
“Don’t judge each day by
the harvest you reap but
by the seeds that you
plant.”
—Robert Louis Stevenson
_______________
Mr. JaMarkus Crowell, B.S.
jamarkus.crowell@aamu.edu
Office: (256)372-4424
Fax (256)372-5517
UPCOMING COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
July 19 - Huntsville, AL - North Alabama Food Policy Council Open Planning Session. Ridley Hall, Church of the
Nativity, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.; hosted by North Alabama Food Policy Council.
August 6 - Hazel Green, AL - Vegetable Crop Production, Management and IPM Field Day and Workshops. Winfred
Thomas Agricultural Research Station, 372 Walker Lane, Hazel Green, Alabama; hosted by Small Farms Research
Center (AAMU), Dept. of Biological & Environmental Sciences (BES) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension
System (ACES).
August 12th - Huntsville, AL - Tennessee Valley Community Garden Association Monthly Potluck. County Extension
Classroom, 819 Cook Ave., 6:30 p.m.; hosted by Tennessee Valley Community Garden Association.
August 14-16th - Birmingham/Epes, AL - Federation of Southern Cooperatives’ 47th Annual Meeting and Awards
Dinner. Thursday, August 14: Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Award Dinner in Birmingham, AL Friday, August 15
and Saturday, August 16: Federation of Southern Cooperatives’ 47th Annual Meeting; hosted by Federation of
Southern Cooperatives.
August 16th - Birmingham, AL - Hopewell Women in Agriculture Conference. Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church,
4817 Jefferson Avenue SW, Birmingham, AL 35221; hosted by the Hopewell Women-In-Agriculture.
August 20-22nd - Mobile, AL - Agricultural Risk Management and Business Development Training Workshop.
Wednes day (20th) Farm Field Day, Humming Star Alpacas, 19700 Blueberry Lane, Silverhill, Alabama 36576,
Thursday (21st) and Friday (22nd) educational sessions 1070 Schillinger Rd. North, Mobile, Alabama; hosted by the
Small Farms Research Center (AAMU) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES).
October 2-3rd - Huntsville, AL - New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (NBFR) Courses. James I. Dawson Bldg.
4900 Meridian Street NW, Normal, AL 35762; hosted by the Small Farms Research Center (AAMU) and the
Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES).
For more information please visit the above hyperlink for more events.
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