Farm Scoop – November 2015
New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference and Trade Show
The New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference and Trade Show will be held December 15, 16, 17 at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH and will include more than 25 educational sessions over 3 days, covering major vegetable, berry, and tree fruit crops as well as various special topics. A Farmer to Farmer meeting after each morning and afternoon session will bring speakers and farmers together for informal, in-depth discussion on certain issues.
There is also an extensive Trade Show with over 100 exhibitors. We hope that you will enjoy your time here, and meet with fellow growers, advisors, researchers, and industry representatives. We want you to leave with new ideas and new information that will have a positive impact on your farm.
To register, go to newenglandvfc.org/.
Learn to farm online this winter from NE Beginning Farmer Project
Winter is a great time for farmers to rest, slow down the pace, and build new skills for the coming growing season. The Cornell Small Farms Program is pleased to announce the winter roster of online courses available through its Northeast Beginning Farmer Project. These courses help farmers learn from the latest research-based education.
Learn which courses would be best for you, read about our team of experienced instructors , see answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and view the calendar of course offerings.
FSA County Committee Elections to Begin; Producers to Receive Ballots Week of November 9
Farmers and Ranchers Have a Voice in Local Farm Program Decisions
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2015 – Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2015 FSA County Committee elections on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 7, 2015, to ensure that their vote is counted. Read the full announcement here, FSA County Committee Elections to Begin (Word).
Farm Credit East — Knowledge Exchange Webinars
Three separate webinar sessions will be held on November 6, 20, and 30. Each webinar will run from 12 noon to 1:30 PM. The webinars are free to participate and open to anyone with an interest in farming.
To register, visit Farm Credit East.
Topics covered will include:
- Understanding financial statements
- Cash vs. accrual accounting: How they are different?
- Farm profitability – earning it, measuring it and maximizing it
- Planning and goal setting for your business
- Calculating gross margins and managing costs
- Financing your business
- Business case studies
2016 Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Crop Insurance
WFRP is a new risk management option for diversified farms and those with historically limited access to crop insurance, such as specialty and organic crop producers. View the announcement (Word).
This information is also posted on our website.
For more information please contact Erin Roche, Crop Insurance Education Program Manager at 207.949.2490 or Erin Roche.