Farm Scoop – December 2016
USDA Offers Targeted Farm Loan Funding for Underserved Groups and Beginning Farmers
USDA Maine Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, SED Donovan E. Todd, III , reminds producers that FSA offers targeted farm ownership and farm operating loans to assist underserved applicants as well as beginning farmers and ranchers.
USDA defines underserved applicants as a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual qualities. For farm loan program purposes, targeted underserved groups are women, African Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Hispanics and Asians and Pacific Islanders. More information and the application process can be found here Beginning Underserved Loans (Word).
USDA Offers Targeted Farm Loan Funding for Underserved Groups and Beginning Farmers
USDA Maine Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, SED Donovan E. Todd, III , reminds producers that FSA offers targeted farm ownership and farm operating loans to assist underserved applicants as well as beginning farmers and ranchers.
USDA defines underserved applicants as a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual qualities. For farm loan program purposes, targeted underserved groups are women, African Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Hispanics and Asians and Pacific Islanders. More information and the application process can be found here Beginning Underserved Loans (Word).
Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Crop Insurance
The Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) policy is a new crop insurance program that protects the farmer’s adjusted gross revenue from production losses or drops in market prices. Unlike other types of crop insurance, WFRP acts as an umbrella policy for the whole farm because growers can insure revenue from multiple crops, livestock, and nursery products under this one policy. The sales closing date is March 15, 2017 for insurance during the 2017 growing season, but farmers must begin the sign-up process with a crop insurance agent well in advance of the deadline to ensure coverage. See Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Crop Insurance and a Perspective from Circle B Farms (Word) for more information and a perspective from Circle B Farms.
USDA Provides New Cost Share Opportunities for Organic Producers and Handlers
Organic Producers and Handlers May Apply for Certification Cost Share Reimbursements; Expanded Eligibility for Transition and State Certification Cost
USDA is making changes to increase participation in the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost Share Program, and at the same time provide more opportunities for organic producers to access other USDA programs, such as disaster protection and loans for farms, facilities, and marketing. Producers can also access information on nonfederal agricultural resources, and get referrals to local experts, including organic agriculture, through USDA’s Bridges to Opportunity service at the local FSA office.
Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic or transitional certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement/ arrangement requirements, travel/per diem for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments, and postage are all eligible for a cost share reimbursement from USDA.
Once certified, producers and handlers are eligible to receive reimbursement for up to 75 percent of certification costs each year up to a maximum of $750 per certification scope—crops, livestock, wild crops and handling. Today’s announcement also adds transitional certification and state organic program fees as additional scopes.
To learn more about organic certification cost share, please visit www.fsa.usda.gov/organic or contact a local FSA office.
Pesticide Applicator Exam Training at the 76th Annual Agricultural Trades Show
The Maine Board of Pesticides Control will offer training at the Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center on Tuesday, January 10, 2017. The training covers only material covered in the core exam, which is required for either an Agricultural Basic or a Private Applicator License. The Private Applicator License also requires passing a commodity exam. Examinees should study the Core Manual before attending this training. Manuals are available from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
In the afternoon, there will be an opportunity to take both core and commodity exams. Space is limited and pre-registration is required by filling out the online form or by calling 207.287.2731.
More information on BPC licensing.
The Business of Farming for Wholesale
Are you an experienced Maine farmer who wants make more money wholesaling your products? The Business of Farming for Wholesale could help you get there!
Farming for Wholesale 101
This track is for experienced farmers who want to start or expand their wholesale markets. Farmers enrolled in this track will attend 3 daylong workshops and receive technical assistance tailored to their farm.
When: Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., January 14, January 28, and February 11
Where: The Hub in Unity
Cost: $500. Upon completion of all three sessions and your successful participation in technical assistance, farms will be awarded $1,000 in seed money. There is a net gain of $500 to your farm! Scholarships are available: please contact Alex for details.
Register by January 6, 2017!
Crop Planning for Vegetable Growers — Webinar
Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Scaling up to meet the demands of wholesale or institutional markets requires careful planning and recordkeeping.
NCAT Agriculture Specialist Luke Freeman will present a webinar on December 14 to introduce strategies for crop planning. The free webinar will begin at noon EST and will last one hour.
The free webinar will help growers understand how to plan crops to fulfill production goals and wholesale contracts and how to calculate planting dates based on an anticipated date of harvest. In addition, Luke will discuss key records that growers should keep to help with future production planning.
This webinar is supported by the Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program of the USDA Office of Advocacy and Outreach, project # 59-2501-15-026.
Registration is online.
For more information, contact Luke Freeman.
Second Annual Wholesale Meet-Up Day
Date: Monday, January 9, 2017
Location: Augusta Civic Center – 76 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is hosting the second annual Wholesale Meet-up Day for Specialty Crop Producers from Maine and local Wholesale Buyers to meet one-on-one for networking, introductions and explore future sales opportunities.
We will start with a short welcome reception intended for Maine Specialty Crop Producers to visit table top displays, where they will have the opportunity to sign up for meeting times. The remainder of the event will include short and timed one-on-one meetings between the buyers and producers. Service Providers will also be on-site throughout to take one-on-one meetings or answer wholesale specific questions.
This is a FREE event for all participants, made possible with funding from Harvest New England and the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program; however, space is limited so advance participant reservation is required. If you are a Wholesale Buyer looking to connect with sources for local products, or a Specialty Crop Producer who is currently pursuing new wholesale customers, join us for a few short hours of networking!
All reservation requests must be received by Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017. Please note that reservations may be cut off prior to the listed deadline if capacity is reached, so sign up early.
Please confirm your attendance and lock in your reservation by simply emailing Jessica Nixon with:
- Name of your Organization;
- Indication as a Wholesale Buyer, Service Provider or Specialty Crop Producer;
- Best contact information for those who will be attending as your representative.
All registered attendances will receive set up instructions and suggested tips on how best to prepare for this event.
Hops School
Date: Thursday, January 12, 2017, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Maine Agricultural Trades Show, Augusta Civic Center
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Hops School is designed to help people who are interested in hops production as a commercial enterprise. Topics including site requirements and preparation, varieties, trellis construction, pest management, harvesting options, post-harvest care and marketing will be presented by a team of experts and experienced growers, including Steve Miller, Hops Specialist at Cornell University, Ryan Houghton from The Hop Yard in Gorham, and Dr. David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
A registration fee of $25.00 will be charged for participation in the Hops School and space is limited, so preregistration is strongly advised. Please register by January 6, 2017.
Register online or contact Pam St. Peter or 207.933.2100 to preregister