Farm Scoop – November 2017
Low Interest Emergency Physical Loss Loans Available for 13 Maine Counties with Assistance to Producers in Surrounding Counties and New Hampshire
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Administrator Steve Peterson today announced that physical loss loans are available for 13 counties in Maine. Farm operators who have suffered major physical losses caused by heavy rain, high winds and flash flooding that occurred from Oct. 29 through Oct. 30, 2017, may be eligible for emergency loans.
This Administrator’s Physical Loss Notification has been issued for Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington and York counties as the primary damaged area.
Additionally, three Maine counties are contiguous to this designated disaster area, making these producers also potentially eligible for programs based on this designation. The contiguous counties are: Aroostook, Knox and Piscataquis.
Carroll, Coos and Strafford counties in New Hampshire are also eligible for emergency loans because they are contiguous.
FSA’s low interest emergency loans may be made available to any applicant with a qualifying loss in the counties named above. Approval is limited to applicants who suffered severe physical losses only.
Physical loss loans may be made to eligible farmers and ranchers to repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agriculture operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.
Producers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans for physical losses.
Please contact FSA for more information on loan eligibility and the application process. FSA office information is available at http://offices.usda.gov. Additional FSA disaster assistance program information is available at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
Maine Producers Reminded of Approaching Deadline to Submit Ballots for Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Maine Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, SED Dave Lavway, today reminded farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers that FSA county committee elections began Nov. 6, with the mailing of ballots. Eligible voters must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 4, 2017, to ensure that their vote is counted. Producers who have not received their ballot should pick one up at their local FSA office.
Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 4, 2017. Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2018.
Nearly 7,700 FSA county committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. County committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, and emergency programs and eligibility.
Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Approximately 1.5 million producers are currently eligible to vote. Farmers and ranchers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote.
For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. You may also contact your local USDA service center or FSA office. Visit http://offices.usda.gov to find an FSA office near you.
USDA to Measure Bee and Honey Production and Colony Loss
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be collecting information about the honey industry. The Bee Production and Loss, Bee and Honey Inquiry, and Quarterly Colony Loss surveys will be conducted over the period of November 2017 through February of 2018. These surveys collect information about colony inventory and loss, honey production and sales, and production expenses from approximately 2,500 growers in the Northeastern region of the United States.
In these surveys, NASS asks participants to answer a variety of questions about their colonies, honey production and expenses. For their convenience, survey participants have the option to respond online. As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes only State and National level data, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.
NASS will compile, analyze, and publish survey results in the March Annual Honey report. All previous Annual Honey publications are available online at http://www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office at 1.800.498.1518.
Join one of our upcoming online farming courses: Climate Smart Farming, Holistic Financial Planning, Tree Fruit Production, and more!
The Cornell Small Farms Program offers over twenty courses to help farmers improve their technical and business skills. Students connect with other farmers, work on farm plans, and gain practical tips without leaving their home. Course content can be accessed anywhere with a high-speed internet connection.
Most courses are six weeks long. Each week features an evening webinar and follow-up readings, videos, and activities. Students and their instructors connect through online forums and live chat. If you aren’t able to attend the webinars in real-time, they are always recorded for later viewing.
2017 Census of Agriculture Gets Underway – Questionnaires being sent to over 3 million U.S. producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) starts mailing the 2017 Census of Agriculture to the nation’s producers this week. Conducted once every five years, the census aims to get a complete and accurate picture of American agriculture. The resulting data are used by farmers, ranchers, trade associations, researchers, policymakers, and many others to help make decisions in community planning, farm assistance programs, technology development, farm advocacy, agribusiness setup, rural development, and more.
The census will be mailed in several phases through December. Farm operations of all sizes which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural product in 2017 are included in the census. The census is the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every state and county in the nation.
NASS revised the census forms in an attempt to document changes and emerging trends in the industry. Changes include a new question about military veteran status, expanded questions about food marketing practices, and questions about on-farm decision-making to help better capture the roles and contributions of beginning farmers, women farmers, and others involved in running a farm enterprise.
“Producers can respond to the census online or by mail. We highly recommend the updated online questionnaire. We heard what people wanted and we made responding to the census easier than ever,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “The online questionnaire now has timesaving features, such as automatic calculations, and the convenience of being accessible on mobile and desktop devices.”
The census response deadline is February 5, 2018. Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and only publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation. NASS will release the results of the census in February 2019.
For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 800. 727.9540.
The Food-Tech Revolution
December 11, 2017, 5:00-6:00 p.m. Welcome Reception, 6:00 p.m. Presentation by Janet Helm, MS, RD, Chief Food and Nutrition Strategist, Weber Shandwick.
Cellardoor at The Point, 4 Thompson’s Point, Portland
From food-delivery drones to vertical farming, technology is continuously disrupting the food and beverage industry. Janet will explore today’s food-tech revolution and the various ways technology is changing how we eat, food experiences and the business of food.
Please RSVP to info@lobsterfrommaine.com. This is a free event, but space is limited. Presented by the Maine Lobster Collaborative and Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
USDA Offers Targeted Farm Loan Funding for Underserved Groups and Beginning Farmers
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Maine Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, David R. Lavway reminds producers that FSA offers specially targeted farm ownership and farm operating loans to underserved applicants as well as beginning farmers and ranchers.
During fiscal year 2017 (Oct. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2017), Maine FSA obligated $5.19 million in loans to underserved borrowers and 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, underserved groups are women, African Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Hispanics and Asians and Pacific Islanders.
In order to qualify as a beginning farmer, the individual or entity must meet the eligibility requirements outlined for direct or guaranteed loans. Additionally, individuals and all entity members must have operated a farm for less than 10 years. Applicants must materially or substantially participate in the operation. For farm ownership purposes, the applicant must not own a farm greater than 30 percent of the average size farm in the county at the time of application. All direct farm ownership applicants must have participated in the business operations of a farm for at least three years out of the last 10 years prior to the date the application is submitted. If the applicant is an entity, all members must be related by blood or marriage and all entity members must be eligible beginning farmers.
Farmer Grants Due December 5
We’re sending a reminder that applications for the 2018 Northeast SARE Farmer grants program are due online by Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Farmer grants are for farm business owners and managers who have an innovative idea they want to test using a field trial, on-farm demonstration, marketing initiative, or other technique. Projects should seek results other farmers can use and must have the potential to add to our region’s knowledge about effective sustainable practices.
Awards are capped at $15,000 and projects may address the wide range of issues that affect farming throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Applicants must work with a technical advisor who serves in a consulting capacity. Apply now.
Cooperative Extension offers Free Training for Agricultural Service Providers
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host a free training webinar for agricultural service providers Dec. 8, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Agricultural service providers offer expertise related to production, marketing and business planning during one-on-one consultations with farmers. Webinar participants will examine farmers’ needs related to communication, decision-making, goal-setting and time management.
Presenters include Elaine Bourne, Maine Agricultural Mediation Program director; Leslie Forstadt, UMaine Extension human development specialist; and Abby Sadauckas, co-owner of Apple Creek Farm in Bowdoinham, Maine.
They’ll introduce new resources to service providers that are designed to assist farmers with challenges related to interpersonal skills.
A Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development Program grant titled “Focusing on interpersonal relationships for greater farm viability” is funding the training.
Register online by Dec. 3. Participants will receive the call-in number and resources the week of Dec. 4. For more information or to request a disability accommodation, contact Leslie Forstadt, 207.581.3487, leslie.forstadt@maine.edu.
Conservation Biological Control Short Course
Learn How to Support the Good Farm Bugs that Eat the Bad Farm Bugs!
Thursday, November 30, 2017 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at MOFGA Common Ground Education Center, 294 Crosby Brook Road, Unity, Maine
5 Pesticide Credits! 5.5 Certified Crop Advisor Credits!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Maine Soil Health Workshop
Tuesday, December 5th, 9:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Governors Restaurant, 376 Maine St., Waterville (I-95 Exit 130)
See below for topics and speakers.
Pre-registration is required.
Cost (includes morning snack and lunch): $20 if register by November 29; otherwise $25.
Note: No refunds will be offered for registrations made by check OR after November 29.
Registrations received after November 29 cannot be guaranteed a lunch.
Register Online (click here) or, to register by phone and for registration questions, contact Michele Lodgek at 207.581.2721 and michele.lodgek@umaine.edu.
Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Maine
Apple and Blueberry Growers Need to Make Insurance Decisions Soon
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Maine apple and blueberry growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2018 crop year is November 20. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing policies also have until November 20 to do so.
Coverage for apples and blueberries is available in select counties. Additional information can be found on the Actuarial Information Browser page on the RMA website. Price elections for the 2018 crop year are $12.20 per bushel for fresh apples, $3.00 per bushel for processing apples, $51.50 per bushel for Varietal Group A apples, $15.60 for Varietal Group B apples, and $11.40 for Varietal Group C apples. Blueberry price elections are $0.40 per pound.
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can use the RMA Cost Estimator to get a premium amount estimate of their insurance needs online.
For more information about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net, visit www.rma.usda.gov.
Third Annual Farmland Access Conference
In the next decade, more than 400,000 acres of Maine farmland will transition in ownership. What will happen to that land? Farmers, landowners, and farm advocates are invited to the third annual Farmland Access Conference on December 4, 2017 at the Augusta Civic Center, Augusta ME co-hosted by Maine Farmland Trust and Land For Good. The day-long conference will delve into some of the stickiest issues facing farming today. Workshops will tackle challenges of how to provide for a farm’s future when a farmer is ready to retire, and how next generation farmers can take on the stewardship of farmland in transition and shepherd the future of Maine’s food system. For more information or to register, go to mainefarmlandtrust.org or call 207.338.6575. Deadline to register is Thursday, November 30. Cost of attendance is $15 per person and includes a lunch sourced from local farmers and producers.
FSA County Committee Elections to Begin; Producers to Receive Ballots Week of Nov. 6
Farmers and Ranchers Have a Voice in Local Farm Program Decisions
Maine Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting State Executive Director Sherry Hamel today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers for the 2017 FSA County Committee elections on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 4, 2017, to ensure that their vote is counted.
Farmers and ranchers will begin receiving their ballots the week of Nov. 6. Ballots include the names of candidates running for the local committee election. Voters who did not receive a ballot can pick one up at their local FSA office. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 4, 2017. Newly elected committee members and their alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2018.
For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. You may also contact your local USDA Service Center or FSA office. Visit http://offices.usda.gov to find an FSA office near you.
Still time to sign up for Online Courses starting Nov 6
The Cornell Small Farms Program offers over twenty courses to help farmers improve their technical and business skills. Students connect with other farmers, work on farm plans, and gain practical tips without leaving their home. Course content can be accessed anywhere with a high-speed internet connection.
Most courses are six weeks long. Each week features an evening webinar and follow-up readings, videos, and activities. Students and their instructors connect through online forums and live chat. If you aren’t able to attend the webinars in real-time, they are always recorded for later viewing.
Classes starting the Week of November 6 include:
BF 120: Veggie Farming 1 – From Planning to Planting
BF130: Poultry Production (BF 130)
BF 152: Introduction to Maple Syrup Production
Check out the listings at http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/online-courses/ for more information on a particular course and the instructors.
Questions?
Contact Erica Frenay or Steve Gabriel or call 607.255.2142
ABOUT
The Small Farms Program helps farmers get expert assistance to facilitate all phases of small farm business development, from initial growth to optimization to maturity.
We are a joint effort of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell Cooperative Extension.