MDAR - Farm and Market Report - September, October 2003

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' website has had many incarnations over the years. The Dept.'s Homepage is now: www.mass.gov/agr. This homepage has many links to the various programs within the Department.

Massgrown.org has also been changed to www.mass.gov/massgrown. This webpage offers the public information on the various "Massgrown" and produced products in Massachusetts.

Applications for Farm Viability Enhancement Program Available

The Farm Viability Enhancement Program is designed to assist farmers in improving the economic bottom line and environmental integrity of their operations through the development and implementation of business plans tailored to their situations.

The program has three phases: In Phase I, a farmer will work with a planning team to develop a plan to increase on-farm income and preserve the farm’s environmental resources. In Phase II, awards of up to $20,000, $40,000 or $60,000 may be available to a farmer to implement his or her plan in exchange for completing selected elements of the plan and agreeing to restrict the use of the farm to agricultural uses only by signing a five or ten year Agricultural Covenant. Phase III is a reporting phase after completion of the changes recommended in the plan.

Applications are available at the DAR Office in Boston, or on line at the DAR Web Site www.mass.gov/agr or you can request a copy of the FVEP application by calling the Farm Viability Program at 617-626-1723. The deadline for applications is 4pm., Wednesday, June 30, 2004.

Announcing the Availability of Source Water Protection Materials for Farmers

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has developed educational materials to teach farmers about the Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) Program, how this program can affect a farm business and what farmers can do to protect drinking water supplies. The materials have been developed with the farmer in mind to explain best management practices and how these practices can be used to protect drinking water supplies. The educational materials also provide information on where technical and financial assistance can be obtained to install best management practices. A SWAP brochure for Farmers and the Massachusetts SWAP Reference Guide for Farmers is now available. For copies of the brochure or guide or for more information please contact Angie Moschini, SWAP Coordinator for MDAR at amoschini@earthlink.net or by calling (413) 262-1816.

Protecting Drinking Water with SWAP- Information for All Dairy Farmers and Farmers Applying Pesticides:

SWAP is the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program, created by Congress in 1996. It is a program designed to identify potential threats to drinking water sources. Through this program, Massachusetts is developing a SWAP report and map for each public water system. This report describes the potential threats to the public water system and also recommends strategies to protect drinking water locally. The SWAP report is meant to be a planning tool to help protect our public water supplies. There are four steps to the SWAP program: 1. Identify and map the water protection area, 2. Inventory the land uses in those areas, 3. Determine the susceptibility of the land use to polluting the water and 4. Publicize the results. Certain land uses could compromise the quality of drinking water supplies. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has ranked pesticide storage or use, dairy farms, livestock operations and manure spreading or storage as a high potential threat to drinking water supplies. Lawn care, fertilizer storage and use, nurseries, and composting facilities have been ranked as moderate threats.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is developing an education program to teach farmers about best agricultural practices and how these practices can be used to protect drinking water supplies. The goals of the program are to explain SWAP, address why it is important and try to help the farmers protect our water resources. It will also provide information on where technical and financial assistance can be obtained. A brochure and reference manual for farmers to learn more about SWAP will be available by December 15th. The other side of the education program is geared towards the Public Water Suppliers for each system. The goals of that program are to help the water suppliers understand agriculture and what is considered general agricultural practices. Information will be provided to teach them how to work with farmers when dealing with these issues. For more information please contact Angie Moschini, SWAP Coordinator from MDAR at amoschini@earthlink.net or by calling (413) 262-1816.

WATER QUALITY AND QUANITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDING AWARDED

Twenty-four farmers were awarded funding that totaled $175,000 through the Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP). The competition was stiff since 79 Applications requesting $822,884 were received. Examples of projects that received funding include: pumps for tailwater recovery ponds, drip irrigation systems, pesticide storage building, compost pad and flumes.

The purpose of this program is to assist farmers in Massachusetts to improve water quality and conservation measures on their farm. Funding is made available for installing best agricultural practices. For more information, look on the DAR website, www.mass.gov/agr and search under Programs for AEEP, or call the Coordinator, Susan Phinney at 617-626-1772.

ASSISTANCE TO ENCOURAGE AGRICULTUAL COMMISSIONS RECEIVES FUNDING

The Department just received word from the Massachusetts Office of Coast Zone Management that it was awarded a $32,600 Coastal No-point Source Pollution Grant. The goal of the project is to assist municipalities in the coastal watersheds (approximately the eastern one-third of the Commonwealth) with their management plans for growth by working to connect municipal officials and farmers with available resources that strengthening the agricultural sector’s environmental stewardship of their land. Reaching this goal will be accomplished by introducing a new and unique planning tool called an agricultural commission. DAR will be hiring a contractor to implement this grant. The application period for this position closes June 15, 2004. For more information, call the Coordinator, Susan Phinney at 617-626-1772.

According to the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association Executive Director Tom McCrumm, "Massachusetts had a very successful sugaring season, with excellent flavor and lots of Grade A Light Amber syrup being made. I expect that the USDA Maple Crop Report will show well over 40,000 gallons of syrup made in Massachusetts this year, with close to 70% of it being Grade A Light."

For most producers the season started about March first and ended early the first week of April. Twice during the season sap runs of extremely high volumes were experienced, with some producers getting a quart per tap per hour, totalling over 3 gallons of sap per tap for the extended run. www.massmaple.org.

Farmers' Markets Seeking Vendors for upcoming Season

For the following markets contact the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers' Markets, 781-893-8222 or thefmfm@speakeasy.net:

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is once again making space available at no charge to local farmers to sell their produce, as well as made in Mass. products at all 11 of their service areas along the Mass Pike. All products that do not compete with the businesses that operate within the service plazas will be considered. This season's markets will open May 13 and continue through the Fall. For more info., contact David Fenton at 781-431-5192 or dave.fenton@mya.state.ma.us.

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Chef Myron Becker joins the rank of "Celebrity Chef" by winning first prize in Japanese Rice Cooking Contest in New York

Congratulations to Chef Myron Becker, owner of Myron's Fine Foods, Inc. of Orange, MA producers of CHEF MYRON'S sauces, took first prize at the Japanese Rice Cooking Contest held at Metropolis Studios in New York City held last fall. Chef Myron was one of three finalists invited to compete in the contest after his winning recipes were selected from applicants all over the U.S. Chef Myron's first prize included an all-expense paid trip for two to Japan this past March for a cooking event in Tokyo.

The contest is part of a 90 minute documentary surrounding Japanese rice in the United States produced by NHK Educational to be broadcast in Japan to over 10 million viewers.

Organic Certification Costs Can be Reimbursed to Certified Organic Farms and Processors

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources sources has received funding from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to reimburse certified organic farmers and certified organic processors up to 75% ($500 maximum) of total certification costs.

These funds are available to farms and/or processors inspected and certified and/or inspected and receiving renewal of certification between October 1, 2003 and September 30, 2004. Applications for reimbursement are due by October 15, 2004.

The cost-share program aims to assist eligible organic crop, livestock producers and food processors in transitioning to the National Organic Program and to provide an incentive to adopt the national standards.
For a copy of the organic certification cost reimbursement application please contact Ellen Hart at (617) 626-1742 or email at ellen.hart@state.ma.us. For questions regarding the certification process or to apply to be certified organic, contact: Baystate Organic Certifiers, Don Franczyk Certification Administrator at 978-297-4171.

A Salute to New England
Specialty Foods

A Salute to New England Specialty Foods will be held Friday, October 1, 2004, at the Massachusetts Building at the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E), West Springfield, Massachusetts during the 17 day fair. You’re invited to sample and sell on the front lawn of the Massachusetts Building as part of the Salute to New England Specialty Foods. There is no cost to participate, but you must bring EVERYTHING you need for your exhibit - tables, décor, coolers, tents, etc.

October may seem a long way off - but if you can soon commit to A Salute to New England Specialty Foods, The Big E public relations staff will send out targeted press releases to local newspapers promoting your company’s participation. You can also be apart of the advertising in the official Big E program book. Check your schedule and make plans to attend.

To sign up or for additional information contact Bonita Oehlke - 617-626-1753 - Bonita.Oehlke@state.ma.us

Scholarships Available

The Western Massachusetts Trustees of the Eastern States Exposition Grant Fund Committee is pleased to announce, again, this year, that the committee intends to award scholarships to Western Massachusetts residents that have been involved with activities at the Eastern States Exposition. The intent of the Committee is to award scholarships to students that in various ways throughout the years have been involved with activities at the Exposition with a high emphasis on agricultural participation.

Record $15.75 Million in Patronage Dividends to First Pioneer Customers

First Pioneer Farm Credit, ACA, the northeast's largerst agricultural lending cooperative, recently paid a record $15.75 million in dividends to borrowers in six northeastern states.

More than 8,000 farms and other agricultural businesses in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island received dividend checks in the mail. The dividend is being paid as 60 percent cash and 40 percent as ARE (Allocated Retained Equity) in the cooperative. the combined value of cash and ARE is equivalent to 0.95 percent on the average interest rate paid in 2003.

First Pioneer has paid patronage dividends for eight consecutive years, which adds up to more than $95 million of profit sharing with its customer-owners. The program was first adopted for 1996 earnings, and the first dividends were paid in February 1997.

Chairman John Lombardi, Jr., of Waterford, CT, explains, "First Pioneer's interest rates are very competitive with other lenders. If we keep credit quality sound and operate efficiently, then we can earn a profit. We keep a portion of those earnings to capitalize our business and return the rest ot stockholders as dividends."

Lombardi added, "The dividend effectively reduced member loan rates by close to a full percentage point. This is an ongoing track record of trust between the cooperative and our members. Our customer-owners know that First Pioneer is committed to charging competitive rates and then paying a significant share or earnings back as dividends."

First Pioneer Farm Credit extends more than $1.8 billion in loans from 15 local offices in its six-state service area. In addition to providing loans and leases to members, the organization offers a full range of agriculturally specific financial services for businesses related to farming, horticulture, forestry and fishing. A 14-person Board of Directors from across the northeast lead First Pioneer. For more information, please visit at www.FirstPioneer.com.

Cranberry Farm Tour &
Celebration Tour

The Cranberry Farm Planning Program will celebrate its 10th year with a tour of cranberry operations in southeastern Massachusetts on June 11th. Cranberry operations to be visited include: Edgewood Trust Queen Bog, Carver, A.D. Makepeace Company, Wareham and Parker Mills, Wareham. Growers will speak about and demonstrate their conservation plans and members of the cranberry industry will be recognized for their conservation efforts.

The Cranberry Farm Planning Program was started to meet the growing demand for conservation farm plans in the commonwealth’s cranberry growing counties. Pilot funding came from the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association annual dues, matched by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

For more information, contact Linda Rinta at the Plymouth County Conservation District, 508-295-5495, ext. 111 or Diane Baedeker-Petit at USDA-NRCS, 413-253-4371.

UMass Extension
IPM Scouting Workshops

Learn how to put IPM practices to work efficiently. Join us in a walk through the landscape for demonstrations of IPM tools and techniques, as well as a close look at some of the most common cultural problems and troublesome insect, mite, and disease problems. Topics to be discussed and demonstrated include using plant phenology, monitoring techniques, and using growing degree days to effectively manage pest problems.

* Scouting for Pests and Problems of Turf and Woody Ornamentals

This year's workshops will have a somewhat larger turf component than in the past. 2 Pesticide contact hours for categories 29, 36, 37, and Applicators License available. ISA, MCA, MCH, and MCLP credit requested.

    Choose one of three locations, 5 to 7 pm.
        June 3   - Bridgewater
        June 10 - Hathorne (Danvers)
        June 24 - South Hadley

For more information, contact Ellen Weeks of the UMass Extension Landscape/Nursery/Urban Forestry Program at (413) 545-2685 or www.UMassGreenInfo.org

An Evening on Cut Flowers

Tuesday, June 22, 2004
3:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Andrew's Greenhouse, Southeast St., Amherst, MA

Are you growing cut flowers for a farmers market or retail stand? If so, then plan to join the UMass Extension Floriculture team for a tour of Andrew's cut-your-own annual and perennial gardens, Amherst on Tuesday, June 22nd from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Discussions will focus on soil fertility and pest management for cut flowers. After dinner, Dr. Susan Han will demonstrate the proper harvesting stage and handling procedures for field-grown cut flowers to maximize their keeping quality.

Andrew's Greenhouse is a first generation greenhouse and cut flower business located on a 150 acre farm in South Amherst. Registration is $35. For more information contact Tina Smith at tsmith@umext.umass.edu, 413-545-5306 or Paul Lopes, lopes@umext.umass.edu, 508-295-2212 ext. 24.

If you would like a complete program announcement see http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/ and click on upcoming events.

New web site up and running!

www.MassachusettsFarming.com is a new website with the intent to serve the entire farming community of Massachusetts. The site will include an events calendar, farm listings, news, links and much more! The site is hosted by Ed Bourgeois a sheep farmer from Amherst and the site design is being done by Mary Hager a farmer and web designer from Wendell. Please stop in and visit soon. A contact link will be on the site for any comments and questions. Contact Ed Bourgeois at 413-253-7985 if you have any questions.

NEWS FROM USDA

USDA Announces Availability of $22.8 Million for Energy Improvements

The USDA has recently announced the availability of up to $22.8 million in fiscal 2004 competitive grant funds to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy improvements for agricultural producers and rural small businesses. Rural Development grant funds may be used to pay up to 25 percent of the eligible project costs, with half of the funds available for renewable energy systems and the other half for energy efficiency improvement projects. Applications for renewable energy systems must request from $2,500 to $500,000, and applications for energy efficiency improvements must be for $2,500 to $250,000. Applications must be sent to the appropriate USDA state office and postmarked by July 19, 2004.

Web Sites Offer Grant Shopping

A federal government web site offers information about finding and applying for all federal grant programs. As of November 7, 2003, all 26 federal agencies must post all competitive grant opportunities to the site, creating a centralized way to find and apply for over $360 billion in grants awarded annually through 900 programs. The site includes a feature for subscribing to receive grant announcements. The web page of the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service provides links to wide-ranging funding opportunities for projects in sustainable agriculture and rural development. The listing includes notices of funding availability issued by federal, regional, state, and local agencies, as well as private foundations and organizations.

Agricultural Management Assistance Funding in Massachusetts Announced

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has announced the release of $14 million in 15 states for Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) for fiscal year 2004. Massachusetts has received $377,000 in AMA funding. The AMA helps producers adopt conservation practices and investment strategies that will reduce or mitigate risks to their agricultural enterprises.

“This funding strengthens USDA efforts to help producers comply with environmental standards and encourages sound conservation on America’s working land,” Veneman said.

AMA, administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is a voluntary conservation program available in 15 states where participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program is historically low. These NRCS state offices will receive AMA funding that will provide cost-share assistance to agricultural producers to address risk management concerns linked to water management, water quality and erosion control issues.

NRCS determines the amount of funding for each state by using a formula that consists of ranking factors of natural resource concerns and that is weighted to meet national conservation objectives of the program.

For more information, contact your local NRCS office or USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or on the Web at http://offices.usda.gov. Additional information about NRCS programs can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.

USDA Announces Availability of Electronic “Customer Statement”

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has announced the availability of an electronic Customer Statement, as part of USDA’s electronic government (eGovernment) initiative. The Customer Statement allows USDA customers to view:

---Participation and application status in various conservation programs.
---Payments associated with commodity and conservation programs.
---Information on farm loans.
---Conservation plan and land unit information.

The Customer Statement will be a focal point for providing agricultural producers access to their USDA information and facilitating online business with USDA. To view a Customer Statement, visit www.usda.gov and click on the Customer Statement button.Veneman said that in the future farmers will be able to cross-reference that data with interactive maps of their operations using geographic information systems, or GIS, technology with overlays for roads, soil types, water and other geographic features. New features will be added to the Customer Statement as they are developed. Security is a key feature of the Customer Statement. Through the use of a USDA ID, only users will be able to see statements and business transactions with USDA. "eGovernment solutions will be a major focus for USDA this year.” said Veneman. “Our goal is to operate more efficiently in order to be more responsive to the needs of American agriculture and consumers.

The Customer Statement is a major accomplishment towards this goal by making available a wide range of USDA services and programs through a single report at the fingertips of agricultural producers." USDA’s eGovernment initiatives will standardize processes and provide tools to unleash the fuller potential of information technology. In January, USDA unveiled a new design of the USDA website, which is the first phase in efforts to make the website more powerful and accessible to USDA information and science. Features will continually be added throughout 2004, culminating in August with the launch of 'MyUSDA.gov' to provide a customized version of the USDA homepage for individual users based on their unique needs.

USDA ANNOUNCES CROP INSURANCE DEADLINE FOR MASSACHUSETTS NURSERY

Massachusetts nursery producers should be aware that the final date for a new applicant to apply for insurance on nursery for 2004 is May 31, 2004, according to the Raleigh Regional Office, USDA Risk Management Agency. New applications for crop year 2004 may be accepted until May 31, 2004, with coverage beginning 30 days after receipt of your signed application. The premium for a new policy is prorated according to the month coverage begins. Applications accepted after May 31, 2004, will not begin coverage until October 1, 2004.

For existing policies, coverage automatically attached on October 1, 2003. The insurance year runs from October 1 through September 30. Crop insurance provides protection for field-grown and containerized nursery plants against losses due to adverse weather conditions, fire, failure of irrigation water supply, wildlife and delay in marketability of plants resulting in reduced plant value. Insurance premium subsidies have been significantly increased in recent years, particularly at the higher levels of coverage. Producers are strongly urged to contact a local crop insurance agent as soon as possible for a premium quote and additional details. For a list of crop insurance agents in your area, contact the local USDA Farm Service Agency office or logon to the following Risk Management Agency web site: http://www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents/

Summer "pasture walks" to focus on benefits of grazing livestock

Massachusetts farmers interested in learning about the benefits of grazing livestock are invited to attend a series of pasture walks this summer to meet fellow graziers, improve skills, and learn from other's experiences. Pasture-based grazing offers farmers economic, animal health and labor benefits over feeding livestock grain-based feed. And there is growing consumer interest in products from grass-fed animals.

Grazing systems must be managed properly, however, to achieve the benefits. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the New England Small Farm Institute, and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, are sponsoring these pasture walks to help those who are relatively new to grazing management, though all are welcome.

Following is the summer pasture walk schedule. The summer sessions will be followed by a fall workshop (date to be announced) to examine some of the theories and techniques.

For more information, contact: Barbara Miller, USDA-NRCS, 413-253-4380; Sue Ellen Johnson, NESFI, 413-323-4531; Larry Shearer, SARE, 413-624-3978; or your local NRCS field office. To find your local field office or USDA service center, visit www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov.

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Classified ads are accepted free-of charge on a first-come basis. Limit: 25 words. Be sure to include a phone number. No display ads will be accepted. Only one ad per business/individual per issue, unless space permits. Ads may run in consecutive issues, space permitting. Ads must be of interest to Massachusetts farmers. The Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources reserves the right to refuse any listing it deems inappropriate for publication.

E-mail, fax or mail ads to: Farm & Market Report, Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114, fax: 617-626-1850, e-mail: Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us

CALENDAR

About the Farm & Market Report

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, Governor
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary
Department of Agricultural Resources, Douglas P. Gillespie, Commissioner
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1700, fax 617-626-1850
www.Mass.gov/agr

To unsubscribe or change your address, send an e-mail message to Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us or call 617-626-1759.

Next Issue to be published for June/July. Please send news, calendar and/or classified information by June 30th to Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us or fax to 617-626-1850.

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Massachusetts Department of
Agricultural Resources

Farm & Market Newsletter

Vol. 81, No. 2 , April / May 2004

In this issue:

Commissioner's Column

Department's Website name
has been updated