Mass.gov
   
Mass.Gov home Mass.gov home get things done agencies Search Mass.Gov
Mass Dept of Food & Ag About DAR Mass Ag Facts/Stats Agricultural Events DAR Regulations DAR Bureaus DAR Publications DAR Funds/Grants Contact DAR What's New at DAR Search DAR DAR Site Map DAR HOme DAR Home

Administration Home

News Room

Facts & Stats

News Releases

Newsletters

Publications

Contact

Massgrown HomePage

 

Massachusetts Department of
Agricultural Resources (MDAR)

Farm & Market Report

Vol. 82, No. 2 , March / April 2005

In this issue:

LOCAL NEWS

NEWS FROM USDA

IN EVERY ISSUE

COMMISSIONER'S COLUMN

Agricultural Commissions: An Idea Whose Time Has Come!

by Douglas P. Gillespie

At our farm, the daffodils are trying desperately to poke through the remaining snow, but in other areas of the farm there is plenty of mud, so Spring must finally be here! A sure sign of Spring in Massachusetts is Town Meeting season, and this year agriculture is at the forefront of debate at many Town Meetings.

At least twenty-six towns are voting this Spring on whether or not to establish an Agricultural Commission as a voice for farmers at the municipal level. We currently have 14 Agricultural Commissions already in operation, so these new votes represent a substantial opporunity to expand the presence and keep the momentum. Agricultural Commission votes will occur (to the best of our knowledge) in Adams, Alford, Boxford, Brewster, Carver, Chesterfield, Colrain, Cummington, Falmouth, Hardwick, Holliston, Middlefield, Montague, North Andover, Northfield, Oakham, Richmond, Shelburne, Sheffield, Southampton, Sunderland, South Deerfield, Sudbury, Topsfield, Westford and Weston.

As you can see, the list includes municipalities in all parts of the state. If your community is on the list (or we've missed it!) I hope that you are involved in the effort to proactively address farm issues at the local level. If your town is not moving ahead in this effort, seek out a town near you and learn about the Agricultural Commission concept, and start the campaign in your town. MDAR has staff and consultants ready to assist you, and several organizations are partnering in this endeavor.

Several towns are also voting on establishing a Right to Farm bylaw. These include Hancock, Hardwick, Middlefield, Orange, Shelburne, South Deerfield and Weston. MDAR has worked with the Attorney General's office and the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation to create a model bylaw for towns to consider. The bylaw restates farm protections that exist in various state laws, and adds notification provisions to remind residents that the town is a right-to-farm community. Advocates for bylaws should be careful to make sure that the local bylaw, if modified, does not conflict with state law, or it could be disallowed when the Attorney General reviews bylaws passed by Town Meetings. Better to have us take a look in advance, if changes are being considered!

Much of the campaign support for Agricultural Commissions, as well as the model Right-To-Farm bylaw, can be found on our home website at www.mass.gov/agr.

Seldom is there such an opportunity for farmers to be proactive to ensure their future at the local level. I encourage all of you to get behind this effort, as decades from now you will reap the benefits.

Best wishes for a successful Spring season! Doug

[back to table of contents]

Farm Viability Enhancement Program taking applications

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.

Administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, 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 $20,000 up to $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.

A Request for Response (application) will be announced and made available in early April. Applications will be available at the Department’s Office in Boston, or on line at the Agricultural Resources 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 to submit applications is 4:00 P.M., Thursday, June 30, 2005.

[back to table of contents]

Environmental Quality Improvement Funding: It’s Growing!!

The Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP) divided the $350,000 available for the fiscal year 2005 into two application periods. The first closed in November 2004, the second round closed April 1.

Twenty-one farmers were funded in round one to install $200,000 worth of best management practices. For the first time in the Program’s history, two shellfish growers were funded. Both will be converting their two-cycle outboard motors to more fuel-efficient four-cycle engines. The existing motors are required to be donated to a qualified non-profit of Massachusetts state educational institution, to recycle the motor and render it out of service. The other nineteen farmers were funded for a variety of practices including: a solar hot water system for a greenhouse grower, pesticide storage sheds for vegetable growers, drip irrigation systems for vegetable and fruit growers as well as manure storage pits and heavy use pads for livestock producers.

Growers were funded in the following counties: Barnstable (1); Berkshire (1); Bristol (3); Dukes (1); Franklin (3); Hampden (1); Hampshire (5); Middlesex (1); Plymouth (4) and Worcester (1). The following agricultural industries were funded: Cranberry (4); Livestock (10 -predominantly dairy farmers); Shellfish (2); and vegetable/fruit (5).

[back to table of contents]

Farmers’ Markets Seeking Vendors for '05

  • Adams, Wednesday, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Contact Emma Morin, 413-743-5613, Seeking eggs, breads, baked goods
  • Ashfield, Saturdays, 8:30 am– 12:30 pm, Contact Amy Klippenstein, 413-625-0011 or amy@greenspacecollaborative.com. Seeking cheese, whole grain breads, tree fruit other than apples.
  • Auburn, Saturdays, 9:30 am – 2:00 pm, Contact Ray Samek, 508-867-7363.
  • Ayer, Saturdays, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm, July 30 to October 29, Contact Ruth Rhonemus, 978-772-5890 or ruth_rhonemus@netzero.net, Seeking fruit, vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, baked goods, honey, tasting opportunities.
  • Barre, Saturdays, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, May 7 to October, Contact Lisa Holloway, 978-355-0140 or lisa_d_Holloway@yahoo.com, Seeking produce.
  • Brockton/Downtown, Friday afternoons, Contact Jeff Cole, 781-893-8222 or jeff@massfarmersmarkets.org.
  • Brookline, Thursdays, 1:30 pm – dusk, June 16 to October 27, Contact Arlene Flowers, 617-566-8005, Seeking vendors from June 16 to July 14.
  • Charlestown, Wednesdays, 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm, July 20 to end of October, Contact Colleen Justice, 617-241-8866.
  • Chelmsford, Thursdays, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm, July 7 to October 20, Contact Chris Laughton, 978-251-4001 or chris@laughtonnursery.com
  • Easthampton, Tuesday, 2:30pm–6:30pm, May 3 - Oct. 25, Contact Jane Pepin, 413-527-5989, Seeking fruit.
  • Fitchburg, Tuesdays, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and Fridays, 8:45 am to Noon, Contact Clayton Ayotte, 978-597-6995, Seeking fruit.
  • Framingham, Wednesdays, 3pm – 6pm and Saturdays, 9:00 am – Noon, Contact Joe Pratt, 508-435-4147. Seeing vegetables and fruit.
  • Haverhill, Saturdays, 8am – 1pm, July 9 to October 29, Contact Stephanie Lesiczka, 978-373-4377, Seeking eggs, cheese, breads and specialty products.
  • Holden, Tuesdays, 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Contact Jacqueline Marsh, 978-874-0244.
  • Hopkinton, Fridays, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm, June 24 to October 15, Contact Beth Mezitt, 508-435-6335 or bethm@westonnurseries.com, Seeking produce vendor and ethnic greens.
  • MA Turnpike Markets, Various locations at 11 service areas along MA Pike, Opening May 19, Contact David Fenton, 781-431-5192 or dave.fenton@mta.state.ma.us.
  • Melrose, Thursday, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, Contact Sally Frank, 781-324-9648 or sallywallace@comcast.net, Seeking eggs, poultry, cheese and preserves.
  • Middleboro, Saturdays, 9am – 1pm Contact Donna Blischke, 508-866-7799 or dblischke@adelphia.net, Seeking fruit, berries and bread.
  • Natick, Saturday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, Contact Debra Sayre, 508-653-6596 or debra@sayre.com, Seeking value added/novelty products.
  • North Adams, Contact Everett Randall 413-743-3111 or Rod Bunt, 413-664-6180 or tourist@bcn.net.
  • North Easton, Tuesdays, 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Saturdays, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, May 17 to October 29, Contact Jean Crandell, 508-238-6049, x10 or jdewatnart@aol.com, Seeking cheese and bread
  • Orleans, Saturdays, 8:00 am – Noon, May 21 to October 8, Contact Gretel Norgeot, 508-255-8374 or greteln@capecod.net, Seeking produce
  • Pittsfield, Wednesdays only, Contact Ken Wirtes, 413-499-1012. Seeking maple syrup, cheese, asian produce.
  • Plymouth, Thursdays, 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm, Contact Barbara Anglin, 508-732-9962 or sgardener@aol.com, Seeking small organic growers and food crafters such as cheese, tarts and pies made with local produce, earth based artisans, as well as seafood and other meats
  • Quincy, Fridays, 11:30 am – 5:00 pm, Contact Anneli Johnson, 617-479-1601 or annelijohnson@netzero.com. Seeking eggs, cheeses, flowers, plants, tree fruit.
  • Roslindale, Saturdays, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, Contact Janice Williams, 617-327-4065 or rossie@verizon.net
  • Roxbury/Dudley Town Common, Thursday, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Contact Danielle Andrews, 617-442-1322 or dandrews@thefoodproject.org, Seeking vegetables, fruit, baked goods, honey
  • Sheffield, Fridays, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Contact Sandra Snyder, 413-258-3397 or phoenixpharm222@earthlink.net, Seeking fruits, maple syrup, produce
  • Springfield/Tower Square, Fridays, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, June 3 to September 30, Contact Synthia Scott Mitchell, 413-263-6500, X 6518 or synthiam@springfieldpartnersinc.com
  • Sturbridge, Thursday, 11:00 am – 3:30 pm, Contact Andy O’Keefe, 508-753-7761, Seeking vegetable farmer and auxiliary products.
  • Topsfield, Saturdays, 7am – Noon, Jane Cook, 978-922-1648, Seeking vegetable and fruit growers.
  • Williamstown, Saturdays, 8:00 am – Noon, Contact Anne Guzzi, 413-458-3365.
  • Waltham, Saturday, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm, Contact Marc Rudnick, 781-899-5344 or wfm@inspectorhomes.com, Seeking turkey vendor.
  • Worcester Westside, Mondays, 9:30 am –2pm, June to October, Contact Andy O’Keefe, 508-753-7761, Seeking vegetables and auxiliary vendors.

Proposed New Markets:

For more information on selling at farmers’ markets contact David Webber at 617-626-1754,david.webber@state.ma.us.

[back to table of contents]

MassPike seeks to harvest new crop
of growers for its farmers’ markets

Outdoor markets in service areas to open next month.

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is seeking farmers and specialty food purveyors to sell their home-grown produce and made-in-Massachusetts products at farmers’ markets along the MassPike this year.

“This is a great opportunity for growers and food item producers to meet the marketplace. We have 11 service areas along the turnpike, and each one of them sees hundreds -- if not thousands -- of visitors stopping in every day for food, refreshments and fuel,” said Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew J. Amorello.

“I hope farmers are able to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to present their high quality items to a vast audience,” Amorello said.

On a first-come, first-served basis, complimentary vending space is made available at the service areas located on the MassPike. Farmers can sell their goods as long as they do not compete with the businesses that operate within the service plazas in Lee (2), Blandford (2), Ludlow (2), Charlton (2), and one each in Westborough, Framingham and Natick.

Last year’s series of farmers’ markets was one of the most successful in recent years, with four food growers or producers selling their products and produce at service areas in Blandford, Charlton and in Westborough.

This will be the third year that Frank and Kay Magrone of Shaker Kitchen in Athol have sold their food products on the Turnpike at the Charlton eastbound service plaza. “The market offers a great location with many travelers. The Turnpike is helping to keep travelers safe by providing an opportunity to take a break in a safe environment at the farmer’s market,” said Kay Magrone.

Susan and Peter Allison of Thoreau Foods in Boxborough sold their food products in Westborough and will return this year. “Last year, we had a great experience with the location signage and the level of support from the whole MassPike crew, and we look forward to an even better year,” Susan Allison said.

John Kelly of Kelly Green Acres Farm in Blandford sold freshly grown vegetables and fruits in the westbound service area in Blandford throughout the summer. He will be back again this summer in what is his only retail location.

“I give it the highest endorsement,” said Kelly, whose farm is off a 2.5 mile long dirt road, but is just 12 minutes from the Blandford Service Plaza. “To have the opportunity to serve customers on the busiest road in the Commonwealth is a privilege. We have found it is profitable and fits into the schedule of the things we grow,” he said.

The markets are scheduled to open in late May. For more information, contact program coordinator Dave Fenton at dave.fenton@mta.state.ma.us or at 1-781-431-5192.

[back to table of contents]

The Bus is Here, Now What?
Providing Educational Experiences for
Kids on Your Farm

PROJECT SEASONS WORKSHOP May 15-16,2005

For years, farmers have been hosting school-aged children on their farms during school trips and open houses. For many of the kids those few precious hours on the farm are the only exposure they may get to agriculture and its importance. So, how do we fill that time with fun and memorable learning experiences?

Shelburne Farms would like to invite you to join us this spring to share and discover exciting hands-on ways to develop agricultural education programs for school groups with time-tested and kid-approved easy-to-use activities from Project Seasons. Project Seasons is a collection of seasonal, interdisciplinary activities and teaching ideas developed by teachers and agriculture educators over the past 20 years for pre-K and elementary students. Through investigation and hands-on activities, students discover the agricultural and ecological world around them.

Shelburne Farms has been offering this type of workshop to teachers for many years. Over that time, we have had more and more farmers and agricultural educators joining the teacher workshops. So, this May’s Project Seasons workshop is designed intentionally for the Farmer.

The two-day workshop is $150 which includes materials, meals, and one overnight stay at the Inn at Shelburne Farms. For more detailed information or to register for Project Seasons and the workshop offering for May 15-16, 2005, please call Dana Hudson at (802) 985-8686 ext 25 ordhudson@shelburnefarms.org.

[back to table of contents]

SEMAP B2B Network
Now Accepting Members for 2005

Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) is now accepting members in its 2005 Business-to-Business Network , which will connect local growers with restaurants, caterers, schools, and other buyers interested in easy access to fresh local foods. The B2B Network will create new opportunities for local food buyers to take advantage of the many quality crops and specialty food products produced in Southeastern Massachusetts.

“There is great interest by the food service sector in providing fresh local fare to their customers.” says Cindy Scheller, SEMAP Business-to-Business Network Coordinator. “However, as busy as everyone is, it is not always easy to find exactly what you are looking for or who has what. Our Business-to-Business Network will help with this on a weekly basis.”

The SEMAP B2B Network is off to a great start this year, with over 40 buyers and producers from Woonsocket to Provincetown currently signed up. Membership is free and open to all growers/producers and buyers in Southeastern Massachusetts (Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Plymouth Counties) and nearby Rhode Island communities.

For more information or to sign up, contact Cindy Scheller at caddisco@verizon.net or 508-642-9004.

All participants in the SEMAP B2B Network will be included on SEMAP’s B2B webpage (www.umassd.edu/semap/b2b.cfm) and receive an updated 2005 SEMAP B2B Directory listing all participating growers and buyers, their key products/needs, and contact information. In addition, beginning in May and continuing throughout the growing season, a Weekly Produce Update will collect information on available products from Network growers and distribute this information directly to participating buyers. From that point, a simple phone call from buyer to grower can put a transaction into motion.

B2B Network participants will also have access to assistance from SEMAP’s B2B Coordinator, Cindy Scheller, who is available to help Network members connect with new buyers/suppliers, follow up on leads, and arrange meetings. Additional networking opportunities and workshops are planned for the future.

[back to table of contents]

SEMAP Workshops

One-on-One Consultations on Farm Business Topics

Tues. April 5, between 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

UMass Dartmouth Continuing Education Center, FALL RIVER
Advance Registration Required.
Presented by SEMAP and USDA Risk Management Agency

Do you have questions about your farm business that you would love to ask an agricultural advisor in a confidential setting?

Here’s a great opportunity to speak with a professional advisor in a one-on-one session in one of several topic areas.

  • This is an individual consultation, not a workshop or group setting
  • The agenda for the discussion is yours
  • There is no planned presentation
  • The consultation is confidential
  • The consultation is free of charge

The topics are:

  • Estate planning and farm transfer issues -- FULL
  • Tax planning
  • Record keeping and accounting
  • Borrowing and credit
  • Crop insurance
  • Business planning and business structure

The sessions will be held between 8:30 am - 3 p.m in three locations:

April 5, 2005 at the UMass Dartmouth Fall River Campus in partnership with SEMAP.
April 6, 2005 at the Clarion Hotel in Northampton in partnership with CISA
April 7, 2005 at the Eastover Resort in Lenox in partnership with the Berkshire Conservation District
You must sign up in advance to reserve up to two one-hour slots (on different topics). Be prepared with two or three specific questions for the advisor when you reserve. For more information, contact Kathy Ruhf at 413-323-9878 or kzruhf@verizon.net. Call 413-323-4531 to reserve your session(s).

Directions: http://www.umassd.edu/directions/fallriver.cfm

Workshop - The Financial Bridge:
Make Your Schedule F work for you

Wed-Fri, April 6-8, 6:00-9:00 pm

UMass Dartmouth Continuing Education Center - NEW BEDFORD - $75 (fee will cover two people from one farm)
Advance Registration Required. Presented by the Massachusetts Department of Ag Resources.

“The Financial Bridge” for Farmers needing more from their Schedule F
You do a Schedule F for the IRS....now make it work for you!

The objective of the course, developed over the past 3 years by MDAR, is to create an easily understood and customized cash flow forecast for your farm using the IRS Schedule F that farms already complete.

Using the Bridge planning tool package (consisting of a workbook, Excel spreadsheet templates and an example farm) and your Schedule F tax returns for the past three years, the course will include:

  • Orientation to the New Bedford DCE computer training lab
  • Basic training in the use of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (“Excel 101”)
  • The components of cash flow and why you need to track them, using the workbook
  • Review of a sample farm’s completed Bridge worksheets
  • Loading of your farm’s Schedule F information into the Bridge templates, for your own use only.
  • Creation of a cash flow forecast and net worth statement for your farm (confidential)
  • The use of Excel to create instant “what if” scenarios for various decision points and/or events from the basic cashflow forecast
  • A better understanding of the use of simple spreadsheets in your business planning and tracking

You will take home the results of your course work and the Bridge planning tool package in both hard copy and electronic format. You can easily continue to use this package with your schedule F each year.

The pilot class is limited to 12 farm businesses (more than one person from a farm can attend). Each farm will have its own computer for the sessions. The $75 fee covers site costs, instruction, materials and take-home software disk.

Instructors: Rick Connole (MDAR farm business planning consultant) and Michael Griffin (Professor of Accounting and Finance in the Charlton College of Business, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth).

To register, call Maria Lomba, UMass Dartmouth Division of Professional and Continuing Education – New Bedford, 508-990-1160 (mlomba@umassd.edu). Ask for Course Number PRD659-91. Directions: http://www.umassd.edu/directions/newbedford.cfm

[back to table of contents]

Massachusetts Wool wanted for 2006
Heritage Wool Blanket

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) is looking to purchase white and colored wool from Mass. sheep farmers. The wool will be used in the 2006 Heritage Wool blankets.

Wool needs to be bagged and delivered to CISA's South Deerfiled's office by the 1st week of May. Farmers will be paid 35 - 65 cents per lb. for the wool, and will be able to purchase blankets at wholesale to raise money for their farms.

To see pictures of last years products, visit www.heritagewool.com. For more info., contact, Mark Lattanzi 413-665-7100, mark@buylocalfood.com.

[back to table of contents]

Starting out in Aquaculture: Free Workshop

A workshop to learn about cage culture will be held on April 9 from 9 am to 12 pm in Room 119, Agricultural Engineering Building, at UMass Amherst. The workshop will cover pond characteristics; permit regulations, fish species, cage construction and aquaculture maintenance. Keith Wilda, aquaculturist for UMass Extension and Australis Aquaculture, will conduct training.

The workshop is free to anyone who pre-registers. Walk-in participants are welcome, but will be charged $10. To pre-register, call Craig Hollingsworth at (413) 545-1055 or email chollingsworth@umext.umass.edu, and leave a mailing address and other contact information.

Individuals with appropriate ponds can join the UMass Extension Farm Pond project this summer. Growers will receive testing of their pond water, materials and instructions to build a trout cage, and 100 fingerling trout in return for a $100 fee and by agreeing to complete a survey at the end of the project.

Farm ponds need to be a minimum of 8 feet deep, minimum of 5000 square feet of surface area (100' x 50'), have vegetation in or around ponds edge, be spring or brook fed year round and meet water quality standards, determined by water testing performed by the project. A questionnaire is available upon request to help determine whether a farm pond is suitable for trout growth. Contact Craig Hollingsworth at (413) 545-1055 or email chollingsworth@umext.umass.edu.

Keith Wilda is primary aquaculturist for the UMass Ext. Aquaculture Team - 413 522 7099, Kwilda@umext.umass.edu.

[back to table of contents]

Compost Operator Assistance to Farms

Massachusetts DEP's Consumer Programs recently received a $74,000 grant from the US EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge Innovative Workgroup committee to assist in developing a food residual recycling network in Massachusetts. 

The grant will pay to promote composting of food residuals, by providing compost operator assistance to farms and commercial composters.   Additionally, grant monies will be used to expand upon an existing DEP program that provides supermarkets assistance in setting up organics recycling programs. 

If your farm or composting facility is interested in receiving technical assistance in the area of sourcing feedstock's, materials handling practices, proper equipment use, recipe development, environmental controls, community relations, regulatory interactions and end product marketing, in relation to food residual recycling, contact Sumner Martinson at sumner.martinson@state.ma.us, to see if you are eligible.  

[back to table of contents]

Caution urged to dairy farms and other livestock farmers on EPA’s air emissions consent agreement

On January 31, 2005, the EPA issued a Notice in the Federal Register describing an Air Compliance Agreement into which animal feedlot operators may enter. Noting that it had authority require animal feedlot operators to monitor and to comply with applicable federal laws, the EPA has found this difficult and too time consuming. Therefore, animal feedlot operators may voluntarily sign an air compliance agreement to assist the EPA in achieving its objective of bringing animal feedlot operators into compliance with federal laws regarding air emissions. The notice provided a thirty -day comment period and sixty days for animal feedlot operators to sign the agreement.

Two key aspects of this agreement need highlighting. First, animal feedlot operators who sign the agreement would be required to pay a civil penalty. Second, by signing the agreement, a livestock farmer would commit to paying a share of the cost of a livestock farm air emissions monitoring study. The results from the study would be used to formulate regulations for permitting purposes.

Commission Gillespie submitted a comment to the EPA requesting an indefinite suspension of the implementation of this voluntary program “until such time as the EPA clearly identifies the implications of air emissions from livestock farms, and livestock farmers have had opportunity to learn more about the issue.” As a result, of the comments received, the EPA extended the comment period to May 1, 2005 and the deadline for signing the consent agreement which is now July 1, 2005.

To view the Consent Agreement and submit comments click here.

For further information, please contact Bill Gillmeister at DAR, (617) 626-1811.

[back to table of contents]

Informational Meeting - EPA Air Emission Compliance Agreement for Livestock Operations

Litchfield County Extension Center, 843 University Drive, Torrington, CT, April 7th, 7:30 pm and April 8th, 1:00 pm.

What is it?
EPA has been sued by environmental groups in Federal Court for not enforcing provisions of the the Clean Air Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) against farms for emissions of toxic or hazardous substances. Ammonia, Volatile Organic Carbons, Hydrogen Sulfide, and Particulate Matter (dust) are all specifically listed. When EPA said it would now be looking to enforce these laws the national livestock organizations said The agreement is EPA's response EPA and livestock organizations (National Milk Producers, National Cattlemen's Assoc., National Pork Producers, Poultry Producers and others) have developed this agreement to bring farms into compliance with current air quality laws.

Each of these laws have provisions that farms may be violating without knowing it. The intent of these informational meetings is to inform farmers of the existence of the Agreement, provide education on the provisions of the laws, and answer questions you may have on whether your operation will be affected.

[back to table of contents]

Carribean hospitality, restaurant and institution buyers to Boston on June 6th.

Take this opportunity to tackle the Carribean’s tourism industry and meet with foodservice buyers from Jamaica and Barbados.

A Buyer's Mission will be held in Boston, MA on June 6th for one day only.

Buyers are looking for specialty foods, fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, dairy products, seafood, and meat and poultry. One-on-one matching meetings with buyers will be set up for you based on your selections from the buyer's descriptions.
For more information please contact Bonita Oehlke bonita.oehlke@state.ma.us from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

[back to table of contents]

2005 Asparagus & Flower Heritage Festival

Currently looking for exhibitors and vendors interested in participating in this years event.  Join your neighbors, local growers, artisans and businesses on the West Brookfield Common on Saturday, May 21, 2005 from 10am-4pm (rain date, May 22nd).  Help us celebrate Spring, Mother Nature and our Heritage.  Vendors and exhibitors are required to have nature, garden or heritage related products or displays.  Applications and more information can be obtained by contacting Amy Dugas @ 508-867-5428.  Spaces are limited so apply soon. 

[back to table of contents]

Massachusetts Flower Growers Association offer Scholarship

The Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association announces their annual scholarship program. Depending on length of study, the Association awards up to $4,000 to a student interested in college level courses in floriculture, horticulture or related agricultural sciences.

Applications are available at high school guidance offices in Massachusetts and/or by contacting the MFGA office at 781-275-4811. Applications must be submitted by May 15, 2005.

[back to table of contents]

Middlesex Conservation District Tree, Shrub and Perennial Sale

The Middlesex Conservation District will be holding its annual Spring Tree, Shrub and Perennial Sale on Friday, April 22 from 3-6pm, and Saturday, April 23, from 8 - 12 noon.

The sale will be held at the 4H Fairgrounds on South Chelmsford Street in Westford, MA. Offerings will include evergreens, trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers, fruits and hardgoods such as compost bins, fertilizer tablets, kitchen scrap buckets and compost cow manure.

As a special feature, the HERB FARMacy of Salisbury will present two walks on herbs (growing herbs and preserving your herbal harvest) on Saturday at 9am and 11am. They will also be selling a wide variety of certified organic herbs.

For more information, contact Frances Gillespie, Plant Sale Coordinator, 978-692-9395.

[back to table of contents]

New Agriculture Tourism Map now available

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) unveiled the new Agriculture Tourism Map at Agriculture Day at the Statehouse in March 10th. The map lists 295 Massachusetts farms that offer "Ag-tivities" for the whole family.

It was produced by MDAR with with funding from USDA Rural Development Agency, along with in-kind support from Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game.

To order a copy of the map(s), email your address to:
agtourism.map@state.ma.us.

If you were not listed and would like to be listed on our list of Agri-tourism farms on-line, please contact Rick LeBlanc at 617-626-1759, or email Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us.

[back to table of contents]

NEWS FROM USDA

Secretary designates two counties as primary natural disaster areas

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reviewed the Damage Assessment Reports, along with the additional information submitted by the State Executive Director, Farm Service Agency (FSA). Based on review, USDA has determined and designated Hampden and Hampshire Counties, Massachusetts, as primary natural disaster areas.

In accordance with section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, Berkshire, Franklin and Worcester Counties are named as contiguous disaster counties.

For more information contact your local FSA office.

[back to table of contents]

USDA Announces up to $5 Million in Financial Assistance for Targeted States

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the availability of up to $5 million to help agricultural producers purchase crop insurance in 15 historically underserved states. USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) will provide financial assistance to producers under the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program, authorized by the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA).

"Crop insurance is a vital part of risk management in agriculture," said Johanns. "These funds will help and encourage farmers in underserved states to use crop insurance to manage their price and production risks."

This assistance will be in addition to the subsidy already authorized in the Act. Funding will be provided through USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation. Policies eligible for this additional funding include all buy-up policies for the 2005 crop year having sales closing dates on or after February 10, 2005, and acreage reporting dates before September 30, 2005 in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Nursery policies signed on or after February 10, 2005 and meeting all the nursery rules and regulations will also be eligible for this assistance. This assistance is not available for catastrophic risk protection policies or for those insured under the Livestock Risk Protection and Livestock Gross Margin plans of insurance.

No additional application is required to be eligible for this assistance. The funding will be automatically applied to all policies meeting the criteria.

For specifics on targeted States assistance, refer to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Manager's Bulletin located on the RMA website at http://www.rma.usda.gov/news/managers/2005/pdf/mgr-05-002.pdf

[back to table of contents]

Protecting the Food Supply from Intentional Adulteration:
an Introductory Training Session to Raise Awareness

To help reduce the risk of an attack on the food supply, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have joined forces to provide a food security awareness training program.

The training targets individuals who play an important role in defending our nation's food from attack: federal, state, local, and tribal food-industry regulators, school food authorities, and nutrition assistance program operators and administrators. Representatives from the food industry and individuals essential in responding to a food emergency due to an  intentional attack-such as law enforcement, public health, and homeland security officials-are also encouraged to participate.

The program, which was developed jointly by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and Agricultural Marketing Service and HHS' Food and Drug Administration, is available to any interested individuals free of charge in three formats:through a Food and Drug Administration website; at face-to-face training courses offered across the country; and on a CD-ROM for limited distribution.

Contact Hour Certificates will be available to any participant, regardless of the course format. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available through the FDA website for FDA, State, Local and Tribal regulators who successfully complete the course. The details of the three formats are discussed below.

On-Line Course
The on-line course is being hosted by FDA at the following website: http://www.fda.gov/ora/training/orau/FoodSecurity/default.htm.
It is available worldwide at that site free of charge to anyone interested in learning more about food security. Please contact Sebastian Cianci at (301) 436-2291 or Sebastian.Cianci@cfsan.fda.gov for more information.

Face-to-Face Training
Face-to-face food security awareness training is being offered across the country. This session will provide general information about the roles of various agencies in protecting the food supply from intentional contamination, vulnerability awareness, and cooperation of government personnel and other involved parties at the federal, state and local level. The course lasts approximately six hours (8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and is free of charge. Space will be limited and registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please contact Anne Roberts via email (roberta@saic.com) or telephone (202-488-6609) for further details regarding the face-to-face training. The scheduled local meeting is in Boston May 19th, with registration due May 6th, 2005.

[back to table of contents]

USDA announces Conservation Security Program sign-up in two Massachusetts Watersheds

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that selected watersheds in Berkshire County and Essex County are among the 202 watersheds nationwide to be included in the Conservation Security Program (CSP) in 2005. Farm owners or operators who have land in the selected watersheds may be eligible to apply for CSP during the sign-up period that runs now through May 27, 2005.

The purpose of CSP is to reward the best conservation farmers for their stewardship efforts and motivate others to become good stewards of the land. CSP, part of the 2002 Farm Bill, was introduced last summer in 18 watersheds nationwide. This spring marks the first opportunity for Massachusetts farmers who practice good soil and water conservation to participate.

The CSP sign-up process requires farmers to conduct a self-assessment to determine on their own whether or not they are eligible for the program. Information on the CSP program, including maps of the selected watersheds and links to the self-assessment workbook, are available on the NRCS Massachusetts website at www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp.

Farmers who believe that they may be eligible for CSP should contact the local NRCS office for Berkshire County at 413-443-1776 or Essex County at 978-692-1904 to get details on and reserve a spot at one of several upcoming informational meetings and/or workshops.

[back to table of contents]

Get Massachusetts Conservation News in your Inbox

You’re invited to subscribe to the Massachusetts Conservation Connection, a bi-monthly e-newsletter published by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Massachusetts state office. The newsletter features brief news items on federal conservation programs, conservation district activities, meeting and event notices, conservation success stories, and news from NRCS’s partner organizations. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to diane.petit@ma.usda.gov, or to see past issues visit the NRCS Massachusetts website at www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov/news.

[back to table of contents]

IN EVERY ISSUE

CLASSIFIED ADS

  • Wanted:  Looking for the following equipment to set up a small farm: a used tractor (solid mechanical, age or looks not important),with mower and other implements, metal or wood chicken roost, grape and apple press and any related implements and containers.  Other implements also welcome.  Maybe you have some of these things in your barn and you wish to clean out.   Please let me know what you may have. I appreciate it! Dave Ten Eyck,
    deteneyck@hotmail.com, 781-953-0007.
  • Job Opportunities at Atlas Farm - Atlas Farm is a small family farm located in South Deerfield, MA. Owners Gideon Porth and Sara Coblyn have been working in agriculture since 1996 and share a deep commitment to sustainable farming. Grow a wide variety of certified organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers and sell our products direct to consumers at farmers' markets throughout Massachusetts. Sell wholesale to area restaurants and grocery stores throughout the season. Hiring for 4 positions (Full-time Farm Assistant, Part-time Farmers’ Market Assistant , Full-time Field Worker, Part-time Field Worker) for the 2005 season.  For more information and to apply, please contact Gideon at 413-695-2728 or at gideon@atlasfarm.com.

  • Job Opportunity at Tower Hill - Children’s Education Coordinator: Tower Hill Botanic Garden seeks a self motivated, experienced professional with background in vegetable gardening. Duties & Qualifications: BS in Horticulture or equivalent, working with children and adults in an educational setting plus. Excellent writing, teaching, computer and communication skills are necessary. Position hours are 30 hours Apr-Sep, 20 hours Oct-Apr, $13 per hour, Works closely with education Director. Send resume and cover letter to Business Manager, Worcester County Horticultural Society, 11 French Drive, PO Box 598, Boylston, MA 01505-0598.

  • For sale: Farmstand Business and/or equipment: Scales, register, countertop, baskets, boxes etc...508-487-4551.
  • Empire Packaging Company - A full line of wholesale and retail packaging for the farm & orchard. Serving New England since 1989. (508) 426-7813
  • OnTheFarm consultants provide assistance in planning and problem solving to those involved in the animal industries including producers, municipalities, governmental agencies and the legal profession. Bill Graves and Bob Duby, 413-369-4679 or onthefarm0248@msn.com.
  • Need help on the farm? Massachusetts farmers can place a free help-wanted ad in THE CARETAKER GAZETTE. Just email caretaker@caretaker.org or call (830) 336-3939.

How to Place a Classified Ad

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

[back to contents]

CALENDAR

[back to contents]

About the Farm & Market Report

Published bi-monthly by:

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 St., Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1700, fax 617-626-1850
www.Mass.gov/agr

This publication is available in alternate formats upon request.

Next issue to be published for May/June. Please send news, calendar and/or classified information by May 20th to Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us, or fax to 617-626-1850.

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

Sign up to receive the Farm & Market Report via e-mail (send blank email)

Easy-print version of this issue 

   
DAR Privacy Policy DAR legal disclaimer