LOCAL NEWS
NEWS FROM USDA
IN EVERY ISSUE
The Katrina-Rita one-two punch has dealt a destructive blow to the Gulf States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. The impacts of these two storms are not limited to the immediate area of the storm, for as we have come to learn, the Gulf of Mexico is a critical link in the nation’s energy supply.
Katrina alone, shut down nearly 11% of the Nations already strained refining capacity and approximately 30% of domestic oil production. Nearly half of the refining capacity has been restored. Before landfall, Rita posed a significant threat to the significant refining capacity in the Houston, Texas area, which accounts for 25% of the nation’s refining capacity. The Energy Information Agency (EIA) of the U.S. Department of Energy, reports that Rita shut down only 10% of that capacity. Overall, the current refining capacity remains down by 15%. Natural gas production has also been significantly impacted. Both hurricanes have shut down nearly 25% of U.S. natural gas production, a critical input to nitrogen fertilizer production.
The obvious short-run impacts of these losses will be to increase fuel and other energy related costs. Diesel fuel prices jumped 33 cents a gallon in New England from a weekly average of $2.65 just before Katrina made landfall to $2.98 a gallon afterward. Before Rita entered the Gulf region, fuel prices had retreated to a weekly average of $2.80 a gallon. While the damage from Rita to oil platforms is still being assessed, the diesel fuel price roller coaster has already begun to rise with the EIA reporting for the week ending 26 September 2005 that diesel fuel prices in New England have risen to $2.86. They will likely rise further before additional refineries come back on line which will eventually lead to a downward trend in prices.
In a post-Katrina assessment, the EIA has estimated three different assessments of the recovery time required to bring refineries, platforms, and other oil and refining capacities back on line. They estimate that full recovery will likely take no more than two or three months. They have not reported their post-Rita assessment, but that assessment will likely push the recovery period out an additional month or two.
While the hurricane impacts on oil and energy production will be short-lived, the long-term structure of the oil and energy markets will continue to keep fuel and other energy related costs high. Oil demand from the growing economies of China and India has placed upward pressures on oil prices since oil supplies have not kept pace with demand. These market conditions have existed for the past 12 to 18 months and will likely remain until oil production is expanded to meet the increased demand.
Of all the impacts that the hurricanes of 2005 will have on agriculture, high fertilizer costs will likely be the longest lasting and have the greatest impact. Nitrogen production is heavily dependent on natural gas. The demand for natural gas has increased as more electricity generating plants turn to the cleaner burning fuel for power generation due, in part, to government programs that have placed stronger incentives on power plants to use natural gas. At the same time, however, government leasing of offshore natural gas supplies could limit the production of natural gas. All this spells higher prices for nitrogen. Since 25% of the natural gas production in the U.S. is in the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane impacts will likely be a bit more long lasting. The extent of that increase is difficult to determine but since 70 to 90% of the cost of nitrogen fertilizer production is natural gas, the increases will likely be significant.
Consumer demand is the third major concern. With increased energy bills, consumers may be expected to reduce spending. The Consumer Confidence Index for September, a measure of consumer expectations and confidence about economic conditions of the next six months, dropped to 86.6, the lowest since 2003. Gas and fuel prices were the primary concerns. With consumer confidence at such a low, consumers may begin price shopping rather that quality shopping. For Massachusetts farmers who are increasingly relying on retail demand to extract higher value for their production, a consumer shift away from value added products could hurt these efforts.
However, many economists appear confident about consumer spending. On 20 September 2005, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee, the committee that establishes interest rates for overnight loans among banks, stated, “While these unfortunate developments [associated with Katrina] have increased uncertainty about near-term economic performance, it is the Committee's view that they do not pose a more persistent threat. Rather, monetary policy accommodation, coupled with robust underlying growth in productivity, is providing ongoing support to economic activity. Higher energy and other costs have the potential to add to inflation pressures. However, core inflation has been relatively low in recent months and longer-term inflation expectations remain contained.” The Federal Reserve views events such as Katrina and Rita as transitory and not likely to influence the underlying strength in the economy. Growth will clearly slow due to the hurricanes, but most economists expect such a dip to be short lived. Therefore, in the short-run Massachusetts consumers may pull back on spending, but in the longer run they will return to seeking the high-valued products of Massachusetts farms. But as farmers in Massachusetts know, patience is a virtue.
[back to table of contents]
The winning photos from this year’s Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar Photo Contest have been selected and published in the 2006 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar. The calendar, published by Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, features a winning photograph each month, plus several honorable mention winners in selected places.
Winners were honored in a ceremony on at Massachusetts Day, September 22,
at the Eastern States Expostion (The Big E), in front of the Massachusetts
Building. Massachusetts Commissioner of Agricultural Resources Douglas
P. Gillespie awarded the winners with certificates. Each winner also received
two tickets to the The Big E and two complimentary calendars.
The 2005 Massachusetts Agriculture Photo Contest winners are:
- January: James DiCentes, Leicester, Photo: Johnson Farm, Leicester
- February: Ian Ralph, Charlton City, Photo: Llamas at Benson Farm in Rochdale
- March: James Burns, W.Concord, Photo: Harvard Maple producers
- April: Jeanine Vitale, Northboro, Photo: Horses at South Mill St. Farm,
Hopkinton
- May: Fran Charron, Hatfield, Photo: Yellow Lily at Smith College Spring
Bulb Show, Northampton
- June: Tami Kokoski, Hadley, Photo: Kaci with Glowbug at the Three County
Fair, Northampton
- July(and Cover): Derick Veliz, Acton, Photo: Verrill Farm, Concord
- August: Dwight Sipler, Stow, Photo: Honeybees at Small Farm, Stow
- September: Karen Cook, Amesbury, Photo: Peaches at Cider Hill Farm, Amesbury
- October: Fran Charron, Hatfield, Photo: Pumpkins at Malinowski Farm, Hatfield
- November: Barbara Meredith, S. Carver, Photo: Cranberry Harvest at Rocky
Maple Bogs, Wareham
- December: Dwight Sipler, Stow, Photo: Hay tedder at Small Farm
Honorable Mentions:
- Elizabeth Knight, Newburyport, Photo: Three spotted pigs, Colby Farm
- Georgeann Dufault, S.Deerfield, Photo: Mother alpaca Emma with day old,
Cria at Northeast Alpaca Farm, Whately
- Cheryl Parabicoli, Leominster, Photo: Tulip, Shirley
- Tami Kokoski, Hadley, Photo: Molly sleeping w/Cora at Three County Fair
- Patricia Norton, Boylston, Photo: Farmstand at Overlook Farm, Brookfield
- Karen Cook, Amesbury, Photo: Tomatoes at Cider Hill Farm, Amesbury
- Robert Willis, Wilbraham, Photo: Apples at Rice Fruit Farm, Wilbraham
- Ryan Voiland, Granby, Photo: Red Fire Farm, Granby
- Nel Sogoloff, Ipswich, Photo: Ornamental kale at Gordon Greenhouses, Ipswich
The winning photos portray local farms and products throughout the seasons. The calendar also includes Massachusetts agriculture facts, conservation facts, agriculture and horticulture related events and websites, and a chart showing when local crops are in season.
Calendars may be purchased for $10 each ($5 wholesale for 10 or more. We encourage farmstands and farmers markets to sell them).
Proceeds will benefit Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, a non-profit
organization that works with teachers throughout the state in developing
classroom materials. Send a check payable to Massachusetts Agriculture
in the Classroom with your name and address to: Calendar, Massachusetts
Agriculture in the Classroom, c/o Debi Hogan, PO Box 345, Seekonk, MA 02771.
"This calendar will educate consumers about the rich diversity of agriculture in the Bay State," said Douglas P. Gillespie, Massachusetts Commissioner of Agricultural Resources. "I'm sure folks will enjoy viewing these attractive pictures throughout the year while learning about farming in Commonwealth."
“The Massachusetts Agriculture calendar also offers people an opportunity to learn about conserving natural resources on a farm and in their own backyard,” said Cecil B. Currin, Massachusetts State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. “I’m happy that NRCS was able to partner with the state ag department and Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom on this educational project.”
[back to table of contents]
Need help sorting those piles into meaningful information and making informed plans for the future? Applying for a loan or state/federal grant program. Need to explain your plans to a business partner, family member or regulatory agency? Ready to face a smaller pile next year? Gather with your peers for a few evenings in a friendly setting with professional guidance and develop some measurable plans for your farm enterprise!
For now, just tell us of your interest and where you are located! Sessions
will be held where there is the most interest – tell us now and we may
come to a site near you.
MDAR will offer four learning formats in 2005-06.
1) For Experienced Farmers - The acclaimed 11 session (one per week) NxLevel course “Tilling the Soil of Opportunity” – successfully completed by over 230 MA ag businesses in the last seven years – will return with our experienced Instructor and team of topic experts. Limited to twelve already-working farms, this course runs January-early April. Last year, we did this course on the Vineyard. This year, we are deciding about possible sites in Western and/or South Central MA. Fee is $300 per business including all materials and individual follow up technical assistance. Signup is in December, with the course slated to begin in mid January.
2) For New Farmers - MDAR can partner with the New England Small Institute to offer their 4 session (one per week) “Explorer” course for those contemplating or just beginning a new farm enterprise. Limited to 12 new/entry farmers, NESFI teaches this course in Belchertown at their home location. MDAR is making it available in other locations around the state where there is interest. Fee is $150 per business. This course can start whenever and wherever there is sufficient demand.
3) For Ag Businesses seeking a boost - MDAR is currently piloting a new “Cluster” approach to farm business development, which will be ready this winter for broader use. Limited to 10 well-developed existing ag businesses, this format starts with a facilitated monthly group meeting, interspersed with separate bi-monthly meetings of each participating business’s “advisory board”. This board, which will be formed as part of the cluster program if you don’t currently have one, includes all key decision makers in each farm business – and is also facilitated by the Cluster Coordinator. The group meetings use the peer resource to focus on and solve common issues, and then the individual meetings of the farm boards will deal with private implementation of plans and problem solving one-on-one. The Coordinator for this effort has extensive experience using this model with small businesses in RI and MA, and has made a specialty of working with farms. Fee is $400 per business. We will pick a location based on interest and begin in early winter.
4) For Farmers needing more from their Schedule F - MDAR has developed and tested a unique financial and business planning tool known as “The Financial Bridge”. It starts from your existing IRS Schedule F (the farm tax form) and uses simple worksheets and an experienced instructor to develop meaningful financial statements and analysis tools for your ag enterprise. You will attend 3 working sessions, and then receive a workbook and software disk to make the forms interactive based on simple spreadsheets. The sheets work with each other automatically – a change on one line in one form makes the appropriate changes to all the other forms without separate entries. Items carry over from year to year. We will use a simple computer lab for the trainings so we can all learn together and from each other. To use this tool, you must have farm, home or public access to a Windows based computer with Microsoft Office/Excel. This is a much simpler and more intuitive tool than learning a full accounting program, and we give you the Bridge software and workbook, which will work with your schedule F each year going forward. Visits to your accountant and tax preparer will be shorter, more useful and cheaper! Family meetings will be better informed. Limited to 10. Fee is $75.
The fee for each of these formats is significantly subsidized by MDAR and its regional partners. We have found that farm businesses prepared to make at least this small investment in planning and analysis have then made the commitment to get the most out of the time involved. We can discuss some accommodation if the cost is a serious barrier.
November and December is when we must decide whether to hold these courses or not – and where. Each course and location has a registration minimum, so we need to hear from you no later than early November. Please call or email NOW to make your interest known. Name, address, phone and which type of session(s) interests you most. We will send you an application and additional information.
Contact: Rick Chandler, MDAR, 25 West Experiment Station, UMass, Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: 413-577-0459, rchandler@umext.umass.edu
[back to table of contents]
The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and Massachusetts Water Resources
Commission have released a draft of the Massachusetts Water Conservation
Standards for public review and comment. The standards address water use
by various sectors including agriculture and landscaping. The document
is available at the following website address:
http://www.mass.gov/envir/mwrc/docs/draft_water_
conservation_standards_092205.doc
Public hearings will be held in October in Boston and Worcester. The schedule
for publication is as follows:
- October 20 - Public Hearing at EOEA, Conference Room 2D, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston. 10am to noon.
- October 27 - Public Hearing at DEP, 621 Main Street, Worcester. 10am to noon.
Comments should be sent to Vandana Rao at
vandana.rao@state.ma.us
[back to table of contents]
Nov. 4-5, 2005 , Thompson Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H.
Co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Farmers' Market Association, UNH Cooperative
Extension, New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Association and the Office
of Sustainability Programs, University of New Hampshire. Topics include
update on the EBT program, liability insurance and risk management, board
governance, strategic planning, business planning including pricing of
product, farmers' market as economic multipliers, national policy initiatives
and research, communication, and an open session for participants to discuss
next steps. For more information, visit www.nafdma.com/FMC, or contact Ed Maltby or Nora Owens at fmc@nafdma.com or 413-529-0386 ext. 14
[back to table of contents]
The full bounty of New England's harvest is hitting the markets. That means
it's time for the 4th annual "Savor the Seasonings" benefit dinner,
coming up on Monday, October 17th at 6:30 pm at Flora restaurant in Arlington. Mark your calendars and tell
your friends, because this will be an unforgettable meal. Chef Bob Sargent
of Flora will prepare a fall feast of New England grown products benefiting
The Federation of Massachusetts Farmers' Markets (FMFM).
For $125 per person, you can support local farmers while enjoying a four-course
meal showcasing their wares. The menu will include River Rock Farms' of
Brimfield, natural beef, Mamashoe Farm's organic pork, and New England
cod cakes, along with local bread and cheese, sweet corn chowder, roasted
beet and goat cheese salad, fresh vegetables galore, and raspberry-apple
crumble with homemade ice cream. Flora is located at 190 Massachusetts
Avenue in East Arlington, less than a block from the Capitol Theater. You
can learn more about the restaurant at www.florarestaurant.com.
To purchase tickets, e-mail FMFM Office Coordinator Greg Bodine at staff@massfarmersmarkets.org, or call (781) 893-8222. We hope to see you there!
[back to table of contents]
The farm to school sales market in Massachusetts seems to be taking off!
Across the state schools have begun clamoring for “local” and many schools
want to buy directly from a farm.
The Worcester public schools served fresh local corn on the cob and local tomatoes at 51 schools last fall as they kicked off their local foods initiative. They’ve been serving local items on their menus ever since. In addition to regular local products purchases, the Chicopee schools made blueberry smoothies with berries they purchased in season and froze and also served rhubarb crisp and fiddleheads this past spring. In the Maynard schools, homemade soup is popular and in the winter it’s made with lots of locally grown root vegetables.
As of September, at least 20 public school districts are purchasing locally grown produce directly from Mass. farmers. The list includes places like Middleboro, Medfield, Waltham, Newton, Somerville, Stoneham, Shrewsbury, Leominster, Orange, Amherst, Belchertown, Holyoke, and Westfield. Private schools are interested, too. For instance, Milton Academy has purchased shares from a nearby CSA and the Fessenden School in Newton is in its 4th year of focusing on locally grown foods in its menus. Many colleges, such as UMass-Amherst, Williams, and Smith, are responding to student interest and have greatly increased their purchasing from farms in their areas. Other school systems, like Worcester and Cambridge, or colleges like Harvard or College of the Holy Cross are successfully ordering locally grown foods from their distributors, sometimes even insisting on products from one specific farm!
Farmers selling to schools report they are happy with the prices they’re getting and schools have been very pleased with the freshness and taste of local products. Farms which sell fruit, especially apples or berries, as well as vegetables, seem to be able to maximize the profitability of school sales. Issues such as delivery times, number of stops, and minimum order size have to be worked out in advance, with seasonality and availability of products that schools desire also being important factors.
Here are a few school systems that are still looking for a farm connection:
Pittsfield, Marilyn Wiley 413-448-9608; Granville Village School, Yvette
Andrews 413-357-6628; Hamilton-Wenham Regional, Catherine Donovan 978-468-5327;
Marblehead Charter School, Bill Idell 781-631-0777; Hampden-Wilbraham Regional,
Julie Dougal 413-596-9011, Ware, Jeffery Nichols, 413-967-5977.
MDAR’s Farm-to-School Project consultant, Kelly Erwin, is available to help Mass. farmers link up with schools. Upon request she will make initial calls to schools, get information about a school’s purchasing potential, outline school foodservice issues, etc. She also has “locally grown food served here” posters to share with schools once they begin to buy from Mass. farms. She can be reached at 413-253-3844 or kelerwin@localnet.com.
[back to table of contents]
Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Pioneer Gardens, Inc, Deerfield, MA
9:00 AM - 3:45 PM
Sponsored by: University of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Flower Growers Association
Growers of greenhouse crops are invited to attend the Fall Flower Grower's Program at Pioneer Gardens Inc. Deerfield, MA. The program will include a tour of Pioneer Gardens, full-day educational program and catered lunch. The morning session will focus on energy conservation and alternative fuel for greenhouse production. The afternoon session will include marketing, customer service and displaying for retail sales. There will also be a session on worker protection standards and what to expect from an inspector’s visit. Pioneer Gardens is a wholesale herbaceous perennial plant producer with forty acres of field grown perennials and 72,000 sq.ft. of greenhouse perennial plug production, that produces more than 300 varieties of plants. For more information contact: Tina Smith, 413-545-5306 tsmith@umext.umass.edu, or Paul Lopes, 508-295-2212 ext. 24, lopes@umext.umass.edu.
Click here for Registration and Details
Greenhouse Tomato Conference
Thursday, November 10, 2005
9:00 AM – 4: 30 PM
Tolland County Agricultural Center, 24 Hyde Ave (Route 30), Vernon CT
Sponsored by: University of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts , Northeast SARE
Come hear Vern Grubinger, from University of Vermont speak on Organic Greenhouse Production , Cathy Thomas from PA Department of Agriculture speak on Biocontrol of Insect Pests , John Bartok from University of Connecticut speak on Selecting the Best Structures, Environmental Controls and Energy Conservation Measures , Richard McAvoy from University of Connecticut speak on Managing Light, Temperatures and Nutrients for Maximum Yields , Rob Wick from University of Massachusetts speak on Greenhouse Tomato Diseases and their Management . Three contact hours toward pesticide recertification have been approved for this conference. Learn more about the new technique of grafting to increase yields and tips on marketing greenhouse tomatoes from a grower panel.
For more information contact: Tina Smith, 413-545-5306 tsmith@umext.umass.edu, or Paul Lopes, 508-295-2212 ext. 24 lopes@umext.umass.edu. Click here for Registration and Details.
[back to table of contents]
Maintaining Environmentally Sustainable Landscapes: Training for Green
Industry Professionals
November 3, 2005
Protecting Watersheds from Landscape Chemicals
9:30 am to noon
Location: Regis College, Weston MA
Ron Kujawski - UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program
If used in the wrong place at the wrong time, landscaping chemicals can
harm the environment. Understand the use, movement, and fate of pesticides
and fertilizers and how they can potentially pollute our water resources.
Learn control strategies for pests and disease that are not harmful to
watersheds, such as prevention, cultural practices, and use of biorational
controls.
2 pesticide contact hours available for categories 29, 36, 37, and Applicator's
License. MCH and MCLP credits requested.
November 8, 2005
*Plant Identification
9:30 am to noon
Roberta Clark - UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program
We will cover the basics of plant identification, including terminology
and the use of a dichotomous key, using a lecture/slide presentation as
well as hands-on practice. Participants will learn characteristics of important
landscape trees and will key out several examples of common trees in the
landscape.
*Great Plants for Sustainable Landscapes
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Deborah Swanson - UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry
Program
Sustainable landscapes may often result in conserving waterand in reducing
pesticide and fertilizer applications. Careful plant selection is one of
the cornerstones to creating sustainable landscapes. This workshop will
highlight top sustainable plant choices (trees, shrubs, perennials) for
sun and shade; native alternatives to invasives; and "hot" new
plants worthy of consideration. The wrap-up session will include an outdoor
plant walk for participant discussion of plants on-site. Come dressed for
the outdoors.
Location: Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, MA
Cost: $50each / $90 if signing up for both sessions this day.
Credits: MCH and MCLP credits requested.
November 17, 2005
(See descriptions on November 8)
*Plant Identification - 9:30 am to noon
*Great Plants for Sustainable landscapes - 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Location: Heritage Museum and Gardens, Sandwich, MA
Cost: $50 each half day / $90 if signing up for both sessions.
Credits: MCH and MCLP credits requested.
UMass Extension Landscape/Nursery/Urban Forestry Program, French Hall, 230 Stockbridge Rd., Amherst, MA 01003, Tel. (413) 545-2685, Fax. (413) 577-1620, www.UMassGreenInfo.org.
[back to table of contents]
The Preservation Mass Barn Task Force invites you to participate in its “Preserve Mass Barns!” 2005 Conference. Join us on Saturday, October 29th, from 9AM to 4:15PM at the Doyle Center in Leominster, MA.
The conference this year will focus on numerous topics of interest to barn owners, preservationists and others in need of information on barn repair and construction.
The Preservation Mass Barn Task Force has assembled a roster of acclaimed professionals who will address subjects requested at last year’s conference, including a Historic View of New England Barns, Barn Foundations, Roofing for Barns and Care and Maintenance of your Barn.
Given last year’s successful gathering, this will be an event you will not want to miss! Please watch for registration details by mail or go to “Barn Task Force” on www.preservationmass.org.
Persons interested in reserving display tables to introduce their barn preservation goods or services may contact Erin Kelly at Preservation Mass (617) 723-3383.
[back to table of contents]
The 2006 UMass Winter School for Turf Managers will run from January 2, 2006 through February 16, 2006. Although acceptance to Winter School is determined on a case-by-case basis and not by first-come-first-serve, applications received on or before September 16, 2005 will receive favor over applications received after that date.
Winter School is internationally renowned and geographically diverse.
Established in 1927 by Professor Lawrence S. Dickinson, this course was
the first of its kind and has made an outstanding contribution to turf
management around the world. The Class of 2006 will celebrate as the milestone
75th graduating class (Winter School was on hiatus from 1941-1943). Many
UMass Winter School for Turf Managers graduates hold positions as superintendents
of prestigious golf courses, managers of other fine turf areas and in associated
aspects of the turf industry throughout the United States, Canada, Australia
and Europe.
Winter School for Turf Managers has been approved for: pesticide re-certification
and re-licensing contact hours; 23 Continuing Education Units (CEUs); Education
Points or CEUs according to program standard for the Certified Sports Field
Manager Program; and GCSAA Class A certification or renewal of certification.
Click here for complete information and application.
Contact the UMass Amherst Winter School for Turf Managers, Continuing Education,
100 Venture Way, Hadley, MA 01035, tel (413) 545-0530.
The UMass Extension Turf Program
http://www.umassturf.org
[back to table of contents]
Farmers with 20 acres or more of woodlands will learn how to sustain their
land and increase farm income as a result of a grant won by the Massachusetts
Woodlands Cooperative.
The Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative (MWC) was recently awarded a grant from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). Through this grant, which is a collaboration with Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) and the University of Massachusetts, farmers who own over 20 acres of woodlot will learn about the benefits of sustainable forestry and marketing their forest products through membership in the Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative.
“As a group of landowners working together, the MWC has access to product markets that would not otherwise be available to the small landowner,” says Jay Healy, the Cooperative’s executive director and a member. “Our landowner members can protect the health and value of their woodlots, increase their income from management activities, and support the local economy. We want to help farmers maintain ownership of their farms and woodlots. Income from forestry activities can help. The SARE Program is making this possible.”
As members of MWC, farmers will become part of a business that is interested in promoting long-term forest health and providing a fair return to landowners for their forest materials. Farmers interested in joining MWC will have access to funding to develop forest management plans that meet Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification standards or to upgrade existing plans to this standard – both of which are prerequisites to MWC membership. Once farmers have their FSC-certified forest management plans in place, they may begin marketing forest products through MWC at a 10% increase over prevailing stumpage prices.
The Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative (MWC), with offices in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, is a forest landowner management, processing and marketing cooperative organized by and on behalf of forest landowners in western Massachusetts. The mission of MWC is to maintain the environment and character of western Massachusetts through the protection, enhancement and careful economic development of the region’s forests. All of MWC member properties are Forest Stewardship Council-certified, which is the highest standard of forestry in the world. Currently, the Cooperative has members in several towns in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. The Cooperative purchases logs from members at a percentage over industry prices when harvests are scheduled. MWC manages the value-added production of the logs and markets products including character flooring, grade lumber and post and beam timbers, under the HomeGrown Wood™ brand name.
For more information, contact Kristina Ferrare at the Massachusetts Woodlands
Cooperative at (413) 397-8800 or email kristina@masswoodlands.coop.
[back to table of contents]
Judith Gillan of The New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI) announces
the formation of an “agricultural business cluster” for the purpose of
providing business and technical support to area farmers. Cluster farms
are agricultural businesses that are creating wealth and jobs for their
owners and the towns in which they are located.
According to Rick Chandler, Director of Agricultural Business Training for MDAR, the cluster model supports those agricultural entrepreneurs who have moved beyond start-up stage and are “either cash flowing or about to do so.” Chandler further notes that the program is designed to be an agricultural business–building network. It will operate and collaborate with other organizations that have knowledge and resources that participating farmers can utilize. This core approach involves the rigorous process of building successful agricultural businesses in the face of tremendous odds. It includes business development assistance, emotional support and resource mobilization – all aimed at improving the agricultural entrepreneur’s odds of success while tempering risk. Chandler stresses that delivery of the program is customized to the demands of each individual farm business. After reviewing feedback from this pilot group, MDAR plans to implement Agricultural Business Clusters in other regions of the state where there is an opportunity for forming farmer affinity groups.
According to Gillan, an agricultural cluster is composed of up to 10 emerging
agricultural entrepreneurs who work and learn together to grow and develop
their agricultural enterprises. “This truly is hands-on learning, where
each agricultural entrepreneur’s business experience and participation
becomes a central part of the learning experience” states Gillan.
The program facilitator, Ray Belanger of Fish Park Consulting, will serve as cluster coordinator.
According to Belanger, the cluster coordinator’s role is to facilitate business learning—not to teach business skills. He intends to “use group dynamics to create teachable moments.” His goal is to build a learning network among cluster participants in which each person’s strengths are used to help another’s weaknesses, teaching by example rather than lecturing.
The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) has provided funding for the agricultural cluster.
Currently there are limited slots available in the cluster, which will hold monthly meetings at NESFI, located in Belchertown. To arrange for an interview for participation in the cluster, or for further information, contact NESFI at (413) 323-4531 or via Email at info@smallfarm.org. To suggest another location where an agricultural business cluster might work well, contact the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources at (413) 577-0459 or rchandler@umext.umass.edu.
[back to table of contents]
Winners in nine population categories were announced at the Fourth Annual
America in Bloom (AIB) Symposium and Awards Program on Saturday, September
10, at the Marriott Key Center, Cleveland.
The event was hosted by the 18 northeast Ohio communities, which have participated in AIB since its inception in 2002.
AIB is a national campaign and contest which promotes enhancing communities through beautification. In the friendly competition, communities are matched by population and evaluated on their efforts related to floral displays, urban forestry, landscaped areas, turf and groundcover, tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage conservation and community involvement. Judges visited the communities this summer.
Nearly 50 communities from all regions of the country participated in the fourth edition of AIB. AIB’s 2005 population category winners are:
- 5,000 or less – Lewes, Delaware
- 5,001-10,000 – Meredith, New Hampshire
- 10,001-15,000 – Loveland, Ohio
- 15,001-20,000 – Newburyport, Massachusetts
- 20,001-50,000 – Hudson, Ohio
- 50,001-100,000 – Kettering, Ohio
- 100,001-300,000 – Rockford, Illinois
- 300,001 and greater – Grand Central Partnership – New York City
- • University Campus – Brigham Young University
Eight special awards were presented to communities which received high marks out of all contestants in all population categories. These include:
- Ball Horticultural Co. Floral Displays Award – University of Arkansas-Fort
Smith
- Yoder Brothers Heritage Preservation Award – Eureka Springs, Arkansas
- Project Evergreen Landscaped Areas Award – Westlake, Ohio
- American Horticultural Society Community Involvement Award – Logan, Ohio
- The Scotts Co. Turf & Groundcover Areas Award – Ocala, Florida
- Gardens Alive! Environmental Awareness Award – St Paul, Minnesota
- Planting Pride Magazine Tidiness Award – Bartlett, Tennessee
- Urban Forestry Award – Riverside, California
Plans are underway for the 2006 edition of AIB. Communities can register to enter at www.americainbloom.org.
America in Bloom is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization encouraging nationwide beautification programs, personal and community involvement, educational programs, and the challenge of a friendly competition among participating communities across the country.
The Massachusetts Flower Growers Association(MFGA) encourages growers to work with their towns to apply for next year. The
association helps with splitting the application cost. For more information,
contact MFGA at 781-275-4811.
[back to table of contents]
The Smith family of North Brookfield, Mass., was recently selected as the
2005 New England Green Pastures Dairy Farm award winners for the State
of Massachusetts.
Click here for photograph of the Smith family.
The family received its award at The Big E in West Springfield, Mass. The New England Green Pastures award is given every year to an outstanding dairy farm for each of the New England states. Celebrating over eight decades, The Big E is the nation's ninth largest fair in the United States, with an outstanding lineup of agricultural competitions, exhibits and entertainment for all ages. The Fair continues through October 2.
[back to table of contents]
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing an
early sign-up period for federal conservation cost-share programs to help
Massachusetts farmers address natural resource concerns on their land next
year. Bay State farmers must apply for 2006 NRCS conservation programs
by October 31, 2005.
A conservation plan will be required as part of the application evaluation process. Farmers are encouraged to call or visit their local USDA service center to schedule a time to complete the necessary paperwork and begin the conservation planning process.
USDA service center locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS Massachusetts website at www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov.
With financial and technical assistance from NRCS, farmers and other landowners will promote environmental quality on farmland, address water quality and quantity challenges, and protect valuable wetland ecosystems and wildlife habitat.
“By working in partnership with the NRCS field staff to develop a conservation plan, Massachusetts landowners in communities across the commonwealth are showing that they are good environmental stewards,” said State Conservationist Cecil B. Currin. “USDA remains committed to providing conservation tools and resources to ensure that Bay State land remains healthy and productive.”
Cost-share funding is available through several voluntary conservation programs authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill. Through these programs, landowners may receive up to 75 percent of installation costs for conservation practices, depending on producer, land and practice eligibility criteria. Following is a summary of available programs:
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) – EQIP helps farmers improve production while protecting environmental quality by addressing such concerns as erosion control, prescribed grazing, irrigation efficiency and comprehensive nutrient management planning.
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) – WHIP provides assistance to landowners who want to improve fish and wildlife habitat or restore natural ecosystems on their land.
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) – WRP offers an opportunity for landowners to voluntarily protect, restore and enhance wetlands on their property.
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) – AMA helps farmers adopt conservation practices and investment strategies that will reduce or mitigate risks to their agricultural enterprises. In Massachusetts, cost-share is available to producers for drought mitigation.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. NRCS has seven Massachusetts field offices in Greenfield, Hadley, Holden, Hyannis, Pittsfield, Westford, and West Wareham, which work with local conservation districts and other partners to serve farmers and landowners throughout the commonwealth.
[back to table of contents]
Farmers interested in learning about grazing beef cattle are invited to
attend a free tour of River Rock Farm in Westport, Massachusetts, on
Saturday, October 15. The tour is designed for grazing
enthusiasts and skeptics alike who would like to know more about raising beef on
pasture for a premium market.
The tour will start at 10:00 am at River Rock Farm, 236 Fisherville
Lane in Westport, Mass. The tour is expected to end by noon. Highlights
will include a demonstration of an ultrasound technique for evaluating meat
quality and a discussion of transitioning to organic farming.
The tour is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS), the New England Small Farm Institute, the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education (SARE) program, University of Massachusetts Extension,
conservation districts and local graziers.
For more information, contact Barbara Miller, NRCS, 413-253-4380
or barbara.miller@ma.usda.gov
[back to table of contents]
Internet-based system allows users access to
soil survey information
Massachusetts farmers, conservationists, engineering
firms, and city planners now have quick and easy access to the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s national soils information. The USDA’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service has launched the Web Soil Survey website,
which will provide secure public access to soils data that contributes to every
aspect of public and private land use and development.
"Until now soil survey maps, which help landowners
and land use professionals make informed land use decisions, were only available
in printed form," said Cecil B. Currin, NRCS State Conservationist for
Massachusetts. "Posting soil survey information on-line is one more step in our
effort to make information more accessible to the citizens we serve."
To view the Web Soil Survey website go to http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov.
Soil surveys began in 1899 as part of the nation's
earliest conservation efforts. Known as the National Cooperative Soil Survey, it
has evolved into a partnership of state and federal agencies working together to
collect, classify, interpret and provide soils information.
The Web Soil Survey website has been designed with
three easy to use features – Define, View and Explore – and operates much like
websites that provide driving
directions. When users visit the
web soil survey, they are asked to "Define" a geographic area of interest by
selecting a state and county or just by highlighting an area. Once a location
has been defined and displayed on the screen, the user has the choice to print
the map and related information, save it to their hard drive or download the
data for use in a geographic information system (GIS).
The user can also "Explore" the designated location
for specific information on soil suitability in relationship to usage. This
flexibility provides an opportunity to build a customized report that addresses
the user's individual needs. Information can be delivered in a variety of
formats, including print, CD, DVD or other media.
Prior to the site’s launch all soil survey maps were
printed and bound into soil survey books that were free to the public at local
USDA Service Centers, NRCS field offices and public libraries. The once familiar
soil survey publications will be phased out slowly and the federal government's
initiative of electronic government information (eGov) will replace the printed
publications through the use of this site.
Currently, NRCS has soils maps and data available
online for more than 95 percent of the nation's counties and anticipates having
100 percent in the near future. The site will be updated and maintained as the
single authoritative source of soil survey information.
[back to table of contents]
IN EVERY ISSUE
-
For sale: 6 year old Gurnsey cow and 4 month old half Gurnsey/half Charolais.
Call John Kialey, 781-294-8090, Halifax.
- SITUATION WANTED...mature, responsible adult wants, in NewEngland, farm or greenhouse related work with private apartement or cottage. my email: lmcapecod@hotmail.com, (508) 255-9401.
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,
Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us.
[back to contents]
- September 30, Salute to Specialty Foods, Massachusetts Building at The Big E. Contact: Bonita Oehlke, 617-626-1753, Bonita.Oehlke@state.ma.us
- October 8, 155th Boston Poultry Show, Since 1849, America’s First and Oldest Poultry Show. New Location: Spencer Fairgrounds, Spencer, MA. For information and Show Booklet, contact Stephen Blash, 508-987-8029.
- October 15, Grass-based beef tour, Westport, The tour will start at 10am - noon, River Rock Farm, 236 Fisherville Lane, Westport. Demonstration of an ultrasound technique for evaluating meat quality and a discussion of transitioning to organic farming. Contact, Barbara Miller, NRCS, 413-253-4380,barbara.miller@ma.usda.gov
- October 26 - 29, National Association of Farmers' Markets Nutrition Programs 13th Annual
Conference, Plymouth. Contact: David Webber, 617-626-1754, david.webber@state.ma.us.
- Nov. 4-5, Farmers' Market Coalition Regional Workshop, Thompson Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H. For more info.
visit www.nafdma.com/FMC, or contact Ed Maltby or Nora Owens at fmc@nafdma.com or 413-529-0386 ext. 14
- January 10, 11, 12, 17 & 18, The 5th Annual NOFA Course in Organic Land Care, Doyle Conservation Center at 464 Abbott Street in Leominster. 5-day intensive course trains and accredits professionals to practice organic land care. Contact: Kathy Litchfield, (978) 724-0108, kathylitch29@yahoo.com.
[back to contents]
Published bi-monthly by:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, Governor
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Stephen R. Pritchard, 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 September/October. Please send news, calendar
and/or classified information by September 9th to Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us, or fax to 617-626-1850.
Sign up to receive the Farm & Market Report via e-mail (send blank
email)