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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 individual farm 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 $25,000 up to $75,000 may be available to a farmer to implement strategies from 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.
Any Massachusetts farmer with at least 5 acres of land in agricultural production for the past three years is eligible to apply but greater acreage is more competitive in the farm selection process.
Typical uses of funds from the Farm Viability Program include building or repairing farm structures, modernizing field equipment, delivery vehicles and tractors, improving marketing structures, and purchasing food processing equipment.
Over 300 farms have received business planning and technical assistance from the Program in the past twelve years. The total value of awards to farms in the same time period exceeded $11 million. Over 27,300 acres of farmland has been placed under short-term Agricultural Covenants.
Applications and program information are available by clicking on this link AGR- FVEP-09-16, or online at the Agricultural Resources website www.mass.gov/agr, or you can request a copy of the application by calling the Farm Viability Program at 617-626-1723. The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, June 23, 2008.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 6:30 PM - CISA Offices - One Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield
Please come join Craig Richov and Gerard Kennedy from the MA Department of Agricultural Resources as they provide information on two signature Department programs – the Farm Viability Program and the Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program. Applications will be available.
Farm Viability Enhancement Program – This popular business planning and technical assistance program provides management advice and grants of up to $75,000 to implement farm growth and sustainability strategies. Farm operators not only receive up front cash awards for signing a 5 or 10 year Agricultural Covenant, but also receive valuable consultations and visits from a team of experts to discuss farm production and management, marketing, and business planning. Typical uses of funds from the Program include building or repairing farm structures, modernizing field equipment, delivery vehicles and tractors, improving marketing structures, and purchasing food processing equipment.
Agricultural Environmental Enhancement Program (AEEP) - AEEP provides funding to agricultural operations to help implement conservation practices which prevent impacts on natural resources. Since 1999, the program has funded 237 projects statewide which improve water quality, conserve water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve energy respectively. Examples of funded projects include the installation of animal manure waste systems, pesticide storage facilities, fencing to keep livestock out of wetlands, energy efficient pumps, solar pumps, photovoltaics, trickle irrigation systems, and flumes. Projects are selected based upon their potential to impact the most sensitive resources including drinking water, wetlands, DEP priority water bodies, and ACECs. A maximum of $25,000 per farm is available. Awards are typically in the range from $5,000 to $20,000.
If you can’t attend but still want to learn more about these programs, visit the Department of Agricultural Resources Web Site www.mass.gov/agr or call the Farm Viability Program at 617-626-1723 to request an application, or 617-626-1773 for AEEP. The deadline to submit applications is June 23, 2008 for FVEP and June 30, 2008 for AEEP.
USDA 9006 Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Annual Grant & Grant/Guaranteed Loan Program:
As noted in the last issue of MDAR’s F&MR, USDA’s Rural Development (RD) annual Section 9006 Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Grant & Grant/Guaranteed Loan Program is off and running. This year’s Program has two application rounds, the first completed April 15th, 2008, and the next due June 16th, 2008. The combined Grant/Guaranteed Loan deadline is also June 16th, 2008. The grant will fund up to 25% of total project costs for either energy efficiency or renewable energy projects and can be used in combination with other grants or incentives. Contact your local RD office and/or refer to the following link for more information on this program - www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/03/0072.xml.
New Massachusetts Farm Energy Program (MFEP):
Also as noted the previous F&MR, in conjunction with USDA’s RD 9006 Program noted above, the two year MFEP continues with Phase One devoted to helping provide grant writing assistance for proposed USDA 9006 projects. Originally targeted at projects with total costs of $200,000 or less utilizing the Simplified Application, the program has recently expanded to the Full Application as well, i.e. projects over $200,000. A number of projects are being assisted, ranging from energy efficiency to renewable energy of various technologies. Phase 2 of the two year MFEP, devoted to technical assistance, continues to be developed, planned and organized in parallel to Phase 1, including preparation of an RFPQ/P for engineering consultants, rebate and technical assistance quantification for energy efficiency and renewable energy audits and projects, and overall Phase 2 program design.
Massachusetts Energy Bill:
The MA Energy Bill continues in conference as the state’s Senate and House of Representatives branches of government attempt to come to agreement on and prepare a final version to be sent to the Governor’s office for signature. As noted in previous F&MRs, one of the many new and major provisions of the comprehensive MA Energy Bill deals with modifying the existing regulations on net metering, a modification that would significantly encourage distributed renewable energy implementation, making on-site renewable energy generation more attractive for farms as well. The original Senate Bill included an “Agricultural Net Metering” classification that provides for more eligible renewable technologies, such as anaerobic digesters and biomass, than just wind and PV. Please review this latest Senate Bill as well as the House’s version @ www.mass.gov/legis/ and contact your local representatives with your comments as these two branches of government convene to finalize this effort.
Massachusetts Outdoor Wood Hydronic Heaters (OWHH) (Outdoor Wood Boilers) – New Regulations
New Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations have been drafted for outdoor wood boilers, now referred to as outdoor wood hydronic heaters (OWHH). These regulations have been posted for the public hearing and here are the relevant web links for the documents:
http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/hearings/owbphn.htm - public hearing notice
http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/newregs.htm#owb - the documents
Public hearings are scheduled at 4 locations across the state from June 12th through June 19th. Testimony may be presented orally or in writing at the public hearings. Written comments will also be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on July 3, 2008. If your agricultural business currently relies on outdoor wood boilers, or plans to rely on this technology in the near future, now is your chance to review and comment on these regulations which will take place shortly thereafter.
Massachusetts Bio-fuel Crop Trials
The Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources (DOER), the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) will be working with research professors from the UMass Amherst MA Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences to develop trial crops for switchgrass and crambe. The trials will be directed and project managed by UMass Amherst’s Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences under the direction of UMass Research Professors Stephen Herbert and Om Parkash, and weed extension specialist Randall Prostak.
The intention of both trials is to research the development of a sustainable fuel crop on marginal land, i.e., one not considered a good candidate for food production. Both the switchgrass and crambe trials will be grown on UMass Amherst lands as well as voluntary farms external to Umass who expressed interest in this venture. The intent of including farms external to UMass Amherst is to further those farms interest in alternative bio-fuel crops as well as to provide additional scientific data relevant to various geographies, soil types, etc for the trials. Samples of harvested products on the external farms will be utilized to evaluate a number of plant properties. The switchgrass trial will further the research completed last year. Crambe will be grown for the first time. Switchgrass is a perennial with interest in its cellulosic properties; crambe is an annual with interest in its oil seed properties. A very informative, well attended, one day mandatory orientation workshop took place May 20th, for both switchgrass and crambe, at the UMass Amherst Research and Education Center trial crop farm in Deerfield. The orientation included 8 (eight) farms external to UMass.
$300,000 in Agricultural Marketing Grants Awarded Organizations given funding for innovative initiatives to support local agriculture. MDAR announced recently that nearly $300,000 in grant funding will be disbursed to 36 organizations for innovative marketing proposals under the 2008 Massachusetts Agricultural Marketing Grants program. The Agricultural Marketing Grants are awarded to projects that promote and enhance the Commonwealth’s agricultural industry. This year’s awardees include organizations from across the Bay State – from Nantucket to Great Barrington – that seek to promote long-term viability and vibrancy of the Massachusetts agricultural community through education, new marketing techniques, and promotion of “buy local” initiatives. “The breadth of innovative ideas and overall response was overwhelming,” DAR Commissioner Douglas Petersen said, adding that the Department accepts proposals from agricultural fairs, farmers’ markets, commodity trade group associations, agricultural service organizations and non-profit organizations including agricultural commissions. “From something simple like providing continuing education for Christmas trees growers so they can remain competitive to expanding a farmers’ market in a disadvantaged inner-city neighborhood where there are high rates of hunger, the proposals were inspiring and bring hope for even more great things for Massachusetts agriculture and the local economy in general.” In selecting awardees, DAR looked for projects that met at least one of the following criteria: promotes Massachusetts agriculture; educates consumers about Massachusetts agriculture or products; increases the economic potential of the state’s farming industry; or offers technical marketing assistance to one or more agricultural entities. The department gave special consideration to proposals aimed at contributing to the development of new or alternative agricultural products or pursuits, increasing opportunities for direct sales, and enhancing opportunities for farmer and public participation in Massachusetts agricultural fairs. For a complete list of awards click here.
It is no too to late for growers and market managers to register for the
Farmers' Market Coupon Program for the 2008 market season. USDA has recently
approved phone trainings which can be arranged at a convenient
time for growers or managers. In addition, in person trainings can
also be organized if preferred. Trainings are required for all
growers and market managers new to the program this season. Coupons cannot
be accepted or redeemed prior to training and signing a state agreement.
Growers and market managers returning to the coupon program do not need
to attend a training session. Returning growers and markets are encouraged
to return their recertification form as soon as possible in order to participate
in the 2008 Coupon Program.
For more information please contact Lisa Damon at MDAR (617)
626-1731 or Lisa.Damon@state.ma.us. For updates,
visit the Farmers' Market Coupon Program webpage: www.mass.gov/agr/markets/farmersmarkets/coupons.htm.
For more information regarding Massachusetts Farmers’ Markets, contact David Webber at 617-626-1754 or david.webber@state.ma.us
Proposed/New Markets:
Existing Markets:
The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is once again offering to our valuable patrons a unique opportunity to
buy and sell products at our 2008 Farmer’s Market. The Department held two Public Hearings on the proposed APR Regulations, May 9th in Deerfield and May 13th In Waltham The hearings went well and produced comments from a diverse group of stakeholders. To that end, the Department has received very articulate, constructive comments during the hearings that are now being reviewed. Written comments for the APR regulations 330 CMR 22.00 were also accepted through May 27th. The Department appreciates the great interest that remains in our Nation’s oldest state farm land preservation program and applauds the attention that many have provided toward the emerging regulations.
Department staff will review the official transcript of the hearings and all written comments and make necessary changes. After changes, if any, have been incorporated into a new version of the proposed Regulations, the Department will prepare the filing and publication forms necessary to effectuate promulgation of the APR Regulations. The Department hopes to have the Regulations promulgated by the end of the 2008 calendar year. Any questions should be directed to the Department APR staff and future updates will be provided through the Farm and Market Report.
Date: July 23, 2008
Sponsored by: Massachusetts Flower Growers Assoc. (MFGA) and Massachusetts Nursery Landscape Assoc. (MNLA)
Location: The Crane Estate, Ipswich, MA
Join Massachusetts' largest green industry associations - MFGA and MNLA - for their fifth annual collaborative event, the 2008 Summer Meeting and Trade Show on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at one of the region’s most scenic, historically important and ecologically diverse landscapes…The Crane Estate.
Featuring – Judy Sharpton, Growing Places Marketing, Atlanta, Georgia. Judy has over 20 years experience in advertising and promotion specializing in store design and renovation, development of product-based promotion plants and development of customer communication programs. Judy will present a two-part Store School. She will cover consumer trends and how you can respond to trends at your store level and store layout from entrance to cash wrap.
Examples of more Educational Programs:
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has begun to work on a new initiative called Culinary Tourism, a program that presents an exciting opportunity for Massachusetts growers to market their product to a new customers; the “Culinary Traveler”. Culinary Tourism includes all unique and memorable culinary experiences. Some examples of culinary tourism include dining in a restaurant that offers menus highlighting seasonal, local ingredients, a “behind the scenes” farm tour, a visit to a dairy farm to taste and purchase a specialty cheese, purchasing farm fresh produce at a local farmers’ market or farm stand, and/or wine tasting at an area winery. We will be sending out a survey to gauge grower’s interest in promoting culinary tourism opportunities at their farms as well as their interest in selling their products to restaurants. In the meantime interested growers may contact Culinary Tourism Coordinator Julia Grimaldi at 857-498-2632 or julia_grimaldi@state.ma.us for more information.
More than 100 public school districts, colleges, and private schools in Massachusetts have already chosen to serve locally grown foods to their students, but even more schools will be looking for local products as they plan Mass. Harvest for Students Week celebrations in the fall.
The Mass. Farm to School Project provides free technical assistance to farms and schools hoping to create sustainable farm to school connections. Contact them at 413-253-3844 or kelerwin@localnet.com. Promotional materials and suggestions for Mass. Harvest for Students Week are also available from the Project, or from the web page www.mass.gov/agr/markets/Farm_to_school/.
This issue of Vegetable Notes includes an application form for farmers who would like to be part of the Shelled Corn project. We have funding to provide cost-share for purchase of one corn furnace or boiler per farm (up to 50% of the cost, maximum $3000 per farm) for a limited number of farms. Although we may not be able to provide cost-share funds for all growers who are interested, we will be able to provide useful information and contacts to all interested growers; as well as advising dairy farmers on switching to fuel production and finding markets for their product. Our goal is to foster a regional network of renewable energy producers and users, with a focus on grain corn but also including other types of renewable energy. The emphasis of this project is on making the best possible use of our land for food and fuel production and not to detract from our ability to grow food crops. We're envisioning a system where fuel crops become a valuable rotational crop in vegetable farms and an alternative revenue stream for dairy farmers.
We have posted an application on our website, www.umassvegetable.org. If you are interested in applying to be a part of one of these regional networks and receiving cost share for the purchase of a biomass furnace please fill out the application and return to it the address listed on the application form.
The Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts Chapter (NOFA/Mass),
the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University
of Massachusetts Extension have organized a series of Grazing Workshops
as a continuing education resource for Massachusetts farmers. Topics at
each event will vary, but will include pasture management, organic transition
and herd health, forage species, soil fertility, fencing and water systems,
and summer and winter grazing. All pasture walks will take place from 10:00
- 1:00 (unless otherwise noted). Please bring your own lunch.
For more information on any of these sessions, contact Winton Pitcoff, NOFA/Mass, at winton@nofamass.org or 413-634-5728; Steve Herbert, UMass Extension, at 413-545-2250 or sherbert@pssci.umass.edu; or Tom Akin, NRCS, at 413-253-4365 or thomas.akin@ma.usda.gov.
More details about each of these sessions, including directions to the farms, can be found at www.nofamass.org/programs/organicdairy/index.php. Download a printable version of this information at www.umass.edu/cdl/2008Graze.pdf.
Meet with international buyers the day before the Summer Fancy Food Show, June 28th. We are offering a low-cost opportunity to meet with visiting buyers from Canada, Moscow, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Costa Rica in New York City the day before the 2008 Summer Fancy Food Show.
We will set you up with one-on-one buyer/supplier meetings that you choose (first-come, first-served). You will set up at a draped table and we move the buyers to meet with you. The early registration fee is $75 and the early registration deadline is May 26, 2008. For registrations received after that date, the fee will be $125. The final deadline to register for this unique opportunity is June 6, 2008.
The buyers mission will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001. For more information contact bonita.oehlke@state.ma.us.
June 26-28, 2008 - Ioka Valley Farm, Hancock, MA - In association with the New England Christmas tree Alliance Biennial
Conference.
The 50th anniversary celebration of the Massachusetts Christmas Tree Association (MCTA) will be celebrated at the Ioka Valley Farm in Hancock, MA. Ioka Valley Farm is nestled in the Berkshires and Taconic Hills in the Hancock Valley. Ioka is an Indian word meaning beautiful. The farm is located just minutes from Pittsfield, MA, Albany, NY, and Bennington, VT. All the New England states, eastern New York, and Canada are expected to attend.
This is a special meeting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding
of the Massachusetts Christmas Tree Association. Expert speakers have been
brought in from far and wide. For those of you who need pesticide credits,
this is the place to be (4-5 Credits available).
For those of you who have tree growing questions, there will be experts available for you to quiz personally and there will be many successful tree farmers from all over the Northeast including Canada who are always open to sharing their secrets. You will not find a more knowledgeable group of Christmas Tree growers assembled in any one place.
For those of you that are involved with Christmas trees and are not members of an association, or perhaps have things all figured out, you will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of new technology, plant science, exhibits, marketing information, etc. that will be available for you at this meeting.
MCTA, the Massachusetts Christmas Tree Association, came into formal being on November 22, 1958.
NECTA, the New England Christmas Tree Alliance with representatives appointed from all New England associations, was formed in the mid 1990’s and has organized biennial winter conferences in Nashua, NH. The first very successful on-farm biennial conference was celebrated September 2006 on the Tonry Farm, Hampton Falls, NH.
Conference will include:
Special motel rates have been negotiated with Jiminy Peak and other local
motels. On site camping is available for self contained units; other local
campgrounds are available. Many Berkshire museums and cultural events as
well as Jiminy Peak activities may be of interest to all family members
so plan an extended stay!
Go to the MCTA web site to print out agenda and registration forms www.christmas-trees.org or contact the association Secretary Julie Gauld, PO Box 242, Sterling,
MA 01564 For registration questions call Julie at (978) 365-5818 or e-mail
bandjevergreen@aol.com. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.
A meeting like this will probably not re-occur for another 50 years. Don't miss out!
August 8-10, 2008 - Keynote Speakers Mark McAfee and Arden Andersen
Educational: Over 150 workshops on organic farming, gardening and land care, homesteading, sustainability, nutrition, spirituality, food politics, activism, and more. Special workshops specifically for children and teens. Enlightening keynote speeches on raw milk and sustainable agriculture.
Entertaining: Family contra-dance, zydeco, drumming, Old-fashioned Country Fair, live music, farmer's market, games and fun.
Economical: Modest registration, inexpensive dorm rooms, and camping and wholesome organic meals.
Registration and for more information, visit www.nofamass.org or call Julie Rawson at (978) 355-2853 or julie@nofamass.org.
The Northeast Farm Credit associations and CoBank recently awarded a total
of $38,000 to 14 organizations as part of the Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement
Program. The grants help recipients carry out programs that promote Northeast
agriculture, support youth programs, and generate a greater understanding
of the Northeast’s vital agricultural, commercial fishing, and forest products
industries among the nonfarm public.
Recent Massachusetts grant recipients:
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom has put together a schedule of 13 Educational Summer Workshops on the Farm. These workshops may be taken individually or you may choose to participate in our 3 Credit Summer Graduate Course for Teachers. www.umass.edu/umext/mac/Workshops/workshops.htm.
Join us for one of more of our summer workshops and try out some hands-on activities for the classroom while you explore local farms. Each workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offers classroom-ready educational activities and focuses on a different area of agriculture with exploration of the work that takes place at that farm. The $30 fee for each workshop includes the educational program and tour, all educational materials and activities, and ten professional development points with a related classroom activity. Lunch is also included with ten of the fifteen workshop. Details of the workshops at www.aginclassroom.org.
Growing Agriculture in Your Classroom - Sponsored by Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom in cooperation with Fitchburg State College
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom is please to announce our third summer graduate credit course in agricultural literacy training for educators. Using Massachusetts farms as your classroom, learn how agriculture can enhance your curriculum, enthrall your students and meet many MCAS requirements.
This graduate course offers agricultural-literacy training through fun, hands-on study and investigation of agriculture education resources. It will assist new educators and those who want to expand their classroom offerings as they learn how to integrate agriculture into the classroom to create lessons and reinforce MCAS concepts
This Summer Institute, title “Growing Agriculture in the Classroom” will meet of Wednesday, June 25th and Wednesday, August 13th at Brigham Hill Community Farm in North Grafton from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each participant will also be asked to attend six additional workshops during the summer, selected from approximately 12 workshops on various agricultural topics offered at farms across the state. Participants must keep a journal of their summer agricultural journey and write an agricultural education unit, which will be presented at the final session on August 13th.
Correct weed identification is an important first step in the development
of an effective weed management program. Using a classroom presentation,
potted weed herbarium and weed walk, UMass Extension Specialist Randy Prostak
will help participants enhance their weed identification skills. Feel free
to bring a weed or two to identify. Workshop held rain or shine (lunch
not provided), 9 am - 3 pm.
5 pesticide contact hours available for categories 29, 36, 37, and Applicators License. MCLP and MCH credits will be offered.
Broadleaf Weeds (plus a few grassy weeds)
July 30 - Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain
August 6 - UMass Amherst
Grassy Weeds: a more in-depth look
August 27 - UMass Amherst
Cost is $95/person (pre-registration is required, as space is limited).
Registration is first-come, first-served through the mail or online. To
register using a credit card, go to http://umassgreeninfo.org.
This year’s current issue was “Outdoor Recreation and the Environment.” In preparation, teams were asked to identify a key recreational issue or opportunity and make recommendations for how their community should address it.
At the outdoor field competition event, teams of five students rotated through four “eco-stations” where they demonstrated their environmental knowledge through hands-on activities such as soil analysis, plant identification, tree measuring and investigation of water insects. Each team also gave a presentation on their research into the year’s designated current issue before a panel of judges that included environmental professionals from government agencies, non-profit organizations, academia and private industry.
First Place: Lexington High SchoolSecond Place: Tantasqua Regional High School, FiskdaleThird Place: Quabbin Regional High School, BarreFourth Place: Somerset High School
Click here for a complete list of Massachusetts Envirothon Partners & Sponsors, visit www.maenvirothon.org/partners.htm. If you have questions, contact Carol Szocik from MDAR, 617-626-1718, carol.szocik@state.ma.us.
The fourth mural in a multi-year public art project will be unveiled in
a ceremony Friday, June 13, at 3:30 p.m. at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts,
97 North Hatfield Rd. The 8-foot by 32-foot mural will be on permanent
display in front of the Food Bank warehouse building facing North Hatfield
Road. The murals are the work of Smith Academy art teacher Julie Muellejans
and her students, in conjunction with the Hatfield Agricultural Advisory
Committee.
Murals designed and painted in previous years by art students at Smith Academy, Hatfield’s high school, are on view at several locations in town, on tobacco barns on Route 5 and Main Street, and hanging inside the Hatfield Farm Museum adjacent to Hatfield Elementary School.
Muellejans and members of the Hatfield Agricultural Advisory Committee approached the Food Bank last fall to propose the mural at their site. North Hatfield is a busy road, and the unadorned warehouse building was an obvious site for beautification, says Muellejans. More important, the mural represents a way to draw attention to the work of the Food Bank in feeding people in the region, with its strong ties to local agriculture.
The Food Bank embraced the idea, and several staff members visited Smith Academy in January to talk with students about the organization’s mission. The students then began creating designs for the mural; the best parts of several were combined by Mullejans to produce a final design.
“It was an amazing process,” says Russell Powell, a member of the Agricultural Advisory Committee who worked with Muellejans on the project. “There were some outstanding drawings, and the students showed great imagination in communicating Hatfield’s agricultural heritage and the importance of the Food Bank’s work.” The final result, he says, is the most sophisticated and detailed mural of the four-year project.
The Agricultural Advisory Committee was formed in 2002 to address and represent agricultural issues and interests in Hatfield, particularly to promote the business of farming and its traditions, and farmland protection, including education.
The mural project received major funding from the Hatfield Cultural Council and Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom. Additional contributions of funding, materials and services came from the Bank of Western Massachusetts–Hatfield Branch, L&L Fencing, Northampton Paint Center, Paradise Copies, Rugg Lumber, Smithsonian Neighborhood Grill and Bar, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
The public is invited to attend the June 13 unveiling. For more information,
call Russell Powell at 413-247-3232 or Robert Wagner at 413-247-0147.
ACREAGE REPORTING DEADLINE - July 15th is the deadline to report acres planted to corn, hay, tobacco, fruits, vegetables and all other crops with the exception of small grains. The deadline for reporting small grains is June 15th . YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FILE AN ACREAGE REPORT IF YOU: • Participate in a Feed Commodity Program. • Request an LDP or a commodity loan • Participate in the 10 – 15 year Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) • Participate in NAP • Participate in Risk Management Agency (RMA) Crop insurance policies There is an COC established fee for filing a late acreage report after July 15th To be considered timely filed, acreage reports for: • prevented planted acreage are required to be submit-ted no later than 15 calendar days after the final re-porting date for the applicable crop. For more info., contact a regional FSA office.
NAP coverage is a great start to pro-tecting your crop investment. Please keep the following in mind: Report planted crop acres to the office by acreage reporting deadlines. NOTE: Previous year pro-duction for annual crops is due at crop reporting, July 15th! Without it, you will be assigned a reduced yield for last year. • File a Notice of loss (CCC-576) with the office within 15 calendar days of the: ? final planting date, if your planting was pre-vented by a natural disaster; ? natural disaster occurrence; ? date damage to the crop or loss of production becomes apparent to you; ? or the normal harvest date. • To receive NAP benefits, you must com-plete Form CCC-576, Application for Pay-ment, prior to the application closing date of the subsequent year. The CCC-576 requires you to provide evidence of production and note whether the crop was marketable, un-marketable, salvaged or used differently than intended. • Contact the FSA office for an appraisal to be completed prior to destroying the crop or putting the crop to another use.
The Crop Disaster Program (CDP) provides benefits to farmers who suffered quantity and quality losses to 2005, 2006, or 2007 crops from natural disasters if the crop was planted before December 31, 2007. Producers who incurred qualifying losses in 2005, 2006, or 2007 must choose only one year to apply for benefits. Producers may apply for benefits for losses to multiple commodities as long as the losses occurred in the same crop year. Only producers who obtained Federal Crop Insurance or crop insurance coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assis-tance Program (NAP) for the year of loss will be eligible for CDP benefits. Producers must have suffered quantity losses in excess of 35 percent to be eligible for CDP. Contact the FSA county office for more details. More details can also be found at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
The Farm Service Agency makes loans to rural youths to establish and operate income-producing projects in connec-tion with 4-H clubs, FFA and other youth organizations. Projects must be planned and operated with the help of the organization advisor, produce sufficient income to repay the loan and provide the youth with practical business and edu-cational experience. The maximum loan amount is $5000. Youth Loan Eligibility Requirements: -Be a citizen of the United States or a legal resident alien -Be 10 years to 20 years of age -Live in the open country or in a town of less than 10,000 people -Be unable to get a loan from other sources -Conduct a modest agricultural income-producing project in a supervised program of work as out-lined above -Demonstrate capability of planning, managing and operating the project under guidance and assis-tance from a project advisor. The project supervi-sor must recommend the project and the loan, along with providing adequate supervision. Stop by the county office. We'll help prepare and process the application forms and answer any questions you may have about the program.
Classified ads are accepted free-of charge on a first-come basis. 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 Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) reserves the right to refuse any listing it deems inappropriate for publication. E-mail, fax or mail ads to: Farm & Market Report, MDAR, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114, fax: 617-626-1850, Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us.
*** If you have events you would like listed to our new AG industry calendar
webpage, www.mass.gov/agr/events/coming_up, or
Consumer events at: www.mass.gov/agr/events, email Rick LeBlanc at richard.leblanc@state.ma.us.
Published bi-monthly by:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, Governor
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles, Secretary
Department of Agricultural Resources, Doug Petersen, Commissioner
251 Causeway St., Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1700, fax 617-626-1850
www.Mass.gov/AGR
Michael Cahill, Acting Director of Animal Health, Michael.Cahill@state.ma.us
Next issue to be published for August / September.
Please send news, calendar and/or classified information by July 25th to
Richard.LeBlanc@state.ma.us, or fax to 617-626-1850.
