FOREFRONT
IN EVERY ISSUE
Dear Friends,
We’ve had a kinder winter than last, but have still experienced misfortunes
that have negatively impacted farm businesses across our Commonwealth --
most recently a fire at Hadley's Allard Farm where a barn was destroyed
and a number of 4H students lost their animals. On a brighter note, the
economic impact of Massachusetts agriculture continues to show positive
trending as we enter the new decade. We’re seeing diversification and differentiation
throughout the industry and continued strong demand for locally produced
agricultural products. To name a few examples:
As Massachusetts businesses look to reduce health care costs and retain a qualified workforce, trends show that a strong agricultural core works to influence both in a positive direction. Despite Massachusetts’ adults ranking second lowest in the nation for obesity following Colorado, Massachusetts still spends approximately $1.8 billion dollars a year in health care costs associated with obesity (this does not factor in intangibles such as loss of productivity and quality of life). The bad news is that our youth, aged 10-17, rank in the middle of the pack nationwide with a 30% obesity rate. Programs like Massachusetts Farm-to-School and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) improve access to wholesome, locally grown food, education for life-long healthy eating habits, and provide economic opportunities to our Massachusetts farmers. Watch for upcoming editions of the Farm and Market Report detailing new efforts between MDAR and state, health care, industry, and agricultural support organization partners to increase access to benefit the public and the farming community alike.
The preservation of our open working landscapes factors into a better aesthetic quality of life and into helping communities keep their tax rates down. Studies done by the American Farmland Trust and First Pioneer Farm Credit in three Massachusetts’ communities (Dartmouth, Deerfield, and Sterling) indicate that the cost of community services (schools, infrastructure, fire protection, etc.) for each $1.00 in tax revenue is on average 72% less to agriculture and open land than the cost of residential properties.
Around the MDAR homestead, 2010 looks like it is going to be every bit as busy as 2009! We have successfully modified the procurement process for statewide vendor contracts for plant materials and recently encouraged Massachusetts nurseries to submit proposals for the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) tree replanting recovery efforts in Worcester. MDAR continues to hold ALB training sessions to educate the public and the industry about this invasive pest, and, thanks to the good work of our sister agency, DCR, our outreach and education efforts will be enhanced in 2010. As a friendly reminder for the cold days ahead, please do not transport firewood, as this is the greatest threat for the spread of ALB. To learn more, click here.
MDAR is working to promote new opportunities for farmers wishing to commercially raise and sell poultry to direct markets via the Mobile Poultry Processing Unit thanks to a collaborative effort between state agencies, USDA Rural Development, and industry partners. The first training was held on January 28th with more opportunities in queue.
Finally a few miscellaneous notes: congratulations again on Ed Maltby’s recent appointment to the National Dairy Advisory Committee. It is nice to see one of fifteen seats filled by a representative from Massachusetts. Ed has a strong understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing our state. Also of note, reports from our Ag Development Director Mary Jordan indicate that attendance at meetings such as NOFA, workshops, and Ag Commissions are seeing record attendance – further indication of a good star alignment for Massachusetts agriculture. MDAR is continuing to explore new venues to promote agriculture. The Great Outdoors blog site has been a great success and we’ve just added Twitter to our repertoire of communications tools to inform folks about updates, events, and opportunities. Stay tuned.
Although we’re still in winter’s grips there are opportunities to “Go Local” at farmers markets and farm stores across our Commonwealth. I’m looking forward to participating in our maple sugaring kick-off at William’s Sugar House in Deerfield on March 5th and getting that first sweet taste of spring. Until then stay warm!
Best,
Scott J. Soares, Commissioner
MDAR has started using several new web-based tools to further enhance its
outreach, education, and information venues. In November, MDAR became a
regular contributor to the Great Outdoors blog – a site dedicated to Massachusetts wildlife, parks, agriculture, and outdoor activities and events held across the Commonwealth. The site continues to grow in popularity and MDAR is pleased to be able to highlight the great diversity of the Commonwealth’s agriculture palette by using this new communications medium.
This month, MDAR has just launched a Commissioner’s “Twitter” site (AgCommishSoares) as another communications medium through which the public can get real-time updates relative to all things agriculture e.g. news, events, trends, bulletins, etc.
These web-based tools are not intended to replace the channels currently in place for press and constituent communication. Press inquiries should be directed to Catherine Williams at catherine.williams@state.ma.us or 617-626-1809 and questions or complaints regarding agency services should be directed to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources at 617-626-1700. Rather, these tools are meant to enhance our ability to educate, empower, and inform the residents of Massachusetts. You can follow Commissioner Soares on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AgCommishSoares.
FY 2010 Ag-Energy Grant Program
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) received over 30 responses for our MDAR Energy Grant RFR, deadline December 10, 2009, with a total request amount of approximately $700,000. MDAR is in the review process with awards to be announced shortly. The grant is to fund agricultural energy projects in an effort to improve energy efficiency and to facilitate adoption of alternative clean energy technologies by Massachusetts farms in order that farms can become more sustainable and the Commonwealth can maximize the environmental and economic benefits from these technologies.
DPU Order Allows Start of Wind and Solar Power “Net Metering” on December 1
As noted last month, net metering for wind, solar and agricultural energy installations, a provision of the Green Communities Act designed to encourage development of renewable power, took effect on December 1 under an order adopted by Department of Public Utilities (DPU) on Friday, November 13, 2009. The distribution companies required to comply with the net metering order are NGRID, NSTAR, WMECO and Unitil. If you own an existing renewable energy system and are in any of the distribution company service territories, you should have received a net metering application form so you can apply for net metering. If you haven’t received any notice you should contact your distribution company immediately and request to speak to their net metering contact person, and apply as early as possible. Contact Gerry Palano, Energy Coordinator, MDAR, if you have any questions, Gerald.Palano@state.ma.us, 617-626-1706, or visit the Dept. of Public Utilities at www.mass.gov/dpu website for more details.
MFEP, MA Woodlands and BPRC&D Workshop Series Completed
If you missed any of the recent energy workshops put on by MFEP, MDAR, BPRC&D, USDA RD, USDA FSA, USDA RD and MA Woodlands, you can still participate in farm energy programs – just contact the MA Farm Energy Program at www.berkshirepioneerrcd.org, or call 413-256-1607, to find out what you missed and how you can still
be involved.
Massachusetts Farm Energy Program (MFEP):
The MA Farm Energy Program (MFEP) is in its 2nd year of operation and is a great resource for farms to find out more about state and federal related energy programs as well helping farmers access:
Through MFEP’s “AUDITS & INCENTIVES PROGRAM”, the MFEP will make referrals
to existing audit and incentive programs, provide “targeted” energy audits
and/or renewable energy assessments, and provide financial incentives for
implementation of audit recommendations. Higher priority will be given
to farmers with less access to other audits and incentives programs. MFEP
audits, assessments, and consultations will be paid at 75% with the applicant
responsible for the remaining 25%. Please visit: www.berkshirepioneerrcd.org/mfep/energy.php to see how you can participate in the MA Farm Energy Program.
USDA’s EQIP Air Quality Financial Assistance Program - 2010 (www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/airquality/index.html)
The 1st round deadline of January 15, 2010 has passed. However, please continue to monitor potential 2nd round funding opportunities with NRCS this coming Spring. In FY 2010 the Massachusetts Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will again provide eligible producers with program support through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to implement cost effective and innovative practices that improve air quality that includes funding to eligible producers for energy conservation and renewable energy practices.
New Solar Carve Out Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)
Effective Jan 1, 2010, a new state solar renewable energy credit program is in effect. Created by DOER and MRET, the program is intended to provide environmental attribute financial incentives for new solar PV projects that were installed after Jan1, 2008 and did not receive MRET Commonwealth Solar 1 or significant ARRA funding. Please visit www.mass.gov/doer’s website for more information.
New MRET Commonwealth Solar II and Solar Stimulus Programs
The MA Renewable Energy Trust, now officially part of the MA Clean Energy Center, recently announced the next round of Commonwealth Solar programs, namely, Commonwealth Solar II and Solar Stimulus. Solar II is for PV residential and business projects up to 5 kW while Solar Stimulus is for business only between 5 and 200 kW. Please visit MRET’s website at www.masstech.org and find out the details!
Contact: Gerry Palano, Renewable Energy Coordinator, Gerald.Palano@state.ma.us, 617-626-1706, www.mass.gov/agr/programs/energy.
The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) recently awarded Commissioner Scott J. Soares and Representative
Sarah Peake (4th Barnstable) with the 13th Annual 2010 Environmental Leadership
Award. This award recognizes individuals who have consistently provided
informed leadership in dealing with complex environmental issues. A ceremony
was held at MNLA’s annual meeting held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition
Center on February 4th. Additionally, the award includes the planting of
a tree at a location designated by the recipient (either in the spring
or the fall). Commissioner Soares is hoping to have a tree planted on the
grounds of the Massachusetts Building at the Big E in Springfield.
[back to table of contents]
Massachusetts dairy farmers, indeed dairy farmers across the nation, have been hard hit by plummeting milk prices while at the same time, energy and grain costs continue to climb. On January 12th Commissioner Soares participated in a kick-off event at Hannaford’s Supermarket in North Quincy to celebrate a new initiative set in motion by Keep Local Farms (KLF). The program was inspired by a number of studies that indicated consumers were willing to support the dairy industry if they were confident that their support went directly to local dairy farms. KLF has emerged as such a consumer support mechanism that encourages New England milk retailers to stock locally produced milk and dairy products branded with a special “Keep Local Farms” logo. Hannaford Supermarket is becoming the first major retail chain to back this program.
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| Lucinda Williams and Commissioner Scott Soares (photo by Pete Lapriore) |
One of our Massachusetts farms participating in the KLF program is the Luther Belden Farm in Hatfield. Owned by Darryl and Lucinda Williams, the farm has been in the family for thirteen generations. With 106 milking cows, and 85 young dairy animals, Lucinda and her husband Darryl recently joined the Keep Local Farms effort.
The KLF program has been up and running since September 12, 2009 and is starting to see strong momentum. Two colleges are on board – UVM began Nov 16 and Harvard began Oct 19 – where $0.10/single serve milk purchased goes to the Keep Local Farms fund that will be distributed to dairy farmers. The KLF website is also up and running at KeepLocalFarms.org. The site is educational and the pages getting the most hits are Farmer
Profiles and Day on the Farm. If you are a dairy farmer and want to have
your profile listed – please contact Diane Bothfeld at Diane.Bothfeld@state.vt.us.
In February, Hannaford’s is supporting the Keep Local Farms program through a contribution phase at the register – shoppers can contribute $2 or $5 toward the Keep Local Farms program to build a fund to make a meaningful payment to dairy farmers.
The partners working on the Keep Local Farms program include the New England Family Dairy Farms Cooperative and New England Dairy Promotion and the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council. They are working on adding more colleges to the program, increasing membership in the Cooperative, and working with consumers to raise awareness about the Keep Local Farms program throughout New England. Each of these partners is governed by dairy farmers from the New England States. The Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board recently voted to support KLF's efforts.
Cooperative partnerships at the local, state, and federal level are gaining
measurable traction in moving forward innovative initiatives to promote
new opportunities for Massachusetts farmers. On
January 28th, a MPPU Phase 1 Training (application process and understanding regulations) was held in North Grafton at the Tufts Vet School. The training was targeted to farmers wishing to commercially raise and sell poultry to direct markets. For farmers who complete their state slaughter license and local board of health application and approval process, additional hands-on training and demonstration of MPPU use and operations will be scheduled in Spring 2010. For more information on the MPPU project, visit New Entry's website.
This important project has been a collaborative effort between state agencies,
federal partner USDA Rural Development, and industry partners including
Jennifer Hashley of the Tufts New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (NESFI)
and Judy Gillan of NESFI. Training partners at the event included: New
Entry Sustainable Farming Project, New England Small Farm Institute, MA
Dept of Agricultural Resources, MA Dept of Environmental Protection, and
MA Dept of Public Health.
In the News: Sustainability, local sourcing, and nutrition are top restaurant menu trends
for 2010
according to The National Restaurant Association. Survey results from
over 1,800 professional chefs ranked nearly 215 culinary items. The top
five trends are locally grown produce; locally sourced meats and seafood;
sustainability as a culinary theme; mini-desserts; and locally produced
wine and beer. View complete release at www.restaurant.org/pressroom/social_media_whats_hot_2010.cfm.
Have you returned your Savor Massachusetts Assessment Survey? Your feedback is essential and appreciated so we may continue and improve
our initiative. Please complete our assessment survey (
.doc, .pdf ) which has approximately six questions. Contact Julia Grimaldi at julia.grimaldi@state.ma.us for more information on Savor Massachusetts. www.mass.gov/agr/markets/culinary_tourism.
Stay tuned for new Savor Massachusetts web-resources including restaurants
that buy-local!
1) John Deere Seeks Multi-generational Family Farms for 2011 Calendar
‘Generations To Come’ Calendar Theme to Feature Twelve Families
John Deere, the world’s leading provider of advanced products and services
for agriculture and forestry, is seeking multigenerational families to
feature for its 2011 John Deere Calendar. The theme, “Generations To Come,”
will feature John Deere customers who have kept their farm – and John Deere
equipment – in their family for multiple generations.
To be considered for the 2011 calendar, family farms must meet specific criteria. The farm needs to have been in the family for at least two, but preferably three or more, generations, with the expectation that it will stay in the family for future generations. Families must farm with John Deere agricultural equipment, with previous generations that also used it. Farms should also be located in a picturesque location with scenic farmland, rolling hills, fields or pastures near a pond or stream, or feature an interesting building, original farmhouse, or other unique land formation. In addition, families must be willing to have a professional photographer on-site for up to two days for a calendar photo shoot. Deadline is February 28, 2010.
For more information on the “Generations to Come” calendar, or to submit your farm family for consideration, please visit www.GenerationsCalendar.com or call (866) 736-6556.
2) Now Accepting Entries for the 2010 Agriculture Photo Contest
Photographers who enjoy capturing images of the Bay State’s farms and farm and horticultural products are invited to enter the 2010 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar Photo Contest. Winning entries will be published in the 2011 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar. The contest and calendar are sponsored by Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
We are seeking photos that represent the traditional (maple sugaring, cranberries,
dairy cows, flowers/plants, fall fruits, farmers and farm families), as
well as the new and dynamic, such as on-farm renewable energy systems and
urban agriculture. For farmers, its a great way to promote your farm! View
last year’s winners here.
Winning photographers will be credited in the calendar and will be invited to a ceremony at the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) in West Springfield this September (tickets to the fair included). Winning photos will be featured on MDAR’s home page during the corresponding month. Click here for Entry Form[pdf]. Deadline June 1, 2010.
1) Massgrown RFR posted- http://www.mass.gov/agr/news/docs/agr-massgrown-2010.pdf
MDAR is requesting responses from Massachusetts agricultural organizations and other non-profit groups that directly support agricultural initiatives, including commodity groups, buy local groups, farmers’ markets, agricultural fairs, and cooperatives to submit proposals on marketing projects that would enhance, promote, strengthen, utilize or foster the expansion of the “Massachusetts Grown…and Fresher” logo, brand and/or website, www.Mass.gov/Massgrown. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of Massachusetts Specialty Crops as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). RFR also posted at www.mass.gov/agr.
2) For Federal fiscal year 2010, The USDA has announced the availability of approximately $55 million to State Departments of Agriculture for Specialty Crops Block grants.
The Department will be releasing another RFR within the month to those
eligible organizations to apply for these funds. A state application will
then be submitted to the USDA – AMS focusing on the individual applications
awarded through the state’s RFR process. The RFR will outline funding objectives
for project proposals to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty
crops pertaining to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry:
increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty
crops; improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems;
assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing
Good Agricultural, Good Handling and Good Manufacturing practices, including
cost share arrangements for funding audits of small farmer, packer and
processor systems; investing in specialty crop research; enhancing food
safety; developing new and improved specialty crop varieties; eradicating
pest and plant health issues; and fostering organic and sustainable production
practices.
The USDA suggests that States may wish to consider submitting grants that increase the competitiveness of specialty crop farmers, including Native American and disadvantaged farmers. Increasing competiveness may include developing local and regional food systems, and improving food access in underserved communities.
Specialty Crop Brock Program - www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/scbgp - What is an eligible specialty crop? You can access information concerning the definition of specialty crops and a listing of eligible specialty crops at Definition of Specialty Crops.
The Department’s Agricultural Business Training Program is having another record year working with new and established farms looking to tune up their plans and ideas. Six courses running around the state at full enrollment.
Participants in the three concept/startup classes (Exploring Your Small Farm Dream running in Ashland, Amherst and Fall River) come from 29 towns. The two full business planning courses (Tilling the Soil of Opportunity) are located in Wareham and Amherst, with participants from 23 towns. In pilot this year is a “between” course we are calling “Planner” because it requires having completed “Explorer”. This Amherst based class has 10 ag businesses from 9 towns. Lots of interest is evident in the opportunities Massachusetts offers for profitable farming at all scales.
These courses are offered on weekday nights in the cold months. Each year about half of the participants are drawn from folks on an advance contact list gathered during the year. We offer them first choice of location and dates. You can check out basic information on the MDAR website under “Ag Business Training Program” at www.mass.gov/agr/programs/abtp.
If you may be interested in taking one of the farm planning courses next winter, please email program director Rick Chandler now to be placed on the contact list: rick.chandler@state.ma.us. Be sure to tell him which course looks most appropriate for your anticipated
farming stage at that time.
At each meeting we will talk about new ways to distribute products to schools, how to best promote locally grown fruits and vegetables to distributors who have school customers, and when to sell directly to schools.
Mass. Farm to School will also host meetings about institutional sales in other locations, at which school food service directors who have received special funding to buy fresh fruits and vegetables will join us for lunch:
February 17: Pittsfield Athenaeum
February 25: Wrentham Town Hall
Start time for all workshops is 10:30 a.m. and lunch will be provided. R.S.V.P. to mafarmtoschool@gmail.com, or call 413-253-3844. Directions will be provided. Thanks to MassDevelopment, MDAR, NEVBGA, Mass. Farm Bureau, and UMass Extension for co-sponsoring these workshops. www.mass.gov/agr/markets/Farm_to_school.
January Farm to School Connection e-newsletter [pdf].
For Massachusetts and New England growers with interest to learn more about
hops production, hops research and brewer interest in local hops, consider
attending the 2010 Winter Hops Conference. The Massachusetts Department
of Agricultural Resources is one of the sponsoring partners.
March 26, 2010, 10–3 pm Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe Vermont; cost $10
The meeting features Jason Perrault from Washington State, a fourth generation hop farmer; Rick Pedersen from New York, a member of the Northeast Hop Alliance and grower for over 10 years,;and Francois Biron from Canada who leads hops trials in Quebec. There will be a tour of the Trapp Family Lodge brewery after the meeting. Hopping to It!
For a copy of the program and to register by March 17th: Rosalie.madden@uvm.edu, (802)524-6501.
UMass Dartmouth Professional and Continuing is now offering an Entrepreneurial Training Assistance Program. Topics include: Defining Business & Business Person; Business Planning & Marketing Research; Marketing Strategies; Sales Process; Financing Your Business; Managing Time & Maintaining Focus; Identifying Customer Needs; Advertising & Public Relations; Cash Flow Projections; Internship/Practicum/Field Study.
The Entrepreneurial Training Assistance Program is twenty weeks of intensive
skills training, individual coaching and interactive workshops, including
one-on-one technical assistance, mentoring, and a one day internship for
each participant – a total of 20 hours/per week. U.S. Veterans may qualify
for free tuition. Other funding streams are also available. For more information,
contact David Biggs @ 508.910.9068 or dbiggs@umassd.edu.
We are pleased to announce that the Strolling of the Heifers Microloan Fund for New England Farmers will be accepting prequalified applications through February 26th, 2010 for loans of $15,000 or less. Applicants must live in one of the four counties of Western Massachusetts, and must prequalify.
For more information, please go to www.thecarrotproject.org/farm_financing or contact Dorothy Suput at 617-666-9637 or at dsuput@thecarrotproject.org.
ARC loans can be used to make payments of principal and interest, in full or in part, on one or more existing, qualifying small business loans for up to six months. ARC loans provide an immediate infusion of capital to small businesses to assist with making payments of principal and interest on existing debt. These loans allow borrowers to redirect cash flow from making loan payments to investing in their businesses, to help sustain the business and retain jobs. For example, making loan payments on existing loans with proceeds from an ARC loan can allow a business to focus more funds on core operations, such as buying inventory or making payroll.
ARC loans are interest-free to the borrower, carry a 100 percent guaranty from the SBA to the lender, and require no fees paid to SBA. Loan proceeds are provided over a six-month period and repayment of the ARC loan principal is deferred for 12 months after the last disbursement of the proceeds. Repayment can extend up to five years.
The best candidates for ARC loans are small businesses that in the past were profitable but are currently struggling, yet have been making loan payments or are just beginning to miss loan payments due to financial hardship. ARC loans are made by commercial lenders who are SBA participants.
Website: www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram. For more information, please contact Charles Smith, Lender Relations
Specialist, at 617-565-5169 or csmith@sba.gov.
Commissioner Scott Soares will be participating in a series of business forums across the Commonwealth to discuss current agricultural economic trends, regional agricultural partnerships, and MDAR business development services and outreach.
Massachusetts has a growing and vibrant agricultural economy providing not only food but new products and services to meet changing consumer values, market demands, and energy needs. As agriculture evolves into a very diverse business enterprise, it continues to make significant contributions to the Commonwealth's local and regional economies.
MDAR is committed to engendering a spirit of entrepreneurship within the local agricultural communities and to promote the state’s agricultural economy which continues to expand and diversify, generate jobs and revenue while always contributing to the health and well being of Massachusetts residents.
The first business breakfast forum will be held in Ludlow, MA sponsored by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, East of the River 5 Town Chamber of Commerce on Friday, February 12, 2010. The topic will be: The Economic Trends of Massachusetts Agriculture. For more information, contact Jack Kowalski at Jack.Kowalski@state.ma.us or 617.626.1738. Click here for forum updates.
From the Berkshires to the Cape, to the farmers’ markets in Boston, each
year this exciting event draws hundreds of farmers, agriculture officials,
legislators, and industry leaders from across the Commonwealth. For one
full day, participants gather at the State House to celebrate Massachusetts
agriculture and discuss issues and legislation affecting their farms and
communities. The event also includes a speaking program, ‘Agriculture Day’
awards, informational exhibits and a reception featuring Massachusetts’s
farm and specialty food products.
To learn more about MA Agriculture Day at the State House, contact Lisa
Damon at lisa.damon@state.ma.us or at 617-626-1731. Save the Date Flyer [PDF]
Saturday, March 20, 2010, Worcester State College
Student Center, 486 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA 01602
Today 130 Agricultural Commissions (AgComs) have organized across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
AgComs are actively engaged in raising the visibility of agriculture in
their communities, providing a voice for agriculture in town hall, passing
local Right to Farm Bylaws, protecting farmland and farm businesses, promoting
farming and local farm products, establishing farmers markets, managing
conflicts that arise regarding farming activities, connecting farmers to
technical and financial services, and educating the public about the many
benefits of retaining and encouraging farming in their communities.
This second statewide Agricultural Commissions Conference has been planned by AgCom members for AgCom members and for those interested in supporting agriculture and AgComs. Workshop topics were selected from issues that AgComs identified as high priority for education and discussion.
Attendees will also have time for networking and visiting exhibitors. We
look forward to seeing you on the 20th! Agenda and Registration Form can
be found at: www.massagcom.org.
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom is sponsoring a Maple Sugaring
Workshop during the School Vacation on Tuesday, February 16th at the Warren
Farm and Sugarhouse in North Brookfield. MAC is also sponsoring our 9th
Annual Winter Conference for Educators on Saturday, March 13 at the Paul
R. Baird Middle School in Ludlow. Choose from six workshops that will run
concurrently throughout the day.
Maple Sugaring Workshop for Educators on the Farm
During the winter break, spend Tuesday, February 16, at the Warren Farm & Sugar House in North Brookfield. In the morning over coffee and treats, learn about
maple sugar history, Native American traditions and changes from Colonial
times to today with owners Jan & Dale Wentworth. Find out about current
threats to maple trees from global warming and the Asian longhorned beetle,
and how their potential loss effects daily life and economic aspects in
New England. Following a unique maple lunch, we’ll spend the afternoon
out-of doors, exploring the sugaring operation and sugar house. You’ll
assist with tubing installation and tap a tree, make maple candy and try
out other hands-on activities to use in the classroom. Bring warm clothes
and boots. Middle and high school teachers encouraged. The workshop runs
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fee of $30 includes PDPs, lunch and all materials.
9th Annual Winter Conference
MAC is sponsoring our 9th Annual Winter Conference for Educators at the
Paul R. Baird Middle School in Ludlow on Saturday, March 13th, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The conference will provide teachers with activity ideas, resources and framework connections to bring agriculture alive in the classroom. Four workshops sessions will be held throughout the day, with a choice of six concurrent workshops in each session. Each will be taught by a teacher or a teacher working together with a farmer and will offer specific background and activities for either elementary, middle or high school level. The $50 fee includes all workshops, breakfast snack and lunch from nearby Randall’s Farm, materials and ten PDPs with a related classroom activity. The full list of workshops and a registration form can be found on our website at www.aginclassroom.org.
Winter Flower Grower Program
Wednesday, February 10th - Time: 9:30 pm-3:30 pm, D&D Greenhouses, 32 Hudson Rd, Stow, MA
Join us for a day long program with open houses at area greenhouses, then
a program and tour at D&D Greenhouses. Featuring Consultant, Rick Segel
on Profitability and Making Changes to Keep Your Business Profitable. Other
topics to include, Using Biological Control for Spring Crops (D&D is
using biocontrol), Reducing Plant Stretch, Update on Chrysanthemum White
Rust and How a Website Can Work for Your Business. AM coffee and lunch
will be available. Details: www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/upcoming_events/index.html
Employee Training for Garden Retailers: Green, Organic and Sustainable Solutions
Tuesday, March 23rd - Time: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm, Place: Publick House, Sturbridge, MA
This will be a training for garden center employees, horticulture retailers
and others interested in helping their customers with questions about pest
control products that provide green, organic and sustainable solutions.
Learn about products for home gardens, trees, shrubs and lawns and how
they work to better assist customers to make proper choices for pest management.
Program details: www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/upcoming_events.
With the continued surge in interest in gowing one's own food, some clients will be asking their landscapers for help on how to get started. UMass Extension's 2010 Home Garden and Small Farm Series starts in a few weeks with a number of workshops on growing and managing fruit plantings in the backyard!
Locations vary around the state. To see a full schedule and more details,
go to www.UMassGarden.com.
To register, go to www.UMassGarden.com.
A Conference for Arborists, Foresters, Tree Wardens, Sugar Bush Owners and Anyone Who Loves Trees
Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Stockbridge Hall, UMass Amherst
This one-day conference is designed for arborists, tree wardens, municipal managers, city planners, foresters, sugar bush owners and landscape architects who are involved with the management of property, both private and public. The University of Massachusetts Extension, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the USDA Forest Service sponsor this annual conference.
Topics include:
Four pesticide contact hours available for categories 29, 36 and Applicator's
License. The following association credits are available: 6 ISA, 5 SAF,
6 CFE, 1 MCA, 1 MCH and 2 MCLP. Sponsored by the University of Massachusetts
Extension, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation
(DCR), and the USDA Forest Service.
For a registration form or to register online using a credit card, go to http://umassgreeninfo.org.
Are you interested in having a presence at a local Earth Day Festival? The EcoTarium, a museum of
science and nature in Worcester, is holding its Earth Day Festival on Friday, April 23, 2010 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. This annual event draws more than 2,000 visitors.
Keep in mind that this is a family event attended by adults with children
in tow. Activities that engage children who visit your table will make
your exhibit more popular! Do you have samples to taste or items to sell?
You’ll have the opportunity to do just that and showcase your business
during this popular family event. The exhibitor/vendor fee is $35 for non-profits
and $150 for others. For questions or to sign-up, please contact Patricia
Fields at (508) 929-2742 or at pfields@ecotarium.org, www.ecotarium.org.
The Annual Sheep Shearing Open House has been set for Saturday, April 3rd, 1 – 4pm at MA Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton. Vendors and promoters of wool and other MA Agricultural products such as honey, maple sugar, apples, and more are encouraged to participate. No charge, but donations are welcome. All proceeds go towards supporting educational programs at the sanctuary Please contact Deb Cary at Mass Audubon in Princeton at dcary@massaudubon.org for more information. www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Wachusett_Meadow/index.php.
The University of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts, and University
of Rhode Island Extension will host a Southern New England visit of Temple
Grandin, a leading animal behaviorist and expert on humane treatment of
our food animals, March 1 – 4, 2010, www.grandin.com.
Dr. Grandin will make a public presentation on “Animal Behavior and Autism” on Monday, March 1 at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. This event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a refreshment period. Dr. Grandin will speak at 7:30 p.m. There will be a book signing opportunity after Dr. Grandin speaks. Tickets at $15 each are available at www.osv.org or by calling Old Sturbridge Village at 800-733-1830. Advance tickets are recommended. For more information about the Old Sturbridge Village presentation please contact Alexis Conte at aconte@osv.org, 508-347-0396.
From March 2 through March 4 Dr. Grandin will meet with students, faculty, and staff at the University of Massachusetts, University of Connecticut and University of Rhode Island. For more information about these on-campus events, please use the contact information below:
Sponsors to date for the entire four-day program include: Last Green Valley
National Heritage Corridor, Northeast Family Farms - a program of Dole
and Bailey, Inc. Woburn MA, Northeast Farm Credit, Old Sturbridge Village
(OSV), USDA Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
Program, University of Connecticut, University of MA, University of Rhode
Island, University of Connecticut College of Agriculture & Natural
Resources Alumni Association (UCANRAA).
The Temple Grandin event is part of a tri-state project “Producing Natural
Local Meat for Consumers,” funded by the US Department of Agriculture SARE
Professional Development Program. Project Coordinator is Michael T. Keilty,
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Educator at the University of
CT College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Project Principal Investigators
are: Joseph Bonelli, UCONN, Stephen Herbert, UMASS, and Kristen Castrataro,
URI.
For more information contact the Grandin event planner, Jean King, at jeancking@gmail.com.
The Farm Service Agency, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, has 1.2 million dollars available to lend to beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers in the State of Massachusetts under the Down payment loan program. To qualify, applicants must either be a beginning farmer (has not operated a farm for more then 10 years) or be socially disadvantaged (American Indians or Alaskan Native, Asians, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Hispanic and women).
To be eligible for a down payment loan, an eligible applicant must be able to put down 5% in cash and locate additional financing for 50% of the purchase price. To simplify, if an applicant wanted to purchase a $500,000 farm, they must have a $25,000 down payment, they could qualify for a $225,000 loan from Farm Service Agency and they would need a bank loan for $250,000.
Is a down payment loan not right for you? Farm Service Agency also has $1,050,000 available for real estate loans for socially disadvantaged farmers and $366,000 available for beginning farmer real estate loans. Interest rates are currently 4.75% with a 40 year term for the non down payment loans.
Farm Service Agency also has an active operating loan program, an emergency loan program for existing farmers that have suffered a production loss due to last years rainy weather and a guaranteed loan program.
Eligibility requirements are available in any Farm Service Agency County Office. For applicants located in Western and Central MA, contact Randy Kleiner at 413-585-1000 ext 2, for Plymouth, the Cape and Islands; contact Dawn Wilhelmsen at 508-295-6860 ext 1, and for Bristol and Norfolk County contact Roxanne Boisse at 508-669-6621 ext 1.
Eligible Material Owners are Encouraged to Contact Facility to Begin Participating in Biomass Crop Assistance Program
The Massachusetts State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency
(FSA) Richard J. Burke announced that Pinetree Power-Fitchburg, a biomass
conversion facility, is now qualified under the USDA Biomass Crop Assistance
Program (BCAP). Eligible material owners may be eligible for matching payments
for delivery of eligible material to Pinetree Power – Fitchburg.
The contact information for this facility is listed on the FSA BCAP webpage located at www.fsa.usda.gov/energy. Owners of eligible material throughout Massachusetts and other regional states may contact their nearest FSA county office to begin applying for collection, harvest, storage and transportation (CHST) matching payments.
CHST matching payments shall not exceed $45 per dry-ton delivered to a
qualified biomass facility. Eligible material owners may participate in
this program for a period of two years. The purpose of the matching payments
is to assist biomass producers with the CHST cost of delivering biomass
to qualified biomass conversion facilities.
Eligible material owners or producers who market eligible material to a qualified biomass conversion facility must apply for the CHST matching payment program at their nearest FSA county office before the eligible material is delivered. Eligible material owners must provide an agreement with the qualified biomass conversion facility as part of an application for a CHST matching payment. After the product is delivered, a producer must provide FSA with documentation of product quantity, quality, and payment rate. County offices will validate payment requests with information provided under the terms of the Agreement with the qualified biomass conversion facilities.
For more information on the BCAP program including eligible materials, please visit www.fsa.usda.gov/energy or call your county office.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) delivered over $16.3 billion in federal program payments to U. S. farmers and ranchers during FY 2009. Massachusetts agriculture has benefitted greatly from the millions of program dollars that assisted local producers throughout the previous fiscal year.
The following is a listing of programs and the amounts received by Massachusetts producers:
FSA Farm Loan Programs were also instrumental in financing agriculture in Massachusetts. The various loan totals they supplied to producers are as follows:
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 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, Scott J. Soares, Commissioner
| Boston Office: 251 Causeway St., Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114 617-626-1700, Fax: 617-626-1850 |
Amherst Satellite Office: 101 University Drive, Suite C4 Amherst, MA 01002 413-548-1900, Fax: 413-548-1901 |
Next issue to be published for April / May. Please send news, calendar and/or classified information by March 29th 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.