From a friend in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan:

Our local meat store/local custom processor has put her business up for sale, this family business has been in operation since at least the mid 60′s. The store (Downtown Meats) is located in Pickford (approx. twenty miles south of Sault Ste. Marie), is an established retail meat outlet (full line meat counter, makes their own sausages and lunchmeats,old style smokehouse (actually using wood) and also does custom cut,wrap,freeze for local farmers and others that raise animals for their own consumption). If you or anyone you know may be interested, please contact Jenny Leach at (906)-647-2471 for further details, this could be a great oppurtunity for a family that would like to be in business together or someone that may want to be self employed.

Original Article Available at: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17937.cfm

By Honor Schauland
Organic Consumers Association, May 14, 2009
Straight to the Source
The New York Times published an article on May 12th titled When ‘Local’ Makes It Big, that outlines the latest attempt by Big Food to cash in on the growing sustainable food and farming movement. This time, they’ve gone after “local.”

Frito-Lay North America (owned by PepsiCo) is trying to portray Lay’s potato chips as a local food in the regions where the potatoes are grown.

ConAgra is trying to say that because Hunt’s canned tomatoes are mostly grown within 120 miles of its processing plant in Oakdale, California, that makes them “local” for Oakdale, and maybe even Californians.

“Kraft is trying to figure out whether people in Wisconsin will buy more pickles if they know the cucumbers that go into a jar of Claussen’s are grown there.”

Admittedly, in terms of food-miles, maybe “more local” is better than not at all. Paying some attention to your food is better than paying no attention at all. But as Tom Philpott points out in his analysis of the issue, a lot of times this kind of greenwashing (and it IS a kind of greenwashing) is downright ridiculous and obvious:

A couple of years ago, a student group formed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to reform the campus’ dining halls…noted that Chapel Hill lies in a robust foodshed, with plenty of small- and mid-sized farms churning out delicious food. Why not get some of that local fare into the dining halls?

The administration’s first response was priceless: to paraphrase, hey, we buy lots of pork from Smithfield Foods—and their biggest processing facility is less than 100 miles away! Ah, Smithfield—a company that abuses labor, the environment, and animals as a matter of course.

…Pitching Smithfield pork as local and therefore desirable fell with a thud with the UNC students; I doubt this silly campaign will find much traction either.

Clearly, the term “local” can be easily misappropriated. Consumers still need to buy local AND organic, and we all need to pay attention to who is benefiting from the term. Is the local product in question coming from a small, family-run business or a larger company? If it is a larger company, is it privately owned or publicly traded? I would argue that if it is a large, publicly traded company, “local” is not really a term that accurately applies. Read more »

An Alert from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Organic Initiative Funds Now Available!
First Sign up Period: May 11 – May 29

The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) has created a special $50 million pool of funding for a new Organic Initiative under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The Initiative will provide payments and technical assistance to transitioning and existing organic farmers who adopt NRCS conservation practices used in organic production systems.

Eligible Farmers:

• Farmers just beginning or in the process of transitioning to organic production;
• Existing certified organic farmers who want to transition additional acres or animals;
• Existing certified organic farmers who need to adopt additional conservation measures;
• Producers who sell less than $5,000 in agricultural products and are thus exempt from formal certification are still eligible for Organic Initiative payments.

The program will be available in every state and county. Sign up begins for this special pool of funds on Monday, May 11th and continues through May 29th. Organic or transitioning farmers who have already applied for EQIP funding may choose to move their application into the special organic pool which will have higher payment rates for some practices than the regular EQIP program and a $20,000 per year ($80,000 over 6 years) payment limit. Costs of technical assistance provided by NRCS will not count against the payment limitation.

Transitioning farmers are also being offered an opportunity to develop a “conservation activity plan” as part of their EQIP Organic Initiative contract. A conservation activity plan will be needed to meet National Organic Program certification requirements and is an important step toward certification.

All applications received during this sign up period will be ranked using national and in some cases state level criteria related to how well the proposed contract contributes to conserving soil, water quality and other resource concerns. Farmers who are awarded a contract will then be eligible for technical assistance to assist with implementation of the practices. NRCS has set aside an additional $5 million for technical assistance for this initiative.

You can find contact information for your local local NRCS office here.

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
110 Maryland Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-547-5754

USDA has come out with a new report on beginning farmers and ranchers based on data from the 2007 Agricultural Census.

The entire report is available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB53/

Abstract
USDA defines beginning farmers and ranchers as those who have operated a farm or ranch for 10 years or less either as a sole operator or with others who have operated a farm or ranch for 10 years or less. Beginning farmers tend to be younger than established farmers and to operate smaller farms or ranches, some of which may provide no annual production. Beginning farmers often face obstacles getting started, including high startup costs and limited availability of land. USDA—through the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service—provides loans and conservation assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers. This report draws on data from annual surveys and the Census of Agriculture to provide policymakers with a better understanding of beginning farmers and ranchers, including how they contribute to U.S. agricultural production.

SunOpta is a leader in the identity preserved and organic grains industry. SunOpta specializes in providing, soybeans, sunflower, corn and organic feed inputs to the domestic and international marketplace. The company has multiple locations across the Midwest including facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Sandusky, Michigan.

Responsibilities of this internship include:

¨ Develop and cultivate relationship with new and existing growers

¨ Assist in sourcing and purchasing necessary grain for the Identity Preserved and Organic grains program with direction provided from management

¨ Work with food grade/specialty crops for domestic and international markets

¨ Attend grower visits and grower trade shows

¨ Assist staff with shipment schedule and grain inspection

¨ Assist in the management of grower related documentation

¨ Assist with new genetics and varietal selections

¨ Plan and manage test plot

¨ Promote and work with the grower input and agronomy programs

¨ Assist procurement staff by inspecting Identity Preserved and Organic specialty corn and soybean fields (summer interns)

¨ Work within a team to determine best marketing tactics to gain and retain growers

¨ Represent the Company in a positive and responsible manner

¨ Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

For further information, contact Rhonda Cole at 810-648-5600.

Resumes can be mailed or emailed to:

Rhonda Cole

SunOpta

26 East Sanilac Road

Sandusky, Michigan 48471

Rhonda.cole@sunopta.com

Original article at: http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/05/05/helping-young-farmers

Posted on Wednesday, May 06, 2009

State Programs Out to Help Young Farmers

Two beginning-farmer programs are helping a new generation of farmers and ranchers with below-market interest rates, fee reductions and other services
by DAVID LESTER
Yakima Herald-Republic

PROSSER, Wash. — Jon and Amy Martinez packed a lot into 2008 by anyone’s standard.

The transplanted Kansans opened Maison Bleue Winery in leased space in the Winemakers Loft at Vintner’s Village, bought a vineyard and bottled their first vintage.

Oh, and they got married in May.

It’s all part of a dream to eventually build a winemaking facility and new home at the 31-acre vineyard site north of town. Their goal is to specialize in the wines made famous in the Rhone region of France.

But it may have been a dream delayed had Martinez not qualified for a program of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission in a partnership with Northwest Farm Credit Services to help beginning farmers get started in agriculture. Read more »

May 11, 2009                                                    Position No.:  1661

POSITION:   Extension Educator / County Extension Director, Macomb County

OFFICE LOCATION:   Clinton Twp., MI

STATUS:  This is a continuing employment position

AVAILABLE:  July 15, 2009

APPLICATION DEADLINE:    June 4, 2009

STARTING SALARY RANGE:   Commensurate with training & experience

POSITION DESCRIPTION/QUALIFICATIONS AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Apply by using the Web Employment Application process at:

http://www.msue.msu.edu/jobs (please refer to Job # 1661)

FURTHER INFORMATION:
Marie Ruemenapp or Sheryl Michilli
Southeast Regional Office
Michigan State University Extension
28115 Meadowbrook Road
Novi, MI  48377-3128
Phone:  (248) 380-9100
Fax:  (248) 380-9194
E-mail: msusereg@msu.edu

July 21-23, 2009 The Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is the largest agricultural exposition in WI. It’s a three-day outdoor event that showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture. Each year, it is held in a different WI county, on a difference host family farm. This year’s event will be held on the Crave Brother’s Farm (http://www.cravecheese.com/home/index.php) in Waterloo, WI. For more information visit: http://www.dodgefarmtech.com/.

Title: Farm to School and Youth Community Food Student Assistant

Start Date: May or June 2009

Hours: 10-15 hours a week; flexible to increase hours up to 20 per week during summer months and semester breaks

Pay: .00/hr

The C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University is seeking a part-time student assistant to support the Farm to School (FtS) and Youth Community Food (YCF) Outreach Specialists. The position begins in summer 2009 until August 23rd, with the possibility to continue into the academic year. The student will be hired as Research Assistant III at /hour.

The C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food System (Mott Group) engages communities in applied research and outreach to promote sustainable food systems with a goal to improve access and availability to healthy, locally-produced food. For more information on the Mott Group, please visit our website at www.mottgroup.msu.edu. Read more »

For More Videos Like this Visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/Momaduck62

Published in THE NATURAL FARMER, Special Supplement on Beginning Farmers,
Winter 2002-2003, Vol. 2, No. 55

By Kathy Ruhf, New England Small Farm Institute and Growing New Farmers

Most farm businesses borrow money. Obtaining capital to launch or develop a farm business is … possible! As any lender or farm financial consultant will tell you, there are sources of credit for those who do their homework. Homework includes preparation of a business plan and/or other documents that demonstrate that you know what you are doing and have the means to repay the debt. Farmers who arrive at the bank with their finances in a shoebox or all in their heads are much more likely to be turned away — and for obvious reasons. Check www.northeastnewfarmer.org for programs and organizations that can help new farmers prepare business plans.
That being said, there are challenges to finding and obtaining loans. Fewer and fewer commercial lenders are in the ag lending business. Loan officers who are not familiar with farming are less inclined to make farm loans. New farmers and those who want to develop “alternative” or non-traditional” products or markets have an even tougher time, as they are perceived as higher risk.
There are several agricultural loan programs to help new farmers. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency has several loan programs targeted to beginning farmers and ranchers. They offer direct and guaranteed loans for operating expenses and real estate. They have a unique downpayment loan program that helps new farmers package an affordable mortgage for farm property. FSA has a mandate to recruit and serve new farmers to reach their targets. Funds not spent on lending to new farmers go back into the general pool. They want you!
Another lender to beginning farmers is the Farm Credit System is a national farmer-owned lending cooperative. It is overseen by the US government. FCS has a mandate from the government to serve “young, beginning and small farmers and ranchers”. Recently, the FCS has come under some scrutiny regarding their performance in this area. While they do not have specifically targeted funds for new farmer loans, they want (and need) to reach and serve new farmers. FCS also offers financial planning and management, tax, and farm management services. Read more »

Comments of Ferd Hoefner, NSAC Policy Director:

The Obama Administration is to be congratulated for sending Congress
FY 2010 budget requests for modest but important increases for key
rural economic development and farm credit programs during trying
economic times.  The sustainable agriculture community is particularly
grateful for proposed increased funding for farm bill programs that
help build small business and farming opportunities in rural America.

The proposed budget would increase funding for the new Rural
Micro-entrepreneur Assistance Program from million to million,
the Value-Added Producer Grants program from million to
million, and the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program from
million to million.  Together, these programs enable rural farm
and non-farm enterprises access to credit, capital, and training to
help stimulate the rural economy, grow small businesses and coops,
improve farm income, and foster new local and regional food systems. Read more »

Average Farm Size (Acres)

* Map above from: Morton, Lois Wright, and Blanchard, Troy C.  2007. Starved for Access: Life in Rural America’s Food Deserts. Rural Realities 1:4, p.3.

An interesting trend within US agriculture is the fact that the parts of the country with the largest farms tend to be the parts of the country lacking convenient access to grocery stores.

It’s certainly true that rural areas have fewer retail stores in general, and therefore less supermarkets.

But this also seems to run counter to the notion that ‘food deserts’ are an inner city problem, closely related to urban poverty and racial inequality.

Is it possible that the rural areas in which large farms are situated tend to be impoverished as well? This would be a stark contrast

to the notion promoted by big agriculture that economies of scale lead to efficiencies, and therefore produce the most

economically sustainable agricultural systems.

Certainly we can’t infer that just because smaller farms tend to be concentrated in more food secure parts of the country, that they

are all thriving economically. But neither is it far-fetched to suggest that these small farms – which tend to grow a diverse mixture of

high value crops, mitigate the risk of catastrophic crop failure, and tend to capture premium prices for the quality and added value of their

produce. In addition, by selling locally they may actually contribute to food security in their communities.

I am curious about what others think the story is here. Please leave comments below or e-mail me at beginningfarmers@gmail.com.

How Farm Policy Can Develop New Farmers, Improve Health in “Food Deserts,” Develop New Local and Regional Domestic Markets, and Increase USDA’s Public Value

Report from the Northeast Midwest Institute – Center for Policy Initiatives.

OVERVIEW
The 2008 Farm Bill created significant opportunities at USDA to facilitate the development of local and regional food systems, develop a new generation of farmers, and improve our understanding of the nation’s diet inequities. However, the Bush Administration has lagged at implementing some key initiatives, and has failed to provide leadership on USDA’s mission with these issues. Taken together, the new marketing opportunities offered through establishing a more regionalized food distribution network can create economic opportunities for beginning farmers and improve the market penetration of healthy and fresh products to communities with limited physical access to those foods.
Reorganizing the administration of programs with existing funds and authorities to better address these interlinked issues can offer real gains, improve the public perception of USDA’s value, and provide a legislative strategy consistent with Congressional priorities. Outcomes include:

• Increased investments for local and regional food system development;

• A New Farmer Incubator Pilot Program based upon existing land grant resources; and

• Improved consumer access to, and potential price reduction in, healthy and fresh foods.

Summary of Recommendations
1. Centralize resources and improve information capacity within USDA pertaining to local and regional food systems and beginning farmers.
2. Identify inter- and extra-agency collaborative opportunities to address food access (food desert) issues.
3. Give new farmer development a central role in agricultural academic institutions, linked with opportunities in local and regional food systems.

For More Information Contact:CONTACT:
Alan R. Hunt
Senior Policy Analyst for Agriculture and Food Policy
Northeast Midwest Institute
50 F St. NW, Suite 950
ahunt@nemw.org
Office: 202-464-4016
Cell: 908-892-8534

Position Title: Corner Store Produce Project Coordinator

Location: Lansing, MI

Job Description: The Corner Store Produce Project Coordinator works to provide fresh produce at four participating Quality Dairy stores in the Lansing area.  This position is for 15 hours a week at a rate of .00 and hour.  The rate of pay may increase depending on the level of experience.

Importance of the Position: Northwest Lansing is a “food desert,” meaning residents have little or no easy access to a full service grocery stores.  It is difficult for residents to eat healthy when shopping at local convenience stores, so the Food Systems Project partnered with Quality Dairy to increase the amount of produce sold in the store. Read more »