Press Release: Contact Adam Warthesen,  Land Stewardship Project, policy organizer, 612-722-6377, adamw@landstewardshipproject.org; Taylor Reid, Beginning Farmers, 517-449-2525, beginningfarmers@gmail.com

Beginning Farmer & Rancher Opportunity Act Introduced in Congress

Bipartisan bill to support Investments & job creation through beginning farmer and rancher development launched

Legislation that will help the next generation of farmers and ranchers create jobs and other economic activity in rural communities has been introduced in U.S. House and is expected in the Senate soon. The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011 is authored by Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) in the House and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) in Senate.

This legislation is a comprehensive policy approach to helping the next generation of farmers and ranchers take advantage of growing opportunities in agriculture. The legislation includes support for beginning farmer and rancher training programs, beginning farmer lending and savings provisions and conservation incentives for new farmers and ranchers.

“We have to make sure America’s next generation of family farmers have the support they need to continue providing a safe, abundant food supply,” said Rep. Walz. “This legislation is a smart, effective way to support our local economies and create local jobs.”

A central component of the bill is continued support for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), which supports community-based organizations doing beginning farmer training programs. Since it was launched in 2009, demand for BFRDP has far outstripped resources available. In 2010 alone, 40 projects got a total of $18 million in BFRDP grants, while 117 applications were submitted that year, with a total funding request of approximately $65 million. In total, during the past three years the program has provided $54 million in grants to groups in 48 states.

Beginning farmer Katie Felland and her family operate O-Wata-Farm, which produces eggs, apples, pumpkins, berries and popcorn near Owatonna, Minn. In 2008, Felland graduated from Farm Beginnings, a Land Stewardship Project program that trains new farmers in innovative marketing, business planning and management techniques.

“Networking and connecting to farmers and others through community based programs like Farm Beginnings was invaluable to helping us get started in farming,” said Land Stewardship Project member, Felland, 39. “We hope to grow our farm in the future, and getting support and assistance from community groups we know can be effective. That’s partly why this legislation makes sense—it provides community-based groups resources to work on local issues new farmers face.”

Tyler Benson, who raises crops and cattle near Rushford, Minn., said that a Farm Service Agency beginning farmer loan he received has been key in getting his operation started. Demand for beginning farmer loans has been high.  In 2010, nearly 14,000 loans were made or guaranteed by USDA for beginning farmers representing a loan volume total of $1.5 billion.

“Access to capital is a must for beginning farmers,” said Land Stewardship Project member, Benson, 26. “These programs are good investments—new farmers are new jobs. They buy products and supplies for their business and create economic activity. We need more of that in rural America.”

To read the full bill: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011: H.R. 3236; for a short summary of the bill and history: http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/programs_bfroa.html

To support this effort, please call your Congressperson and let them know you support H.R. 3236 – The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011. Find them and their contact information at: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

And for more information read this blog post:http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/new-farmer-bill-introduced/

The Community Farm of Simsbury (CFS) is a certified organic farm, providing the use of inexpensive farmland, from 1/8th of an acre up to 1 acre, for people interested in becoming organic farmers. CFS assists with plowing, irrigation, equipment, storage, and other services.  CFS offers hands-on training with CTNOFA and UConn so you can learn to plant crops, use a hoophouse, set up irrigation systems, safely control weeds and pests, and use farm equipment. If you would like to learn more about this program and are interested in joining the Incubator Farmer Program (IFP), you must attend the following informational meeting.  The meeting will be followed by a tour of the farm at 73 Wolcott Rd, Simsbury, CT.  If you would like to view the IFP fields and visit the farm at another time, please make an appointment with Tim Goodwin (tgoodwin@communityfarmofsimsbury.org).

If you are interested in becoming an Incubator Farmer for the 2011 season, you MUST attend the following IFP Information Meeting: Monday, January 24, 2011 (3:00-4:00 pm). The informational session will be held at the Simsbury Town Hall located at 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070; followed by a tour of the farm at 73 Wolcott Road, Simsbury, CT  06070. To RSVP, please call Tim Goodwin, 860-217-0453 or email, tgoodwin@communityfarmofsimsbury.org

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a free webinar on Dec. 16, 2 p.m. ET, to discuss a grant opportunity offered by the USDA that would enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

USDA invites everyone who is currently engaged in, or interested in engaging in, the production, handling, sale, or research of specialty crops to participate. The webinar will address the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which the USDA administers specifically to support the marketing potential of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Read more »

Location: 20 minutes from Fitchburg, MA and 5 minutes from the New Hampshire border.

Position: In search of a responsible, organic minded individual to lease out farm portion, sustainable practices of the utmost importance.

Compensation: $600.00 per month includes 6 ewes, ram, 3 goats, chickens, pony, pastured areas, manure spreader and 2 story barn. Income opportunities include organic free range meat, CSA and dairy along with sales from farmstand.

Contact: fugmulch@gmail.com

We are a 128 acre organic farm including orchard (5 years old), sheep, former birthday party pony, 2 llamas, 3 goats (only one breedable due to age) and way too many chickens. Read more »

Location: North of Greenfield, MA

Opportunity: Fruit Tree Orchard, Pasture land, Barn.

Contact: Perri Wexler

Email: pwexler@sfcinc.org

We are seeking an individual to manage our mature 134 tree orchard. We work full time and the trees have been without care for two years. In return, 90% of the crop (three varieties of apples, a few peach, plum and pear trees) is yours to keep, sell or market as you please. Knowledge of organic methods is a plus. In addition, we have about 5 acres of fenced pasture and a barn that could be utilized as well. We lack the time and equipment to care for the trees ourselves, and have made only minimal use of the pasture this year (just 4 sheep). Our farm is easily accessible from I-91 or Route 2, about 10 minutes North of Greenfield, MA. This is a great opportunity for someone who has farming desire and knowledge. We are open to a variety of use options and exchanges. If interested, please email Perri and Dan at PWexler@sfcinc.org or call 413-624-3070

POSITION SUMMARY: The National Farm to School Network (NFSN) is seeking a Membership & Communications Associate to coordinate membership, website management, information dissemination, and media efforts.  The position will report to the National Farm to School Network Co-Directors, and work closely with other NFSN staff and Regional Lead Agencies. Read more »

Support for Farm Interns in Michigan Coming This Season

Training our next generation of organic, biodynamic, and sustainable farmers

CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) is a supportive network of farmers and farmers-in-training. Prospective farmers gain exposure to and experience with a diversity of farm/garden designs and agricultural practices. Northwest Lower Michigan CRAFT is a new program, designed to support farms who have existing internship/apprentice programs.

CRAFT provides emerging farmers a vital experience–a community they can learn from. Interns gain a deep understanding of their resident farm, and CRAFT complements that learning by connecting them to the entire network of member farms. Through farm tours and workshops, interns gain exposure to a wide variety of farm types, production methods and management styles. Regular potlucks help ease the isolation an intern can feel while cloistered on a single farm. The connections made through CRAFT can last far beyond a growing season, and can offer support for the beginning years of starting a business.

Farmer members of CRAFT are required to allow their intern(s) the day off 1-2 times a month to attend the CRAFT workshops. Farmers are also encouraged to attend. Each farm hosts one workshop/farm tour/potluck in the 2010 growing season.

Individuals that are interested in farming but are not farm interns may join CRAFT as an opportunity for to work with other Northwest Lower Michigan farmers. The program works to establish a peer group for all of us!

Individuals who are not interning on farms can still attend workshops and farm tours for a donation of $10 each.

The CRAFT program is funded by ISLAND. As a non-profit educational center, we receive support from private donors, and private and public funding agencies. If you would like to support ISLAND, your donation is fully tax deductible and can be earmarked to finance the Northwest Lower Michigan CRAFT program.

To learn more visit www.artmeetsearth.org/craft.html or contact Brad Kik at ISLAND: (231) 480-4515 or brad@artmeetsearth.org. We’d love to hear from you!

Produce Director Phil Cassise at Plum Market (3 locations- Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, and West Bloomfield) is looking for Michigan items for his Produce departments.

He is looking for refrigerated items to incorporate into Produce.  There are no slotting fees, and he is very interested in items now.

Phil Cassise 248-254-1581
phil.cassise@plummarket.com

• The Land: Situated on a beautiful 110-acre south-facing slope 30 miles south of Albany, Preston Hollow is a quiet town ripe for an agricultural rennaissance. Currently, we have one house, a few barns and an old production apple orchard with mint, oregano and raspberries growing wild underneath. The property is bordered by a creek and there is access to 2 additional natural water sources (a spring and a well). There are 4-5 large fields that have most likely been terra-formed by loggers  and the wooded area is still young (and in need of some tender love and care as well). The house is situated in the center of the town of Preston Hollow (pop: 700) and goes back over a mile up the mountain. For pictures of the location, send an email to the address below.
• The Organization: We have signed a long-term lease with the landowner with the rights to develop this land as a permaculture site. In lieu of this, we are looking to build our network of permaculture enthusiasts who can invest their time/energy/resources into a cooperative means of subsistence over the course of the next few years.

• Co-op members can be invested in this project in a variety of ways. The co-op will offer 110% support for individuals with ambitious plans for their craft or farm-based product by way of help with fund-raising, marketing and general labor.
• A FULL TIME presence on the land would require the member to pay a fee for accomodations in the main house or rent a room from someone in the town. This would best suit someone who would like to have a share in the year-round, more labor-intensive operations of the collective such as raising animals for eggs, milk or re-sale; aquaponics; trail-building; annual agriculture (standard farm crops); value-added farm products; etc. This would require a genuine commitment to communal living and pooling resources.
• A PART-TIME presence on the land would be appropriate for anybody proposing a project or activity that requires less time time to maintain. For example, Brooklyn artists could use some of the barns as a studio space (and possibly a show-room), which would bring diversity, creativity and new skills into the community, and/or a member could keep beehives on the property and come to collect the honey/check on the hives once a month. Other examples of part-time endeavors include refurbishing and redesign of existing apple orchard, natural building workshops, canning, fermenting, wildcrafting (plenty of golden rod!), growing medicinal plants and mushrooms in the forest, or taking groups out on healing retreats.
• A PER DIEM membership would be open to those who wanted to host events or just camp and help out once in a while.

• The overall vision for the organization is to stack as many mutually beneficial functions (social and physical) as possible on one piece of land that could draw small amounts of revenue to the individual invested in them, but add to the abundance of the greater community.
• We aim to build community, food security and experiment with a truly sustainable economic model.
• Our membership is ultra-progressive, so we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual preference and/or economic background.
• We ultimately seek to be of service to the land and the people living around it.

• Contact Mihail Kossev at mihail.kossev@gmail.com / 732-492-6001

If you are in the Philadelphia, PA area, consider this course for agriculturalists-to-be:

The Penn State Extension Philadelphia Office is offering a class to help those interested in launching agricultural projects in Philadelphia move through the beginning stages of their planning processes.

Exploring The Small Farm Dream is a three session course for people who are interested in starting an agricultural business, but are not sure quite where to start. The course will help attendees assess opportunities, hone their objectives, analyze resources and risks, and create a plan to move forward.

See the attachment for more details and an application form, or go to this website: http://philadelphia.extension.psu.edu/ESFD_Flyer_Application.pdf. Applications are due on October 2nd. More information is also available at http://pasmallfarmdream.info.

The course will be held on October 7, 14, and 21, 6 to 9 pm, at The Enterprise Center, 46th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. The course cost is $90, which covers three class sessions, a workbook, and light refreshments.