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MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM
Saturday, March 15, 2014 - Page 9C
USDA announces efforts to expand support for small and mid-sized farmers and ranchers SANTE FE, N.M.窶的n remarks at the National Farmers Union National Convention, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new and expanded efforts to connect small- and mid-sized farmers and ranchers with USDA resources that can help them build stronger businesses, expand to reach new and larger markets, and grow their operations. "The recent Census of Agriculture shows that t h e re i s t re m e n d o u s growth potential for small and mid-sized producers in the American agricultural landscape," said Vilsack. "USDA is taking a hard look at our existing resources to ensure that they work for producers of all sizes. We've adjusted policies, strengthened programs and intensified outreach to meet the needs of small and mid-sized producers. These producers are critical to our country's agricultural and economic future." Efforts include improved access to USDA resources, revised risk management tools that better fit the needs of smaller producers, additional support for hoop houses, and expanded collection of valuable market news information. USDA is also introducing a series of education tools focusing on opportunities for farmers engaged in local and regional food systems. In addition, USDA field staff will be boosting their outreach efforts to small and midsized farmers and ranchers. More information about tools and resources available to small and mid-sized farmers will be rolled out in the coming months, including information about access to capital, risk management, food safety, and locating market opportunities on USDA's Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources webpage.
The new efforts an- plan for their future. nounced by the Secretary USDA is developing a today include: whole farm insurance policy that will better meet the ACCESS TO CAPITAL needs of highly-diversified Changes to the Farm producers, particularly Storage and Facility Loan small and midsized fruit (FSFL) Program to help and vegetable growers. small and midsized fruit Using new tools provided and vegetable producers ac- by the Farm Bill, USDA is cess the program for cold working to reduce crop instorage and related equip- surance costs for beginment like wash and pack ning farmers and ranchers. stations. And organic producers will Diversified and smaller benefit from the eliminafruit and vegetable produc- tion of a previously-reers, including Community quired five percent surSupported Agriculture charge on crop insurance programs, are now eligible premiums. for a waiver from the requirement that they carry LOCATING MARKET crop insurance or NAP cov- OPPORTUNITIES erage when they apply for USDA's Farm to School a FSFL loan. FSFL can also Program has put seven new be used to finance hay Farm to School Coordinabarns and grain bins. tors on the ground in reFunding for producers gional offices to help build under the popular mi- direct relationships becroloan program. tween small and mid-sized USDA launched the mi- producers and school discroloan program to allow tricts. One priority area for beginning, small and mid- Farm to School is creating sized farmers to access up more opportunities for to $35,000 in loans using a small and mid-sized livesimplified application stock and poultry producprocess. Since their debut ers. Since 2013, USDA has in 2013, USDA has issued invested nearly $10 milm o re t h a n 4 , 9 0 0 m i - lion in Farm to School croloans totaling $97 mil- grants that support schools lion. as they purchase from local F u n d i n g f o r h o o p and regional sources. In the houses to extend the grow- 2011-2012 school year ing season. Hoop houses alone, schools spent nearly provide revenue opportu- $355 million on local and nities while also promoting regional food purchases. conservation for small and Expanded price, volume, mid-sized farmers. The supply and demand inforhoop house cost share pro- mation through Market gram began as a pilot in News. 2010. Since then, more Market News is now colthan 10,000 hoop houses lecting price data on grasshave been contracted. fed beef to arm producers USDA will soon announce will real pricing informaan additional $15 million tion from the sector. Marfor hoop house develop- ket News will also soon ment in persistent poverty begin collecting data about counties in nineteen states local food prices and volas part of USDA's Strike- ume, valuable to small and Force for Rural Growth and mid-sized producers enOpportunity Initiative. gaged in that marketplace. Market News provides real R I S K M A N A G E - time price, volume, supply, MENT and demand information Developing tools to help for producers to use in small and midsized farmers making production and and ranchers make sound fi- marketing decisions. Acnancial decisions as they
cess to timely, unbiased market information levels the playing field for all producers participating in the marketplace. Broadened the National Farmers Market Directory to include CSAs, on-farm stores and food hubs. This information will help small and mid-sized producers find new market opportunities. USDA will begin collecting data to update the directory for the 2014 season this spring. The USDA National Farmers Market Directory receives over 2 million hits annually. FOOD SAFETY Launched pilot projects in five states to help small and mid-sized farmers achieve Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) certification. GAP certification indicates farmers have met food safety standards required by many retail buyers. Under these pilot programs, small and midsized producers will be able to share the costs and fees associated with the certification process as a group. Group GAP efforts are being developed in partnership with small and mid-sized producer groups in Michigan, Wisconsin, Montana, Pennsylvania and Missouri. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND OUTREACH Created a Learning Guide Series for small and midsized producers to help them navigate available USDA resources, available on the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food website. The first in this series will be for small and midsized livestock and poultry producers. Additional Learning Guides will be released later this year. USDA field staff and StrikeForce teams will increase outreach to small and midsized producers using the
Learning Guides. Launched Small Scale Solutions for Your Farm, a series of educational resources designed for both small livestock and fruit and vegetable producers. This includes tips on simple management activities such as planting cover crops to complex structural practices such as animal waste management systems or innovative irrigation devices 2014 FARM BILL The recently-signed 2014 Farm Bill provides USDA with more direct resources to support small and mid-sized farmers, including: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), which provides grants to organizations that train, educate and provide outreach and technical assistance to new and beginning farmers on production, marketing, business management, legal strategies and other topics critical to running a successful operation. The 2014 Farm Bill provides $100 million total to BFRDP over the next 5 years. Value-Added Producer Grant Program was modified to allow USDA to better target small and midsized family farms, beginning and socially-disadvantaged farmers, and veterans. The 2014 Farm Bill provides $63 million over the next 5 years. Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program is expanded to support both direct-to-consumer opportunities and other supply chain projects such as food hubs. The 2014 Farm Bill provides $30 million annually. USDA FY2015 BUDGET PROPOSAL U S D A l a s t w e e k re leased its FY2015 Budget, which includes additional resources to help small and
mid-sized farmers and ranchers, including: $2.5 million to provide food safety training to owners and operators of small farms, small food processors, and small fruit and vegetable vendors affected by Food Safety Modernization Act. $3 million for Small, Socially Disadvantaged Producers Grants Program to ensure historically underprivileged rural Americans have opportunities for cooperative development. $2.5 million for a new Food and Agriculture Resilience Program for Military Veterans (FARM-Vets) that promotes research, education, and extension activity for veterans. $11 million for the Value-Added Producer Grants Program. The 2014 Farm Bill provides an additional $63 million in mandatory funding that is available until expended. $2.5 million in funding for the National Agricultural Statistics Service to conduct a survey on land ownership and farm financial characteristics. This supports an Administration priority that will provide additional demographic data related to small and beginning farmers and ranchers. $1.2 million for the Office of Advocacy and Outreach to carry out these responsibilities and the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill related to outreach to beginning, small, and socially disadvantaged farmers, and ranchers, including veterans, and rural communities. $25.7 million for Departmental Administration to maintain critical support activities and oversight for the Department, including management of small and disadvantaged business utilization programs.