Summer 1997

USDA Needs to Hear from Women Farmers
EQIP...CRP...Swampbuster...Crop Insurance...Ag Credit...SIP...Conservation Plans...If you’ve ever been confused, dissatisfied or frustrated with the programs and policies of the USDA, here’s a chance for you to take some responsibility for creating change.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting nominations for the County Committee elections. This is an opportunity to have a voice in agricultural policy identification and program delivery. Duties of Committee members include: informing other farmers of the purpose and provisions of FSA programs; keeping the State FSA Committee informed of local conditions; and recommending needed changes in farm programs. These elections will be held in December but now is the time to start getting involved!

What can you do right now? Call the FSA Office nearest to you and ask to be added to their mailing list. When the mail arrives...read it. If you don’t understand the information you’re sent...call the office that sent it or call us at the WAgN program office and ask for clarification. There are good programs available through USDA but if you’re not on the mailing list you may not hear about them. Good managers know how to use all the resources available to them.
FSA Offices in Vermont:

Opportunities in Dairy
Small Dairy Project announces the beginning of the Pasteurizer Lending Program. This program is a grassroots effort developed by the Small Dairy Project. Grant funds are secured to purchase a 25 gallon vat pasteurizer which will be loaned out to small farms in six month blocks. This will provide small scale farmers an opportunity to test some dairy product development and have a six month trial period before making a large capital expense. Support for this program comes from the Connecticut River Joint Commission Partnership Program of Vermont and New Hampshire, Providian Bancorp, Lake Sunapee Bank, and the NH Department of Agriculture. Applications and more information on this program are available from:   The Small Dairy Project, HC65, Box 45, Bradford, NH 03321. Telephone: 603-927-4176, fax: 603-927-4506, email: nunsuch@conknet.com

Snowy River Farm is establishing a sheep dairy. Owner, Katharine Gordon is in the process of building a milking parlor and a Vermont certified milk processing facility for cheese production. Katharine is interested in talking to individuals interested in using these facilities for their own products.  For more information contact Katharine at 802-888-5583. Early morning calls are welcome.

Attention Cut Flower Growers
The newly established Cut Flower Co-op is looking for a few supplemental growers who have unique        cuts that they would like the CFC to market for them. This is only on an as-needed basis for this season to help fill any unmet market demand but could become a more formal arrangement in the future. Contact Lindsey Ketchel at 802-828-3833 for more information.

Ag in the Classroom Needs You
If you are a grower or a teacher interested in helping Vermont’s youth learn about agriculture, this could be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Ag in the Classroom is a broad based group of agencies, non-profits, educators and farmers dedicated to promoting agriculture in our schools. To find out more, contact Lindsey Ketchel at 802-828-3833.

SARE Farmer Grants
Farmers in the Northeast will again have an opportunity to apply for funding to do on-farm research incorporating sustainable ag practices.   This project is funded through USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture, Research, and Education (SARE) initiative. In the past, grant awards have ranged from $300 - $6,000. Projects have ranged from biological weed and pest control to livestock production techniques and alternative crops. WAgN staff are available to help you with the proposal process.

Dates to keep in mind:
September 1, 1997  - Call for Farmer proposals; December 1997 - Farmer proposals due.
For more information and application packets, contact the SARE Office: Hills Building, UVM, Burlington, VT 05405-0082. Tel: 802-656-0471 or email: msimpson@zoo.uvm.edu.

Previews of Coming Attractions...

Orientations  (dates are subject to change, please call WSBP for updates, 802-658-0337, ext. 372)
Burlington Area:  September 9, 22
Lyndon Area:  September 23 (Newport)
Rutland Area:  September 10, 30

Getting Serious
Exact dates are not available. Fall sessions of Getting Serious are being scheduled to begin in October.

Growing Places 
Cycle 5 is scheduled for October 18, 25, November 1, 8 in the Morrisville area. Growing Places is designed for individuals considering a farm or ag-related business, especially for those who don’t have much experience in ag. Registration is $75 and materials will be available from the WAgN Program Office from August 1.

Start Up
Interviews for Fall ’97 Cycles in 3 locations are taking place now!  For more info, call the WSBP office nearest you.
Burlington:  802-658-0337, ext. 372
Rutland:  802-747-9941
Lyndon:  802-626-6206

Discussion Groups
Two discussion groups are now forming--one in the Brattleboro area, one in the Burlington area. Anyone needing additional information on these groups should contact the WAgN  Program office. The next meeting dates are:
Brattleboro: July 7,  7:15-9 pm
Burlington: July 15, 6-8 pm

Other Related and Interesting Events...

July 10-13 - Herbs ’97 Boston.  Sponsored by the International Herb Association. Keynote speaker will be Linda Ligon of The Herb Companion. For more information, contact the International Herb Association at 847-949-HERB.

July 18-19 - N.E. Agricultural Expo. Champlain Valley Fairgrounds, Essex Junction, VT. Demonstrations, exhibits and a chance to visit with many ag-service providers.

August 27 - Public Meeting, 7 pm, Contois Auditorium, City Hall, Burlington. Burlington’s Waterfront Market steering committee will host a public meeting on the progress of plans for a year ’round public market. This meeting is open to all. Potential vendors are encouraged to attend.

October 4-5 - Sheep & Wool Festival, Killington, VT. Workshops, displays, exhibits, demonstrations all having to do with the sheep and fiber industry.

October 7 - Women’s Business Showcase, 11-7, Ramada Inn, Burlington. Mark your calendar now!! This is a one day business fair that will feature a trade show as well as workshops for all levels of business ownership. A fee will be charged for exhibit space - all other events are free.  For more information call Nancy Bruce at 656-2235.

November 7-8 - Northeast Regional Community Supported Ag Conference.  Jiminy Peak, Hancock, MA.  Workshops will include topics for both beginning and experienced CSA operators.  For more information or to receive registration materials, contact: Elizabeth Keen, 57 Jug End Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230; Telephone: 413-528-4374; email: csana@bcn.net.

November 17-18 - Practical Partnerships: A New England Sustainable Agriculture Conference.  Portland, Maine. A dynamic New England conference to bring farmers together with agency personnel and educators to explore the steps we all have to take if agriculture is to sustain itself in New England. Workshops will focus on the following topics: Whole Farm Planning; Sustainable Commodity Production; Beyond the Farmgate - Community Connections; and Economic Vitality. Farmers of all productions areas, experience levels, and farm size are encouraged to attend--scholarships will be available.

February 2-5, 1998 - 1998 Northeast Farmers’ Direct Marketing Conference, Sturbridge, MA.  This is a terrific opportunity for anyone interested   in direct marketing (farmers’ markets, farm     stands, pick-your-own operations, subscription farming, etc.) to gain some new skills. Mark your calendar now!!  More info will appear in the next newsletter.

Conference Scholarship and Travel Assistance
WAgN is currently exploring the idea of offering scholarship assistance for several out-of-state conferences.  These scholarships would enable farmers, who otherwise would not be able to attend, an opportunity to participate in these events.  We are also exploring the possibility of coordinating travel to several of these events.  If you are interested in registration or travel assistance for either the NE CSA Conference; or the NE Farmers’ Direct Marketing Conference, please call the WAgN Program Office and have your name added to the list.  We will only explore the options if we get a sense that there is enough interest to justify the cost.

Resource Updates
On the Internet...  Check out the Sustainable Farming Connection at http://sunsite.unc.edu/farming-connection. This is an interactive site where farmers and others interested in sustainable agriculture can find and share valuable information.
Agrihelp at http://agrihelp.com/agtopics.htm has some interesting pieces of information.

In the Resource Library...

Greenhouse Management for Flower and Plant Production by Kennard S. Nelson (2nd edition, 1980).  Chapter topics include: Roles of Greenhouse Managers; Business Procedures; Physical Facilities; Crop Rotations and Scheduling; Greenhouse Soil Environment; Greenhouse Air Environment; and Marketing.

Growing Great Garlic: The Definitive Guide for organic Gardeners and Small Farmers by Ron L. Engeland (1991).  Covers history and uses of garlic as well as growing requirements, pests and diseases, harvest and storage and marketing.

On the phone... ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas) is a federally funded program located in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  They offer prepared information packets on a variety of topics and will research special topics on request.  Call 1-800-346-9140 to request information.

Associations, etc... For those interested in pastured poultry there is now an association that publishes a quarterly newsletter and promotes networking.  Membership in the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) is $20.  Send to: Diane Kaufmann, 5207 70th Street, Chippewa Falls, WI  54729.

Start Up Graduations - Burlington and Rutland
Congratulations to the WAgN Financial Award recipients who just completed the Start Up Course. These women worked hard researching and writing their business plans.  We wish them great success.
Ashley Adams
Lynn Caulkins
Caroline Herzog
Margot Tucker
Ginny Welch
Nina Weinzierl
Mary White

Wooing the Foodie
(revised from a presentation by Dan Matsch, owner of Gem O’ the Field Organics in Lyons, Colorado at the ’97 North American Farmers’ Direct Market Conference)

Foodie - Those customers that come early to the market to find the best selection; they consider cooking a hobby and an art; they value freshness and variety; they are your best customers because they will pay a fair price; stay loyal to producers; and advertise your product to others.

What appeals to a foodie:
    Quality - Be consistent.  Consistency fosters trust.  If something isn’t up to quality standards, grade it down or leave it home.  Produce should be clean, bug-free, and fresh.
    Presentation - A neat, organized display implies the same conditions exist at the farm.  Keep tidying, stacking, wetting, restocking, and consolidating.  Staying busy has the added benefit of attracting attention.  Keep the area behind the stand neat also.
    Signs - People come to the market to talk to you, the grower.  “How much?” is a good opener for them.  Still, prices should be clearly visible and good-looking signs give a professional look
    Pricing - Foodies will pay for high quality, but everyone likes a discount now and then.  Take advantage of this and find ways to give little rewards to regular buyers.
    Education - Share your secrets!  If you have a great tip for cooking or serving an item, let your customers know.  Inspire cooks to creativity and experimentation. Listen to their thoughts and ideas.  Treat your regulars like friends.
    To leave at home: lawnchairs, reflective sunglasses, books, newspapers, radios.

USDA Farm Service Agency Fact Sheet.  May 1997
Loans for Socially Disadvantaged Persons
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) can make and guarantee loans to socially disadvantaged applicants to buy and operate family-size farms and ranches.  Funds specifically for these loans are reserved each year.

A socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual qualities.  For purposes of this program, socially disadvantaged groups are women, African Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, and Asians and Pacific Islanders.

The purposes of the program are to:

• Target direct and guaranteed loan assistance to socially disadvantaged persons;
•  Discover and remove obstacles that prevent the full participation for those persons in FSA’s farm loan programs;
•  Provide advice to qualified applicants to help them develop sound farm management practices, analyze problems, and plan the best use of available resources essential for success in farming or ranching.

Types of Loans
Direct loans are made to applicants by FSA and include both farm operating and farm ownership loans.

Guaranteed loans also may be made for ownership or operating purposes, and may be made by any lending institution subject to Federal or State supervision (banks, savings and loans, insurance companies and units of the Farm Credit System including the Bank for Cooperatives) and guaranteed by FSA.  Some State governments also operate farm loan programs that are eligible for FSA guarantees.  Typically, FSA guarantees 90 or 95 percent of a loan against any loss that might be incurred if the loan fails.

Use of Loan Funds
Farm ownership loan funds may be used to purchase or enlarge a farm or ranch, purchase easements or rights of way needed in the farm’s operation, erect or improve buildings such as a dwelling or barn, promote soil and water conservation and development, and pay closing costs.

Farm operating loan funds may be used to purchase livestock, poultry, farm and home equipment, feed, seed, fuel, fertilizer, chemicals, hail and other crop insurance, food, clothing, medical care, and hired labor.  Funds also may be used to install or improve water systems for home use, livestock or irrigation, and other improvements.

Who May Borrow
Individuals, partnerships, joint operations, corporations, and cooperatives primarily and directly engaged in farming and ranching on family-size operations may apply.  A family-size farm is considered to be one that a family can operate and manage itself.

1. In addition to being members of a socially disadvantaged group, individual applicants under this program must meet all requirements for FSA’s regular farm loan program assistance.  To be eligible, an applicant must, among other requirements:     
2. Have a satisfactory history of meeting credit obligations;    
3. Have sufficient education, training, or at least 1 year’s experience in managing or operating a farm or ranch within the last 5 years for an operating loan, or, for an ownership loan, have 3 years’ experience in operating a farm or ranch; be a citizen of the United States (or a legal resident alien), including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and certain former Pacific Island Trust Territories;
4. Be unable to obtain credit elsewhere at reasonable rates and terms to meet actual needs;
5. Possess the legal capacity to incur the obligations of the loan

In the case of corporations, cooperatives, joint operations, or partnerships, the stockholders, members, or partners holding a majority interest must meet these same eligibility requirements.  The borrowing entity must be authorized to operate a farm or ranch in the State where the actual operation is located.  In addition, the entity must be owned by U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and the socially disadvantaged members must hold a majority interest in the entity.

If the individuals holding a majority interest in the entity are related by blood or marriage, at least one stockholder, member, or partner must operate the family farm or ranch.  If they are not related by blood or marriage, those holding a majority interest must operate the farm or ranch.

Terms and Interest Rates
Repayment terms for direct operating loans depend on the collateral securing the loan and usually run from 1 to 7 years.  Repayment terms for direct ownership loans can be as long as 40 years.  Guaranteed loan terms are set by the lender.
Interest rates for direct loans are set periodically according to the Government’s cost of borrowing.  Interest rates for guaranteed  loans are established by the lender.

Getting a Loan
Applications for all FSA direct loan programs are made through FSA’s county offices.  Offices often are located in county seats, and their addresses and telephone numbers can be found in local telephone directories under “United States Government, Department of Agriculture.”

Guaranteed loan applications are made with the lender.  In cases where a lender is not known to an applicant, personnel at the county offices will help find one and will help with an application, either for a direct loan or a guaranteed loan.

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WAgN
Women's Agricultural Network
590 Main St., UVM
Burlington, VT  05405
(802) 656-3276
or wagn@zoo.uvm.edu

University of Vermont Extension and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, notional orgin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.