Ag Opportunities

The December 2013 issue of Ag Opportunities is now available.  Topics include:

Lots of Learning This Winter Season

Monthly Beginning Farmer Webinars - IPM, Irrigation and Cold Storage

Great Plains Growers Conference Agenda

Farm Commons Webinars (Legal Topics)

Free Marketing Webinar Series

USDA Announces Notice of Funding Availability for Value-Added Producer Grants

Farmers Market of the Ozarks and CRAFT Educational Courses

Small Farms Winter Webinar Series

Grants and Financial Assistance

In Print/On-Line/In The News

On The Calendar

On-Farm Crop Storage: Planning, Design and Management

The Missouri Beginning Farmers Program’s monthly webinars continue December 2 with another round of informative and exciting topics for beginning (as well as experienced) farmers.

The December monthly webinar will be on On-Farm Crop Storage: Planning, Design and Management with Scott Sanford from the University of Wisconsin.  Scott has been working with farmers on on-farm storage for years.  He just recently completed a grant about on-farm cold storage.  He will be sharing his findings with us. So join us on Monday, December 2^nd from 7-8:30 pm.

To join the below webinars go to univmissouri.adobeconnect.com/debikelly and sign in under “guest” with your name.  All webinars begin at 7 pm and end by 8:30 pm.  Each webinar will be recorded and added to the Online Learning Community.

 

 

 

USDA Announces Notice of Funding Availability for Value-Added Producer Grants

(Note:  This Value Added Grant is the USDA grant.  The post from last month was on the Value Added Grant from the MO Dept of Ag grant.  To read the MO Dept of Ag Value Added grant go to the Oct 28th post.)

Grants extend production season and income opportunities for America's Farmers

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of nearly $10.5 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities designed to give them a competitive business edge.

"U.S. agriculture is connected to one in 12 American jobs, and value-added products from homegrown sources are one important way that agriculture generates economic growth," Vilsack said. "Supporting producers and businesses to create value-added products strengthens rural economies, helps fuel innovation, and strengthens marketing opportunities for producers – especially at the local and regional level."

The funding is being made available through the Value-Added Producer Grant program. Grants are available to help agricultural producers create new products, expand marketing opportunities, support further processing of existing products or goods, or to develop specialty and niche products. They may be used for working capital and planning activities. The maximum working capital grant is $200,000; the maximum planning grant is $75,000.

Eligible applicants include independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and agricultural producer groups. Funding priority is given to socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers or ranchers, and to small- to medium-size family farms, or farmer/rancher cooperatives.

The Value-Added Producer Grant program is one of many USDA programs that support the development of strong local and regional food systems as part of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative. Launched in 2009, the initiative strengthens ties between agricultural producers and their local communities, helping meet growing consumer demand and creating opportunities for small business development. Initiatives like this create new income opportunities for farmers, generate wealth that will stay in rural communities, and increase access to healthy, local foods in underserved communities. All of these actions boost local economies.

Rural Development is encouraging applications from Tribal organizations as well as applications that support regional food hubs. Applications supporting value-added activities related to bio-based products are also encouraged.

In Fiscal year 2012, for example, the Mississippi Delta Southern Rural Black Women in Agriculture Association received a $44,000 working capital grant to provide a variety of services in the Delta region. The cooperative delivered oven-bakeable sweet potato fries to local Head Start programs and schools; cut, washed and bagged greens for local restaurants; and delivered sustainably grown and heirloom sweet potatoes to local and specialty grocers regionally and nationwide. The sweet potatoes are processed at the vegetable facility at Alcorn State University, in Lorman, Miss.

The project is supplying emerging markets with locally grown produce to enhance production, marketing and distribution infrastructure among women and minority landowners in persistently poor rural communities.

Additional examples of how VAPGs assist local and regional food producers are available on the USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass, which is searchable by zip code and key word.

Grant applications are due by Feb. 24, 2014. More information about how to apply is available on page 70260 of the November 25 Federal Register, or by contacting any USDA Rural Development state office.

What Makes a Good Pasture Lease Agreement?

Creating a good pasture lease is not easy and requires some careful thought by both parties. In general, a good lease is one in which both parties agree it is fair and both completely understand each other’s expectations. Most problems with a pasture lease occur when one or more parties do not fully understand what the other one expected. Whether a lease is verbal or in writing, taking the time to discuss these issues ahead of time will prevent 99 percent of the problems that will arise later. Writing out a lease forces you to consider what may seem like minor details now, but can become explosive issues later. Things such as who is responsible for fence repair, will the pastures be mowed, who has the right to enter the property, or can the tenant sublease the property.

Verbal Lease

Verbal lease for more than one year are usually considered invalid and unenforceable. Although verbal leases are binding on heirs, enforcing them can create many other problems. Having the lease written out is probably the best thing to do in most all cases. If after one year the landlord and tenant agree to extend a verbal lease for a second year, then the lease becomes what is known as a year–to-year tenancy. The lease will now automatically be extended for another year at the anniversary date of the lease, unless one of the parties provides a termination notice ahead of time. The notice must be in writing and provided 60 days prior to the anniversary date of the lease, which is when a landlord and tenant actually took possession. The termination notice must be in writing, even though the lease may be verbal.

Written Lease

The minimum requirements of a written lease are the names of both parties, a legal description of the property, the duration of the lease, the rental rate and payment arrangements, and signatures of both parties. However, there are several other items that should be considered. The first is landowner entry rights. Unless agreed upon in the lease, the landowner does not have the right to enter the property. Another item that should be addressed in the lease is subleasing. If the lease does not state that the tenant is not allowed to sublease the property, then the tenant can sublease with the landlord’s permission as long as it is for the same original purpose. Other special agreements include fence repair and soil fertility. Agreeing on who is responsible for fences and who pays for materials ahead of time will ensure that fences are maintained and kept in working order.

Soil fertility and lime is one of the most critical agreements in the lease. If pastures are not maintained, the productivity will decrease which hurts both the landlord and tenant. This may be a reason to establish a multi-year lease because it provides more incentive for the tenant to invest in the soil fertility. It is in both the landlord and tenants best interest to carefully consider all details of a lease ahead of time to prevent future disagreements. A written lease is a good way to force everyone to consider the details. Plus it creates an incentive for both parties to structure the lease so it is beneficial to both. A comprehensive fill-in-the-blank pasture lease that can be a guide for developing a lease can be obtained from the nearest University of Missouri Extension office or by going online.

(by Wesley Tucker, agriculture business specialist, Polk County Extension)

 

Organic and Integrated Research at Lincoln University’s Busby Research Farm

The Alan T. Busby Research Farm is one of three farms owned by Lincoln University and is located 8 miles from campus, off Highway 54. Our mission is to demonstrate and research integrated farming methods that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Busby Research Farm was certified as an organic producer of crops in November 2012. Those crops include blueberries, forages and vegetables, with future plans to include brambles and apples. At this time, the livestock are not certified organic as there were concerns that could limit the scope of the livestock research projects.

The 280-acres farm is a diverse mixture of rolling pasture land, oak and hickory woodlands and river bottom. Facilities include the beef handling barn, composting building, former swine research building and a youth camp which has four bunkhouse cabins, community buildings and a kitchen. The cabin area is surrounded by native plants and a recovering prairie area flanks the gates leading to the cabins. The composting facility uses locally generated food waste to produce compost for use as a soil amendment and in making compost tea. Other unique features are the solar-powered pump and reservoir which provide water for irrigation and livestock water, two acres of blueberries, four acres of switchgrass and miscanthus for biomass energy research, as well as a newly established finca garden featuring native plants.

Dr. Jaime Piñero conducts integrated pest management (IPM) studies using organic methods which incorporate trap crops and lures to minimize pest damage from Japanese beetles, squash bugs and stink bugs. He is also research the effectiveness of various cover crop combinations with weed suppression and soil fertility.

Busby Research Farm maintains a herd of 20 to 25 head of Angus cattle and flocks of goats and hair sheep. They are used in grazing demonstrations and research projects. Dr. James Caldwell is conducting research utilizing multispecies grazing of sheep and cattle to determine the effects on forage utilization and reproduction. Dr. Charlotte Clifford-Rathert is entering the third year of a silvopasture project utilizing goats to reclaim unmanaged woodlands and eliminate invasive species. All livestock are maintained using a forage-based system and managed intensive grazing, with minimum use of hay and supplemental feed.

The most challenging endeavor has been establishing and maintaining organic blueberries. This summer, some of the plants tested positive for phytophthora root rot and several researchers and specialists collaborated to develop a treatment plan that included applications of compost tea, gypsum, raw milk, either separately or in combination. Hopefully, the data collected prior to treatment and again next spring will provide results that can be of use to other producers.

In the spring, Busby Research Farm will host their annual Alternative Agricultural Field Day. Information will be available on the Lincoln University website and flyers will be available.

Tours of the facility are also available. For questions or additional information, please call Chris Boeckmann (573-619-2914) or Cindy DeOrnellis (573-291-0591).
 

Small Farms Winter Webinar Series

The University of Illinois Extension presents a weekly educational series for the small farm community, providing practical knowledge on emerging topics which advance local food production in Illinois.  This series of online events is aimed at providing small farm producers with a look at how leading practices in production, management, and marketing enable operations to improve profitability and sustainability.  This year's series include the addition of two tracts on small orchard management and organic pest control.  Webinars will be held from 1:00 - 2:30 pm on Thursdays and are free.

Choose any number of the following webinars to attend when you register.    

Topics include:

Jan 9     Managing Layers on Pastures - Kyle Cecil, University of Illinois Extension Small Farms/Local Foods Educator

Jan 16    An Overview of the Philosophy and History of Organic Agriculture - Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, University of Illinois Extension Small Farms/Local Foods Educator

Jan 23    Pumpkins and Gourdes - Nathan Johanning, University of Illinois Extension Small Farms/Local Foods Educator

Jan 30    Approaches to Small Scale Farm Composting - Ellen Phillips, University of Illinois Extension Small Farms/Local Foods Educator

Feb 6      Organic Pest Management:  Insects -   Rick Weinzierl, University of Illinois Extension Specialist, Entomology, Dept. of Crop Sciences

Feb 13    Organic Pest Management:  Disease -   Darin Eastburn, University of Illnois Associate Professor of the Dept. of Crop Sciences, Plant Pathology

Feb. 20   Organic Pest Management:  Weeds  -   Adam Davis, University of Illinois Associate Professor of the Dept. of Crop Sciences, Weed Science and Crop Management

Feb. 27   Asparagus Production - Mike Roegge, University of Illinois Extension Small Farms/Local Foods Educator

Mar. 6     Small Orchard:  Insects -   Rick Weinzierl, University of Illinois Extension Specialist, Entomology, Dept. of Crop Sciences

Mar. 13    Small Orchard:  Orchard Management - Elizabeth Wahle, University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator

Mar. 20    Small Orchard:  Disease - Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology, Dept. of Crop Sciences

Mar. 27    Growing for Ethnic Markets - James Theuri, University of Illinois Extension Local Foods/Small Farms Extension Educator

The webinars can be accessed on-line from your personal computer.  In case you cannot attend these dates, register anyway!  An archived version of the webinars will be provided via email (the Monday after airing) for viewing at your convenience.

To register for the webinars, click here.

 

For more information, contact:  Miki White, University of Illinois Extension Small Farms Program Coordinator at 309-342-5108 or miki7047@illinois.edu

Livestock Lease Agreements a New Option

Older farmers and young farmers strapped for capital are teaming up in increasing numbers to form livestock lease alliances.

“Leasing land is common. Why not cattle?” said University of Missouri Extension agribusiness specialist Mary Sobba.

Young producers who may not have adequate finances are working with ready-to-retire producers to share income and profits on cattle by sharing land, machinery, breeding stock, labor, seed, fertilizer and other costs.

Sobba suggests that producers and would-be producers test the fairness of a lease by using a two-column worksheet, one for the landowner and one for the tenant.

Owners can cash lease beef cows, or the owner could furnish a set of bred cows or heifers for a predetermined lease price. The operator receives the livestock, cares for and manages the animals, keeps a percent of the calf crop, and returns the cows to the owner at the end of the lease.

Ways to determine cash rental rates are livestock ownership costs, livestock owner net share, rent and operator’s net return to livestock.

Some considerations include fence repair, bull expense, how and when cows are culled and sold, how and when calves are sold, and replacement females.

Owners and tenants also should decide the length of the lease, incentives for lower death loss and higher calving percentages, and provisions for drought and disaster.

To find an extension agribusiness specialist in your area, contact your local MU Extension center.

(by Linda Geist, MU Writer)