Whole Foods Local Producer Loan Program

Whole Foods Market is committed to the concept of fresh, healthy, local foods. Since the beginning, we have remained committed to supporting local products and the people who supply them. In addition to featuring local products in our stores, we’re putting our money where our mouths are by providing up to $10 million in low-interest loans to independent local farmers and food artisans. We’re proud to support small producers who need a hand, not a handout, to help them make their dreams reality.

THE PROGRAM
•Strengthens the partnerships between Whole Foods Market and local producers
•Works with producers to expand the availability of high-quality local products for our customers
•Supports the communities where Whole Foods Market does business
•Reinforces Whole Foods Market’s commitment to environmental stewardship

THE PRODUCERS
•Must meet Whole Foods Market’s Quality Standards and standards for animal welfare
•Use funds for expansion and capital expenditures (e.g., buy more animals, invest in new equipment and infrastructure, or expand crops), not operating expenses
•Have a viable business plan and adequate cash flow to service debt

THE PROCESS
•Streamlined process with fees, interest rates, and paperwork minimized
•Targeted loan amounts between $1,000 and $100,000 (maximum $25,000 for start-ups)
•Loan amount not to exceed 80% of total project cost
•Low, fixed interest rates (currently between 5% and 9%)
•Monthly payments required after termination of grace period
•No penalty for early repayment
•Collateral required
•One-time minimal processing fee covers administrative expenses, including credit report
•Approval and terms dependent on product characteristics, risk assessments, and use of proceeds
•Opportunity to apply for additional financing if initial loan is in good standing after one year
•Existing vendor relationship with Whole Foods Market preferred
•Applications accepted on a rolling basis

For more information, go to the Whole Foods website at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/values/local-producer-details.php

State regulations govern the off-farm sale of dairy products

Dairy items have become hot commodities as farmers seek ways to increase product sales. Milk in glass containers, artisan cheeses and fresh yogurts have become products both popular with consumers and profitable. Yet connecting consumers with local dairies and dairy products is just one aspect of increasing dairy sales.

Producers must adhere to state statutes that regulate the safe and legal sale of all dairy products. In Missouri, the dairy industry is overseen by the Missouri Milk Board, a division of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Consumers may be most familiar with buying milk at the grocery store but off-farm sales, including home delivery, continue to increase in our state. In Missouri, raw milk and cream from cattle, sheep and goats can legally be sold off the farm. To comply with state regulations, these products must be delivered directly to a consumer and may not be sold in any retail fashion.

Dairy farmers are not allowed to sell products at farmers’ markets or in retail stores. Producers cannot legally sell butter, yogurt, cheese or ice cream without proper licensing and a permit from the Missouri State Milk Board. Obtaining this license further requires an inspection by the state governing agency. Producers can ensure their sales and production practices are in compliance with state statutes by contacting the Missouri State Milk Board at 573.751.3830.

Keep in mind that farmers who do not adhere to the state statutes regarding the safe and legal sale of dairy products put all dairy producers in our state in jeopardy.

Great Plains Vegetable Conference

The conference is held in St. Joseph, Missouri, and is organized every year by Extension educators from five states: Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The conference will be held next month on January 7-9, 2010.

The Great Plains Vegetable Conference is open to everyone, from backyard gardeners to commercial vegetable growers. Topics cover not only vegetables, but also small fruits and flowers. There are also presentations targeted toward organic growers.

The event begins with workshops on Thursday. The first explores the use of high tunnels in vegetable and fruit production. The speakers this year include organic growers from New York and Arkansas who have utilized hoop houses on their farms very successfully. You will also hear from a panel of growers and Extension specialists who will provide their experiences and perspectives on high tunnels.

The second pre-conference workshop looks at a popular method of marketing known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Several growers and one Extension specialist will explore topics such as getting started with a CSA, growing the food for a CSA, and marketing considerations.

This year, a third pre-conference workshop was added, titled “Growing Your Farm Profits: Understanding the Marketplace and Positioning Your Farm to Succeed”. This session will explore the business end of farming, including topics such as deciding what to sell, who to sell it to, how to set prices, determining your true costs, and marketing your produce.

The main conference begins on Friday. There are four concurrent tracks to choose from, so there is usually something of interest for everyone.

Some of the tracks include organics, fruit production, greenhouses, vegetables, bees, the new GAP policies, cut flowers, farmers markets, and more. On Saturday, there will also be a special day-long track for beginning vegetable farmers.

There will be approximately 30 exhibitors available to provide information about seeds, irrigation, horticulture equipment, chemicals, and other topics. Meals, break refreshments, and handouts will be included in the registration fee.

The conference will be held on the campus of Missouri Western State University. For more information about the conference and a registration form, call the Buchanan County Extension office at (816) 279-1691. You may also register on-line and find additional information on our web site at: http://extension.missouri.edu/buchanan/GPVGC.shtml

Missouri Aquaculture Conference

The Missouri Aquaculture Conference will be conducted January 12-13, 2010 at the Lincoln University Carver Farm near Jefferson City.

Details about the conference, program and registration can be found at the following website: http://moaa.pond.org/meeting/meet.htm

Sessions will feature information on the following timely topics:

- biosecurity and fish health testing

- state import regulations regarding fish health

- update on emerging fish diseases

- the development of sunfish as a food fish for Missouri

- cage culture techniques for producing bluegill

- incentive programs available for Missouri fish producers

A turkey and fish fry are also planned.

Building Sustainable Places publication

The Building Sustainable Places guide is a 108 page document created by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, National Center for Appropriate Technology, and several USDA agencies, covers 64 grant, loan and other resources from federal agencies. This publication aims to help farmers, landowners, consumers, small businesses and others who are interested in sustainable agriculture identify federal programs that could advance their interests. The guide is available in hard copy or online at http://attra.ncat.org/guide. More information is available from the guide's coordinator Katie Wied at katiew@michaelfieldsaginst.org

It’s The Holiday Season, What Should I be Doing?

For persons who own their own businesses this can be a crazy time of the year. How do you market your business or products most effectively to close out the year on a high note…as you also try to enjoy the many seasonal family and community activities that can bring happiness and personal satisfaction? Plus, it is time to get serious about 2010.

MAKE A LIST: If we haven’t already done so, now is a good time to reflect on 2009. What were some of the things I/you did this past year we can stop doing? Regardless of who we are, we have to admit we spent time, and possibly money, on some things that were unproductive. Put those thing on the ”NOT To Do” list. This will free up time for the things we want to add to our “To Do” list.

FOCUS ON PEOPLE: In the final analysis, the big rewards in life are associated with people—family members, associates we work with, neighbors and persons we don’t know, yet. We may amass large wealth, but we are unlikely to be happy if the people around us are not happy. If we are too focused on the dollars and not on the people, the outcomes are not likely to be as satisfying as they could be. I have a goal to be more thoughtful and inclusive in the coming year, starting today. I invite you to check up on me from time to time to see how I am doing. What can you do to improve in your “people” area?

MAKE A FEW NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS: Those “To Do” and “NOT To Do” lists may be a good place to start in selecting some resolutions. Put the lists in a visible place. Think on them. Don’t rush it. Ideas for resolutions will come. If cash flow has been a problem, maybe a resolution (and action) about this issue is appropriate. If not getting important tasks completed in a timely manner is a problem, consider addressing that as a resolution (and an action). 2009 is about over. The slate can be “cleaned.” A FEW, select resolutions can be a good way to start the New Year.
So those are my suggestions for responding to my question at the top (They say never cover more than 3 topics in a blog). If it sounds like I have been “preaching,” it is to me, not you. It has been a wonderful year and I have much more to celebrate this holiday season than I ever anticipated I would have. I hope you can say the same, too. But if you can’t, you can clean the slate. 2010 is just waiting for us to make it our best year yet.

Ken Schneeberger
schneebergerk@missouri.edu

Describing Beginning Farmers

In May of this year the Economic Research Service of the U.S.D.A. released a report outlining data on the number and characteristics of beginning farmers and ranchers. The USDA defines beginning farmers as basically those who have been farming for less than 10 years. Due to the high capital start up costs of production agriculture, the USDA maintains special programs such as loans and special program payment rates for beginning farmers. The information shared in this report assists the USDA in implementing and operating these programs.

The report offers insights into the personal and household characteristics of beginning farms and ranches, as well as data on farm numbers and locations, commodity specialization, and asset ownership and management. It also briefly describes some of the programs that USDA offers to newer farm operations. The short 27 page document is a very interesting look into the challenges facing beginning farmers. It even includes estimates of survival rates for new operations. You can find the report here: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB53/EIB53.pdf

Kevin Moore
moorek@missouri.edu