2016 aamu sfrc newsletter

8/19/2019 2016 AAMU SFRC Newsletter

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2016-aamu-sfrc-newsletter 1/4

!

SMALL BUSINESS PLAN WORKSHOP. Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville, AL. The Small Farms Research Center (SFRC) in collaboration with the Alabama Cooerative Extension System’s Mobile County Extension Office will host a Small Business Workshop May 5!6, 2016, in the James I. Dawson Building on the campus of Alabama Agricultural and Mechical University (AAMU). Workshop presentations will include: Starting a Business from ScratBusiness Economics and Marketing, Short! and Long!Term Business Planning and the AffordabCare Act Business Requirements, and Bookkeeping and Business Taxes. Great emphasis will placed on the importance of business and agribusiness owners developing a business plan that aligwith marketing, production, and financing capacities and strategies to minimize risk. This courseoffered to all aspiring entrepreneurs and will provide hands !on and real life examples to further illu

trate the purpose of a business plan. Lenders and United States Department of Agriculture (USDrepresentatives will also be available to discuss loans and government programs. Registration$10.00 and is now open until April 26th. Limited scholarships are available for those who qualiPlease contact the SFRC at 256!372!4958 for more information.

SMALL R UMINANT WORKSHOP: MARKETING HEALTHY ANIMALS. Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville, AL. The Small Farms Research Center in col-laboration with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System(ACES) will host its Small Ruminant Workshop, June 1!2,2016. The two!day workshop held in AAMU’s James I.Dawson Building, will provide hands!on training and in-formative session on USDA government programs, market-

ing opportunities, health care and maintenance, pricing prod-ucts, and networking with fellow farmers. Registration is$10.00 and is now open until May 27th. Limited scholar-ships are available for those who qualify. Please contact theSFRC at 256!372!4958 for more information.

This workshop is open to aspiring small ruminant producers,as well as community leaders, agribusiness representatives, and anyone interested in goat production

REGISTRATION BEGINS NOW FOR BOTH EVENTS. To learn more about the Small Farms Resear

Center’s programs and services, and to register for each event please contact us at 256 !372!4958 or e

[email protected].

%

'

%

(

)

*

-

0

1

2

J A N U A R Y

— M A R C H

2 0 1 6

#

$

%

&

(

+

+

&

,

'

" # $ % % & $ ' # " ' ( " ( $ ' ) * ) ( + , ( '

+ ( - " . / 0 $ , (! " # # $ % $ " ' ( % ) * ! + # , + ) ( # - # * ' $ ( . / . ( , + ) ( # 0 ! * $ . ! $ 0

#$$%&#' %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

3 %

&#' % ('20)(%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

('20)( %

6 %

- 7#%'-'#$%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

7(2($/. (+,%%

8 %

%

9 %

9 %

:-/,(%/&%,*(%

/+,*%

9 %

!"#$$ &#'"! '(!(#')* )(+,('- ./)0"1+2 (3(+,!

mall Farms Research Center

Alabama A&M University

4900 Meridian Street

James I. Dawson Building

Suite 316"A

P.O. Box 700

Normal, AL 35762

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

#$%&'()$#' ##*&''

.12345 "36347 048693:413 ;< $=92>?@3?94

A<<2>4 ;< $5B;>6>C 615 A?3946>D EA$AF

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome



3

USDA Looking for Veterans: The Next Generation of Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a joint agreement with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to increase employment opportunities in the agricultural sector for military veterans and their spouses.

USDA Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Deputy Under Secretary Lanon Baccam signed the agreement along witEric Eversole, vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Eversole, a Commander in the Navy Reserve, also serves a

the foundation’s President of Hiring Our Heroes. Baccam, a U.S. Army and Iowa National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan, is USDA’s Military Veterans Liaison.

“Today’s agreement opens the door for thousands of service members who participate in Hiring Our Heroes events arounthe world to benefit from USDA’s vast array of tools and resources,” said Baccam. “This new partnership strengthenUSDA’s ongoing efforts to help veterans pursue reward-ing careers in farming, ranching, or in the fast!growingagriculture and food sectors.”

The agreement establishes a new partnership betweenUSDA and Hiring Our Heroes, a program that helps mil-itary veterans, transitioning active duty personnel, andtheir spouses and partners with training and opportuni-

ties to find meaningful employment when entering thecivilian workforce.

Since 2009, USDA has provided $466.8 million in farmloans to help more than 6,868 veterans purchase farm-land, buy equipment and make repairs and upgrades. Ourmicroloans, which offer smaller amounts of support tomeet the needs of small! or niche!type farm operations,have also grown in popularity among veterans. Since itwas launched in January 2013, USDA's microloan pro-gram has provided more than $25.8 million in support tohelp veterans grow their farming businesses.

Recently, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) also expanded its collaboration with the Department of Defense to bettereach the nearly 200,000 service members transitioning from military service to civilian life each year. Through a careetraining and counseling program, called the Transition Assistance Program, or TAP, USDA provides information on a widvariety of loans, grants, training and technical assistance available for veterans who are passionate about a career in agricuture.

For more information on how USDA can help military veterans transition into agriculture as a career, visitwww.usda.gov/veterans.

This joint agreement between USDA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bilwhich builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past seven years, while achieving meaningful reform an

billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provsion of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk managementools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public ! private conservation partneships; developing new markets for rural!made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing, and community facilities thelp improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

Reference Politsch, K. (2016, February 12). USDA and the US chamber of commerce foundation join forces to promote agriculture jobs

and farming and ranching to military veterans. Retrieved from http://www.fsa.usda.gov/news!room/news!releases/2016/nr_20160217_rel_0044.

-./0 1

.!4# &#'" !('31)( #2(+)5 6&!#7



4

Powering Sustainable Rural Communities

Providing reliable, affordable electricity is essential to sustain-ing the economic well! being and quality of life for all of thenation's rural residents. The Electric Program provides leader-ship and capital to maintain, expand, upgrade, and modernizeAmerica's vast rural electric infrastructure. Under the authority

of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, the Electric Programmakes direct loans and loan guarantees (FFB), as wellas grants and other energy project financing to electric utilities(wholesale and retail providers of electricity) that serve cus-tomers in rural areas.

The loans and loan guarantees finance the construction of elec-tric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, includ-ing system improvements and replacement required to furnishand improve electric service in rural areas, as well as demandside management, energy efficiency and conservation pro-grams, and on!grid and off !grid renewable energy systems.

Loans are made to cooperatives as well as to corporations,states, territories and subdivisions and agencies such as municipalities, people's utility districts, and nonprofit, limited!divideor mutual associations that provide retail electric service needs to rural areas or supply the power needs of distribution borroers in rural areas.

RUS also provides a loan program under section 313A of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. § 9401) entitled Guarantees for Bonds and Notes Issued for Electrification or Telephone Purposes. The proceeds of the guaranteed bonds will be used by the guaranteed lender to make loans to borrowers for electrification or telephone purposes eligible forassistance under this chapter, or to refinance bonds or notes previously issued by the guaranteed lender. For additional detailsee the Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR 1720 . The RUS Electric Program helps nearly 700 borrowers in 46states finance safe, modern, and efficient infrastructure. The

resulting loan portfolio of approximately $46 billion is man-aged by the Electric Program.

RUS!financed electrical systems provide service to morethan 90% of the Nation’s counties that are identified as suf-fering from persistent poverty, out!migration, or other eco-nomic hardships. The Electric Program also provides finan-cial assistance through High Energy Cost Grants to ruralcommunities with extremely high energy costs to acquire,construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energygeneration, transmission, or distribution facilities.

To apply for Electric Infrastructure Loan & Loan Guaran-tee for a Distribution Loan visit RD Apply, our newly devel-oped, optional online application system.

Contact: Christopher McLean, Assistant Administrator, Electric Program at: (202) 720!9545, James Elliott, Assistant Admiistrator, Electric Program at: (202) 720!9547 or Jonathan Claffey, Policy Advisor

Reference: USDA. Rural Development. http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs! services/all ! programs/electric! programs

-./0 2

.!4# '.'#$ 4(3($0/"(+,



5

-./0 3

SAVE THE DATE !

May 5"6, 2016. Small Business Workshop, Huntsville, Alabama. AAMU’s SFRC in partnershipwith the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) will host its Small Business Workshop atAAMU. Come learn from the experts on all the advantages of having well!developed business plan.Registration Begins Now.

May 14, 2016. Holistic Wellness Conference and Expo Mobile, AL. Healthy Living Garden,

LLC will host its first annual health and wellness conference. The conference will cover holistic practi-tioners, vendors, and healers (CONNECT), attend our workshops or check out wellness product demos

(LEARN), try out a Yoga, Pilates, Nutritional or Restorative Movement class (MOVE), and enjoylocal art, music, and dance performances (ENJOY)! TBA. For more information, please contact Ms.Venisha Taylor at [email protected] or (512) 318!5884.

June 1"2, 2016. Small Ruminant Workshop, Huntsville, Alabama. AAMU’s SFRC in collaboration with ACES will host itsSmall Ruminant Workshop on the campus of Alabama A&M University. Come learn from the experts, specialist, and experienced

farmers on marketing goat meat, health!care maintenance, and government programs available. Registration Begins Now.

August 17"19, 2016. Risk Management and Business Development Workshop, Mobile, Alabama. AAMU’s SFRC in collaboration with ACES will host its RM and Business Development Workshop in Mobile, Alabama. Topics addressed but not limited to risk man-agement strategies, sustainability, diversification, business development, government programs available, marketing and various new and

emerging agricultural issues/topics. In addition, a farm field day will be held. (More details will follow shortly.)

September 20"22, 2016. USDA 7th National Small Farm Conference. Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Conference information: http://www.vsu.edu/nationalsmallfarmconference/index.php

"89: ;<=9 )8>?@A89B

“Imagination is more important than

knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

Albert Einstein.

C=<D? <E DF? C=89D?9

Cooperating Units made possible with financial support and assistance from: USDA/OAO/Outreach Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged

Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) Program, USDA/NIFA/Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program (BFRDP). USDA/NIFA/

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and USDA/NIFA/Southern Risk Management Education Center (SRMEC).

Hello, my name is Sonia Kishasha. I am a student majoring in chemistryat Alabama A&M University and a proud native of Nairobi, Kenya. As a

bi!weekly student worker with the Small Farms Research Center, I amlooking forward to this opportunity to work with the agricultural commu-nity as well as assisting with outreach efforts and developing trainingmaterial such as the SFRC newsletter. I will work with Ms. E’licia (Lisa)Chaverest and I am excited to be working with each of you. We definitelywant to know what’s going on in your community as it relates to agricul-ture. If you would like to submit articles or would like to make an an-nouncement of your agricultural related event, please forward your in-formation to:

E’licia (LISA) Chaverest

[email protected]

Office: (256) 372"4970/Fax: (256) 372"5517

Thank you,

#$%&'$()%()%&

Editor’s Note: All these articles were compiled from organization Small Farms Research Center,The Canola Team, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Services, and HealthyLiving Gardens, LLC.

Editor’s Corner

2016 aamu sfrc newsletter

Documents