ACRE is a USDA program that guarantees prices for eligible commodities. While it is too late to enroll for 2009, there is much to be learned by reviewing National, State, and County data (program parameters, price values, revenue yield maps, county yields, and benchmark yield history). Visit www.fsa.usda.gov.FSA See Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program/ACRE.
Farms with 10 or less base acres are not eligible for ACRE Program payments except for farms whose owners are socially disadvantaged or are limited resource farmers or ranchers. Are you a limited resource farmer? Use the Self-determination Tool available at http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/toolFY09.asp.
A socially disadvantaged (SDA) farmer, rancher, or agricultural producer is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of his or her identity as a member of the group without regard to his or her individual qualities. SDA groups are women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
To review an ACRE Fact Sheet go to www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/acre.pdf
This national educational program, dedicated to strengthening women’s role in modern farm and ranch enterprises, was first introduced in Ohio in January 2007 as a 6-week course with interactive sessions regarding 5 agricultural risks – human, financial, marketing, production and legal. At this date, 13 offerings of Annie’s Project are planned for early 2010, 2 in Maumee Valley, 3 in Erie Basin, 2 in Western Reserve, 2 in Crossroads, 1 in Heart of Ohio, 1 in Buckeye Hills, 1 in Miami Valley, and 1 in Ohio Valley. To learn which counties comprise these nine areas of the state (the same are the Ohio Resource Conservation and Development areas) go to www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/RCD/index.html
Contact State Coordinators for Annie’s Project: Doris Herringshaw at herringshaw.1@osu.edu or call 419-354-9050 or Julia Nolan Woodruff at woodruff.94@osu.edu or call 419-627-7631.
Good agricultural practices for fresh fruits and vegetables are reviewed in this helpful 30-page booklet published in 2000 by Cornell Good Agricultural Practices Program. It is availabe as a PDF at http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/handle/1813/2209
Register by October 30th for this 3-day workshop, Hands-On Basic Cheese-Making, Enhancing Dairy Profitability with Cheese, to be held at Grindstone Creek Lodge at the 4-H Camp Whitewood. Workshop runs 9-5 each day. $425 per person fee. Dairy, sheep, and goat milk producers will learn about the fine art of making farmstead and artisan cheeses. Call 440-576-9008 or e-mail averill.10@osu.edu or visit http://ashtabula.osu.edu/
Taylor Reid, while a Doctoral Candidate in Community, Food, and Agriculture at Michigan State University demonstrated himself to be an advocate for the development of new, sustainable agriculture enterprises and activities throughout the country by developing this website which he describes as a hybrid between a traditional site which provides fixed pages with information about particular topics – and a blog-based site which is regularly updated with articles, announcements, and resources as they become available. Begin Farming Ohio is now represented on this website.
Sponsored by Ohio Heartland Sheep Improvement Association (OHSIA) this Mini-Course is offered from 7 – 9 pm in Applewood Village Community Center on the cmpus of OSU/Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI), 1328 Dover Rd. Wooster OH (Wayne Co.) Presentation by Dr. Steve Loerch of OSU/OARDC Department of Animal Science. Call 330-264-5281 or visit http://sheep.osu.edu/
Meranda Nixon Winery in Ripley OH (Brown County) is a Featured Customer of Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, noted for their farm to market approach. Read more about this five-generation family farm, purchased by Seth Meranda in 1992 from his grandfather. Merandas 2003 diversification project brought wine grapes to the farm, first harvested in 2005, resulting in an April 2007 grand opening with their first three releases. This operation was named one of only 13 in Ohio with the Ohio Quality Wine Designation. Learn more at and www.meranda-nixonwinery.com and www.e-farmcredit.com (See Community/Farm to Market).
Ohio Farmers face more unique challenges than wage earners who receive weekly or bi-weekly compensation. This free financial education program will address those challenges specific to the personal finances of Ohio’s farming communities and is part of Ohio Treasurer Kevin Boyce’s Smart Money Choices Conference Series. Call 800-228-1102 or visit www.ohiotreasurer.gov. See FOR YOU and Smart Money Choices Conference Series.
Conference Location:
Wright State University-Lake Campus
7600 Lake Campus Drive
James S. Dicke Hall
Celina, Ohio
November 20, 2009
An eight week introductory short course for the new landowner or anyone wishing to learn how to make the most on a few acres, describes the 2010 Southern Ohio New and Small Farm College. The short course will be held from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at two locations:
Fayette County starting January 4, 2010 and Guernsey County starting January 7, 2010. For a complete schedule and registration information, contact the Fayette County Office of OSU Extension at 937.382.0901.
“Too Much to Mow–What Do I Grow?” is the theme for the Northeast Ohio New and Small Farm College Set for Oct 29, Nov. 5, 12, & 19, 2009 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at 4-H Camp Whitewood in Windsor, OH. Topics include Getting Started in Farming, Enterprise Selection, Marketing, Local Resources, and more. For a complete agenda and registration information, contact OSU Extension at 440.576.9008.
