News Update
October 27, 2014
USDA Announces Funding to Strengthen Rural Businesses and Cooperatives and Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Oct. 24 the selection of 43 organizations in 27 states for grants and loans to help create jobs and boost economic development activity in rural areas. The announcement culminates a week in which the department has been highlighting products that are “Made In Rural America.”
“Many rural businesses and organizations are succeeding but, with access to additional resources, can create more jobs, promote growth and create an environment where more products can be made in rural America,” Vilsack said. “The awards we are announcing today will not only provide funding, but they also will provide the critical training and technical assistance rural cooperatives and nonprofit groups need to enhance the work they are doing to strengthen America’s Main Street businesses.”
The funding is being provided through the USDA’s Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program and the Intermediary Relending Program. Vilsack announced $5.8 million in RCDG awards to 32 recipients and just more than $7 million in loans to 11 recipients via USDA’s Intermediary Relending Program. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.
Rural Cooperative Development Grants are being awarded to nonprofit groups and higher-education institutions. The recipients will use the funds to operate centers to develop or expand rural businesses, especially cooperatives and mutually owned businesses. The funding can be used to conduct feasibility studies, create and implement business plans, offer technical assistance, establish low-interest loans, and help rural businesses develop new markets for their products and services.
The announcement of RCDG recipients includes several who are developing new opportunities for rural farmers and ranchers by capitalizing on the fast-growing market for locally produced food.
For example, the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability will receive a $200,000 technical assistance grant to help meat processing cooperatives link producers with local and regional consumers. Funding will also be used to provide education and training. The Cooperative Network in Wisconsin is receiving a $200,000 grant to help establish cooperatives focusing on health care, local foods and senior housing. Funds will also be used to help Native American tribal members form a cooperative.
For more information, please view the full release here.
USDA Invests in Small and Emerging Rural Businesses and Rural Transportation
Vilsack announced Oct. 21 that USDA is investing $4.9 million in 50 projects across the country to support small and emerging rural businesses and rural transportation projects.
“USDA is working to expand economic opportunities and bring well-paying jobs to rural communities,” Vilsack said. “Strategic investments in rural businesses will help grow local economies and revitalize small towns and communities.”
The investments announced through USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program, promote the development of small and emerging businesses in rural areas. RBEGs may also be used to help fund distance learning networks and employment-related adult education programs. Eligible applicants include local public entities, private nonprofit corporations and federally recognized Indian Tribes.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Second Round of Farm Bill Meetings Coming to the Panhandle
Farmers and landowners in the Texas Panhandle will have an opportunity to learn more about the 2014 Farm Bill Nov. 3-Dec. 19 in a second round of informational meetings conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
These meetings will also include USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff discussing farm bill provisions and sign-up requirements and deadlines, according to Steve Amosson, AgriLife Extension economist in Amarillo.
All the meetings are free and open to the public. They will start at 10 a.m. and conclude at noon. In addition to the Farm Service staff, each one will include AgriLife Extension specialists demonstrating a decision-aid tool developed by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University to help producers economically evaluate program choices.
Amosson said he and DeDe Jones, another Amarillo-based AgriLife Extension economist, will provide analysis of the policy options using examples of producers who have already been through the decision-aid process.
Each location will also offer an optional “hands-on” afternoon session for producers wanting assistance in entering their data into the decision-aid tool.
“Sign-up is already underway for base reallocation and yield updates, and sign-up for Price Loss Coverage or PLC and Agricultural Risk Coverage, the ARC, starts November 17,” Amosson said. “These decisions, in a lot of cases, are not simple and need to be taken seriously because they will affect operations for at least the next five years.”
The series of meetings is cosponsored by the Texas Corn Producers, Texas Sorghum Producers, Texas Wheat Producers and the Plains Cotton Growers Associations.
For more information on a particular meeting, contact the AgriLife Extension office in that county. For a list of county offices, go to http://amarillo.tamu.edu/ and click on the County Offices tab.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Land Conservation Easement Workshop Nov. 3 in Floresville
The Texas Agricultural Land Trust, in cooperation with Green Spaces Alliance, the San Antonio River Authority and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Wilson County, will present a conservation easement workshop Nov. 3 in Floresville.
The workshop, “Protect, Conserve, Pass Down: A Strategy for Saving Family Lands,” will be hosted from 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Floresville Event Center at 600 Highway 97 West.
“The workshop will focus on topics of interest to Wilson County landowners, including mitigating the impact of oil and gas production and of feral hogs, land trends in Wilson County, and the use of conservation easements as an estate tax and income tax planning tool,” said Bryan Davis, AgriLife Extension Service agent for agriculture and natural resources, Wilson County.
He said other program items will include introductions to the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and conservation easements, a landowner panel discussion, a National Park Service update and optional tour of Rancho de las Cabras.
Cost is $15 per person, and lunch is included.
For more information and to register, contact Davis at 830-393-7357 or by-davis@tamu.edu.
For more information please view the full release here.
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