Department Implementing New Farm Bill Programs, Unveiling New Centralized Online Resource to Support Next Generation of Farmers

June 23, 2014 – U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden announced the implementation of new Farm Bill measures and other policy changes to improve the financial security of new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Harden also unveiled www.usda.gov/newfarmers, a new website that will provide a centralized, one-stop resource where beginning farmers and ranchers can explore the variety of USDA initiatives designed to help them succeed.

“New and beginning farmers are the future of American agriculture,” said Deputy Secretary Harden. “The average age of an American farmer is 58 and rising, so we must help new farmers get started if America is going to continue feeding the world and maintain a strong agriculture economy. The new policies announced today will help give beginning farmers the financial security they need to succeed. Our new online tool will provide one-stop shopping for beginning farmers to learn more about accessing USDA services that can help their operations thrive.”

USDA’s New Farmers website has in depth information for new farmers and ranchers, including: how to increase access to land and capital; build new market opportunities; participate in conservation opportunities; select and use the right risk management tools; and access USDA education, and technical support programs. These issues have been identified as top priorities by new farmers. The website will also feature instructive case studies about beginning farmers who have successfully utilized USDA resources to start or expand their business operations.

Today’s policy announcements in support of beginning farmers and ranchers include:

Waiving service fees for new and beginning farmers or ranchers to enroll in the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for the 2014 crop year. NAP provides risk management tools to farmers who grow crops for which there is no crop insurance product. Under this waiver, announced via an official notice (PDF, 171KB) to Farm Service Agency offices, farmers and ranchers whom already enrolled in NAP for the 2014 crop year are eligible for a service fee refund.

Eliminating payment reductions under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for new and beginning farmers which will allow routine, prescribed, and emergency grazing outside the primary nesting season on enrolled land consistent with approved conservation plans. Previously, farmers and ranchers grazing on CRP land were subject to a reduction in CRP payments of up to 25 percent. Waiving these reductions for new and beginning farmers will provide extra financial support during times of emergency like drought and other natural disasters.

Increasing payment rates to beginning farmers and ranchers under Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) (PDF, 288KB). Under this provision, beginning and farmers can claim up 90 percent of losses for lost livestock, such as bees, under ELAP. This is a fifty percent increase over previously available payment amounts to new and beginning farmers.

In the near future, USDA will also announce additional crop insurance program changes for beginning farmers and ranchers – including discounted premiums, waiver of administrative fees, and other benefits.

These policy announcements are made possible through the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

The Deputy Secretary made these announcements at the inaugural meeting of the reconvened Beginning Farmer and Rancher Advisory Committee held at the University of California Davis, California. This Advisory Committee, composed of 20 members, including Extension agents, lenders, farmers, ranchers and academics will meet through 2015 to learn, discuss, and formulate recommendations to USDA on how to support new and beginning farmers.

A fact sheet outlining significant USDA efforts to support beginning farmers and ranchers, and other Department-wide accomplishments, are available on www.usda.gov/results.

NDSU Central Grasslands

Center to Hold Research Tour

North Dakota State University’s Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter will hold its 2014 range and agronomy tour July 7.

The program will begin at 9 a.m. with coffee and rolls. The first stop on the tour will focus on forage agronomy research. Topics will include dormancy and winter kill in alfalfa, and annual forage variety testing and production systems.

The second stop will focus on rangeland research, including cattle gains and pasture changes in response to grazing, and managing rangeland for beef cattle performance.

The tour will conclude with a free roast beef lunch at noon. Anyone interested

in other research projects can arrange for individual tours after lunch.

For more information, contact Bryan Neville, the center’s director, at (701)

424-3606 or bryan.neville@ndsu.edu.

The center is northwest of Streeter.

Goehring announces specialty crop/Pride of Dakota hospitality grants

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says hospitality-related businesses are eligible for grants of up to $1,000 for promoting the use of North Dakota specialty crops or Pride of Dakota products in their menus.

“These grants are intended to increase use of specialty crops and Pride of Dakota products,” Goehring said. “They are also meant to increase awareness on the part of hospitality businesses and their customers of the value and availability of these products.”

Goehring said the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) has $3,000 for specialty crop promotion and $3,000 for Pride of Dakota product promotion. Individual businesses may qualify for up to $1,000 to help fund marketing efforts and create promotional materials to raise awareness of specialty crops and/or Pride of Dakota products they use.

Specialty crops include fruits, berries, tree nuts, vegetables, herbs, spices and cultivated greens. A list of specialty crops is available at www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/scbgpdefinitions. A list of Pride of Dakota member companies is available at www.prideofdakota.com.

Goehring said eligibility guidelines include:

· A business must use locally-sourced specialty crops or Pride of Dakota products in one or more of their menu items.

· Promotional and advertising materials must specifically mention which specialty crops or Pride of Dakota products are used.

· Advertisements cannot include other menu items that are not specialty crops or Pride of Dakota products.

Grant funds may be used for marketing materials such as menus, table tents, signage, print and broadcast advertising.

Application forms are available at www.nd.gov/ndda/files/resource/HospitalityGrantApp.pdf. Completed applications are due by 5 p.m.CT, Friday, July 18.

Goehring said more information and assistance is available by contacting Jamie Good, local foods marketing specialist, at 701-328-2659 or jgood@nd.gov or Kelly Wald, Pride of Dakota marketing specialist, at 701-328-2307 or kwald@nd.gov.

A specialty crop grant from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service provided $3,000 for the grant program with the remainder from state appropriation.