ANNOUNCEMENTS

SCHAFER ANNOUNCES CONSERVATION SECURITY PROGRAM SIGN-UP; Posted on 04/15/2008

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2008-Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced a sign-up for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) that will be available starting on April 18 to approximately 64,000 potentially eligible farms and ranches in 51 watersheds covering more than 23.7 million acres.
(Please click the header link for the rest of the details via the press announcement.)

VABF Announces Agriculture Photo Contest; Posted on 01/29/2008

Subject matter – should be relevant to VABF and Virginia, i.e. horticulture, agriculture, farming, livestock, growing techniques, people and machinery engaged in agriculture pursuits, amusing or serious, scientific or artsy, concerned with growing crops, raising livestock, or marketing.
(Please click the header link for the rest of the details.)

The Community Food Projects (CFP) Request for Applications for 2008 is out! - Initial Letters of Intent due by Janury 10; Posted on 12/15/2007

The Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program is a major funding source for community-based food and agriculture projects in the U.S. The Request for Applications (RFA) for 2008 was released on December 12. Initial letters of intent are due by January 10, 2008 (by email). Based on a review of these letters, some applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal, due by February 25. The procedures are detailed in the CFP Request for Applications, which is available at http://csrees.usda.gov. (Or you can go to www.grants.gov, click on “find grant opportunities,” then “basic search,” and enter “CFP” in “keyword search.”)
(Please click the header link for all the details.)

USDA Specialty Crop Grant Funds Available in Virginia - Apply by Janury 16; Posted on 12/05/2007

Downloadable HERE is a 9 page word document announcing a funding opportunity for farmers interested in enhancing farm income, sustainability and market opportunities through adding value to specialty crops which includes all fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops. Buy-local campaigns and adoption of sustainable/organic practices are valid ways to add value or expand market opportunities, and are thus eligible for grant funds.
(Please click the link above for all the details.)

ACTION ALERT - 2007 Farm Bill; Posted on 10/30/2007

On October 25, the Senate Agriculture Committee completed its “mark-up” of the 2007 Farm Bill, which is much better than the House bill in some ways, and weaker in others. The Senate Committee’s bill will come to the full Senate for debate and vote during the week of November 5. At that time, a number of Amendments will be offered from the Senate floor that can significantly strengthen – or weaken – key provisions. This is our last major opportunity to promote a Farm Bill that better serves family farmers, supports conservation and sustainable practices, and builds community-based food systems.
(Please click the link above for all the details.)

ACTION ALERT - Stop Mandatory Almond Pasteurization; Posted on 9/25/2007

In response to outbreaks of Salmonella in 2001 and 2004, California-grown raw almonds may no longer be available, due to a new USDA mandate requiring them to be sanitized through treatment processes that the industry generously describes as “pasteurization.”
(Please click the link above for all the details.)

Appalachian Harvest Warehouse Fire - How You can Help; Posted on 5/23/2007

On Wednesday May 16, Appalachian Harvest lost their recently-upgraded, 12,000 sq ft produce packing and grading house to a fire. Everything was lost, including storage coolers, office and computers, and an inventory of 40,000 produce packing boxes.
(Please click the link above for all the details.)

2007 Agricultural Census; Posted on 4/5/2007

Planning for the 2007 Census is well underway. The National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) is currently collecting a mailing list of agricultural producers. It will send its Census Data Forms to the people on this list in December, and recipients will be asked to complete and return the Data Forms to NASS by early February 2008.
(Please click the link above for all the details.)

Save Our Seed Project: International Organic Seed Sourcing Service; Posted on 12/07/2006

The Save Our Seed project is addressing one of the most daunting problems among organic producers with our free Organic Seed Sourcing Service. By making readily available our access to comprehensive seed dealer databases, we are able to quickly and easily provide lists of available organic seeds to growers with specific requests. We are now more accessible on the web at www.organicseedsourcing.com, and this year we are also offering, when available to us, lists of equivalent cultivars in the case that the requested seed is, to our knowledge, not available organically. These lists will be provided to us by seed dealers if they feel they offer a seed comparable to one being sought by the grower.
(Please click the link above for all the details.)

SOS "One Seed At a Time"; Posted on 2/22/2006

The Saving Our Seed Project is starting One Seed At A Time, an organic seed bank, to save the biodiversity of heirloom southeast vegetables and flowers. As seed saving has become less a part of our culture, hundreds of heirloom varieties are on the verge of being lost. This bank will play a crucial roll in preserving our heritage for us and for our future. We are asking you to support us in this important work.
(Please click the link above for all the details.)