Conservation Stewardship Program Improvements Needed

January 13, 2015 Leave a comment


By Traci Bruckner, tracib@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public comments on recent changes to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The program, the most significant leap in conservation policy in a decade, was designed to reward top-notch conservation already on the ground, as well as incentivize the integration of new and innovative conservation systems that protect and enhance the quality of our soil, water and air.

However, without crucial changes, the program will fail to yield those intended results. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) must base producers’ ranking and payments solely on environmental benefits and outcomes. They consistently overemphasize the importance of additional or new conservation activities while failing to adequately support conservation practices and systems farmers and ranchers are currently employing, which misses the mark by supporting late adopters of improved conservation systems over those who have historically placed conservation at the core of their operations.

NRCS must also ensure payment limitations are real. By statute, CSP contracts are limited to $40,000 per fiscal year and $200,000 from fiscal year 2014 through 2018.  But the rule doubles the statutory limit for joint operations. Worse, the rule fails to require that beneficiaries be active farmers, and allows farms to have multiple contracts despite the statutory stipulation that the entire farm must be enrolled in the CSP contract. These loopholes allow certain operations to rack up contracts far in excess of the statutory limit and gives them a competitive advantage over small and mid-sized farmers.

Visit: http://www.cfra.org/node/5411 to make public comments.

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Congress Takes Family Farmers and Ranchers for a Ride

December 18, 2014 Leave a comment


By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

What does Congress have against family farmers and ranchers? The $1.1 trillion spending bill passed last week included the full version of the so-called GIPSA rider passed earlier by the House of Representatives. A rider is a legislative provision attached to a larger spending bill.

 

There are not enough ways to describe how bad this hidden policy package truly is. It limits USDA’s ability to protect farmers’ and ranchers’ basic rights, such as their freedom of speech and freedom of association. The Packers and Stockyards Act, passed in 1921, was written to protect farmers and ranchers from discriminatory, deceptive and abusive practices when they sell livestock and poultry to meatpacking corporations.

 

Congress abandoned those principles when they passed the FY 2015 federal spending bill. They abandoned USDA’s effort to provide smaller volume livestock producers a more competitive livestock market and greater fairness for farmers and ranchers. The 2008 Farm Bill required Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to write regulation, under the Packers and Stockyards Act, to prohibit undue and discriminatory preferences given to large, industrial livestock operations and to provide basic protections to farmers and ranchers who do business with meatpacking corporations. Secretary Vilsack proposed the best and most comprehensive livestock market reforms since the passage of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

 

Unfortunately, Congress has repeatedly undercut his efforts. Family farmers and ranchers, need and deserve access to competitive livestock markets that reward them fairly for their work. That’s something Congress must figure out, soon.

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Bancroft Farm to School Food Service Workshop

December 5, 2014 Leave a comment


Lyons, NE – The Center for Rural Affairs will host a free and informative workshop focused on providing food service professionals and school food purchasers resources for sourcing local foods as well as tips for implementation of a Farm to School program.

 

WHO: The workshop is open to school food professionals, related staff, and administration in the greater Bancroft/Rosalie area. They’ll receive information and participate in hands-on activities on local food procurement, the bidding process, and contracting. A local producer will be on hand to answer specific questions.

 

WHAT: Free, informative, and hands-on workshop to learn more about Farm to School

 

WHEN: Thursday, December 11, 2014 from 2:30 – 5:00 pm

 

WHERE: Bancroft-Rosalie Public School

708 Main St

Bancroft, Nebraska

(appetizers and refreshments provided)

 

“A third of U.S children under the age of 17 are overweight, and only 2 percent of children in the country eat sufficient fruits and vegetables,” commented Sandra Renner with the Center for Rural Affairs. “Schools with farm to school programs are seeing many gains through improved academic achievement, fewer behavioral issues, and improved diets.”

 

Furthermore, according to the 2010 Census Bureau, if each of the 796,793 households in Nebraska committed to spending just $10 per week on locally-grown foods the state would keep more than $414 million of the food dollars circulating here in Nebraska, helping both family farms and the local economy. And Nebraskans would have the added benefit of eating fresher, tastier, healthier food.

 

Visit: http://www.cfra.org/events/bancroft-rosalie-farm-school-food-service-workshop for more information.

 

RSVP by December 10 to ensure enough materials are available for all attendees. Contact Sandra Renner, Center for Rural Affairs’ Farm to School Associate, 402-687-2103 x1020,sandrar@cfra.org.
This workshop is  sponsored  the Center for Rural Affairs. Funding for the project is provided in part by USDA Rural Development.

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Christmas Bazaar Offers Unique, Local Holiday Shopping Experience

December 2, 2014 Leave a comment


By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

Black Friday and Small Business Saturday have passed, but there is still plenty of time for holiday shopping. And for those who aspire to shop local, a great opportunity exists, especially if you’re looking to support beginning farmers, artisans and craftspeople close to home.

 

On Saturday, December 13th, check out one of the most unique holiday shopping experiences you’ll find in Northeast Nebraska … or anywhere.

 

At the Macy Christmas Bazaar you’ll find unique, authentic Native American artwork and jewelry, jams and jellies from this year’s harvest, pendleton blankets and other holiday gifts. Local artists will demonstrate making beaded jewelry. Bring your appetite and try fresh Indian tacos and homemade baked goods.

 

Don’t miss the kid’s table where games and native crafts await. It’s all part of what makes the Christmas Bazaar an ideal family event. We are still accepting vendors who sell handmade crafts and homemade foods. Vendor space is free and we encourage vendors to bring their own tables.

 

Enjoy the scenery on your way to Macy’s Catholic Church, off Highway 75, 40 min south of Sioux City and 62 miles north of Omaha. The market opens at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 3:00 p.m.

 

This inaugural Christmas Bazaar is presented by the Center for Rural Affairs and Nebraska Indian Community College. Please help us make it a grand success!
For more information, contact Dave Farley at edwardsplanet@gmail.com or Veronica Erenberg at 402.687.2103 ext. 1021 orveronicae@cfra.org.

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Giving Thanks for Unexpected Things

November 25, 2014 Leave a comment


By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

Thanksgiving is when, as a nation, we give thanks for the important blessings in our lives. For many, that likely includes family, good health, a decent job, and the like. And we should be thankful if we enjoy any or all of those things.

 

For some in our society, however, working hard doesn’t always produce enough income to make ends meet. And many rural and small town Americans depend on something that the rest of us don’t likely think about that often, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), to help get through some of the tough times.

 

The EITC is a credit against federal personal income taxes for working people who have low to moderate income, particularly those with children. The Census Bureau estimates that in 2012 the EITC kept an additional 5.4 million Americans, including 3 million children, above the official poverty line.

 

A recent Center for Rural Affairs report (http://www.cfra.org/news/141107/impact-earned-income-tax-credit-rural-people) found that the EITC has become a rural program, vital to rural people and their well-being and important to the economies of the small towns they live in. Over one in five rural Americans claimed the ETIC, a greater percentage than among our urban neighbors.
Being thankful for the EITC may seem odd to those who have never used it, but to one out of every five of my rural and small town neighbors, it has made all the difference, and for that I am truly thankful.

 

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Nebraska Farm to School Summit Held

October 27, 2014 Leave a comment


Lyons, NE – Over 100 people from across Nebraska attended the Center for Rural Affairs’ second annual Nebraska Farm to School Summit on Wednesday, October 22, at the Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska. The summit was for farmers, ranchers, school food service staff, parents, students, and community members interested in Farm to School programs.
“Summit attendees gathered to hear success stories, learn best practices, and most importantly
connect with each other. This effort will grow opportunities for Nebraska food producers,
and healthy, delicious food options for our Nebraska students.”
Sarah Smith, Center for Rural Affairs
State Senator Richard L. Kolowski (District 31 – Millard, Elkhorn) kicked off the summit with the opening keynote address, “Statewide Action to Support Farm to School,” discussing how the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of local food in Nebraska can be improved. Kolowski, an educator for over 40 years, introduced a 2014 resolution, LR 545, for the purpose of studying statewide efforts to improve Nebraska’s access to local food supply and distribution networks.
In breakout sessions farm to school stakeholders heard from school and farmer panelists, and took advantage of question/answer sessions. A lightening round of presentations highlighted successful farm to school relationships, growing practices, policy development, and processing options.
Among the attendees were Robert and Kristine Bernt of Clear Creek Organic Farms (http://clearcreekorganicfarms.webs.com/). Along with their 12 children, they operate a certified organic farm and ranch raising organic vegetables, meat, and dairy cows; processing butter, cheese and ice cream on their farm near Spalding. The Bernts came to the summit because they are passionate about healthy foods and are interested in supplying food to schools through farm to school programs.
“I gained new knowledge and assurance that the good food I can provide to schools
is the right thing to do for our kids from a health and nutrition perspective,” said Robert Bernt.
“We have an issue with the food our children eat at school,” continued Bernt. “They’re not getting the nutrients they need. Their health is getting worse and worse. If we get our foot in the door here at this summit we can start selling healthy, nutritious, nutrient-dense foods to the schools so kids get local produce – whether it’s once a week or even once a month.”
Bernt believes health issues in children – such as the 1 in 3 Nebraska children that are overweight – and lack of nutritious food served at most schools could be solved with farm to school programs. “Once these kids taste food that’s allowed to ripen on the vine and not in a box, is prepared properly, and has the flavor they are gonna like, they start eating more food that helps improve their health.”
According to Elisha Smith of the Center for Rural Affairs, at the close of the summit, Bernt had three serious inquiries from schools to follow up with after the summit.
“The path to farm to school may seem long and complex, but it doesn’t have to be,” added Smith. “Some of the school food service personnel and students we heard from at the summit said they ‘just went for it’ when starting a farm to school program. And just like a garden, once you plant the farm to school seed it will grow.”
Photographs of the Farm to School Summit are available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cfra/sets/72157648821350376/.
This summit was timely as October is National Farm to School month. Governor Dave Heineman also recently proclaimed October as Nebraska Farm to School month, recognizing the growing importance and role of Nebraska Farm to School programs as a means to improve child nutrition, support local farming and ranching economies, spur job growth and educate children about agriculture and the origins of their food.
For more information on farm to school, visit http://www.cfra.org/farm-to-school or contact Sarah Smith atsarahs@cfra.org  or (307) 321-9766.
The Summit was funded by the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, administered by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

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Coal-to-Clean in Southeast Nebraska

October 9, 2014 Leave a comment


Lyons, Nebraska – Wind advocates in Hallam, Nebraska, population 213, got some good news this week.  Volkswind USA Inc., an international wind developer, applied for special use permits from Lancaster and Gage counties to build 54 wind turbines near this Southeast Nebraska community.
“The Center for Rural Affairs is excited for Hallam, and encouraged about Volkswind USA’s announcement,” said Virginia Meyer, Rural Organizer at the Center for Rural Affairs. “We continue to encourage the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and Lincoln Electric System to take advantage of the economic, environmental and health benefits of wind. And this proposed Volkswind USA wind farm is an important step in Southeast Nebraska’s transition from coal to clean energy.”
According to Meyer, a recent NPPD study found that phasing out the Sheldon Station Coal Plant and increasing wind energy in the area will save customers money. Moreover, the Hallam area is well positioned to reap the benefits of wind development. The town is home to Sheldon Station, an aging coal fired power plant.  Hallam’s proximity to Lincoln and Omaha and access to transmission lines make it an excellent choice for renewable energy development.
A recent Lincoln Journal Star article (Developer plans 11,000-acre Nebraska wind farm, September 29) reported that Volkswind believes the wind farm will provide more than 200 jobs during the construction period, additional full-time operating jobs and about $700,000 in total property tax benefits annually to both counties.  Volkswind is submitting proposals to Lincoln Electric System (LES), the public power entity serving Lincoln, NE, which is looking to add up to 100 megawatts of wind energy to their energy portfolio.

“While wind provides jobs, property tax benefits and payments to landowners, Sheldon Station contributes to air and water pollution in the Hallam area, preventing area families from enjoying clean air, water, hunting and fishing,” noted Meyer. “Sheldon Station also has 147 reported Clean Water Act violations, the fourth most in the nation. Pollution from Sheldon Station dirties the air, soil, and water; posing a real threat to the health and happiness of area families.”

Sheldon Station is owned and operated by the Nebraska Public Power District, the public power entity that serves most rural parts of Nebraska. Lincoln Electric Systems contracts for about one-quarter of the Sheldon Station’s energy output.

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Celebrate Farms and Schools

October 7, 2014 Leave a comment


By Kathie Starkweather, kathies@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

In October, America celebrates the harvest, and specifically initiatives to put healthy, locally grown food on our childrens’ plates at school. And it all starts with America’s farmers and ranchers.

 

Many of us who raise our own food, whether in a pot or a small garden, do so as a hobby. If there’s too much heat, not enough rain or too many pests, we are disappointed and frustrated but the love of growing fresh, nutritious foods pulls us through tough times.

 

I know two young women who started a small vegetable farm. They have off-farm jobs as do many farmers and ranchers in rural America. While they are fortunate to have jobs they enjoy, their true passion is growing and providing food. They want children to eat tasty squash, peppers, and carrots. And they want kids to know where their food comes from.

 

They toil in 100 degree heat. They stoop to pull weeds. They invest in their farm with season-extending hoop houses to provide a few more months of fresh vegetables. It’s hard work, but they think it’s worth it if just one more child can experience the taste of a fresh green bean or learn that asparagus tastes pretty darned good.

Remember the kids and the farmers during this harvest season, and if you want to see how your community can be more involved, attend our Farm to School Summit in Aurora on October 22nd (http://www.cfra.org/ne-summit-2014).

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Join Your Neighbors for a Main Street Coffee Hour

September 18, 2014 Leave a comment


Come take part in a public social event where you can sit a spell and chat about your town from the comfort of a living room!

The Main Street Coffee Hour is a re-creation of a living room on main street. All community members are invited to sit, enjoy a hot beverage, and share their thoughts about community. Everyone is welcome to bring an item or prop from home to add to the “scene”, such as: a lamp, houseplant, TV tray, vacuum, etc. As part of Center for Rural Affairs’ Byway of Art project, Decatur, Lyons, Macy and Oakland are fortunate to welcome artist Matthew Mazzotta to their Main Street Coffee Hour. Mazzotta will sit, chat, and listen to our ideas and visions for our towns.

This is the first of several opportunities that the yearlong community based art project will provide for folks to get involved. Refreshments will be on from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. Take a break during the day and join the discussion! Inclement weather locations have been arranged. Main Street Coffee Hour in your town: Lyons: Monday, 9/22 (rain location: Library) Decatur: Wednesday, 9/24 (rain location: Sears Center) Macy: Thursday, 9/25 (rain location: Gilpin Building) Oakland: Monday, 9/29 (rain location: Auditorium) Check out Facebook “Byway of Art” for additional details and news. Questions?

10620590_10154598962050557_2664958811366136615_nContact your local coordinator: Oakland, Deborah Anderson at 402-685-5101; Lyons, Marilyn Tenney at 402-870-1015; Decatur, Amy Piere-Soll at 402-870-1508; and Macy, Linda Robinson at 712-253-3582. For further information contact project manager, Adele Phillips, at the Center for Rural Affairs, 402-687-2100.”

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EPA Carbon Rule Vital to Rural America

July 30, 2014 Leave a comment


Denver, Colorado – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold public hearing in four locations across the country this week, including a hearing in Denver. The hearings will provide interested parties the opportunity to provide their hopes for and concerns about EPA’s proposed rule to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants.

“Every day our work gives us a seat at the table in small towns across America. This is where we hear the good and the bad, the stories about hope, and triumph, and taking a stand,” said Brian Depew, Center for Rural Affairs Executive Director. “We hear from the leaders that make our communities strong. And we hear from those who are too busy and working too hard to take credit for any of that.”


That’s why I traveled here today from Lyons, Nebraska, a town of 850 people in northeast Nebraska, to offer my support for your agency’s action to address climate change, Depew continued.


To view or download a copy of Depew’s testimony go to:

http://www.cfra.org/clean-power-plan-testimony


According to Depew, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and the other Midwest and Plains states that make up the Western Corn Belt, include more than 520,000 farms producing crops valued at $136 billion annually. These states account for 65% of national production of corn and soybeans. And if nothing changes, climate change will drive many of these Midwest farmers out of business.


“That includes farmers like Matt Russell, a 5th generation farmer from Iowa who feels he is already experiencing the effects of climate change,” said Depew. “He’s worried that we won’t be able to meet the needs of a growing population if the agricultural systems we have in place now are no longer viable with a climate that has changed.”


Harley Buys, a conventional corn grower from Minnesota has also decided to buck convention and now farms with carbon sequestration on his mind. He knows it’s his job, as a good steward, to leave the land better than when he started, added Depew.

Depew explained further that it’s not just farmers who are concerned. In the past few weeks more than 60 community leaders have added their names to a sign-on letter drafted by the Center for Rural Affairs, including rural leaders in Colorado. The letter will be delivered to Senators in Washington, Senators who represent the signers as well as rural and small town residents across the region.


“Moreover, nearly 600 rural and small town folks and friends of rural America have signed our petition in support of the carbon pollution standards being discussed in Denver today. We don’t claim to speak for everybody, but the relationships we’ve built over the past four decades remind us that stewardship is still strong in rural America,” concluded Depew.

 

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