Welcome to your September edition of E-news. In this issue we bring you a brand new campaign released by the Obama Administration to Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, provide an opportunity to make a phone call and make a difference for U.S. farms, and a include success story on how one dairy farm is weathering crisis. Please take a few minutes today to take our survey and let us know what we can do to make E-news work for you.
Help Us Deliver You the Best E-newsletter on Farms, Food and the Environment
Thank you for your continued interest in our work and for subscribing to our monthly e-news. We want to know how we can improve our e-newsletter and better understand what you are interested in hearing about from us. Please take a few minutes to take our short(eight question) e-communications survey to share with us how we can serve you better!
Dairying Now and in the Future by Farming Methane Gas
Peter Melnik, a fourth-generation dairy farmer, is one of five Massachusetts farms who formed a co-op called AGreen Energy. Their goal is to reduce their carbon footprint, generate renewable energy and preserve agricultural communities in their state by adding methane digesters to their farms. “Diversification is a path to staying viable on our farm. It’s important to be able to manage our manure and control odors since we’re in an increasingly urban area. With the AGreen Energy model we can be financially successful—while making good environmental stewardship advances!” Dairy digesters are one of many ways producers can provide eco-benefits while being compensated. And in this case, it is a way to sustain operations during severe economic times facing the dairy industry.
One Phone Call to Show You Care About Farms and the Environment
Passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 could be the most sweeping conservation legislation enacted in the 21st century, leading to better stewardship on land across the United States. Call your Senator today and tell them you care about America’s farmland and want to protect it for generations to come.
"Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" Campaign Sweeps America
Yesterday, the United States Department of Agriculture announced a new campaign to promote local and regional food systems and strengthen our farm communities. In his video announcement of the campaign, USDA Agriculture Secretary Vilsack invites the public to join in the national conversation around local farms and food. The new campaign can be a powerful vehicle to fulfill the promise of the 2008 Farm Bill and its new programs and policies designed to support local farmers and local food.
Around the Country
American Farmland Trust's Farmland Information Center has completed and published the annual survey of local PACE program activity.
Wisconsin’s new Working Lands Initiative is already off and running with a schedule of upcoming workshops and trainings to be held across the state.
Check out the North Carolina policy scorecard for the 2009 Legislative Session.
Watch the presentations from the Ohio Clean Energy Summit and earn how upcoming climate legislation could provide new income streams to farmers.
Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell announced the nomination of Russell Redding to take the place of departing agriculture commissioner Dennis Wolff. Wolff recently joined the American Farmland Trust board of directors.
As California leads the nation in taking on climate change policies, we will be presenting "The Climate Benefits of Farmland Preservation" workshop at University of California’s California Climate & Agriculture Summit on October 1st.
A Maryland website proves to be a popular resource for area farmers.
In Washington we will be working over the next 18th months to create a “Farmers and Ranchers Guide to Conservation Markets,” which will serve as the basis for a series of workshops, presentations, and best practices for agriculture. Stay tuned to the report, which may serve as a model for other parts of the country!
Michigan may have a famous history as an industrial state, but residents have a lot to be proud about their state’s agriculture.
President Obama has announced the nomination of Harris Sherman, once head of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, as USDA undersecretary for natural resources and the environment.
Agriculture Commissioners tell USDA that protecting farmland for future agricultural use is of utmost importance to every U.S. citizen.
The new and improved Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has funds to enroll up to 13 million acres. Farmers and ranchers that want to add conservation practices to their operations should sign-up soon, with the first sign-up cutoff period scheduled for September 30th.
In the American Agricultural Editors’ Association writing contests, American Farmland Trust took first place in the Newsletters Division for the Farms Grow Green issue of our magazine, while freelancer Steve Werblow captured first place in the competitive personality profile category for Produce Pioneer: Steward of the Land Winner Nash Huber.
No comments:
Post a Comment