The Lowndes County Ham and Eggs show is
the only one in Georgia and
one of only two in the country. Now, you might wonder why? Many
folks are interested in good, local foods and the craft of curing
meats. Well, it has to do with regulations and having the hogs
slaughtered and cured in USDA certified facilities.
Years ago,
men, women and children would cure the meats at home and
bring the hams on the appointed day to the contest (and auction).
But, now no meat can be sold
USDA Finalizes New Microloan Program
Microloans up to $35,000 aim to assist small farmers, veterans, and
disadvantaged producersWASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2013 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
today announced a new microloan program from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) designed to help small and family operations,
beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers secure loans under
$35,000. The new microloan program is aimed at bolstering the
progress of producers through their start-up years by providing
needed resources and helping to increase equity so that farmers may
eventually graduate to commercial credit and expand their
operations. The microloan program will also provide a less
burdensome, more simplified application process in comparison to
traditional farm loans.
“I have met several small and beginning farmers, returning
veterans and disadvantaged producers interested in careers in
farming who too often must rely on credit cards or personal loans
with high interest rates to finance their start-up
operations,” said Vilsack.“By further expanding access
to credit to those just starting to put down roots in farming, USDA
continues to help grow a new generation of farmers, while ensuring
the strength of an American agriculture sector that drives our
economy, creates jobs, and provides the most secure and affordable
food supply in the world.”The new microloans, said Vilsack, represent how USDA continues to
make year-over-year gains in expanding credit opportunities for
minority, socially-disadvantaged and young and beginning farmers and
ranchers across the United States. The final rule establishing the
microloan program will be published in the Jan. 17 issue of the
Federal Register.Administered through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Operating Loan
Program,
Received today from Bryan Zulko of USDA. -jsq
Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program – Application deadline:
Nov 28, 2012
Grants to plan or implement food projects designed to meet the needs of low-income individuals and increase community self-reliance concerning food and nutrition.Great American Main Street Awards (GAMSA) – Application deadline: Dec 3, 2012
Grants to recognize exemplary and innovative revitalization achievements in revitalization of historic and older neighborhood commercial districts using a community-driven, historic-preservation based approach.
Received 12 October 2012 from Tim Carroll from Mara Register from Larry Hanson.
The
Lowndes County Partnership for Health
has received a $96,858 grant
from the USDA to continue to develop Farm Days Farmers Market, establish
agricultural center that will serve the agri-science educational needs
of area students and provide low cost fresh produce to primarily low
income populations in our area. In addition this project will aggregate
commodities from surrounding farms for distribution which will support
economic development among area farmers.
The grant will pay for a full
time farm manager over two years, a portable vegetable stand to be
used on a distribution route, travel cost associated with distribution
route, and promotional and educational materials for Farm days and the
agricultural center. City of Valdosta staff assisted in the effort in
the preparation of the grant application. This project has grown out
of the partnership between the City, the South Health District and the
Partnership for Health with the Farm Days Farmers Market. The last
market day for the year will be held on Saturday, October 20th.
Here’s
the USDA’s paragraph on that award:
$96,858 to Lowndes County Partnership for Health, Inc., Valdosta,
GA, for a community‐supported agricultural center that will serve
as a food hub and educational center to increase access to
affordable, nutritious, local food in low‐income food deserts in
South Georgia by purchasing a mobile farmers market van, offering
a series of workshops to train vendors, and establishing
community gardens for resident use.
That’s good news!
But please, can we not use this grant to move the location
of Valdosta Farm Days?
It’s got a great site right where it is, around the historic
Lowndes County Courthouse.
-jsq
Here are the rest of the videos from the Hahira City Council meeting of 2 August 2012, including the very interesting scheduled agenda items in which each Council member, the City Manager, and the Mayor give their thoughts on issues relevant to the City of Hahira.
12.A. Council Ralph Clendenin 
12.A. Council Allen Cain 
12.A. Council Terry Benjamin 
12.A. Council Rose Adams 
12.B. City Manager Jonathan Sumner 
12.C. Mayor Wayne Bullard Here’s a video playlist of the entire meeting:
Regular Session, Hahira City Council (Hahira),
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Hahira, Lowndes County, Georgia, 2 August 2012.
Other city employees present included
Here’s a video playlist of most of the Hahira City Council Regular Session of Thursday 2 August 2012. Hahira City Council (population about 2,800) spent more time in open public discussion about each of
several individual agenda items than the Lowndes County Commission (population 111,000+) typically spends on an entire “open meeting”.
They held a millage hearing and lowered the milage. They discussed developer tap fees (nay), discussed the now-ritual topic of bidding for waste disposal ( nay), and approved a GEFA loan for a new water well (yea). A surprise vote on fixing a tractor (yea) was not on the agenda.
Near the beginning they still have Citizens to Be Heard. Maybe they’re not afraid of their citizens? Citizens mostly wanted to talk about the police chief’s proposal to fine people who didn’t mow their lawns.
A few more videos will be added, probably today, (now available as
Council Comments)
of the votes on cost of living increases (yea), SPLOST VII (yea), the consent agenda (yea), and council comments at the end of the session.
The agenda is below after the videos; thanks to City Manager Jonathan Sumner for sending it. Here’s the video playlist:
-jsq
Video Playlist Hahira City Council
Regular Session, Hahira City Council (Hahira),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Hahira, Lowndes County, Georgia, 2 August 2012.
Local rural Georgia electric co-op Colquitt EMC nets USDA smart grid funding! Just not for actually doing smart grid. Funny how almost no states within Southern Company's sphere of influence got any of that funding. Too bad; we could use some of those jobs and retention of existing industries.
USDA PR 11 July 2012, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Funding to Improve Rural Electric Infrastructure: Funding Includes $10 Million for Smart Grid Technology
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 15 states will receive loan guarantees to make improvements to generation and transmission facilities and implement smart grid technologies.
"Maintaining and upgrading rural electric systems creates jobs and
supports economic development," Vilsack said. "These loans I am announcing today will have a lasting impact on the rural landscape for generations to come. They will help ensure that rural areas can retain existing businesses, support new ones and have reliable, up-to-date infrastructure."
With this funding, USDA Rural Development moves closer to reaching Secretary Vilsack's goal to fund more than $250 million for smart grid technologies. Today's announcement includes support for more than $10 million in smart grid technologies, which help utilities make efficiency improvements to the electric grid and help consumers lower their electric bills by reducing energy use in homes and businesses.
Here's the one project in Georgia:
Colquitt Electric Membership Corporation — $20,000,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 478 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements, serving 3,284 customers.
That's my EMC! Go Colquitt EMC!
Wait, where's the smart grid project? Well, not in Georgia. In 
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, North Carolina (two in that state), Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Texas. The only state in Southern Company's "Competitive Generation Opportunities" area with a smart grid project on that list is North Carolina. Just as North Carolina is the only state in that area with a renewable energy standard.
Southern Company and its child Georgia Power, successfully repelling electric innovation since 1973!
-jsq
Two farm bill forums Friday: one in Jesup at 9AM, and one in Tifton at 2PM,
both hosted by Senator Saxby Chambliss.
GA Ag. Commissioner Gary Black will be at the one in Tifton.
Might be a good place to mention you want
the farm bill to reauthorize USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
grants.
Press Release, 8 March 2012,
Chambliss to Host 2012 Farm Bill Forum,
Events will be held March 16th in Jesup and Tifton
On Friday, March 16th, Sen. Chambliss will hold two forums to discuss
the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill. The public is invited to attend.
Friday, March 16th, 2012
at 9 am
Altamaha Technical College
C. Paul Scott Polytechnical Center
1777 West Cherry Street
Jesup, GA 31545
Participants will include:
Zippy Duvall, Georgia Farm Bureau
Charles Hall, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Robert Redding, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation
John Maguire , National Cotton Council
Friday, March 16th
at 2 pm
UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center
15 RDC Road
Tifton, GA 31793
Participants will include:
Gary Black, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture
Charles Hall, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Robert Redding, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation
John Maguire , National Cotton Council
-jsq
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) wrote for
The Hill 5 March 2012,
REFRESH Act: Strengthen rural communities and U.S. energy security
Reauthorize and reform the popular REAP program to demonstrate
opportunities for economically viable energy investments and encourage
loans rather than grants.
Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) has long been working with local
farmers and USDA to help with agriculture and rural jobs.
The Indiana Congress members continued:
Real commitment to rural growth requires that we put money where our
mouth — or authorization — is. We offer basic mandatory funding
that is more than paid for through cutting waste.Renewable energy production creates jobs. Rural communities see
potential for real economic growth in the emerging biofuel sector.
Advances in technologies and agricultural techniques could offer
economic benefits from coast to coast. Using the REFRESH Act as the
basis for the next Farm Bill would help galvanize private investment
in the sector, bringing jobs to a ready economy.
Indeed it can.
Obviously I like REAP grants, since
we got one for Okra Paradise Farms.
That 25% REAP grant plus an 35% ARRA NREL plus 35% GEFA credits
will add up to 90% covered by grants and tax credits,
which is a pretty good deal.
Now that remaining 10% is still a significant amount;
like the price of a small car.
But in 7-15 years (how long it will take to pay off this system,
depending on how you figure it),
what would
the value of a car be?
Much less than when you bought it.
Meanwhile, these solar panels will be generating almost as much
power as they are now, and they will continue to generate for
at least a decade more, probably much more.
The big missing piece is up-front financing.
Local banks will do it, but only for collateral.
By which they mean real estate.
Nope, they won’t take the solar equipment as collateral,
even though it would still be operational many years from now.
Local banks or credit unions could see this as an opportunity and start accepting solar equipment as collateral.
Beyond that, with a few changes to Georgia law,
to deal with the power utility territoriality clause,
and maybe to
ban boondoggle charges for more dangerous and less job-producing power sources,
we could get a
commodity market in solar power in this state.
You could put up solar panels like this, or more,
on your house or business roof,
and sell your excess
power to somebody in Atlanta with less roof space.
That would produce widely distributed energy,
reducing need for foreign oil or dirty coal,
lowering your electric bills,
maybe even producing you a profit,
and generating local jobs right here in south Georgia.
Private investment is ready
to come in for utility-scale solar projects.
And companies like
SolarCity
that already do everything from financing to installation
could do that in Georgia.
Or home-grown companies could do that.
Or local banks could finance while local companies installed.
Anyway, we have
here on our workshop roof a proof of concept,
operational right now, purchased partly via a USDA REAP grant.
-jsq
From longleaf restoration to biomass, lots of interesting talks and tours.
Georgia Forestry Association wrote about the 30 October – 2 November 2011 Southern Woodland Owners Conference & Solutions Fair,
USDA Under Sec. to speak in Tifton Tuesday at forestry conference:
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Opening Session
Welcome Remarks and Announcements –
Introduction of Conference Co-Chairs, Steve
McWilliams, President, Georgia Forestry Assoc.
KEYNOTE: Honorable Harris Sherman, Under
Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, DC/Introduced by Honorable Gary
Black, Commissioner, Georgia Department of
Agriculture
-jsq
