USDA's Farm Service Agency County Committee Nominations Begin Monday

USDA Farm Service Agency County Executive Director S Raymond Shelley just announced that farmer and rancher candidate nominations will begin on June 15, 2009, for local Farm Service Agency county committees. The nomination period continues through Aug. 3, 2009, with elections taking place this fall. The 2009 election for Darlington County will be held in Local Administrative Area (LAA) 2.

"County committees are an important link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and give landowners, farmers and ranchers a better chance of having their opinions and ideas heard," Shelley. "In recent years, we have seen a trend of increased nominations of minority and women producers and I hope that will continue."

To be eligible to serve on a Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate.

Producers may nominate themselves or others, and organizations representing minorities and women may also nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other valuable information about FSA county committee elections are available online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2009 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 3, 2009.

FSA county committee members make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other important agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to 11 members who are elected by eligible producers.

FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 6. The voted ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 7. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office Jan. 1, 2010.

NOTE: FSA news releases and media advisories are available on the Web at FSA's home page: http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

$1.25 billion dollars to be designated in payments to qualified Black farmers

Federation of Southern Cooperatives Congratulates the Obama Administration on
Historic Approach to Settling Pigford Lawsuit

ATLANTA – Today the Obama Administration and Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack made an historic announcement in the Pigford Class Action Lawsuit first filed by Black farmers against the United States of Agriculture in 1997. The settlement announced today will provide $1.25 billion dollars in payments to qualified plaintiffs for past discriminatory treatment.

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund congratulates the Obama Administration on taking this historic step toward a meaningful settlement.

"This can lead to closure in the long sad history of discrimination by the USDA against Black farmers," said Ralph Paige, Executive Director. "The announcement follows the policy directives by the Secretary that provided a moratorium on federal farm foreclosures and strengthens the USDA's Office of Civil Rights to respond to numerous complaints of discrimination in USDA program activities and employment. We look forward to working with the USDA in providing fair access and equitable treatment to all Black farmers and distressed rural communities."

Note: The Federation/LAF, now in its 42nd year, assists Black family farmers across the South with farm management, debt restructuring, alternative crop suggestions, marketing expertise and a whole range of services to ensure family farm survivability.

Influenza A (H1N1) & Swine

Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health (CULPH) is monitoring the ongoing influenza A (H1N1) (swine flu) situation closely and taking appropriate steps to help protect animal and human health. This is not an animal disease outbreak.

Dr. Tony Caver, as state veterinarian, has reported to USDA via the area office of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that we are not aware [4/27/2009] of any adverse pig health issues in SC, particularly none associated with SIV (swine influenza virus). Dr. Caver further states CULPH will continue to work with the Pork Board, USDA-APHIS, CDC and SC DHEC to monitor the situation.

Attached is a fact sheet about influenza A and swine flu and also information from the National Pork Producers Council that will remind you of recommended biosecurity practices for your swine operations, especially now.

Thank you for your foresight in registering your premises with us. As a contact for a NAIS premises registered with us that indicates you have one or more pigs, we wanted you to have this fact sheet available as you encounter questions from your friends, family and neighbors in addition to questions you may have yourself. If in the future this or any other disease threatens SC swine, we will do our best to keep you informed as a registered premises contact.


Special Swine Flu Update
From the National Institute of Animal Agriculture

Statement by Ag Secretary Vilsack Regarding Human Cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) (USDA, 4/27) -- "I would like to express my deepest sympathies for those who have lost loved ones to the flu as well as those who have been sickened. I also wanted to reassure the public that there is no evidence at this time showing that swine have been infected with this virus.
According to scientists at USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food so you cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills all viruses and other foodborne pathogens.
USDA has in place, and did so before the last week's events, a surveillance system to monitor animal health. As an additional precautionary measure, I have asked USDA to reach out to agriculture officials in every state to affirm that they have no signs of this virus type in their state.
USDA will continue to work with other government agencies to monitor the situation and keep the public informed."

Pork Safe To Eat (National Pork Producers Council, 4/26) --Pork is safe to eat, and direct contact with swine is not the source of, and U.S. pigs have not been infected with, the hybrid influenza that has been identified in a number of people in the United States and more than 1,300 in Mexico.
“NPPC wants to assure domestic and global consumers about the safety of pork and urges pork producers to tighten their existing biosecurity protocols to protect their pigs from this virus, including restricting public access to barns.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
· People cannot get the hybrid influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
· There are no food safety issues related to the hybrid flu that has been identified, according to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.
· Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the hybrid flu had contact with hogs.
· “This virus is different, very different from that found in pigs.”
· The hybrid virus never has been identified in hogs in the United States or anywhere in the world.
· The hybrid virus is contagious and is spreading by human-to-human transmission.
For more information, visit www.pork.org , www.cdc.gov/swineflu or http://www.usda.gov/2009/04/0131.xml

Swine Flu Heightens Emphasis on Biosecurity (National Pork Board, 4/27) -- Media reports on a new strain of the swine influenza virus type H1N1 different from any other ever reported in U.S. swine herds serve as a reminder of the need for strict and enforceable biosecurity measured on U.S. pork production operations. The virus has not been reported to cause illness in pigs in the United States, but it has been associated with illness in eight people in the states of California and Texas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has reported that the same virus may be responsible for outbreaks of influenza in humans in Mexico.
The Pork Checkoff is recommending that pork producers implement biosecurity practices on their farms to prevent that this new strain of swine influenza does not enter the U.S. swine herd and to protect the health and safety of our industry’s workers.
Consider including the following biosecurity practices for your farm:
· Limit the access of people to essential personnel (farm employees, veterinarians and essential service people);
· Implement policies that prevent employees presenting signs of flu-like illness from having contact with the pigs or other people on the operation;
· Prevent access of international visitors or people who have recently returned from international travel, particularly from travel to Mexico, into your operation;
· Implement a shower in-shower out procedure and the use of farm-specific clothing and footwear for employees entering the barns. At minimum, employees should don farm footwear and completely wash hands and arms before having contact with the pigs;
· Enforce heightened personal hygiene practices including frequent hand washing for all people in contact with pigs;
· Establish contact with the herd veterinarian to discuss other biosecurity practices that are merited by this event.
The importance of keen observation of the health and behavior of your animals cannot be understated and the Pork Checkoff recommends that you establish immediate contact with a swine veterinarian if you suspect that a disease may be present on your farm. More information on influenza can be found in the fact sheet Influenza: Pigs, people and public health . And, additional information on swine influenza and an update on the outbreak reported by the CDC can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/swine .

Ovis Hill Farm Specials

Charlie Caldwell of Ovis Hill Farm (1501 Weaver St., Timmonsville) let us in on the following specials

BEEF WINTER SPECIAL For the remainder of January the price of hamburger, stew and roasts will be reduced by 10%! In addition, the price of a ½ or whole cow will be reduced from $3.25/LB to $3.00/LB carcass weight.

LAMB WINTER SPECIAL This week the price of all lamb cuts will be reduced by 10 percent.

If you can't stop by the farm but are in Florence, Charlie has partnered with Naturally Outdoors for a twice weekly farmers market at Naturally Outdoors, 2519 W. Palmetto St., from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Farmers’ Conference to Focus on Selling Locally

Selling locally—it’s a solution for farmers seeking new buyers for their products. Learn how at the Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC. Offered by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), this sixth annual conference provides farmers with training and networking opportunities they need to sustain their farms in changing markets.

Workshops, ranging from the introductory Marketing Basics for the New Farmer to specialized topics such as Marketing Grass Fed Meats, Successful Tailgate Marketing in Rural Areas, and Successful Models of Cooperative Marketing, are about promoting farm products.

Workshops are taught by fellow farmers, agriculture professionals, and marketing specialists.

Farmers and those seriously considering farming as a profession should attend. Potential buyers of locally-grown goods are also invited to attend the full conference, or come to network for no charge. Opportunities for farmer/buyer meetings are planned.

The cost for the conference is $30, or $40 per two farm partners if you register before February 1st. The cost is $35, or $50 per two farm partners beginning February 1. Price includes light breakfast, local foods lunch, and resource notebook

For more information or to register, visit http://www.asapconnections.org/MOFF.html or call (828) 236-1282.

One more reason to eat local

This article is an excerpt from a book I would like to read.

Shopping for apples. At supermarkets in North America and Europe, the choice is restricted to half a dozen varieties: Fuji, Braeburn, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and perhaps a couple of others. Why these? Because they're pretty: we like the polished and unblemished skin. Because their taste is one that's largely unobjectionable to the majority. But also because they can stand transportation over long distances. Their skin won't tear or blemish if they're knocked about in the miles from orchard to aisle. They take well to the waxing technologies and compounds that make this transportation possible and keep the apples pretty on the shelves. They are easy to harvest. They respond well to pesticides and industrial production. These are reasons why we won't find Calville Blanc, Black Oxford, Zabergau Reinette, Kandil Sinap or the ancient and venerable Rambo on the shelves.

Our choices are not entirely our own because, even in a supermarket, the menu is crafted not by our choices, nor by the seasons, nor where we find ourselves, nor by the full range of apples available, nor by the full spectrum of available nutrition and tastes, but by the power of food corporations.

Makes me want to hit the Pee Dee Farmers Market for some local food selections. The food will be fresh, fragrant and tasty, plus the money will stay in our economy to help our community.

How about you?