ALCDC

Farm Service Agency News

The following article is provided courtesy of the March 2019 FSA electronic newsletter.

Message from the SED

Agriculture Secretary Perdue designated four Arkansas counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Arkansas, Lee, St. Francis and White counties who suffered losses caused by excessive rain that occurred Aug. 1 through Nov. 15, 2018, may be eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. Producers in the contiguous Arkansas counties of Cleburne, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Faulkner, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie and Woodruff are also eligible to apply for emergency loans. The deadline to apply is Oct. 15, 2019.

Also, FSA has announced that the January 2019 income over feed cost margin was $7.99 per hundredweight, triggering the first payment for eligible dairy producers who purchase the appropriate level of coverage under the new but yet-to-be established Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. DMC, which replaces the Margin Protection Program for Dairy, is a voluntary risk management program for dairy producers that was authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill. DMC offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.

Producers need to remember to report any storm damage from the high winds or tornadoes from the past few weeks. If they occur this spring as we enter severe storm season, you are reminded to report any crop damage or farm structure damage to your local FSA office.

Always tipping my hat to those that work by the Acre instead of by the Hour. Until next month…

Upcoming Events

Reminder:

Arkansas Land and Community Development Corporation(ALCDC) will host Arkansas Land & Farm Development Corporation's (ALFDC) Annual Winter Farmers Conference Friday, January 26 2018 at ALFDC's Business Conference Center at 484 Floyd Brown Drive in Fargo Arkansas beginning at 9:00 a.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.

A copy of the agenda and flyer for the event are presented below. Click on the images for a larger view.

ALCDC's annual Winter Farmers Conference radio advertisement

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Arkansas Land Community & Development Corporation (ALCDC) announces their Central Arkansas Community Economic Development Summit being held on Saturday, December 16 @ 9:30 a.m.at the Menifee Community Center, 68 Mustang Street, Menifee Arkansas 7210. Over the past thirty seven (37) years, ALCDC’s program services have been dedicated toward equal access and providing United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) program service delivery to historically underserved communities, ranchers, farmers and landowners. ALCDC’s vision and commitment, along with partnerships, supporters, members and friends through USDA and Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) continue the processes for addressing the many challenges and needs of the underserved and underprivileged in rural areas. Representatives from USDA’s Natural Resource Service, Farm Service Agency and Rural Development will present on their available services. ALCDC’s successful programmatic partnership approaches have experienced successes in housing and economic development, family farm retention and youth services.

Topics Addressed & Covered at Summit:

ALCDC’s New & Beginning Farmers & Ranchers (Veterans) Program
Equality and Equity Resource Opportunities for Heir Property
Micro-Urban Farming
Conservation Risk Management Practices for Limited Resource & Historically Underserved Farmers, Ranchers & Landowners
Housing, Business & Community Economic Development Opportunities

Participants who want to meet on an individual basis regarding our New Beginning Farmers & Ranchers Program, housing, heir property, protecting your legal property rights and other heir property legal issues that affect your daily life style may engage immediately after Summit for One-On-One Consultations with ALCDC Staff. If there are additional questions, you may contact Mary Harris or Mykela Sparkman at (870) 734-3005. This year’s Summit is designed very specific and relative to you and your community needs and we urge you to attend with Lunch being served at no cost to attendees. ALCDC is looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, December 16 at 9:30 am in Menifee, Arkansas.

Radio Advertisement for ALFDC 37th Annual Conference
and Membership Meeting.

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WINTER CONFERENCE

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2017

Contact: Mary Harris (870) 734-3005

Visit our website at https://alfdc.webs.com/

SUBJECT: ALCDC’s 37th Annual Conference Attention: Farmers, Ranchers, Landowners, Veterans & Members

This letter is to inform and invite you to participate in Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation's upcoming Annual Conference/Membership Meeting, hosted by Arkansas Land and Community Development Corporation, scheduled for October 26-27, 2017. This year’s Conference is a very special event, representing 37 years of dedicated service for land retention, family farm development, housing and youth program services. The Theme for this year’s conference is: “Understanding Rural Financial Opportunities UFO Access for Success.” Also, during our 37th Annual Conference, we will pay tribute to individuals and organizations whose collective vision, dedication and partnership support to rural economic sustainability has kept hundreds of farmers on their land and provided economic opportunities for rural community development, investment support for training and technical assistance to limited resource farmers and ranchers, information access on investments for rural affordable housing and business development and access to a constant flow of information that keeps us in touch with issues that’s of importance to local communities and the general public.

ALCDC is proud to announce that Burthel Thomas, George Richardson, Evelyn Bryant & Ruby Johnson have been selected to serve on our Program Policy and Evaluation Committee being recognized at this year’s event.

Planned Order of Events:
Day One, Thursday, October 26th is our "Youth Day", which will be held at our Headquarters in Fargo, Arkansas. "Youth Day" will include guest speakers, a educational panel discussion and youth oratorical leadership speakers along with site tours and other activities. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

Day Two, Friday, October 27th is our "Members, Supporters, Partners, and Seniors Day" also to be held at our Headquarters in Fargo, Arkansas. This Day will include guest speakers, workshops, a panel discussion, along with program site tours. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

ALCDC is very proud of our program service delivery past contributions to Arkansan through direct service, public policy advocacy and its committed support for the unserved and under-served rural residents. For 37 years ALCDC program services have faced issues surrounding poverty, injustice, housing, education, land ownership and family farm retention along with health and the environment.

If you, your organization or school would like to register for this years conference, go to membership registration tab above.

To pay Conference registration fees or ALCDC membership dues, click the Make A Donation button at the bottom of the page.

Arkansas Land and Community Development Corporation will host Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation's 37th Annual Conference and Membership Meeting Thursday, October 26 and Friday, October 27 2017 in the Fargo Agricultural Business Center located at 484 Floyd Brown Drive in Fargo Arkansas.

Arkansas Land and Community Development Corporation 37th Annual
Conference is designed to address the specific needs of its members, partners, supporters, and family farmers. To achieve this conference purpose, the board and staff has worked to engage leading experts in rural community development for the benefit of all conference participants.

The Conference brings together farmers, government officials, rural residents, youth, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations interested in sustaining rural communities. Workshops will be in the areas of farm finance program and services, rural economic development, housing, and youth services.

GAP/GHP Training

Arkansas Land & Community Development Corporation (ALCDC) is offering specialized produce safety training through the Produce Safety Alliance of Cornell University on May 22 & 23 in Fargo, Arkansas. Participants who attend and receive their certification are able to offer Produce Safety Alliance's (PSA) (Cornell) standardized curriculum to train fresh produce growers to meet the regulatory requirements in the Food Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) & Good Handling Practices (GHP) are component tools of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection requirements of commercial growers to sell to Walmart/Kroger.

Successful completion of the full two-day PSA TTT allows you to deliver curriculum modules as a trainer in a PSA Grower Training under the direction of a PSA Lead Trainer. The partnership with Cornell is a concerted effort on behalf of ALCDC to show Growers how alternative crops can become viable Business Enterprises in Eastern Arkansas with proper technical assistance and advice.

This initiative is in conjunction with ALCDC's proposed Unifying Farmers Outreach (UFO) Demonstration Project which demonstrates the use of innovative technologies and approaches to address natural resource concern in alternative crop production and marketing.

If there are any additional questions, please do not hesitate in contacting Van Banks & Albert Jones @ 870-734-3005. The Training is Free but, registration is required. Below is the site registration and ALCDC has covered all the costs with our collaborative partners.

https://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/training/train-trainer-course/brinkley-arkansas

Press Release

Attention: Farmers, Ranchers, Landowners, Veterans & Members

Arkansas Land and Community Development Corporation (ALCDC) in conjunction with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) Keeping It in The Family invites you to our 1st Annual Spring-Break Community Economic Development Summit Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Stamps, Arkansas.

The Summit is being held at the Lafayette County High School Cafeteria, located at 1209 Alexander Lane, Stamps, AR. Registration begins at 9:30 am with the Summit beginning at 10:00 am promptly. This year’s Summit theme is, “Addressing Heir Property Barriers,” as related to community economic development.

This year’s Summit agenda has been designed to bring together rural and urban farmers, beginning farmers, veterans, rural residents, government agencies, elected officials, rural business and faith/community based organizations interested in the sustainable economic recovery and renewal of our rural and urban agriculture underserved and unserved communities.

Lunch is being provided at no cost along with One-on-One consultations’ for those individuals interested.

Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions or need any additional information. You may contact Albert Jones at (870) 734-3005 or by email at [email protected] or visit our website at https://alfdc.webs.com/

ALCDC is dedicated to sustaining rural communities

Give us a call if you want to talk to one of our friendly and professional staff members. Our office hours are 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. Monday -Friday or call (870) 870-734-3005 or email us at [email protected]

To pay conference, sponsorship, or membership fees, please click on the Make a Donation button below.

Pay your membership fee by clicking on Make A Donation.

Arkansas Land and Community Development Corporation

533 Floyd Brown Drive, P.O. Box 907 Brinkley, AR 72021

(870) 734-3005