USDA LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN TO HELP SMALL FARMS
(see below)
The tip sheets for this campaign are on the SARE web site:
http://www.sare.org/tipsheet/index.htm
Or see the Education link on our home page:
http://www.sare.org
Andy
-----Original Message-----
From: Jill Auburn [mailto:jauburn@reeusda.gov]
Sent: Monday, April 19, 1999 6:49 AM
The press release on the "Farming for Profit, Stewardship &
Community" campaign is on the web at the URL below. I've also pasted
the text into this message. Please distribute widely!
Thx,
Jill Auburn
http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/1999/04/0167
USDA LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN TO HELP SMALL FARMS
Release No. 0167.99
Media Contact: Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
laura.trivers@usda.gov
Public Contact: Valerie Berton (301) 405-3186
vberton@wam.umd.edu
USDA LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN TO HELP SMALL FARMS
WASHINGTON, April 19, 1999 -- Helping small farmers cut costs and
increase profits are the goals of a new education campaign being
launched this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The campaign, "Farming for Profit, Stewardship & Community," will
provide information to producers on sustainable agriculture practices
that can help farmers succeed.
"These are systems that farmers can use to cut production costs
and add
value to their products, even as they reduce the impact on their
land," said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, in announcing the
education effort. "We want to make sure that producers know what
sustainable agriculture is, how it can be applied to their operations,
and where they can go for help."
USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program is
in its
twelfth year. In that time, SARE has awarded some 1,400 grants to
researchers, farmers, extension specialists and community-based
organizations to help producers put a variety of sustainable practices
to work for them.
The education campaign was one of the recommendations of the
National
Commission on Small Farms, which examined ways USDA could help ensure
that small farms not only survive, but thrive, in coming years. This
new campaign is part of USDA's efforts to implement the
recommendations of the Commission.
"Concentration, global economics and other factors have
contributed to
tough times for many of our small farmers," Glickman said. "These are
some of the ways they can fight back."
The campaign will reach out to producers and USDA employees,
providing
'tip sheets' on top resources available on major topics: soil quality,
pest prevention, organic production, livestock costs, weed management,
crop diversification, planning, networking, and agroforestry.
"The information is available, but it can be difficult to get to
and
use" said SARE director Jill Auburn. "Our goal is to bring practical
information and resources to smaller producers. And we're looking for
as many ways to distribute this as we can."
Thousands of copies of the tip sheets will be distributed across
the
country, through USDA field offices and local organizations. The
campaign will also reach out to USDA field staff, ensuring that they
have the most up-to- date information available on these practices to
share with producers.
"This campaign is just one more example of how USDA is working to
strengthen our nation's smaller farm operations," Auburn said. "Our
goal in the next three years is to get this information into the hands
of as many producers and USDA frontline staff as possible."
For copies of the tip sheets or additional information on SARE,
contact
Valerie Berton at
(301) 405-3186.
#
Jill Auburn
Director, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
USDA-CSREES-ECS
jauburn@reeusda.gov
202-720-5384
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