Free Consulting Services for Organic Certification from CFSA

From the Carolina Farm Stewarship Association (CFSA):

 

Please be aware that the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association is offering FREE consulting services to a limited number of farmers that are seeking USDA Organic Certification. This is open to farm operations that are serious about taking the next steps to apply whether you raise row crops, produce, livestock, medicinal herbs or other agricultural products.  

Please visit our website for program specifics: http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/organic-certification-consulting-services/

 

Be sure to see details for revised program requirements...

Not ready to commit just yet? 

Take the first steps towards future certification by asking questions now! CFSA can be a valuable resource in this process. Feel free to contact me with specific questions regarding your efforts to transition your farming operation to organic.  

See what else we offer through our Farm Service program at: http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/farm-services/

Present Use Value Taxation (PUV) Survey

Please see this important message from Roland McReynolds, Executive Director of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA).

Dear NC farmers: The NC Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council is looking at an issue of great importance to local, sustainable food production: property tax treatment for small working farms.

As you may know, state law allows counties to tax farms at property tax rates based on their use as farms (known as Present Use Value, or PUV), instead of at higher residential tax rates.  However, to qualify for PUV based on farm use, a farm must have more than 5 acres in production in the case of horticultural crops, or more than 10 acres for any other crops. Thus many small farms are not able to take advantage of this preferential tax treatment.

The Council has set up a task force to investigate this situation and to propose changes that would allow small farms serving local food markets to reduce their property tax burdens, and task force members represent Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, NC Farm Bureau and NC Cooperative Extension, among others.  We are conducting a survey to collect more information from small farms about their experience with PUV. This is where we need help from farmers.  Please take 15 minutes to take the survey, which you can find here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PUV.  The information we collect will be crucial to proving to local and state government that small farms deserve more equitable property tax treatment.

So please help us make a difference and fill out the survey today!

Roland

New Resource for NC Local Food Businesses

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association is pleased to announce the release of a new resource for farmers and local foods businesspeople, called Growing your Local Food Business in North Carolina: A Guide to Laws and Regulations. The guide is designed to give a detailed introduction to the many federal and state laws and regulations that govern the production and sale of farm products (meat, poultry, dairy) and low-risk value-added foods such as jams and jellies. Where possible, the guide also contains information about how to obtain additional information on a topic.

The document can be found on the website at this link: http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/north-carolina-reg-guide/ .

BEGINNING FARMER & RANCHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Scholarship program is designed to give new and beginning farmers and ranchers a low-cost opportunity to participate in the Carolina Farm StewardshipAssociation's (CFSA) Sustainable Agriculture Conference Oct 26-28, 2012 in Greenville, SC.  

The Sustainable Agriculture Conference is an unparalleled opportunity for beginning farmers to learn how to be successful in their sustainable farming enterprises.  The conference has special programming for beginning farmers on basic farm planning, marketing, how to avoid common startup pitfalls, and applying for grants and loans for farmers.  Other conference workshops cover cutting edge issues in sustainable agriculture, including organic weed and pest control, plant diseases, soil fertility, heritage livestock, food safety and processing, and direct marketing.  All of it is essential information for new farms to thrive.  

Scholarship recipients will be eligible to attend all regular conference activities, beginning with the dinner and evening program on Friday, Oct. 26, and including all workshops, plenary sessions, meals and networking sessions taking place on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27. The scholarship does not cover the pre-conference workshops and tours held on Friday, Oct. 26, or travel & lodging costs.  The value of this scholarship totals $300.

 

Scholarship Eligibility: Up to 40 scholarships are available.  For purposes of this scholarship program, a new or beginning farmer or rancher is defined as an individual who:

* Has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years, and

* Will provide substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm or ranch.

* CFSA encourages minority farmers to take advantage of this scholarship.  A portion of the 40 scholarships are reserved for minority farmers.

Scholarship Requirements: Recipients will be required to attend one of the two Basic Farm Planning workshops and cover the cost of their own lodging and travel expenses.  

Scholarship Application Deadline:
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Aug. 15, 2012.   Scholarship recipients will be notified of award decisions by Sept. 5, 2012.  Those applicants who do not receive the scholarship will be eligible to register for the Conference at the low early bird rate for students and apprentices.  

Download Scholarship Application -  http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/sac-support/

For More Information: Email info@carolinafarmstewards.or with "Scholarship" in the subject line.

This scholarship program is made possible by a grant from National Institute for Food and Agriculture and the National Center for Appropriate Technology, and we are grateful for this support.