Veteran Farm Workshop June 12: Pleasant Lane Farm

Attendance is limited to 20 and remaining seats are now available to additional guests. This workshop is geared toward those who have been farming 10 years or less but all are welcome. 

Following the morning workshop, sign up for a one-on-one consultation with NRCS or FSA staff to discuss your farm project.

Agenda:

8:30 Check-in

9:00-noon Workshop

FSA updates: Loans/microloans for land and operations

Rural Development updates: Prepare now for Value Added Grants and other programming

NRCS updates: How to get technical assistance for best management conservation practices like high tunnels, animal walkways, pollinator gradens; hear about explore cost incentives

Grants: 1. Grants 101--types of grants, how to find them, open or future applications

             2. How the Fryes obtained PA grant funding for their cheese operation. Leverraging co-op partnerships.

Using business structures to your advantage to limit liability. 

 Liquid Gold: The story of a  successful honey business

Field walk of NRCS technical assistance and payment incentive program at Pleasant Lane Farms

·  Large several prong buffer

·  Stabilized stream crossing

·  Large diversion ditch to control run-off from field

·  Improvements in barnyard to capture and clean rainwater and divert it from manure storage (gutters and downspouts direct clean water to the stream, while capturing rainwater that falls on manure and sending it through a vegetative filter before it flows to the stream).

Tour of Pleasant Lane Creamery 

Afternoon: Optional individual consultation with USDA program staff (Tentative pending USDA staff being permitted to attend; at registration time they are scheduled to conference in).