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Farm Bill Opportunities for Rural Communities, Farmers & Entrepreneurs Discussed in Western MN March 10-11
CONTACT: Terry VanDerPol, LSP, 320-269-2105
Steph Larson, CRA, 402-687-2100
2/25/09
MONTEVIDEO, Minn. — Are you interesting in starting a new business or growing new opportunities in your rural community and on your farm?There are a number of provisions and programs in the 2008 Farm Bill that can support efforts of rural entrepreneurs to start or expand a local foods related business or other enterprises on their farms or in their communities. A special seriesof meetings on rural development provisions in the new Farm Bill will be held March 10-11 in the western Minnesota communities of Montevideo, Morris, Ortonville and Redwood Falls. These meetings are open to the public and free of charge. For more information, call Terry VanDerPol at the Land Stewardship Project at 320-269-2105 or Steph Larson at the Center for Rural Affairs at 402-687-2100.
The locations and times are:
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Redwood Falls: Tuesday, March 10, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Redwood Falls Public Library, 509 S. Lincoln St.
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Montevideo: Tuesday, March 10, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Montevideo Community Center, 550 S. 5th St.
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Morris: Wed., March 11, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 43875 230th St. (Highway 59)
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Ortonville: Countryside Public Health Meeting Room, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., 47 2nd St. (Main Street behind the Granary Food Co-op)
During the meetings, representatives of the Land Stewardship Project and the Center for Rural Affairs will give presentations on the Farm Bill’s Micro Entrepreneur Assistance Program and some of the new developments and opportunities in the Value Added Producer Grants Program.
In addition, there will be discussions on County of Origin Labeling and how it affects farmers who market locally, special provisions for beginning farmers and ranchers, changes in meat inspection rules and opportunities these changes offer for processing locally grown meat and selling it across state lines, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and some of the new Farm Bill provisions related to organic farming.
These meetings are sponsored by the Land Stewardship Project (www.landstewardshipproject.org) and the Center for Rural Affairs (www.cfra.org).
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