Lions, Tigers and Bears…Oh, Go Wash Your Hands!

We can’t speak for everyone, but one of our favorite things to do at the local fairs is visit the petting zoo.  Yes, most of us have seen a cow or piglet before, but we get overly excited for the exotic pets like monkeys and giraffes.  And yes, you are correct, “we” as in grown adults here at Farm Credit, but don’t worry, our children like petting zoos, too.

If you are like us and swarm to the big, smelly tent, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly when you leave.  The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is issuing an urgent warning regarding hand washing after touching animals at petting zoos.

By touching animals, fences, or equipment it is possible to contract a dangerous form of E.coli or other infections.  Children are especially at risk because their immune systems are not fully developed.

Now, this isn’t to say that petting zoos are lurking grounds for E.coli (really anywhere could be…), but just a friendly reminder to practice responsible parenting by making sure you and your children wash your hands after touching animals at your local fairs and festivals this summer.

Chip Councell: A “Farmer Who Feeds US”

At a time when adults believe half-truths about the food supply and children don’t know milk comes from a cow, it has never been more important to educate consumers about the practice of farming.

Chip Councell of Cordova, Maryland is the tenth generation of his family to farm, where he grows grain and 20 to 30 various kinds of vegetables on almost 1,300 acres annually.  He is also involved in the Farmers Feed US campaign geared towards educating consumers about the farmers who produce their safe, affordable, and nutritious food.

The Farmers Feed US campaign gives farmers an opportunity to tell their story, and that’s exactly what Chip is doing during his feature video clip. Chip stresses that all farmers need to have an impact on the perceptions of agriculture, whereas, “They can no longer just sit back.  We need to be a better job communicating what we do and why we do it to the public.”

You can read more about Chip’s involvement in the Farmers Feed US campaign on page 6 in our Farm Credit Leader magazine.  Or, to learn more about other farmers in the region or get involved in telling agriculture’s story yourself, visit farmersfeedus.org.

The Good Ol’ Honor System

So it’s that time of year again…when the farmer’s markets are beginning to be full of fresh, local fruits and vegetables like squash, zucchini, strawberries, and watermelon.  It is also the time our neighbors start putting their produce out in a wagon at the end of the driveway for us to exchange for a few dollars in a can. That’s right…the good ol’ honor system is back!

Although the trusting business model certainly isn’t crime-proof, honor boxes remain a point of pride and practicality for many small farmers who would prefer to spend their time tending the crops than manning a roadside cart.

And truthfully, most customers end up leaving more money than they actually owe.  It’s a win-win situation because the farmer makes a larger profit and the customers leave feeling good about themselves.

In the agriculture industry, trust is extremely important.  As farmers, your consumers trust that the food you have produced is of high quality and safe.  So, why not trust your customers to do the right thing and bring back the good ol’ honor system?

So tell us – what are your thoughts or experiences with the honor system?

Loan Officer by Day, Blogger by Night

You may have read the article on the front page of the Delmarva Farmer, but we’re pretty proud that our loan officer, Cara Sylvester was featured.  As a MidAtlantic Farm Credit loan officer, farm wife, and mother it’s hard to believe that she finds time to sit down and blog.

When Cara first began her blog, “…Story Worth Telling,” in 2008, she focused mostly on her life in general, touching on farming here and there.  Recently she has begun focusing on agriculture and has launched “Farm Women Fridays” featuring local farm women and the work they do on and off the farm.

The idea for her featured blogs came from her volunteer work with CommonGround, a corn and soybean check-off funded national initiative aimed at starting conversations and making connections between the women who grow food and the women who buy it.

Her goal is for people to feel like they know her, through her combination of agriculture-related blogs and personal stories. She says she keeps the tone informal and leaves the technical jargon and research statistics to other bloggers.  Cara says, “The more people that read it, the more they will understand the people behind the farms.”

Her goal is to run the “Farm Women Fridays” series through Labor Day, provided she has enough women willing to be featured.  Anyone wishing to suggest someone for the series can comment on her blog site, storyworthtelling.blogspot.com, or write to her Twitter account, @carabecca.

Kudos, Cara!  And we look forward to reading more about local farm women in your blog.

Did You Know the Farm Bill is a Jobs Bill?

Did you know American agriculture supports 16 million American jobs?  This includes jobs in rural and urban areas alike, creating not just farm but also equipment, manufacturing, bio-based manufacturing, food and fiber processing, bio-energy production, retail jobs, and more.

Passing a new farm bill before the current bill expires in September will provide the certainty that farmers just like you, need to continue innovating and producing the world’s safest, healthiest and most abundant food supply.  Along will reducing the current deficit and increasing investment, the farm bill will provide successful job initiatives that strengthen:

• export opportunities for farmers’ global markets
• support for local farmers’ markets and food hubs that connect farmers to schools and other community-based organizations
• training and access to capital for beginning farmers
• help for American veterans to start agriculture businesses
• growth in bio-based manufacturing and bio-energy production
• agriculture research, and
• rural development

We love being involved in an industry that is working hard to provide jobs critical for an economic recovery. (Go, agriculture!) And it’s great to know that the farm bill is truly a “jobs bill.”

So, tell us…do you work in the agriculture industry? What job initiatives do you think are important to include in the 2012 Farm Bill?

3 Ways Farmers Can Participate in the Farm-to-Food Bank Program

We all know how important (and delicious) local food, fresh from the farm is to incorporate in our diets.  But we also know that it can tend to be viewed as a luxury food in terms of affordability.  Well, the Maryland Food Bank is helping to break that barrier by implementing the Farm-to-Food Bank Program throughout the state.

The program includes a network of farms and cooperatives who have pledged to donate fresh fruits and vegetables to the food bank on a regular basis.  Farmers can participate by:

• donating excess crops
• allowing minimum-custody offenders to conduct final sweeps of fields in cooperation with the Maryland State Department of Corrections, or
• contracting to grow most-needed fruits and vegetables on a portion of land set aside specifically for the food bank

Farms may deliver produce to the Maryland Food Bank or arrange for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly pick-ups.  Then, the food bank will immediately either prepare the fruits and vegetables for meals or reconstitute them into healthy frozen meals for use at a later time.

The farmers’ donations will ensure a steady supply of nutritious food to individuals and families striving to overcome hunger.  We think this is a great partnership of the food bank and local farmers to continue to feed our local communities.  Great work, Maryland Farm Bank!  For a complete list of participating farms and cooperatives, or the join the effort yourself, visit www.mdfoodbank.org.

Landis Valley Museum: a history book comes to life

When you take a stroll through Landis Valley Museum, you are delightfully overwhelmed with the rich history of Pennsylvania German heritage and agriculture.  Deep in the heart of Lancaster County, brothers, Henry and George Landis founded the museum in 1925 to ensure that future generations would be able to see and remember how farmers used to operate.

The 100 acre property is home to 16 historic buildings and thousands of artifacts that contribute to the 18^th and 19^th century atmosphere.  The museum’s curator, Bruce Bomberger, maintains the artifacts and oversees the 70,000 visitors each year.  Bruce says he enjoys sharing the stories behind the artifacts with people to help bring their visit to life.

You may have also seen Landis Valley Museum on television when they were was featured during the fourth season of America’s Heartland.  To read more about Pennsylvania’s “best kept secret”, check out page 8 in our Farm Credit Leader magazine.

They’ve worked at Farm Credit for 215 years!

Well, total that is…that’s right, our employees celebrating their service anniversaries in the month of June have worked a total of 215 years for Farm Credit!  We take pride in the fact that our employees choose to spend the majority of (or all for some) their careers with our business.  We believe it really shows how much they love their job and serving customers, just like you!

So here’s a big congratulations to those employees celebrating service anniversaries in June:

35 years – Jim Aird, MidMD Regional SVP (Frederick)

30 years – Dave Clark, Loan Officer (Denton)

30 years – Sandy Stahl, Loan Specialist (Shoemakersville)

30 years – David Stutzman, Loan Officer (Shoemakersville)

25 years – Marty Desmond, Area Lending Manager (Dover)

20 years – Kelli Wilson, Loan Officer (Frederick)

15 years – Maggie Johnson, Loan Specialist (Dover)

10 years – Rebecca Bowmaster, Credit Analyst (Lancaster)

10 years – Mark Schnebly, Credit Manager (Hagerstown)

10 years – Andrew Terrell, Loan Officer (Lancaster)

Thank you for your continued service to Farm Credit.  We look forward to you adding many more years with us to the 215 you already have!

If you are looking for a career change, check out our current job openings.

Eat Local with Dad

Father’s Day is approaching quickly, and are you still figuring out plans to make his day extra special? Well, instead of taking him to a fancy dinner or buying him another tie, consider taking him to the Cecil County Father’s Day Picnic.

The picnic is being held from 1 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at The Fair Hill Nature Center.  It is being hosted by Cecil County farmers who will be serving food fresh from their farms as the main meal.  Highlighted items include burgers from Sassafras River Beef, cheese from Mooo Over Cheese, chips from Herr’s, milkshakes from Kilby Cream, and apple pic from Milburn Orchards.  We’re hungry already…

This idea came about when Cecil County Agriculture Agent, Doris Behnke wanted to host an event that helped promote the “Eat Local” campaign and reintroduced farms and farming to the consuming public.  She and a small committee determined they would begin a local farm meal program which will host events like this four times per year.  Great idea, Doris!

Now what you’re really wondering is how much this will cost you, right? It’s only $8 per person.  But hurry, because only 150 tickets are being sold and they can be purchased by calling the Cecil County Extension office at 410.996.5280.

So, bring out your whole family to recognize Dad on his special day.  Enjoy local, farm fresh food and spend quality time together hiking the trails to the stream or biking around the park.  Oh, and by the way Mom, you won’t have to do any dishes!

If you attend, post of picture of you and Dad to our Facebook page!

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

That always seems to be the question – why did the chicken cross the road? Our answer…to get to the Delmarva Chicken Festival, of course!  The festival is being held June 15 & 16, 2012 at The Center at Salisbury in Maryland.

If you are looking for some family fun, the festival is definitely the place to be!  With free parking and admission, you and your family can enjoy the carnival, arts and crafts, home and trade show, musical entertainment, and educational poultry displays.  Especially for your kids, there are baby chicks and a “Children’s Corner” with fun-filled activities and competitions.

Once your stomach begins to growl, check out the giant fry pan that is cooking up fresh and delicious Delmarva chicken.  And of course, you won’t want to miss Saturday evening’s Mountaire Chickin’ Pickin’ National Championship.

So if you are looking for family fun on the shore honoring the poultry industry, head to the 63^rd Delmarva Chicken Festival!  Even, the chicken is crossing the road to get there…

Kempton Country Fair – Are you going?

You heard it right…it’s officially June and that means it’s FAIR TIME!  If you live in the Kempton, PA area (or you are looking for a mini road trip), the Kempton Country Fair begins today, Tuesday, June 12^th and runs through Saturday, June 16^th.

The fair is only $7 to enter and includes free parking, rides, and entertainment.  On Saturday, adults and kids can join the fun by participating in various contests such as pedal tractor pulls, bale pitching, raw egg tosses, corn cob tosses, and more! 

For an adrenaline rush, be sure to check out the tough trucks, tractor pulls, and stock races that will take place on the track.  Also, enjoy tons of local food stands and don’t miss the fireworks on Friday night at 10 pm.

If you do attend, be sure to snap an ag-related photo and enter it in our fair photo contest on Facebook - you could win up to $250! The photo above is a 2011 entry from Cynthia McDaniel.

If you are looking for something to do this week, head out to the Kempton Country Fair – it is sure to be some good ol’ family fun!

Raise your Glass (of milk that is!)

May has “moooooved” out of here, just in time for June so we all can celebrate National Dairy Month!  June is a perfect time to thank dairy farmers for their hard work and dedication in producing safe, wholesome dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt for our families.

To celebrate National Dairy Month, impress your friends with a couple statistics about dairy production in your state:

• Delaware:  91.5 million pounds of milk produced per year, 50 dairy farms
• Maryland:  970 million pounds of milk produced per year, 510 dairy farms
• Pennsylvania:  10.6 billion pounds of milk produced per year, 7,240 dairy farms
• Virginia:  1.7 billion pounds of milk produced per year, 690 dairy farms
• West Virginia:  156 million pounds of milk produced per year, 95 dairy farms

Also, did you know…

• Cows can walk upstairs, but not downstairs because of the way their knees bend
• Cows drink about 35 gallons of water a day
• Cows produce more than 7 gallons of milk per day (that’s 400 glasses!)

So, this month take time to thank a dairy farmer, and raise your glass of milk to their passion for the dairy industry.  Cheers!

Go Ahead, Give Yourself Credit!

You are trying to buy a car, a house, or even a farm and the lender has you fill out a credit application to help calculate your credit score.  You know you have one, but like most others, you are still confused over what it is, why it exists, who controls it, and how you can affect it.

 

Over the last decade, consumer and commercial lending decisions have relied heavily on the confusing variable known as a credit score.  Here’s what it is – a numerical value representing your likelihood of paying the loan back as agreed.

Here are five factors that are considered in your credit score and their approximate weight:

Payment history (35%)

• Amounts owed and the amount of credit limits utilized (30%)
• The length of your credit history (15%)
• The types of credit you are utilizing (10%)
• Amount of new credit, and changes to your credit report (10%) 

It's important to know that the higher your credit score, the better.  So how can you improve your score? Here are a few tips: 

• Pay your bills on time, every time
• Don’t use every dollar of available credit on your line or card
• Limit the number of new accounts and credit inquiries
• Credit history length is measured by the age of your oldest card (so keep that one!)
• Be patient – it takes time

Now that you have a better understanding of what makes up your credit score and how to continuously improve it…go ahead and give yourself some credit!

Tell all your “peeps”

Want a chance to win $250? Well, then it is time to sharpen up your photography skills because our fair photo contest has begun!

It’s time to scour your local fairgrounds for those priceless photo op moments where your child wins a blue ribbon in the show ring, the fair queen is crowned, or that fuzzy little chick looks like it is dying to have its’ photo taken (like the photo shown, courtesy of Michelle Bambary who was our 2011 contest winner).

The rules are simple – just go to our Facebook page and click “Fair Photo Contest” to enter your picture between now and September 30, 2012. Once we open the photos up to the public on October 1, 2012, you’ll want to tell your “peeps” to vote for you to win the grand prize. There are also prizes for 2nd and 3rd place and voting will end on October 19, 2012.

So what are you waiting for? Find your camera, become a fan of our Facebook page, and head out to your local fairs to capture the winning $250 ag-related photo of your fair-weather friends!

What’s with this Farm Bill, anyway?

 The 2012 Farm Bill is definitely the “buzz word” throughout the agriculture industry right now.  As agriculturalists, we know the bill is important, but trying to understand it is confusing and very complex.  So what you’re really wondering is…what is it, what’s the process, and how does it affect me?

 

 

The Farm Bill is the primary agricultural and food policy tool of the federal government, which is revised and passed every five years.  Common topics addressed in the bill include commodities, conservation, agricultural trade and food aid, nutrition, farm credit, rural development, research, forestry, energy, horticulture, and crop insurance and disaster assistance.  Approximately 80% of the Farm Bill funds are spent on nutrition programs and the rest supports America’s farmers, ranchers, and consumer initiatives.

The 2012 Farm Bill is centered on three main priorities – resources for all producers, strong crop insurance, and a solid conservation title.  This provides extensive risk management options for producers and improves the quality of our natural resources.

So why is this important to you as a farmer, agribusiness professional, or even just as a consumer?  This bill sets the standard for food production, farm and resource regulations, and the entire future of agriculture.  If not revised and allocated correctly, our food supply could run short and our natural resources could disappear.

These next few months are the most crucial for Congress as the 2008 Farm Bill will expire on September 30, 2012.  For more information and current news on the 2012 Farm Bill, check out the House and Senate Committee websites.  And the next time someone asks you “What’s with this Farm Bill, anyway?” you should have the answer… 

“U-pick”, I pick, we all pick strawberries!

It’s true – nothing beats a fresh strawberry straight from the patch.  If you grew up on a farm, you most likely remember heading out to the garden, dusting off the dirt and devouring a few right then and there, before mom or dad caught you, of course!

If you aren’t growing your own strawberries this year, you should consider taking your family to participate in a “U-pick” at a local farm.  Here are a few tips for proper “U-pick” etiquette:

• Check in with a staff person to receive instructions and a bucket for picking
• Stay in the designated areas, fields, or rows
• Do not walk on or straddle the black plastic raised beds
• Supervise your children at all times
• Do not consume strawberries in the field
• Dress in comfortable clothes and closed toed shoes
• Do not bring pets
• Do not litter in the fields or other farm property

Here are a few suggestions for finding the best strawberries:

• Pick only fully red strawberries – white or green tips are not fully ripe and do not continue to ripen after being picked
• Size is not important – small berries are just as tasty, if not more than large ones
• Look deep in the center of plants for hidden strawberries
• Walk to the far end of the patch where fewer pickers venture for prime picking
• Don’t overfill your container – this crushes the berries at the bottom and causes some to fall onto the ground

“U-pick” farms can be a great source of family fun and delicious local produce. Visit your Department of Agriculture website to find “U-pick” farms in your area.  Be sure to comment and let us know where you are headed!

Do What You Want and Start Farming Now

Confucius said “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” It seems as if more and more people are living by this maxim, and turning their lifetime dreams of operating a small farm operation into a reality, and so can you!

What you choose to do has most likely been a hobby up to this point. And whether you’re interested in horses, alpacas, growing and selling vegetables, or even a small wine operation, it’s time to realize you too, can turn these interests into a small business!

So, think about it – do you want to make a profit, or simply break even and offset operational costs? You should decide this and then begin writing your business plan. Not only will your banker want to see this, but it will be your business blue print and tracking device for your successes and areas of improvement.

It is no doubt that a business plan is a lot of necessary work. The good thing is that there are tons of resources available to help you get started such as this template from the Small Business Administration, our young, beginning, small and minority farmer section on our website, or even your local cooperative extension service. By using these resources, you will be able to customize your plan to specifically fit the mission and goals of your operation.

After all, if you believe Confucius’ maxim about work, you must also believe his feelings on preparation, as he said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” And we think turning your hobby farm into a small business, is a step that’s well worth taking.

So, do what you want and start farming now! (And don’t forget to comment and let us know what you decide)

Step Up, Stand Out, and LEADelaware!

The LEADelaware Class III planning committee has announced revised dates for its two-year agricultural leadership program. The sessions will begin on September 12, 2012 and continue through spring 2014.

The program is seeking 15-20 candidates just like you, who are involved in the agriculture industry as professional employees, farmers, teachers, or other related career fields and have a desire to be the next generation of leaders within the agricultural community.

During the two-year program, class members will participate in teamwork and leadership activities, visit local and regional agribusinesses, meet agriculture policy makers, and plan an international trip to experience diversity in perspectives and agricultural practices.

Bill McGowan, UD community development extension agent in Sussex County and LEADelaware committee member says, “LEADelaware is an opportunity to learn and experience leadership.”

Do you think you have what it takes to step up, stand out, and lead Delaware’s $8 billion industry? If so, hurry because the deadline is Friday, June 15, 2012!

For more information about the program or application process, visit their website or contact Laurie Wolinski at 302.831.2538.