Farmers can use USDA farm ownership microloans to buy and improve property. These microloans are especially helpful to beginning or underserved farmers, U.S. veterans looking for a career in farming, and those who have small and mid-sized farming operations. Microloans have helped farmers and ranchers with operating costs, such as feed, fertilizer, tools, fencing, equipment, and living expenses since 2013.
Microloans can also help with farmland and building purchases and soil and water conservation improvements. FSA designed the expanded program to simplify the application process, expand eligibility requirements and expedite smaller real estate loans to help farmers strengthen their operations. Microloans provide up to $50,000 to qualified producers and can be issued to the applicant directly from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). To learn more about the FSA microloan program, contact your local county USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/microloans. USDA is accepting applications for grants to support urban agriculture and innovative production. The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. Apply by April 9, 2024.
Learn more. Identification:
Fennel is an aromatic perennial up to 6 ft tall with finely dissected grayish-green feathery leaves. It has tiny yellow flowers clustered into umbrella-shaped groups. The base is non-bulb forming. Impacts: Fennel can develop dense uniform stands in grasslands, pastures, creekbanks, old fields, ditches, roadsides and in open abandoned lots. Management: Repeated slashing before flowering may kill smaller infestations. For larger infestations, chemical methods are more effective. Always follow all label directions. Replace with yarrow, cow parsnip, yampah, Canada goldenrod, goat’s beard Fennel Mid-Willamette CWMA Polk SWCD, in partnership with OSU Extension, is continuing a project focused on the water quality of Salt Creek and its tributaries. Efforts from the outset of the project concentrated on gathering and addressing the concerns of invested community members in the Salt Creek basin. Data collected has provided a baseline of watershed characteristics and outreach events have been held to communicate data results and gather and share ideas about the issues and potential solutions to water quality and flooding. We will continue to collect data monthly on water temperatures, turbidity, nitrates, phosphorus, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, and pH.
Depending on how they are managed, agricultural lands can protect or impair water quality. Polk SWCD is here to assist technically and financially with projects to enhance soil health or water quality. To get more information about projects, resources and funding, click the button below to jump to our Ag Water Quality webpage, or reach out to Beth Thiel at beth.thiel@polkswcd.com. Polk SWCD Ag Water Quality Program
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