RAFI-USA

E-Bulletin #15

August 2003

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Farmers Urged to Improve Soil Quality

New On-farm Research Newsletter

Some Farmers Ineligible for Assistance

What to Do when the Processing Plant Closes

New Study: Food from Our Changing World

"Voices and Choices" document revisited

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Farmers Urged to Improve Soil Quality on Their Farms

By Altug Sipal, Coordinator, On Farm Research

"I am farming the same acreage that my father did. Now I have better seed, better fertilizer, better machinery, better technology and better information than my father had, but I cannot reach the yields that he got. Why? It seems to me that the answer has to be in the quality of the soil," remarked a North Carolina peanut farmer.

This farmer is not alone. Many NC farmers find that their use of conventional farming methods (conventional tillage, applying synthetic pesticides and commercial fertilizers to the entire field at the same rate) is not satisfying their financial and production needs.

Due to diminishing soil quality, some farmers in the region have seen increased requirements for fertilizers, lime and pesticides in order to maintain yield. Yet in some cases, their yields have actually been reduced.

In 2001, to address this problem, RAFI-USA formed a group of 21 conventional row crop farmers from Martin, Northampton, Halifax, and Bertie counties with the goal of discussing and evaluating their farms’ soil quality and sustainable ways of improving their farming operation.

Soil quality testing kits developed by Virginia Polytechnic Institute & NC State University were used on fields selected by each farmer. Test results suggested that almost all of the fields are poor in soil quality (low organic matter, compacted, low infiltration rates and low microbiological activity) and are susceptible to rain washout. The fields were also low in phosphorous and nitrate levels.

RAFI-USA organized more than 25 farmer meetings to discuss the results of the soil quality tests, cost-effective alternatives and research needs for increasing organic matter levels.

The farmers decided that their farms would require larger, whole-farm integrated conservation practices if they were to improve. These practices would include implementing the conservation practices that complement each other such as the use of cover crops, residue management, reduced tillage, integrated pest management-IPM, nutrient management, wildlife development and composting.

While the farmers indicated these major changes are definitely necessary, they also indicated that the changes are impossible to establish without technical and financial support.

This year, RAFI-USA has worked with the farmers to show how conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Security Program (CSP) can support the transition to a more sustainable operation.

Five of the farmers will try new residue management practices supported by EQIP and CSP by turning under cover crops in the next fall and spring seasons. They are hoping that this practice will suppress weeds while increasing the soil's organic matter.

Five other farmers are planning to use conservation crop rotation, hedgerow planting, IPM, nutrient management and critical area planting on their farms this year.

Other farmers in the region share the same environmental concerns as the groups mentioned above and are planning to work together to find ways to incorporate environmental stewardship practices that are rewarded with financial incentives.

Contact Altug Sipal: sipal@rafiusa.org; 919-542-1396

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New On-Farm Research newsletter launched online

By Scott Marlow, Program Coordinator, On Farm Research & Farm Rescue

"Initiated by a project that began three years ago, an on-farm research team of Cooperative Extension agents, non-profit professionals, NC State University and NC Agricultural and Technical University faculty have been working to help farmers find their own answers to production questions.

"Farmers have always done their own research. Whether it is trying a new variety of crop or a new way to prepare a field without plowing, farmers have always been at the forefront of agricultural innovation. This innovation often went unrecognized because it was not based on 'scientific' research at a research station. But on-farm research can be as simple as an observation study. With a little more work, growers can increase the certainty that the conclusions they draw from their observations are true."

Perfect examples of the statements above taken from the introduction to this first issue of RAFI-USA's new newsletter can be seen in the topics it covers:

1.      Comparing Cotton Tillage Practices

2.      Wasps vs. Bean Beetles

3.      Steps to a Successful Research Project

4.      Testing Weed Suppression Methods on Firs

5.      Production and Economics of Organic vs. Conventional Apples

6.      Reducing Peanut Production Costs

You can download a copy of this colorful 6-page newsletter

under What's New or Publications.

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Some farmers ineligible for marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments (LDPs)

By Scott Marlow, Program Director, On Farm Research and Farm Rescue

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) issued a notice in early July notifying local FSA offices that farmers who are delinquent on any federal non-tax debt are no longer eligible for federal marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments. The federal marketing assistance loan program provides short-term loans to farmers who offer their crops as collateral. This enables farmers who are not delinquent to delay sale of their crops after harvest until prices are more favorable, at which time the farmers may sell the crops and repay the loans.

Eligible farmers may choose to receive loan deficiency payments (LDPs) instead of marketing assistance loans when the posted county price falls below the loan rate for eligible crops.

Some are critical of the law making delinquent farmers ineligible for the assistance. "Marketing assistance loans and LDPs are more like price supports than traditional farm loans. This change denies price supports to the very farmers who need it most," said Scott Marlow.

Congress made delinquent farmers eligible for marketing assistance loans and LDPs in the past. However, with the passage of the 2002 Farm Bill, Congress would need to act again in order to restore eligibility for delinquent farmers.

Jill Krueger, an attorney at Farmers Legal Action Group (FLAG), Minnesota, notes, "When delinquent farmers were made eligible in 2001, their payments were required to be applied to their FSA debts. The government's interests were not harmed, but the likelihood that those farmers would keep farming was increased because the marketing assistance helped them to catch up on their debts."

Contact: Scott Marlow at smarlow@rafiusa.org, 919-542-1396

Jill Krueger at FLAG: 651-223-5400

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What to do when the processing plant closes and your contract is cancelled

With today's market uncertainties and with livestock and poultry companies shifting, closing and downsizing their processing plants, contract farmers who have invested heavily to build single purpose poultry and livestock grow-out and waste disposal facilities are being left with huge debts on their farms and little hope for repayment.

RAFI-USA and the Farmers Legal Action Group, Inc. teamed up to produce a two-page document that gives easy-to-read advice to the farmers. The topics covered in the document are:

1.    Gather information

2.     Re-read your contract (what to look for)

3.     Take the time to understand any settlement offers (most important issue)

4.     Evaluate your options

5.     Resources for help

You will want to download a copy of this document from:

www.rafiusa.org, under "What's New" or "Publications". The document is also available at www.flaginc.org

Contact: Laura Klauke, Program Director, Contract Ag Reform

laura@rafiusa.org, 919-542-1396

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New Study: Food from Our Changing World

How does globalization affect us as Americans? How does globalization affect the food we eat, the communities where we live, and our quality of life? These are some of the basic issues raised in a 2001-2002 national survey of 819 adults in the U.S.

A team of scientists from 11 major U.S. universities contributed to this study as the third in a series of national mail surveys on food, farming, and environmental issues. The study also looks at the impact of the 9/11 attack on our feelings about food security, our opinions about genetically modified and biotech foods, and the need to label such foods.

A complete analysis of the findings of the survey is still underway. This report highlights some of the initial findings and is presented in easy-to-read graphs and comments.  The methodology used for the study is explained at the end of the report. 

For a copy of the 23-page report, go to -

http://sasw.chass.ncsu.edu/global-food

Click on "Food from Our Changing World

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"Voices and Choices" document revisited

Six poultry growers from North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama were among the 31 people from 13 states who attended a two-day conference in May 2003 to revisit the workplace issues in the poultry industry raised in 2000 by the Catholic Bishops of the South. The Glenmary Commission on Justice sponsored the gathering.

For some of the growers, it was the first time they were in a meeting with plant workers, poultry truck drivers, environmentalists, advocates for justice, rural ministries people and one community relations manager from a major poultry company.

No one could hold back the tears (not even the company community relations manager) as one Latino mother spoke of the safety problems and human indignities she suffered daily at the hands of callous supervisors. She attempted to thank the group for listening when she suddenly broke into sobs as she begged the group to "do something soon" because she didn't know how much longer she could do the work.

Then the plant workers had their shock as they listened to the problems of the poultry growers. The workers were amazed. "We were told that the reason we are paid so little is because the growers are making all the money," one plant worker said.

It became obvious during the conference that despite the efforts of social justice farm and labor groups over the past three years, the problems raised by the Bishops in 2000 have not disappeared. There is still much to be done.

The conference helped bring to light the need for more on-going, face-to-face educational opportunities between various levels of the vertically integrated poultry industry so that farm, labor, church, community and consumer organizations can support each other and work for solutions that benefit all.

A steering committee was appointed with Bob Gronski of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference as Chair to continue the discussion and to identify resources for the next steps. There was a consensus from the group to continue to work for voices and choices for all those toiling in the poultry industry and other industrialized food industries.

Copies of the 2-page report on the meeting were sent to all of the Catholic Bishops of the South and are available from the RAFI-USA at the website listed below.

Copies of the original report from the Bishops (Voices and Choices) are available at

http://www.AmericanCatholic.org/News/PoultryPastoral/

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Bulletin edited by Mary Clouse - 919-545-0945; clouses64@yahoo.com

For more about RAFI-USA and back issues of the bulletin, see the RAFI-USA Home Page or call 919-542-1396.

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