Here are some resources and fact sheets that we hope are helpful early in the recovery process.
Scott Marlow
On October 13th, the NC Division of Employment Security announced the approval of 20 North Carolina counties for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. The following counties were approved, although more counties may be added at a later date: Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Dare, Edgecombe, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Nash, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Wayne and Wilson. This program is available for individuals who are prevented from working due to the hurricane, including farmers who are prevented from performing their normal tasks due to storm damage. This includes not being able to farm because they are cleaning up damage.
As Hurricane Matthew bears down on the coast of Florida and the Southeastern US, our thoughts are with everyone bracing for the storm. Here are some important disaster assistance resources that farmers should familiarize themselves with as soon as possible.
The USDA recently convened a Stakeholder Workshop on Coexistence in Raleigh, NC. This invitation-only event was organized to address what happens when non-GMO crops are contaminated by GMO pollen. The meeting took place on March 12 and 13, 2015.
RAFI is very proud to release the findings of the 2014 Summit on Seeds and Breeds for the 21st Century, held in March in Washington, DC. The Summit and Proceedings are the latest in our decades-long work on biodiversity in global seeds and agronomic animal breeds.
We would like to welcome Farm Aid to North Carolina, as we would welcome an old friend into our home. Farm Aid was created 29 years ago to respond to the needs of farm families facing the pain of losing their farms. Some of our staff members were there at that first concert.
I want to welcome Farm Aid to North Carolina and we’re very excited that you are here. Farm Aid started 29 years ago to address the pain of farmers and farm families losing their farms. Some of our folks here were at that concert and have been at most of them since.
Congress, by not doing its job, may be costing more than 1,400 farmers their farms, and more than 3,100 farmers their dreams of farming.
At a time when North Carolina leads the nation in loss of farm land, we cannot afford to lose the Land Loss Prevention Project. Call your reps today.