PA Veteran Farming News--Aug. 20, 2020

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Pennsylvania Veteran Farming Project-
www.troopstotractors.org
pavetsfarm@gmail.com
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Scroll down: Open grants, Farmstay legal considerations, Free business planning help, What to look for when buying land, Rotational grazing, 2021 Conference Survey

Veterans/Military/Spouses--please take our brief survey on planning for the 2021 PA Veteran Farming Conference. Thank you.

Rotational Grazing
2-part webinar on rotational grazing Aug 20 10-11 am and Aug 27 10-noon, from Huntingdon Co Conservation District.

Funding Opportunities

Organic mushrooms

Farm Service Agency can pay for part of your organic certification. Apply to the Organic Certification Cost Share Program by Oct. 31. Contact Keith C Beattie, Agricultural Program Specialist, with questions (717) 237-2133.
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CFAP payments are now 100% of approved eligible amounts. If you've already applied and received payment at the 80% rate, you'll automatically receive the additional 20%. New crops (such as nursery plants) have recently been added to the livestock and farm products previously included. An FSA Farm Number is NOT required to apply. Call CFAP Customer hot 877-508-8364 for assistance in applying, or contact your local FSA office.
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Amber Grants are for women entrepreneurs. There is a small fee to apply but the grant limit was just raised to $10000 per month. Rhonda Smith of The Skirted Soldier was a previous winner if you have questions.
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PA DEP 2020 Small Business Advantage Grant State grant for energy conservation or pollution control (aka conservation practices) on your farm. Up to a maximum of $7,000 to purchase energy efficient or pollution prevention equipment, or adopt waste reduction processes. Up to $5000 for natural resources protection project. Grant amount is up to 50% of total project costs. Must be a for-profit business in PA. Watch the How to Apply video.

Eligible projects include: energy efficient lighting,high efficiency furnaces, boilers and air conditioners, geothermal heat pumps, manure pumps, fan motors, energy efficient refrigeration or dairy cooling systems, process equipment upgrades (for example, to maximize efficiency in your chicken barn), waste recycling systems (manure storage sheds with covers have been funded before), riparian buffer plantings, streamside exclusionary fencing, barnyard runoff controls, raingutters and downspouts on a barn, covered feed areas for winter.
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Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program: Tax credits for implementing "Best Management Practices" (BMPs) to enhance farm production and protect natural resources. For eligible projects, receive 50% to 75% of project cost as state tax credits for up to $250,000 per operation in a 7-year time-frame. Credits can be used incrementally for up to 15 years to pay PA state income tax. Farmers/landowners can elect to sell the tax credits after 1 year. Some banks will let you show tax credits as assets when applying for a loan.
Questions? Veteran farmer Natalie Love of Pyma Love Farm (Crawford Co) has used this program and recommends it. ContactREAP Coordinator Joel Semke, at 717-705-4032 with any questions.

How's USDA doing? Take the survey to provide your feedback on programs from NRCS, FSA, Rural Development and others here.

You can influence local decisions on FSA programming. Consider running for your County Committee. Urban ag is being added to FSA programming this year.

USDA is hiring veterans--over 1900 last year. Find out about career opportunities here.
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Free, online business planning platform: AgPlan from U of Minnesota. When you enter the site, you will be able to select your business type from the following choices:
Ag - Commodity
Ag - Value-Added
Organic Transition
Personal Plan
Small Business
Have a professional from your local Small Business Development Center review your plan before you approach lenders. Not all SBDCs have ag specialists but the Clarion SBDC is in the process of hiring consultants with farm experience.

What Should I Think About When Buying Land? AgChoice Farm Credit blog.

The PA Veteran Farming Project is a not for profit community organization. There's no charge for our services to eligible veterans/Guard/Reserve/military and their spouses. Information in this newsletter and on our website is for informational purposes only. Please complete due diligence before entering into any legal or financial agreements.