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Thursday, October 3, 2013

Update on Farm Service Agency Operation

Due to a lapse in appropriations for the Farm Service Agency as of October 1, the Farm Service Agency has initiated the process of orderly shutdown of nonessential operations. You can view USDA’s plans for a lapse in appropriations at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/contingency-plans.
We understand the uncertainty that the current circumstances present for Americans that USDA serves every day, as well as our many partners around the country.  Effective today, most Farm Service Agency staff will be furloughed pending reinstatement of funding by Congress. These staff will not be available by phone or email, and cannot carry out work for the Agency, until funding is restored.
In the Farm Service Agency, this means that many services will be delayed or interrupted for farmers, ranchers, and associated customers.  For example, this includes, but is not limited to, FSA's commodity price support activities and commodity loans, farm loans, disaster assistance, and conservation programs.
We are committed to keeping you as up to date as possible, within the limits of current circumstances.


Sincerely,
Juan Garcia, Administrator


Shelly Bilderback
Public Relations Outreach Specialist | Oklahoma
Farm Service Agency
United States Department of Agriculture
Phone: 405.742.1041 | Fax: 405.742.1177 
www.fsa.usda.gov/ok  | shelly.bilderback@ok.usda.gov

East Knoxville: Farmers' market takes root off MLK Boulevard

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/sep/10/east-knoxville-farmers-market-takes-root-off-mlk/

Update on Rural Development Operations

Due to a lapse in appropriations for Rural Development as of October 1, Rural Development

has initiated the process of orderly shutdown of nonessential operations. You can view 

USDA's plans for a lapse in appropriations at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/contingency-

plans.


We understand the uncertainty that the current circumstances present for Americans that 

USDA serves every day, as well as our many partners around the country.  Effective today, 

many Rural Development staff will be furloughed pending reinstatement of funding by 

Congress. These staff will not be available by phone or email, and cannot carry out work for 

the Agency, until funding is restored.


In Rural Development, this means that many services will be delayed or interrupted.  For 

example, Rural Development will not be able to make any new loans or grants; the only 

exceptions will be for emergency purposes and to protect the Government's interest.  

Automatic disbursements for previously obligated Rental Assistance (RA) funds will 

continue, but no RA contracts will be renewed or issued.


We are committed to keeping you as up to date as possible, within the limits of current 

circumstances.



Sincerely,

Doug O'Brien

Acting Under Secretary

USDA-Rural Development

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

71st Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC)

We are excited to announce the call for papers for the 71st Professional Agricultural 

Workers Conference (PAWC) at Tuskegee University, AL from December 8-10, 2013. The 

theme for the 71st PAWC is "Women and Youth: Changing the Landscape of Agriculture”. 

Papers and posters are currently being accepted. A limited number of scholarships are 

available for small farmers, rural business owners, youth, and community based 

organizations.


PROFESSIONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS CONFERENCE (PAWC) 
100 CAMPBELL HALL 
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY 
TUSKEGEE, AL 36088 
pawc@mytu.tuskegee.edu


www.pawc.info



For additional information contact: 
Dr. Tasha M. Hargrove, PAWC Co-Chair, 334-724-4524
Dr. Robert Zabawa, PAWC Co-Coordinator, 334-727-8114 

http://www.pawc.info/conference/conference-location