Two videos produced by a co op of creators were featured during the broadcast of the 12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief. Hired by anti-poverty organization, the  Robin Hood Foundation, The Farm created the videos that  showcase two ways  Robin Hood is helping Sandy victims.

Here is the press release from The Farm.

NEW YORK, NY, January 8, 2013 – The Farm produced two of the memorable videos that were broadcast as part of the historic 12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief, the largest musical event ever to hit the stage at Madison Square Garden.

The live event, featuring a wide variety of legendary acts including Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Kanye West and Paul McCartney, was broadcast to over two billion households around the world through thirty-seven US networks and television feeds. To date, the benefit concert has raised over $50 million from ticket sales, sponsorships, telephone and web donations, and merchandise with additional money still coming in.

The Farm was hired by the Robin Hood Foundation, which is distributing the funds raised through 12-12-12 to hundreds of organizations throughout the tri-state area helping victims of Hurricane Sandy. The Farm videos showcased two examples of how Robin Hood is helping Sandy victims in the region.

The first video, “Still Serving”  highlighted the work of Team Rubicon, an organization of ex-veterans who drew upon their military experience to bring order to total chaos caused by Hurricane Sandy in Rockaway, Queens. The second video, “Red Hook Rising”  is about the terrible impact Sandy has had on the residents of Red Hook, Brooklyn, as well as the bravery they have shown, both during and after the storm.

“The Farm responded immediately to get to Red Hook and Far Rockaway, working with our Robin Hood team, to find these remarkable stories about New Yorkers who rise up in the face of adversity,” said Bill Oberlander, managing director of Robin Hood. “We are grateful for their incredible efforts”.

“Still Serving” and “Red Hook Rising” were directed and produced by Jack Anderson of The Farm. Noah Hutton of The Farm was co-Director and Director of Photography for both videos, as well as Music Composer for “Red Hook Rising.” Peter Fish of The Farm was Musical Composer for “Still Serving.”

“Everyone at the Farm who worked on the 12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief are extremely honored to have been part of this monumental event,” according to

Anderson. “We are proud to have helped tell the stories of a few of the heroes who are helping Sandy victims get back on their feet.”

For more information, contact Jack Anderson janderson@thefarm.com or call 212-982-8500.

Jim Gerrish, of American GrazingLands Services, will be the keynote speaker of the 2013 Winter Forage Conference.

Co-hosted by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council, a 2013 Winter Forage Conference will be held at the Wytheville Meeting Center Jan. 24. Three other conferences will also take place in various locations across Virginia in late January. Jim Gerrish, of American GrazingLands Services, will be the keynote speaker. Conference topics will focus on the theme of hay and increasing profitability of Virginia’s ruminant livestock operations.

Early registration is $35 per person before Jan. 3. After this date, the registration fee will increase to $50. For more information or to register, visit vaforages.org or call 434-292-5331.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Dec. 14, 2012 – Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council will co-host the 2013 Winter Forage Conference at four locations on Jan. 22-25.

The theme for the conference is “Kicking the Hay Habit: Increasing the Profitability of Virginia’s Ruminant Livestock Operations.” “Hay costs are at record highs, driven by high input cost and more recently the Midwest drought,” said Gordon Groover, Extension economist. “This conference will provide producers with an ideal opportunity to gain an understanding of ‘kicking the hay habit’ and the details needed to determine if a year-round grazing system makes sense for their livestock operations.” Read more »

U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency is offering loans to women and minority farmers who are interested in purchasing and operating a family-sized farm. Applicants must met requirements such as being able to obtain credit, be a U.S. citizen, and have a satisfactory history of meeting credit obligations. For more information about minority farmer loans, visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

Here is the press release from the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Roanoke, Virginia  November 26, 2012 — Women and minority farmers interested in buying and operating family-sized farms may be eligible for loans from the Farm Service Agency, according to C. Jean Hazlegrove, the Botetourt/Craig/Roanoke Farm Service Agency County Executive Director. Read more »

Jose Vascones of Ecuador, a junior majoring in agricultural and applied economics in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, presents soybean trading research to his peers who are investing $500,000 in agricultural commodities.

Students at Virginia Tech have been given $500,000 to invest in agricultural commodities. Agriculture and applied economic students, and finance majors were given money from the  Commodity Investing by Students fund created by the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the Virginia Tech Foundation. Students will research a commodity, look for trends, weather patterns, crop disease and anything else that will impact prices or cause shifts in supply and demand. Investing in commodities, such as corn, soybeans or livestock,  could yield high returns for the foundation.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Nov. 6, 2012 – Virginia Tech students are getting hands-on experience in risk and financial management by using $500,000 in real money to invest in agricultural commodities that could yield high returns for the university’s foundation. Read more »

Farmers and ranchers have been encouraged to vote in county committee elections by the Farm Service Agency. County committees make decision on various issues such as emergency and disaster programs,and commodity price support loan programs. FSA county committee elections began Monday. Ballots must be turned in to FSA offices by Dec. 3. For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Here is the press release from the USDA and FSA.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2012—Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia announced today that the 2012 FSA county committee elections will begin on Monday, Nov. 5, with the mailing of ballots to eligible voters. The deadline to return the ballots to local FSA offices is Dec. 3, 2012. Read more »

A public forum will be hosted by the Bedford Agriculture Economic Development Advisory Board on Sept. 20 at 2:30 p.m. Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Matt Lohr will be at the forum to discuss  agriculture economy in Virginia. The forum will take place at the Bedford Welcome Center and reservations are not required. For more information, contact the extension office at 586-7675.

Here is the press release from Bedford County.

Bedford, Virginia—The Bedford Agriculture Economic Development Advisory Board
(AEDAB) will host a public forum on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, from 2:30 – 4 p.m. at the Bedford Welcome Center, 816 Burks Hill Rd.

Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Matt Lohr will be in attendance to discuss the many facets of the agriculture economy both locally and throughout the Commonwealth and to answer questions. Agriculture producers, family farmers, and interested individuals from Bedford and the surrounding areas are encouraged to attend. Read more »

Ben Grove of Blacksburg has been named to the inaugural class of the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results or VALOR program. The program teaches selected agricultural leaders to engage in all parts of the Virginia agricultural community, creating solutions and promoting agriculture. Click here to learn more about the VALOR program.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 29, 2012 – The Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) Program has selected its inaugural class, which comprises 11 outstanding individuals from throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The VALOR Program is designed to develop leaders who can effectively engage all segments of the Virginia agricultural community to create collaborative solutions and promote agriculture inside and outside the industry. Read more »

The USDA Rural Development is taking pre-applicaitons for loans and grants that will fund building or rehabilitating rental housing for farmworkers. Selected applications will then be invited to submit a final application. Pre-applications are due Sept. 17. Click here to see more information about this fund.

Here is the press release from the USDA.

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA Rural Development is accepting pre-applications for loans and grants to build or rehabilitate rural rental housing for domestic farmworkers.

“The Obama Administration believes that strong rural communities are a key to a stronger America. Through this program, USDA is offering financial assistance to expand the availability of safe, affordable rental housing for farmworkers,” Vilsack said. “The Department’s support for rural rental housing not only helps creates jobs and related employment when new units are constructed, it also does so through the rehabilitation of existing ones.”

Through the Rural Housing Service, USDA plans to award loans and grants to increase the supply of available rental housing for domestic farm laborers. The housing is intended for any domestic farm laborer who receives a substantial portion of his/her income from the primary production of processed or unprocessed agricultural or aquacultural commodities. It must be operated on a non-profit basis. Groups eligible for the loans and grants include housing authorities, state and local governments, Indian tribes, non-profit organizations, and community- and faith-based groups.
Entities that construct new, off-farm housing for farm workers may be eligible for operating or rental assistance in addition to construction/rehabilitation loans and grants. Under the rental assistance program, USDA Rural Development pays the owner of a housing complex the difference between the tenant’s contribution (30 percent of his or her adjusted income) and the monthly rental rate.

Priority will be given to applicants seeking funds for housing projects that are energy efficient and generate energy – such as through geo-exchange systems, wind turbines and photovoltaic systems. In addition, points and consideration will be given for property management green certifications from a variety of credentialing entities.

The application process will be in two phases: the initial pre-application (or proposal) and the submission of a final application. Only those pre-applications or proposals that are selected for further processing will be invited to submit final applications.

For additional information, see page 42258 of the July 18, Federal Register, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-07-18/pdf/2012-17462.pdf. The deadline for submitting pre-applications is September 17, 2012.

President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy and strengthening small towns and rural communities. USDA’s investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of existing Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $170 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Roanoke-based Maxx Performance, a microencapsulation provider for the food industry is teaming up with the GreenPalm Sustainability Project to handle problems created by palm oil production. Palm oil and palm kernel oil harvesting has an impact on the soil, local people and more. GreenPalm works to develop sustainable standards for harvesting palm oil.

Here is the press release from Maxx Performance.

ROANOKE, VA. (July 2, 2012) – Maxx Performance, a leading provider of microencapsulation technologies, has joined the global GreenPalm Sustainability Project to tackle the environmental and social problems created by the production of palm oil.

GreenPalm regulates plantations, mills and nations to help develop, implement, verify, and review credible global standards for the entire supply chain of sustainable palm oil. Read more »

Farmers and ranchers in Botetourt, Craig and Roanoke now have an online news service that provides efficient and timely information from the Farm Service Agency. GovDelivery electronic news services sends up-to-date information to farmers via email. This information can be customized to send farmers specific topics about farm programs in their area. To subscribe to this service, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/subscribe.

Here is the press release from Botetourt/Craig/Roanoke County FSA Office USDA/Farm Service Agency.

(Roanoke, VA) – June 19, 2012 – USDA Botetourt/Craig/Roanoke Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director, C. Jean Hazlegrove, announced that farmers and ranchers in Botetourt, Craig and Roanoke now have a more efficient, timely option for receiving important FSA program eligibility requirements, deadlines and related information.

“FSA is now offering free online communications through our GovDelivery electronic news service,” said Jean Hazlegrove, County Executive Director.  “News will now be sent via e-mail right to your home or farm office or to your Smartphone – allowing you to receive immediate notification of farm program news that is pertinent to your agricultural operation,” she said.

Through FSA’s GovDelivery electronic news service, producers can establish subscriber preferences by choosing to receive federal farm program information by topic, by state and/or by county.  Producers can select as many subscriber options as they want, which allows producers who farm in multiple counties or across state lines to receive updates from each county in which they operate or have an interest.

According to Hazlegrove, GovDelivery is a one-stop shop for the most up-to-date USDA program information.

“Producers are asked to enroll in the new GovDelivery system which will provide notices, newsletters and electronic reminders instead of a hard copy through the mail.  FSA, like many other organizations, is trying to work smarter and be more efficient. Moving to electronic notifications via email will help conserve resources and save taxpayer dollars.  The last month this office will be sending paper newsletters through the mail is July 2012.” said Hazlegrove.

To begin using GovDelivery, subscribe online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/subscribe or contact your local office for subscription assistance.

Please contact your local FSA office if you have questions regarding FSA’s GovDelivery electronic news service.