Registration Open for Yellow Rails and Rice Festival in October

Thornwell, Louisiana, site of the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival, was named the "Yellow Rail Capital of the World"  by the Louisiana Legislature in April of 2013.

Registration is now open for the sixth annual festival which begins on October 29 and runs through November 2, 2014. 

Rice farmers and birders have worked on this event to make it an extraordinary experience for those who attend. The festival attracts people from all over the United States and across the world.

For more information on how to register, click here.

Southern Christmas Tree Association Meets in August

The Southern Christmas Tree Association's (SCTA) 2014 annual meeting will be August 1 - 3, 2014 at the Holiday Inn Birmingham-Homewood located at 492 Wildwood Circle North, Homewood, Alabama 35209 (I-65, Exit 255 Lakeshore Drive). Telephone 205.942.6070.  

The farm hosts are Paul and Carolyn Beavers of Beavers Tree Farm (www.BeaversChristmasTreeFarm.com) in Jefferson County near Trafford, Alabama (10093 Bradford Trafford Road, Trafford 35172; Telephone: 205.681.4494).  It is about a 45 minute drive north on I-65 north of the Holiday Inn.  

To learn more about the meeting, contact: 

MICHAEL BUCHART, Executive Secretary

Southern Christmas Tree Association

12263 Brookshire Avenue, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815 USA

E-mail: sctaes@gmail.com; Telephone: 225.505.6335

USDA Announces New Support for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced the implementation of new Farm Bill measures and other policy changes to improve the financial security of new and beginning farmers and ranchers. 

Harden also unveiled www.USDA.gov/newfarmers, a new website that will provide a centralized, one-stop resource where beginning farmers and ranchers can explore the variety of USDA initiatives designed to help them succeed. For more on the topic click here.

Pay to Play on the Farm

Recent changes in the way people travel can also benefit farmers. Reportedly, 30% of tourists say they “seek knowledge” on vacations. These travelers would enjoy the experience of talking with a farmer and better yet working alongside the farmer. They want to return home and share with friends their experiences of plowing a field, harvesting a crop or herding livestock. There is no need to create an experience, tourists are quite happy to “experience” the everyday real life of a farmer or rancher. Having guests share their experiences verbally with others is a great way to market your business.  Better yet, with your permission, if they share via social media sites, your marketing potential increases.

Charge for these experiences, tourists are willing to pay for the added value.  Daycares and summer programs for children are constantly looking for summertime opportunities to add to their calendar of events. Enjoying a day on the farm might be just the type of program to encourage parents to sign up with a particular daycare.

Finally, work with others to create more tourism opportunities focused on agriculture. The more opportunities, the more tourists travel to your area. 

Add Value for More Income

When we talk about adding value, we are talking about enhancing the original product by adding something to the product so that there is a new use and new market for the product. When this happens, the product becomes more valuable for both the consumer and seller.  For example, value can be added to corn picked from the field by creating corn relish, canned or frozen corn, shelled corn for animal feed or as an additive to livestock feed. This type of value added is in the processing.

Value can also be added by providing a service or experience to the product. This is often seen on farm tours. The farmer plants acres in sunflowers and adds an experience, i.e. a sunflower tour or a horticultural design class. In Caddo Parish the Sunflower Trail & Festival is one such example. This trail spans a 30 mile stretch though the farming communities of Dixie, Belcher and Gilliam. Acreage along the road is planted in sunflowers and some farmers allow picking of sunflowers during the festival.

That same sunflower field would also be the perfect setting for a wedding. This could lead to photography and catering opportunities. If a building structure is located on the property consider offering an overnight accommodation to the bride and groom or rent it to others.

North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association

North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association is the leading farm direct marketing and agritourism association in the world. It promotes and fosters the growth of farm direct marketing throughout North America. 

Its members support their family farms by selling millions of dollars worth of farm-grown produce directly to consumers at farm stands, farmers' markets, pick-your-own farms, consumer-supported agriculture, agritourism venues, and other ever- growing innovations in direct producer-to-consumer agricultural marketing methods.

If you are not a present member you should  read more about the many advantages to membership. Click here to learn more.

Farm Stays

Recently, I read an article in the The Times that shared a story about Sid and Eva Greer who own Greer Farm in Daingerfield, TX. The couple allow people to stay on their farm and they get to enjoy their company and also benefit from their help. Those who stay can herd sheep, collect eggs, and feed the pigs.
To learn more click here.