October 23, 2012
News from the States:
Kentucky: Comer Makes Good on Promise of Transparency with New and Improved KDA Website
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer is keeping his promise of complete transparency on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's expenditures with the launch of its new website, www.kyagr.com. In addition to a transparency link, the website enables users to easily find information about Kentucky agriculture, the department's consumer protection services, its social media channels, and the latest headlines.
"I said we were going to operate in the sunshine at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and this website accomplishes that goal," Commissioner Comer said. "I hope all Kentuckians will access this site to see our achievements in agriculture, consumer protection, and how we are efficiently utilizing taxpayer dollars." For more information, click here.
Michigan: New State Initiative Offers Private Forest Landowners Assistance, Information in Managing Their Lands
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local conservation districts have partnered on a new initiative - the Forestry Assistance Program - designed to increase active management of non-industrial private forest lands (private forestland owned by individuals).
The goal of this collaboration - bringing together landowners, conservation districts and private forestry consultants - is to boost the sustainable management of Michigan's private forest lands. Such collaboration will naturally help to foster the growth of the timber products industry in Michigan.
"Michigan is rich in forest resources managed by private ownership," said Jamie Clover Adams, MDARD director. "This partnership will further cultivate the relationships between state government, conservation districts, private landowners and private consulting foresters in the management of these untapped lands to increase the growth of timber products.
Conservation districts will host workshops and field days to showcase forest management opportunities throughout Michigan. More information on the collaborative program can be found here. For more information, click here.
Missouri: Applications Available Now for Value-Added Agriculture Grants
Missouri producers and agribusinesses interested in developing or expanding their value-added agriculture operations can now apply for grants through the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA). The Value-Added Agriculture Grant Program is currently accepting applications for funding to assist farmers with business planning expenses for projects that develop, process or market agricultural goods.
"Grants, like these for value-added agriculture, are important tools for Missouri's producers and agribusinesses as they work to expand their operations and realize new opportunities," said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler. "Our business community has several examples of successful businesses that started out with support from a value-added grant, and as Missouri agriculture continues to grow, our Department of Agriculture will lead the way in supporting our farmers' innovations in production and processing technology."
Earlier this year, MDA and MASBDA awarded more than $370,000 in grants to assist producers and agribusinesses exploring and expanding value-added agriculture.
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, and applications will be scored based on their economic development potential for the agriculture industry, credibility and merit, probability of near-term commercialization and practical application of project results, source and level of matching funds and the geographic location of the project's economic impact. For more information, click here.
New Jersey: Nation's Agricultural Communicators Convene in the Garden State
New Jersey will host the annual national conference of the Communications Officers of State Departments of Agriculture (COSDA) in Atlantic City October 21 to 24, as the group gathers for its yearly professional development training sessions and business meeting.
Composed of the communications professionals serving the nation's departments of agriculture, COSDA members strive to stay abreast of the latest trends in communications and media, both traditional and the emerging forms of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and others. COSDA is an affiliate group of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).
North Dakota: Colombia Trade Mission Opens Door for Exporters
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says North Dakota's first trade mission to Colombia in four years shows promise for a long and profitable trade relationship.
"This is the beginning of a new effort to establish a strong trading relationship with the goal of becoming a main supplier of quality products to Colombia," said Goehring, who returned Sunday, with the North Dakota delegation. "We were able to identify a number of new trade opportunities."
The North Dakota delegation included Case New Holland, ECHO Bear Cat, JM Grain, Lura Enterprises, Northarvest Bean Growers, RDO Equipment, and representatives of the North Dakota Trade Office (NDTO), the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Commercial Service.
The delegation met with potential buyers in Colombia's two largest cities, the capital, Bogota, and Medellin. Companies visited numerous Colombian buyers and distributors selected by Bogotá-based offices of the U.S. Commercial Service, the USDA Foreign Ag Service and Food Export Midwest, including meetings with Colombia's largest food importers and manufacturers, Nutresa and Exito Group. For more information, click here.
North Dakota: Colombia Trade Mission Opens Door for Exporters
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says North Dakota's first trade mission to Colombia in four years shows promise for a long and profitable trade relationship.
"This is the beginning of a new effort to establish a strong trading relationship with the goal of becoming a main supplier of quality products to Colombia," said Goehring, who returned Sunday, with the North Dakota delegation. "We were able to identify a number of new trade opportunities."
The North Dakota delegation included Case New Holland, ECHO Bear Cat, JM Grain, Lura Enterprises, Northarvest Bean Growers, RDO Equipment, and representatives of the North Dakota Trade Office (NDTO), the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Commercial Service.
The delegation met with potential buyers in Colombia's two largest cities, the capital, Bogota, and Medellin. Companies visited numerous Colombian buyers and distributors selected by Bogotá-based offices of the U.S. Commercial Service, the USDA Foreign Ag Service and Food Export Midwest, including meetings with Colombia's largest food importers and manufacturers, Nutresa and Exito Group. For more information, click here.