6 SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON Farmer's ADVOCATE - Thursday, August 7, 2003
FARM SERVICE
ELECTION
The West Virginia State
Farm Service Agency an-
nounces the acceptance of
nomination for positions on the
county committee beginning
August 1.
Stabilizing farm income,
helping farmers conserve land
and water resources, providing
credit to new or disadvantaged
farmers and ranchers, and
helping farm operations re-
cover from the effects of disas-
ter are the missions of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's
Farm Service Agency (FSA).
FSA was set up when the De-
partment was reorganized in
1994, incorporating programs
from several agencies, including
the Agricultural Stabilization
and Conservation Service, the
Federal Crop Insurance Corpo-
ration (now a separate Risk
Management Agency), and the
Farmers Home Administration.
Though its name has changed
over the years, the Agency's re-
lationship with farmers goes to
the 1930s.
At that time, Congress set up
a unique system under which
Federal farm programs are ad-
ministered locally. Farmers who
are eligible to participate in
these programs elect a three-to-
five-person county committee,
which reviews county office op-
erations and makes decisions on
how to apply the programs. This
grassroots approach gives farm-
ers a much needed say in how
Federal actions affect their com-
munities and their individual
operations. After more than 60
years, it remains a cornerstone
• of the Farm Service Agenw's ef-
forts to preserve and promote
American agriculture.
The Farm Service Agency
will accept nominations at local
FSA offices beginning August 1
for available positions on the
county committees throughout
the state. The deadline to sub-
mit the nomination form is Sep-
tember 5. Voting by the farmers
within the designated area will
be held later this year and the
results will be announced in
early 2004. Women and minori-
ties involved in farming are en-
couraged to apply. Locally
contact the Jefferson County
FSA at 209 E. Third Avenue,
Ranson, WV 25438-1642, (304)
725-3471, ext. 2.
Give the United Way
NEW GRASSLAND
RESERVE PROGRAM
The U.S. Department of Ag-
riculture announced a new pro-
gram to help landowners
conserve grasslands through
easements and long-term
agreements to preserve and
protect the ecological benefits
of eligible lands.
The Grassland Reserve Pro-
gram will protect up to two mil-
lion acres of privately owned
grassland, rangeland and
pastureland in the nation. Ap-
plications are being accepted at
USDA service centers.
The program will offer several
enrollment options: permanent
easements, 30-year easements,
rental agreements (in 10-, 15-,
20-, or 30-year duration) and res-
toration agreements.
For permanent easements,
participants will receive a pay-
ment based on the fair market
value of property less the graz-
ing value. For 30-year ease-
ments, the payment will equal
30 percent of what would be
paid for a permanent easement.
For rental agreements, the pay-
ment will be 75 percent of the
grazing value in annual pay-
ments for the length of the
agreement.
Grasslands contribute to lo-
cal economies, provide for bio-
logical diversity, and play a key
role in environmental quality.
This program is important be-
cause each year large expanses of
grasslands are converted to other
land uses, such as cropland and
urban development. This volun-
tary program will help protect
grasslands and thereby help en-
sure this resource is available for
future generations.
The program is funded at
$49.9 million for fiscal year
2003. Applications will be ac-
cepted on a continuous basis,
and if funding is exhausted, eli-
gible applicants will remain on
file until additional funding be-
comes available.
To participate in GRP, offers
must be private land that in-
cludes at least 40 contiguous
acres. Waivers may be granted
for smaller acres. Additional
eligibility criteria apply.
For information on the
Grassland Reserve Program in
Jefferson County, producers
should contact the USDA ser-
vice center at 209 E. Third Av-
enue, Ranson, WV 25428 or
phone (304) 725-3471.
uunn's
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FREE WHITE
FLOWERING
DOGWOOD TREES
Ten free white flowering
dogwood trees will be given to
each person who joins The Na-
tional Arbor Day Foundation
during August 2003.
The free trees are part of the
nonprofit Foundation's Trees
for America campaign.
"The white flowering dog-
woods are part of the nonprofit
Foundation's Trees for America
campaign.
"The white flowering dog-
woods will add year-round
beauty to your home and neigh-
borhood," John Rosenow, the
Foundation's president, said.
"Dogwoods have showy spring
flowers, scarlet autunm foliage,
and red berries which attract
songbirds all winter."
The trees will be shipped
postpaid at the right time for
planting between October 15
and December 10 with enclosed
planting instructions. The six
to 12-inch trees are guaranteed
to grow or they will be replaced
free of charge.
Members also receive a sub-
scription to the Foundation's
colorful bimonthly publication,
Arbor Dab,, and The Tree Book
with information about tree
planting and care.
To receive the free trees.
senda $10 membership contri-
bution to Ten Dogwoods, Na-
tional Arbor Day Foundation,
100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska
City, NE 68410, by August 31.
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1288 Winchester Avenue • Maninsburg, WV 25401
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