AMES, Iowa – The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) is assisting producer groups gathering information to use in applying for the USDA Rural Business and Cooperative Service (RBCS) value-added producer grants, announced in the Federal Register June 28, 2011.

AgMRC is a virtual library of agricultural value-added opportunities, business development and consulting resources for producers, located at www.agmrc.org.

"There is a direct link on the home page of the site to take producers directly to the federal notice of solicitation of applications, grant templates and a directory of consultants and service providers," said Ray Hansen, director of the center. "Additional resources for producers to develop their business or to find a new market opportunity for an existing business also are available."

Producers can investigate specific commodity information on many different niche opportunities and locate specific laws, consultants and individual contacts within their individual state to assist them in the grant application process.

"The consultant database available on the website includes specific commodity consultants, business development consultants and those consultants specializing in grant writing," Hansen said.

RBCS announced the availability of $37 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year 2011 to help independent agricultural producers enter into value-added activities. The grant will fund one of the following two activities:

Developing feasibility studies or business plans (including marketing plans or other planning activities) needed to establish a viable value-added marketing opportunity for an agricultural product; or
Acquiring working capital to operate a value-added business venture or an alliance that will allow the producers to better compete in domestic and international markets.
Value-added products are defined as follows:

A change in the physical state or form of the product (such as milling wheat into flour or making strawberries into jam);
The production of a product in a manner that enhances its value, as demonstrated through a business plan (such as organically produced products);
The physical segregation of an agricultural commodity or product in a manner that results in the enhancement of the value of that commodity or product (such as an identity preserved marketing system).
Value-added also includes using any agricultural product or commodity to produce renewable energy on a farm or ranch.

Applications must be completed and submitted no later than August 29, 2011.

Located at Iowa State University, AgMRC is a national center for value-added agriculture resources. For more information, visit www.agmrc.org or call toll-free at 866-277-5567.

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AMES, Iowa ? Harold and Kay Whipple, along with Iowa Learning Farms, will co-host "Conservation Conversations on the Prairie" at the Whipples' farm in rural Lacona on Tuesday, July 19, beginning at 3 p.m. The event is free and the public is invited to attend, but registration is required. The Warren Soil and Water Conservation District is a sponsor for the event as well.

The evening will offer an opportunity for area residents and conservation organization representatives to network with one another and explore new partnerships and projects to enhance conservation in Iowa. The Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Station will be on site to aid in the discussion of why quality soils and clean water are so important to Iowa's future. Also, the Whipples will conduct walking or riding tours of their recently restored prairie. There will be a time for discussion of ideas for working together to improve and enhance conservation practices in Iowa prior to a complimentary dinner.

The Whipples have worked ? and continue to work ? to create a diverse, productive and sustainable property. They have put in a pond and windbreaks, 25 acres of prairie, thousands of trees and shrubs, as well as some corn and soybean acres used mainly for wildlife food plots. Their land includes hundreds of plant species, which draw a diverse collection of birds, mammals and insects. They are very proud of the increased bluebird population since their work began.

To register for this event, contact Harold or Kay Whipple by email, hkwhip@iowatelecom.net, or phone, 641-534-3039, by July 12. The Whipples' farm is located at 22307 Highway S23; one-half mile north of the intersection of G76 and S23 in Lacona. Look for the "Bluebird Family Farm" sign.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) is building a Culture of Conservation, encouraging adoption of residue management and conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF staff are working together to encourage farmers to implement the best in-field management practices that increase water and soil quality while remaining profitable.

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FarmersFeedUs Special Events Planned for 2011 RAGBRAI

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - July 6, 2011 - Iowa farmers from across the state are joining together to show RAGBRAI  2011 riders what Iowa agriculture is all about.  Iowa-raised beef, pork and dairy products will be featured in free samples for RAGBRAI riders at several locations along this year's route, which winds through the fertile corn and soybean fields, green pastures, vineyards and dozens of welcoming rural towns.

Iowa Farmers Feed Us (FFU) showcases the character of rural Iowa's farming communities and the many farmers who provide a wide variety of nutritious, safe food.  RAGBRAI riders come from around the country and are socially-connected consumers who are curious about the farms and food production they see on their trip through Iowa.  FFU is an initiative designed to highlight farmers' commitment to providing people with safe, nutritious and affordable food, caring for the animals and the land, and supporting their communities, as well.

At each stop, free food samples and four separate collectable FFU bike spoke cards will be handed out by Iowa farmers for riders to put on their bikes.  The front of each bike spoke card celebrates Iowa farming with exclusive drawings created by celebrated former Des Moines Register illustrator Brian Duffy.  The back of the bike spoke card has a link to the Farmers Feed Us website and a number to enter in a drawing to win the grand prize: a new Apple i-Pad.  Participants can look for the red FFU flag at the RAGBRAI 2011 Expo in Glenwood on July 23 to pick up their RAGBRAI route maps, which highlight Iowa Farmers Feed Us stops, food samples and collectible bike spoke card for the grand prize drawing.

The Farmers Feed Us stops along RAGBRAI 2011 include :

• Monday, July 25, nine miles north of Kimballton, the signs and red Farmers Feed Us flag will lead to a beautiful cattle farm.  Iowa livestock farmers are bringing out the big grills and offering free Iowa beef samples, while supplies last! Bike spoke card #1 offered here.
• Tuesday, July 26, in Churdan, look for the Farmers Feed Us flag just blocks from the town's elevator, and get your RAGBRAI 2011 photo taken with real farmers and big tractors!  Bike spoke card #2 offered here.
• Wednesday, July 27, at White Oak Vineyards, located at 15065 NE White Oak Dr., outside of Cambridge, you'll find a big party with music, wine and free food at the Farmers Feed Us stop!  Look for the big, red FFU flag and your free sample of Iowa grilled pork, while supplies last!  Get your bike spoke card #3 here.
• Thursday, July 28, brave the hills just outside Baxter and look for the red, Farmers Feed Us flag and giant dairy cow located along F17 to get your free chocolate milk, while supplies last!  Collect bike spoke card #4 here.

The drawing for the grand prize will take place on Tues., Aug. 2, 2011.

Agriculture is the cornerstone of our economy; farming accounts for one in every six jobs. This year, Iowa's farm groups are happy to work together to show RAGBRAI riders and supporters how today's family farmers provide a variety of safe, nutritious and affordable food.

The 2011 RAGBRAI Farmers Feed Us sponsors include : the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Midwest Dairy Association, Iowa State Dairy Association, Iowa Turkey Federation and Iowa Soybean Association.

For more information about the 2011 RAGBRAI Farmers Feed Us event, check out www.iowafarmbureau.com/ragbrai.

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WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - June 30, 2011 - Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), the state's largest grassroots farm organization, sees progress through passage of several IFBF-supported measures in the 2011 legislative session.  IFBF members are pleased that lawmakers took steps towards achieving a more fiscally-responsible, sustainable budgeting process, which will ensure the state's future economic health, as well as bring significant property tax relief to Iowans.

Farm Bureau members have insisted that the state fully fund its promised share of education, which was under-funded by across-the-board cuts in recent years.  As Farm Bureau members feared, three years of under-funding the state's share of schools pushed the burden onto the backs of Iowa property taxpayers.   Farm Bureau members are pleased that this year lawmakers passed measures that will backfill the nearly $160 million that was not previously funded in the budget, creating significant property tax relief, said IFBF President Craig Lang.

The state legislature also adopted measures to prevent the practice of using one-time money for on-going expenses: a change in practice Farm Bureau supports.  "Iowa lawmakers created the Taxpayer Trust Fund, which automatically takes the first $60 million of the state ending fund balance off the table and directs it towards tax relief.  In years before, this money was rolled into the next year's General Fund budget to cover on-going expenses," said Lang.  Additionally, almost $300 million of one-time federal stimulus money was removed from the budget, another step which helps create a sustainable and fiscally-responsible budget.

Another Farm Bureau priority passed by lawmakers this year results in the transfer of the Water Resources Coordinating Council (WRCC) to Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.  The objective of the WRCC is to improve the coordination of watershed and water quality programs, making water quality programs more effective in Iowa.  IFBF members believe this new change in responsibility will improve coordination of conservation and water quality programs in Iowa.

Work will continue on other IFBF priorities which didn't gain passage in this session, including regulatory reform, overturning a controversial ruling by Iowa's Electrical Examining Board which requires inspections of electrical installations on farm buildings and House File 589, the Agriculture Protection Bill.  Under new Farm Bureau-supported language, an amended HF 589 would make it a crime when people make false statements about their motives, or have a "hidden agenda" for gaining access to Iowa crop or livestock farms.  The revised bill has the backing of many Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, and did not include language prohibiting video recordings.  "It's unfortunate a revised HF 589 didn't get to the Senate floor this year, because this bill is about something very important, not just to Farm Bureau members, but to all Iowans; it's about misrepresentation of character," said Lang.  "In a post 9/11 world, transparency is important for farmers and consumers alike.  Responsible farmers take good care of their land and livestock and want to employ honest, hardworking people that have the welfare of their livestock as their top priority.  The newly-worded HF 589 would've created penalties for those who make false statements to gain access to a farm to hide their intended misconduct or purpose.  I think that's something that all Iowans believe in."

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