This for-women-by women gathering is to help women farmers and farmland owners learn about different government farm programs offered through the USDA’s Farm Services Agency (FSA) that they are eligible to sign up for and in some cases receive special consideration for.

These programs include microloans and real estate loans for farmland; coverage of traditionally noninsured crops such as bees, vegetables, and fruits; opportunities to serve on FSA county committees; organic certification cost-sharing; and enrollment in set aside acreage conservation programs. Women staff members from FSA will be on hand to answer questions and participants will also have the chance to hear from women currently using these programs on their own farms. In addition, the Zumbro Watershed Partnership will share information about different on-farm soil and water conservation practices.

The meeting is free and will include lunch. Women farmers and farmland owners who live in Dodge, Filmore, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties are the primary audience, but all are invited.

More information about the programs being covered can also be found at http://www.renewingthecountryside.org/fsa_outreach. Please RSVP by February 12, 2018.