TODAY'S HEADLINES

Friday, March 17, 2023

[email protected] - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Georgia State Executive Director, Arthur Tripp, invites agricultural producers to attend a workshop which will discuss federal resources available to new and beginning farmers. Tripp and USDA staff will provide an overview of current USDA programs and funding opportunities and will walk through steps for agricultural producers to get started working with the Department. The meeting is free and open to the public. It can be attended virtually or in person at the University of Georgia E.L. Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Science, 425 River Road, Athens, GA 30602, Room 136 on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 1 p.m. To attend this event, please email [email protected]. On site workshop space is limited and will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.

“For the agricultural industry to remain the top economic driver in our state, it is imperative that we equip our new and beginning agricultural producers with the federal resources they may need to help their operations thrive,” said Tripp. “Through this workshop, we will provide farmers with the information and tools they need to successfully navigate FSA commodity, disaster, conservation, and credit assistance options.”

FSA provides producers with a safety net through farm commodity, conservation, and disaster assistance programs, in addition to providing loans for producers to start, expand, enhance, or maintain a farming operation. To get started with FSA, the first step is contacting your local USDA Service Center. In Georgia, FSA has 67 offices and 340 employees across the state who support agricultural producers through the delivery of FSA programs.

During the initial visit with FSA, producers should bring documents including proof of identity, proof of ownership, leases, and entity identification status. Local FSA staff will visit one-on-one with producers to review documents and register their farm with the agency. Next, FSA staff will consult with producers on which programs and loans are best suited to meet their operational goals.

After determining FSA programs and loan eligibility, producers will be walked through the application process. As an FSA-registered farm, producers will receive monthly newsletters, have access to various informational resources, and be eligible to vote in FSA County Committee Elections. Additionally, agricultural producers who participate in FSA programs may be nominated for candidacy for County Committee Elections. FSA County Committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA and allow grassroots input and location administration of federal farm programs. 355 E Hancock Avenue STOP 100 Athens, GA 30301 Contact: Jay Ivey [email protected] 706-510-5318 Farm Service Agency Producers can explore all FSA programs by visiting fsa.usda.gov or by contacting their local USDA Service Center.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.

Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting should contact Dianne Westmoreland at (706) 546-2269, or email [email protected].

By Mark Berryman

[email protected]

The Elbert Theatre will be showing Jesus Revolution at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $7.50 and doors open 30 minutes prior to show time.

The movie chronicles the story of Greg Laurie as he and a sea of young people descend on sunny Southern California to redefine truth through all means of liberation. Inadvertently, Laurie meets a charismatic street preacher and a pastor who open the doors to a church to a stream of wandering youth. What unfolds is a counterculture movement that becomes the greatest spiritual awakening in American history.

The Elbert County Diamond Devils will host Rabun County today at 5 p.m. at Diamond Devil Field.

The boys and girls varsity soccer teams will travel to Winder to face Barrow A&S at 5:30/7:30 p.m. today.

The Blue Devil boys golf team will play in the Athens Open at the UGA Course this weekend and the Lady Devils will head to Carrollton to play in the Cougar Invitational at Mirror Lake on Saturday. The girls will then play in the Lady Trojan Invitational at Sunset Hills on Monday.