Yakima conference offers advice for Latino small farmers

Jan 28, 2008      Tri-City Herald

Jan. 28, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Latino farmers and ranchers can get more information on federal programs that can help them at a two-day workshop in Yakima.

The 2008 Latino/Hispanic Farmers & Ranchers Northwest Regional Conference will be Thursday and Fridayat the Howard Johnson Hotel.

The conference, organized by The Center for Latino Farmers, is open to Hispanic farmers and ranchers and others who want to learn more about programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Thursday session includes an immigration discussion called "Reaching Consensus on the Immigration Debate" sponsored by the Noyes Foundation.

"This panel was put together as a request from the small Latino farmers that are concerned about the availability of farm workers and their responsibility as farm owners," said Luz Bazan Gutierrez, CEO of the Rural Community Development Resources Center for Latino Farmers.

Ricardo Garcia, KNDA station manager, will moderate the panel, which will include Jerry Beardsley, an organic alfalfa grower, Mike Gempler, of the Washington Growers League, and an immigration attorney.

On Friday, representatives of USDA agencies will discuss programs and opportunities available to small farmers and ranchers. Folks from the USDA's Risk Management Agency will talk about its role in helping community groups and crop insurance companies in managing risk and will discuss available crop insurance options.

And officials from the Farm Service Agency will discuss direct loans and disaster loans available to farmers. Representatives from the National Resource & Conservation Service will talk about its environmental quality program incentives that provide a dollar-for-dollar match for improved irrigation systems.

There also will be a special workshop to teach farmers how to write proposals for USDA and other grants.

Officials from the national Agricultural Statistics Service, which manages the agricultural census, will discuss the importance of responding to the census during Friday's luncheon.

Blanca Alvitres of The Center for Latino Farmers said the group is excited to offer the workshop, and added that the programs will be offered in English and Spanish.

Cost is $75, or $25 for the Thursday session and $50 for Friday's event, which includes lunch. To register, call 509-453-3157.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0162-22570764

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