To be the shortest month of the year, February has a lot going on – Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Mardi Gras (this year), Superbowl Sunday, Groundhog Day, Leap Day (this year) and… National Hemp Day. I wasn’t aware there was such a thing until I looked it up. We've highlighted a couple of producers in this issue who are participating in NRCS programs to enhance their operations while also working to preserve our precious natural resources. I hope you enjoy reading about them and get inspired to contact us to see how we can help you help your land.
Call or stop by your local service center.
Until next month…
Mellowdee Tibbs
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 Ramando Ramos has known from a very early age that he wanted to grow things on his own piece of land. He’s also been interested in growing hemp for a very long time – close to 20 years! He recalls telling his wife many years ago that one day hemp would be legal to grow and they were going to be ready and waiting. The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill which legalized the production of industrial hemp meant that Ramando’s long wait was over. In addition to making it possible to legally produce hemp, the 2018 Farm Bill also allowed for hemp producers to be eligible for certain federal programs, including the NRCS voluntary conservation programs.
True to his word, Ramando lost no time in getting his hemp production (Ram Ram Hemp Farm in Bunkie) going. In just a few short years, he has begun to establish an operation that will eventually include the growth, processing, production, and marketing of his own hemp-derived CBD products. During a recent visit, he showed us one of his newest products and talked about how his participation in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) allowed him to build a high tunnel that will help expand his business. He’ll be able to increase his production by being able to grow his hemp in the ground, protected under the cover of the high tunnel, and control his inputs. Since the high tunnel was completed late last year, he’ll soon be getting his new crop started under its arches.
Ramando has been steadily building his business and re-investing his profits for expansion while also practicing good stewardship of natural resources. The financial assistance from NRCS for his voluntary conservation efforts has been a win-win for him and NRCS. He encourages anyone interested in growing hemp or other crops to learn about NRCS programs by contacting their local NRCS office.
 For most, it’s pretty easy to dream about a final goal or the finished product. Taking a dream and making it a reality… That’s usually where most of us get bogged down. Without a good deal of grit and determination, it’s equally as easy for many of us to get lost or discouraged along the way. Those typical challenges can seem far larger when the folks around us are following a very different path or doing things that don’t align with our own dreams and goals. Having an example to follow can give us inspiration, ideas, and encouragement.
Here in Louisiana, we have very few USDA Certified Organic producers. So you can imagine that trying to transition an operation to become USDA Organic is challenging to say the least. Lucky for us, we have a real-life example to follow. De La Terre Permaculture Farm, a 43-acre diversified farm, is nestled in the piney hills of Jackson Parish just off Highway 34 in Eros. Donna Isaacs and Waylon Breaux have recently begun navigating their way through an organic transition for their operation that may prove to be as long and winding as the highway running through the farm.
As a woman and a minority farmer, Donna is no stranger to challenges. She doesn’t let challenges or naysayers keep her from her goals, though. In fact, she and Waylon seem to be energized by the opportunity ahead. They fully intend to realize their vision of creating a complete and thriving ecosystem on their property that will allow them to not only become self-sufficient, but also to market certified organic meat and produce to local restaurants, value-added producers and direct to customers in Monroe as part of the St. Francis Medical Center Farm-to-Work program. They hope to serve as living proof that certified organic production is possible in Louisiana, encouraging and inspiring others to follow them along a path to a more sustainable agricultural future.
NRCS has a vested interest in helping producers like Donna and Waylon in their organic transition as organic standards are closely aligned with conservation practices. Our new organic management standard under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) supports producer education and mentoring and includes many of our “bread-and-butter" practices including cover cropping, conservation crop rotation, field borders and hedgerows, high tunnels, micro-irrigation, nutrient management, mulching, and residue and tillage management. Organic production is enhanced by several of the Conservation Stewardship Programs (CSP) including the Crop Bundle (Organic) Conservation Practices: mulching, nutrient management, integrated pest management, filter strip and tree/shrub establishment.
Last year, Donna and Waylon applied for assistance through USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative (OTI). The support – both financial and technical – will help them make the changes necessary to become certified organic producers. Working with their local NRCS representative, Madelyn Cheatwood, they set up an initial transition plan that spans four years. One of the first steps they’ve taken is to create a pollinator habitat as required by USDA organic standards. We visited them earlier this month as they broadcast the seeds for their pollinator habitat. As they begin implementing their plan, we’re going to follow them along to share their successes, the challenges along the way, and the impact of their work on their farm, themselves, and their community.
Stay tuned for updates from De La Terre.
Interested in learning more about how NRCS can help you with your own organic transition? Call or visit your local NRCS office.
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February is National Black History Month. This year we honor and celebrate the contributions and achievements of every Black American just as we have each year since 1976 when Gerald Ford first designated February as Black History Month. As Americans, we must recognize that Black history is American history and pay homage to Black culture and triumphs that create so much of what we stand for as a Nation.
This year's Black History Month theme “African Americans and the Arts: A Legacy Steeped in Civil Rights and Social Justice,” allows us to reflect on the tremendous contributions and strides made by Blacks in America and simultaneously acknowledges that there is still much work to be done.
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Many NRCS employees have personal interests that align with their professional ones. That's the case with Brittney Wells, the Resource Conservationist in our Columbia field office. She recently used her artistic talents to create several original paintings for donation to the Northeast Louisiana Chapter of Quail Forever to be sold in their silent auction earlier this month. The proceeds from the auction are used to help the chapter do outreach and continue to implement conservation practices in order to create habitats supporting the restoration of upland wildlife and bird species, including bobwhite quail coveys across North LA. |
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We accept applications for our programs year-round. If you apply after announced program sign up dates, NRCS will automatically consider your application during future funding cycles. Discover more about our programs here: Louisiana | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov)
An important message for all applicants: PLEASE READ YOUR MAIL
If you've applied for any NRCS programs, you've probably received or will be receiving letters from NRCS with information about your application. Often, these letters request additional information or action. If you have any questions, please contact your local office.
Upcoming Events
 The 2024 Louisiana Women in Agriculture Conference is coming up in March. To find out more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/louisiana-women-in-agriculture-conference-expo-2024-tickets-777223545547
Enjoy some our photos that capture the beauty, diversity, and agricultural bounty of Louisiana (and us in action)!
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