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From:
[log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 4:21
AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: GO NOFA Forum Digest
Number 693
Messages In This Digest (2 Messages)
1.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
GRANTS & LOANS TO FARMERS
Posted by:
"Go-NOFA Admin" [log in to unmask]
almist5
Thu Mar 6, 2008
2:47 pm (PST)
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE Media Contact: Tim Jones (315)
477-6436
timothy.jones@
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERING $220 MILLION IN RENEWABLE ENERGY LOANS
AND GRANTS TO FARMERS AND BUSINESSES NATIONWIDE
SYRACUSE, N.Y., March 6, 2008 - The U.S. Department of
Agriculture announced today that its Renewable Energy Systems and Energy
Efficiency Improvements Program will accept $220.9 million in loan and
grant applications this year.
"Renewable energy loans and grants can help New York farmers and
rural small businesses reduce energy costs, while contributing to the
nation's energy security and environmental well-being," said Patrick H.
Brennan, State Director for USDA Rural Development in New York. "I urge
interested farmers and businesses to contact our representatives to find
out how they can apply for this program."
The program makes loan guarantees and grants available to
agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and
install renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency
improvements. Eligible applicants may seek loan guarantees to cover up
to 50 percent of a project's cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are
available for up to 25 percent of a project's cost, not to exceed
$250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable
energy systems.
USDA will administer one grant solicitation with two separate
competitions this year. For the first competitive window, grant-only
applications must be submitted no later than April 15. For the second
competitive window, grant-only applications must be submitted no earlier
than April 16 and no later than June 16. Applications for loan
guarantees, as well as those for loan/grant combinations, must be
completed and submitted no later than June 16. All applications must be
submitted to the USDA Rural Development state office in Syracuse.
Interested farmers and businesses in western New York should contact Tom
Hauryski at (607) 776-7398, ext. 4, e-mail: thomas.hauryski@
for information on the application process. Interested parties in
eastern New York should contact Karen McDonnell at (315) 677-3552, ext.
4, e-mail karen.mcdonnell@
477-6409, e-mail scott.collins@
USDA Rural Development'
opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. In
fiscal year 2007, USDA Rural Development invested more than $262 million
in New York, raising its total investment in the state to more than $1.5
billion since 2001. Further information on rural programs is available
by contacting the State Office at (315) 477-6400 or by visiting USDA's
web site at http://www.rurdev.
#
Tim Jones
Special Projects Coordinator
USDA Rural Development
New York State Office
(315) 477-6436
cell: (315) 399-8393
2.
Posted by:
"Mike" [log in to unmask]
mikebernhard2003
Thu Mar 6, 2008
6:58 pm (PST)
----- Original Message -----
From: Jerome Rigot
To: oeffadirect@
Cc: go-nofa@yahoogroups
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 4:05 PM
Subject: GO NOFA Forum Hogs Help Battle Beetles in Apple Orchard
Hogs Help Battle Beetles in Apple Orchard
http://news.
By JAMES PRICHARD, AP
The quarter-inch-
growers like Koan to control because no good organic controls have
been developed for them. The beetle can be controlled conventionally,
often with the pesticide azinphos-methyl. But the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency is phasing out the powerful pesticide, marketed
under the trade name Guthion, because of the risks it poses to farm
workers and to the environment.
I bought a supply of Imidan before it was outlawed. I had heard that when
applied at nightfall, it was degraded by morning, at least to the point
where pollinators would not be affected. Could be chemical company
propaganda. With plums, my choice appeared to be Imidan at petal fall and
once or twice more at one week intervals or zero plums. Whereas among
apples and pears the curcs only made the fruit ugly, which I would just
juice anyway. But with those 3 sprays, apples also seemed to be protected
from codling moth, and (is it possible?) apple maggot.
Adult female curculios cut crescent-shaped flaps in the skin of newly
formed apples and lay their eggs inside, where they hatch. The beetle
larvae burrow into the center of the young fruit, making it drop
prematurely in late June or early July.
Apple/pear drop in response to curcs varies with variety. Last year, I
didn't Imidan-spray and had no damage to Yellow Transparent, Liberty was
mostly ruined (on the tree), Criterion , and another yellow-apple tree mostly
spared. (Then again, homestead-scale orchards are harder to draw conclusions
from, except if there is info-sharing on boards like this) Not enough pears
last year to report on.
Koan decided to try to find an animal that would eat the fallen
apples as they lay beneath the trees, before the bugs became adults,
but he had a few misses before he settled on pigs.
First, he tried using some chickens.
"All they did all summer long was lay around under the trees when it
was hot and just sunbathe, you know, kind of like on the beach," he said.
My understanding is that they will only eat curculio if you knock the curcs out
of the tree. That is best done by driving a lag screw into the trunk, and
tapping it smartly with a hammer, at dawn and dusk. Obviously you want to keep
the birds hungry, and make a habit of it, from the time the buds begin to open
until June drop. I have built a poultry run around five maturing plum trees, so
I will have more info next year, if there is p[ollination.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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