USDA seeks committee members - Urban agriculture expertise needed

May 09, 2024

By Farms.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is calling on individuals with expertise in urban agriculture and related fields to join its Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Committee. This committee plays a crucial role in advising the USDA on policies and programs that support urban farming and innovative agricultural practices.

"The committee provides invaluable guidance on how to best serve urban farmers and communities," said Terry Cosby, head of the USDA's Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. "New members with expertise in areas like innovative production, education, and supply chains will be instrumental in shaping the future of urban agriculture."

The USDA is currently seeking nominations for four specific positions:

An urban farmer who utilizes innovative technologies in their production methods.

A representative from a university or extension program with a focus on agriculture education.

A professional with experience in the agricultural supply chain, such as those working in food aggregation, wholesale distribution, food hubs, or direct-to-consumer marketing.

An individual with knowledge of emerging agricultural practices, particularly those suited for urban settings, indoor environments, or other non-traditional methods.

Nominations can be submitted by individuals or organizations and should include a background form, a statement outlining the nominee's qualifications for a specific position, a resume, and any relevant publications or letters of recommendation.

The deadline for nominations is July 7, 2024. This is a unique opportunity for qualified individuals to contribute their expertise and help shape the future of urban agriculture in the United States.

Video: Learning to Wrench From Dad the Hard Way

Harvest is a week out and the farm picked this week to fall apart. The truck needs a battery, the barn curtain's got a problem, and the corn and beans are telling us we're out of time to get it all fixed.

So it's a full day of wrenching. Tork supervises while I get the truck back running, then we're out at the hog barn where one rusted up part has the whole curtain system hung up. Ladder work, cable work, and a little dad-and-son disagreement about the right way to do it. We close it out walking the fields, shelling beans and checking corn, because whether everything's fixed or not, harvest starts when harvest starts.

Chapters: 00:00 Everything breaks the week before harvest 01:00 Tork supervises while I fix the truck 12:30 Out to the barn to find the curtain problem 14:30 One rusty part hung up the whole curtain 20:00 Running the curtain cable from the ladder 24:00 Walking the beans and corn before harvest 26:30 Wrapping up

We're a 6th generation family farm in southeast Iowa showing the real ups and downs of pig farming and row crop farming. No script, just the work. Subscribe and follow along.

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