The federal Farm Service Agency provides loans and financial support to farmers across Virginia and the nation, and experts are encouraging farmers of color to tap into those resources. Anita Roberson, farmer-owner at Botanical Bites and Provisions in Spotsylvania County and a member of the Farmers of Color Network, said in a panel discussion this week, the financial services provided by the FSA can be critical for early-career farmers, and the agency s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program provides financial assistance for producers of traditionally noninsurable crops, such as honey and field-grown fruits and vegetables. "And I think that s something all new farmers should get," Roberson asserted. " .
At least two dozen states are seeing the bird flu virus quickly spread through commercial flocks on poultry-producing farms. Iowa is at the center of it all, with renewed focus on potential stress for smaller producers and the role of factory farms. State and federal officials say nearly a dozen Iowa counties have seen outbreaks on farms. .
Advocates for small farms and ranches in North Carolina say the businesses are ready to bring local, affordable meats and produce to residents, but they need more resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said shoppers will be paying 3% to 4% more for food this year, and about 6% more to eat out. .