Briefs

FSA, CSU plan Farm Bill meeting

USDA Colorado Farm Service Agency and Colorado State University Extension will host a Farm Bill meeting on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Lewis Arriola Community Center to discuss the price loss coverage (PLC) and agricultural risk coverage (ARC) programs, which provide revenue and price loss payments to eligible producers for the 2014 through 2018 crop years.

FSA also will discuss the non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.

These Farm Bill meetings focus on PLC, ARC and NAP, which are administered by FSA. FSA staff will review the new safety net provisions, and CSU Extension will explain the new online Farm Bill Decision Aid Tool that is available at http://fsa.usapas.com. The online tool assists producers in understanding available enrollment options.

People with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting should contact Patti Finke at 720-544-2889 or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 three days before the meeting.

Information: Call Colorado FSA at 720-544-2876 or CSU Extension at 719-545-1845.

Master gardener program deadline nears

Interested in becoming a Colorado Master Gardener? The Master Gardener program provides 11 weeks of training on lawn, plant, tree, and vegetable care; soils, amendments, and fertilizers; water-management; insects and diseases of plants; pruning; weed management; as well as the opportunity to meet other gardeners and give volunteer time to the community.

This year’s program will begin in Cortez on Jan. 29 and continue every Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to April 9, 2015. The training is available with a community volunteer commitment of 50 hours for $170 or without the volunteer commitment for $530. Training leads to a Colorado Gardener Certificate that can be used to market one’s expertise.

Limited financial assistance is available.

To receive an application form, or for information, call the Colorado State University Extension Office in Montezuma County: (970) 565-3123.

The Dolores Star