Tom Burrell, a Covington, Tenn. farmer and a member of the Black Farmers & Agriculturalists Association, speaks to a crowd outside a U.S. Department of Agriculture office in Brownsville, Tenn during July of 2002.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Contact: Heather Gray 404 765 0991
Federation of Southern Cooperatives/
Land Assistance Fund
http://www.federation.coop
Federation to hold it's 27th Annual Small Farmers Conference February 12-13 in Albany
Keynote speaker will be USDA’s Pearlie Reed speaking on Civil Rights at USDA
And Attorney Rose Sanders will provide an update on the Pigford Lawsuit...and more
ATLANTA.... On February 12 and 13, 2010 the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (Federation) will hold it's 27th annual Small Farmers Conference, Marketing and Trade Show. Hosting more than 300 farmers, landowners and supporters from across the south, the conference objective is to provide information on USDA programs, marketing, technical assistance, legal risk management issues, insurance, conservation and a variety of other agriculture issues that impact the survival of small farmers.
Critical also for farmers will be an update on the Pigford Lawsuit negotiations. The keynote speaker will be Pearlie Reed, Assistant Secretary for Administration (USDA) (For information about Mr. Reed please go to - http://federationsoutherncoop.com/press/pr2010/pearliereed.htm )
On Friday, February 12 from 9AM to 5PM conference participants are invited to join a bus tour of some of Federation's projects in southwest Georgia (see below). On Saturday, February 13 from 8AM to 3PM the plenary sessions and workshops will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn.
As keynote speaker Pearlie Reed will speak about the USDA’s Office of Civil Rights and its program delivery to ensure fair treatment to farmers.
Other speakers will include the Federation's former Georgia Director Shirley Sherrod who now heads the USDA's Georgia Rural Development Office. She will provide updates on Rural Development in Georgia along with information on programs available to farmers and rural communities across the state. Attorney Rose Sanders of Chestnut, Sanders & Sanders in Selma, Alabama will provide an update on the Pigford Lawsuit and Georgia Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA) will speak about rural legislation in Congress. There will also be panels on USDA programs along with question and answer opportunities.
The Federation's Small Farmers Conference, Marketing and Trade Show is one of the rare opportunities for small farmers to ask specific questions about USDA programs from a diverse segment of USDA staff. We look forward to seeing you there!
Conference Schedule
Friday February 12, 2010
Farm & Co-op Tour with Workshops
9:00AM - 5:00PM Fee - $10.00
Bus will depart from Hilton Garden Inn at 9:00AM. Lunch will be provided.
Please contact the FSC Albany Office TODAY to assure your seat on the bus.
Phone: 229-432-5799
Saturday February 13, 2010
Small Farmers Conference - Hilton Garden Inn
Keynote Speaker Pearlie Reed
Update on Pigford Lawsuit
8:00AM - 3:00PM Registration Fee - $25.00
Includes conference material and lunch
Hilton Garden Inn
101 South Front Street in Albany, GA 31701
For hotel reservations phone: 229-888-1590
Note: The Federation/LAF, now in its 43rd year, assists Black family farmers across the South with farm management, debt restructuring, alternative crop suggestions, marketing expertise and a whole range of services to ensure family farm survivability.
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