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Local Farmers Markets News

The summer tradition of the farmers market will happen this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Commissioner Logan Wilde told FOX 13 in a recent interview that they are an essential part of the state’s food supply. But they are trying to reimagine how they work.
 
“Farmers markets are grocery stores to our local communities. If those safety structures and safety nets can be put in place, whether it’s social distancing, making sure the food is safe, they’ll still go forth,” he said.
In addition to a source of summer fun, for some they are an essential lifeline to quality produce. Federal food assistance programs utilize the markets, and for some farmers, they’re the sole source of income.
 

Click here to learn more.

 

Assisting Box Elder County in searching for missing horse

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is assisting the investigation into a missing horse in Box Elder County. The dunn color gelding was last seen at feeding time on April 4, 2020. When the owner returned April 5 to feed the horse it was gone.

UDAF’s Animal Services Director Leann Hunting states that she would appreciate the public’s help in locating the animal and facilitating it’s return to its rightful owner.

Anyone with information about the horse is asked to contact UDAF Brand inspector Matt Bailey at 435-760-7015.

Honoring National AG Day

On National Ag Day, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue challenges the American public to keep our farmers, ranchers and producers on their minds – for all their work to provide us a safe, healthy and abundant food supply, especially during these uncertain times.

“Our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers in America are feeding and clothing the world. Now more than ever it’s important that the American people not forget that. Our farmers are resilient, and during these uncertain times they are still working, day in and day out, to produce what’s needed for our growing population,” said Secretary Perdue. “Today, on National Ag Day, I challenge the American public to keep our farmers, ranchers and producers on their minds – for all their work to provide us a safe, healthy and abundant food supply. We owe them a debt of gratitude.” – Sec. Sonny Perdue

Click here to view Secretary Perdue’s message

Thank you to Secretary Sonny Perdue for sharing his inspiration and goals for the nation’s agriculture community during this time.

Within the Utah Agriculture Community

UDAF’s Interim Commissioner Kelly Pehrson quotes “Agriculture is a very important industry in this state. Agriculture as a business can be incredibly stressful due to daily pressures, often including high levels of debt and low profit margins. If you or a loved one is experiencing extreme stress, here are resources, including hotlines, that can help…”

🔹 Utah Farm Bureau Rural Resilience: https://www.fb.org/programs/rural-resilience/
🔹 Farm Crisis: https://farmcrisis.nfu.org/

Please share this very important piece of our community to your family and friends.

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to Utah Small Businesses

Small nonfarm businesses in 18 Utah counties are now eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in the following primary counties that began Jan. 1, 2019.

Primary Utah counties

  • Box Elder
  • Grand
  • San Juan
  • Tooele
  • Uintah

Neighboring Utah counties: 

  • Cache
  • Carbon
  • Daggett
  • Davis
  • Duchesne
  • Emery
  • Garfield
  • Juab
  • Kane
  • Salt Lake
  • Utah
  • Wayne
  • Weber

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Garfield said.

Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 3.74 percent for businesses and 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Garfield said.

By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. The Secretary declared this disaster on Nov. 6, 2019.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency about the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration. However, nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance in drought disasters.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 6, 2020.