Covington County Provides Program Information to Limited Resource Producers

by Phillip Slater, Soil Conservationist, Covington County Field Office, AL

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) faces unique challenges when working with limited resource producers. Small farmers and limited resource producers often struggle to find and use appropriate information. Most of them experience frustrations of not being able to locate answers to specific questions, not understanding the information presented, and being overloaded with too much information to filter through to find what they need. Limited resource producers represent a segment of Alabama’s NRCS customers that as an Agency we want to reach with information about our programs. The education programs targeted toward these producers usually need different, innovative approaches.

“In Covington County, we want to make every effort to reach landowners who would benefit from the programs available through NRCS and other USDA agencies,” said Steve Yelverton, Covington County District Conservationist. The Covington County USDA Service Center developed a  method to reach limited resource producers. Instead of waiting for the landowners to come to the Service Center and request information, the Covington County USDA employees decided to work in rural communities where limited resource farmers seem most receptive to receiving information from people they know and trust.

Phillip Slater, NRCS Soil Conservationist in Covington County, coordinated the first of three meetings scheduled in the month of August 2006. It was held in Florala at the historic train depot known as Tyner Station with Milner Perry, Chairman of the Covington County Soil and Water Conservation District serving as the master of ceremonies. All the Covington County Service Center agencies (NRCS, Farm Service Agency, Rural Development, and Soil and Water Conservation District) were present. Each director discussed key components to programs administered through their office that are designed to help limited resource and small scale farmers. Harold Elmore, Covington County Commissioner was also present to give support for these programs.

The first meeting was a success. Several farmers acknowledged their interest in the information presented. Handouts and pamphlets were made available to all.

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