fARM aID Makes grant to Wisconsin group for organic Farmer Campaign

Spring Valley, Wisconsin In keeping with its mission to keep family farmers on their land and strengthen local and sustainable food production, Farm Aid awarded grants this week to 59 family farm groups across the country totaling $563,700. The western Wisconsin-based Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) received $5000 in Farm Aid support for its Help Wanted: Organic Farmers campaign.

 

 This campaign provides Midwestern producers with the information and technical support they need to make the transition to organic production. According to MOSES Executive Director, Faye Jones, “The demand for organic food is still way ahead of our current supply.  We need a lot more organic producers. For dairy, meat, grain and produce, there is a still a growing need, and getting this support from Farm Aid is a big boost for our efforts.”

 

            Grant funds to MOSES will be used to staff its toll-free Farmer Transition Hotline (1-888-551-4769) and to provide resource materials to farmers interested in organic production and marketing.  MOSES is also the organizer of the nation’s largest organic farming conference.  The 2007 conference is set for February 22-24th in La Crosse, Wisconsin and will draw more than 2000 participants.  Extensive resource materials on organic transition and complete information on the conference is available at no charge at www.mosesorganic.org.

 

Much of the money raised by Farm Aid this year was the result of its 21th Anniversary concert held September 30 in Camden, New Jersey. According to Farm Aid President Willie Nelson, “Farm Aid is proud to support so many creative efforts around the country to expand opportunities for family farmers.  We’re all working together to support good food from family farms.”

 

MOSES was the only Wisconsin-based organization receiving Farm Aid support this year. To learn more about Farm Aid, and see the full list of 2006 grantees, visit their Web site at www.farmaid.org call 1-800-FARM-AID.