The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) mails the National Agricultural Classification Survey (NACS) this month to more than a million potential U.S. agricultural producers, in preparation for the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The NACS will ask survey recipients if they are involved in agricultural activity and for basic farm information. Response to the NACS is required by law for all who receive the questionnaire, even if the recipient is not an active farmer or rancher. Questionnaires can be completed online or by mail. The response deadline is Jan. 24.

The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District announces that it will award $2,000 in grant funds through the Agricultural & Environmental Education Grant for K-12 programming within the District’s nine counties. The grant opportunity promotes conservation education and provides additional resources for both formal and non-formal educators looking to engage their students in agriculture and/or natural resources education.

This November, The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (FRSWCD) and the Mitchell County Cattleman’s Association (MCCA) finalized an agreement to lease the FRSWCD’s no-till drill for use by local farmers and landowners.

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is offering a grant-funded opportunity to attend the 2022 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, January 6-9 at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, GA. This opportunity is being made available through a small USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant allowing GFVGA to award reimbursement stipends* for Georgia’s small, beginning, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and/or veteran farmers.

Students with a declared major— or intending to declare a major— in agriculture or natural resources areas of study may be eligible for current scholarship programs.

On April 21, he Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District sponsored Destination Ag for second grade students at Seminole County Elementary School. Destination Ag gives students the opportunity to interactively learn the importance of agriculture and natural resources in their daily lives.

The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District is excited to welcome two new individuals serving on the nine county District Board of Supervisors. Keith Cromartie of Dougherty County – elected in November--Casey Cox of Mitchell County—appointed by the Governor in April—will serve in their respective counties in Supervisor positions that were previously vacant.

The Flint River Soil & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce the 60thAnnual Natural Resources Conservation Workshop on June 27th – July 2nd, 2021 held at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. The workshop is available to rising 10th, 11th, and 12thgraders in the state of Georgia.

As vaccinations become more widely available, the Flint River Fresh team is optimistic about what this means for continuing key programs of Flint River Fresh. This is why Flint River Fresh leadership joins community members in receiving the COVID-19 vaccination.

At the virtual annual meeting on January 15th, the Georgia Association of Conservation District honored 9 District Supervisors from the Flint River District who have made a long-term commitment as District Supervisors.