Agencies Present Ag Info At Century Meeting

March 11, 2009

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An agricultural community outreach program was held Tuesday in Century to introduce landowners and agricultural producers to a wide variety of services offered by agencies in Escambia County.

From the USDA-Natural Resources Service, Farm Service Agency, Escambia County, University of Florida/IFAS Extension, Florida Division of Forestry, the Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District and more, attendees learned about the county’s service agencies.

And the best part? Most of the services offered by the agencies are free.

“It’s almost all free,” Libbie Johnson said of the services offered by Escambia County Extension. “Almost everything we do is primarily free.”

At the Extension Service, Johnson works primarily on issues related to row crops, but she works with vegetables and even catfish ponds. The Extension Service also coordinates the annual Farm Tour each spring.

Carrie Stevenson, Florida Neighborhoods and Yards agent, works with landowners on landscaping and its impacts on downstream water sources. She also teaches how to conserve water, build a green room and even build a rain barrel for collecting rainwater for irrigation.

Angela Hinkle with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program told the Century group that her program teaches nutritional skills to adults and children.

“Another huge part of what we teach is saving money and how to stretch those food dollars,” Hinkle said. One such way to save money on food, she said, is to purchase local produce when available.

“It helps the community continue to be able to grow,” she said.

Adam Parden, County Forester with the Florida Division of Forestry, told the group that his agency provides a variety of services. From managing wildfires, to forest management plans, to burn plans, to basic help with trees, the Division of Forestry offers a variety of services.

“If one of these agencies can’t help you when you call, we can pass you on to someone else who can,” said Josh McElhaney from the USDA, NRCS that helped coordinate Tuesday’s presentations in Century.

The Florida Division of Forestry office in Molino can be reached at 587-5123.  The variety of other agencies mentioned in this article can be reached at 475-5230.

Pictured top: (L-R) Angela Hinkle, Carrie Stevenson and Libbie Johnson address an agricultural community outreach meeting in Century Tuesday. Pictured below: An agricultural community outreach meeting in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

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