Farmers' Market Management Network » Policy and Regulation http://fmmn.org Working cooperatively to enhance Ohio farmers’ markets Fri, 18 May 2012 19:25:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Two Pro-Farmers’ Market Bills Go Before Congress http://fmmn.org/2012/02/28/two-pro-farmers-market-bills-go-before-congress/ http://fmmn.org/2012/02/28/two-pro-farmers-market-bills-go-before-congress/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:07:21 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=1541 As you know, producers are responding to skyrocketing demand for local food by increasing production, creating new markets, and launching new businesses.  Locally marketed foods accounted for an estimated $4.8 billion in gross sales in 2008, whilethe number of farmers markets nationwide jumped 17 percent in 2011.  Despite these growing opportunities, producers face significant infrastructure, [...]]]> As you know, producers are responding to skyrocketing demand for local food by increasing production, creating new markets, and launching new businesses.  Locally marketed foods accounted for an estimated $4.8 billion in gross sales in 2008, whilethe number of farmers markets nationwide jumped 17 percent in 2011.  Despite these growing opportunities, producers face significant infrastructure, marketing, and information barriers that limit growth in local agriculture.  The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act (S. 1773, H.R. 3286), written by Representative Chellie Pingree and co-sponsored by Senator Sherrod Brown (and co-sponsored by 78 other legislators), seeks to improve dozens of federal farm bill programs that support local and regional farmers and food systems.

 

What will LFFJA do for farmers markets?

 

• Increase funding for the Farmers Market Promotion Program to $20 M annually to create a Local Marketing Promotion Program that also include direct and short-supply chain local food projects
• Increase support for Specialty Crop Block Grants to $90 M annually and encourage local and regional crop and market development
• Address the need for electronic benefit transfer capabilities at farmers markets and encourage SNAP Education and Outreach programs to use farmers markets and other direct marketing outlets as a venue for nutrition education
• Increase funding for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) to $25M per year

 

This bill’s total investment of less than one-sixth of one percent of USDA’s budget would address the needs of a large and growing sector of American agriculture as well as boost community economies. A one pager is available on FMC’s web site here, and attached.

 

The Expanding Access to Farmers Markets Act (S. 1593), sponsored by Senator Gillibrand (NY) is more targeted than the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act, and would:

• Provide farmers markets with wireless, mobile equipment to process SNAP benefits.
• Amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require State agencies and the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA to treat farmers markets and other open-air retailers the same as brick-and-mortar, traditional retail food stores
• Encourage State agencies to partner and contract with nonprofit organizations to assist with outreach, administration, and farmer and market training

A one-page fact-sheet about the bill is attached and available on the FMC web site here.

 

Both of these bills take bold steps to advance farmers markets but they won’t become part of the Farm Bill without your support. You can help by:
1) Adding your organization as a supporter of both bills. To add your organizational support for the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act, please enter your information into the form here. To add your organization as a sign-on supporter of the Expanding Access to Farmers Market Act, please send an email to info@farmersmarketcoalition.org. with your complete contact information.
2) Tell your Senators and Representatives that you support these important and forward-thinking pieces of legislation and invite them to join as a cosponsor.  You can find out if they’ve already signed on  here. Then, you can reach out in less than 5 minutes in a short phone call or an email by finding your Senators here and Representatives here.
Attached are two one-page summaries of these bills. Feel free to send them to your legislators as well as farmers market colleagues.

 

Legislative update courtesy of Farmers Market Coalition. The Farmers’ Market Management Network of Ohio is a proud member of FMC.

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2012/02/28/two-pro-farmers-market-bills-go-before-congress/feed/ 0 Olde Strasburg Meats License Suspension http://fmmn.org/2012/02/12/olde-strasburg-meats-license-suspension/ http://fmmn.org/2012/02/12/olde-strasburg-meats-license-suspension/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:06:44 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=1519 Department of Agriculture Announces Meat Processor License Suspension Facility in Strasburg no longer permitted to process, sell meat REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (February 10, 2012) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture has suspended the processing license of Olde Strasburg Meats located at 1317 N. Wooster Ave. in Strasburg, Ohio. The establishment’s license, ODA Est. #21, was suspended [...]]]> Department of Agriculture Announces Meat Processor License Suspension
Facility in Strasburg no longer permitted to process, sell meat
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (February 10, 2012) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture has suspended the processing license of Olde Strasburg Meats located at 1317 N. Wooster Ave. in Strasburg, Ohio. The establishment’s license, ODA Est. #21, was suspended on February 9.
 

02.10.12 Olde Strasburg Meats License Suspension.pdf (application/pdf Object).

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2012/02/12/olde-strasburg-meats-license-suspension/feed/ 0 Reporting of SNAP Transactions to the IRS http://fmmn.org/2011/08/24/reporting-of-snap-transactions-to-the-irs/ http://fmmn.org/2011/08/24/reporting-of-snap-transactions-to-the-irs/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:41:00 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=1356 An update from FMC, for farmers’ markets that accept SNAP:

Earlier this year, IRS issued a final rule on “Information Reporting Requirements Payments Made in Settlement of Payment Cards and Third Party Network Transactions” (6050W for short). Many of you have been eagerly awaiting a final word regarding the reporting obligations of markets operating scrip [...]]]> An update from FMC, for farmers’ markets that accept SNAP:

Earlier this year, IRS issued a final rule on “Information Reporting Requirements Payments Made in Settlement of Payment Cards and Third Party Network Transactions” (6050W for short). Many of you have been eagerly awaiting a final word regarding the reporting obligations of markets operating scrip systems. Are they required to issue 1099s to each individual farmer to whom they reimburse token purchases?

Since early spring, FMC has been engaged in discussions about potential interpretations and implications, and, with the help of pro bono legal guidance and the research efforts of members like the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York, gone back and forth with officials in IRS and USDA. In early June, staff in Maine Representative Chellie Pingree’s office took the lead on a letter on behalf of fourteen House members urging IRS to clarify their interpretation and eliminate uncertainty around the requirements. By the way, below this message is a list of those Representatives, so that you can send them a thank-you email!

I’m writing today to let you know that the saga reached a new milestone last week when the IRS came to determination about how farmers markets operating scrip systems are to be considered for purposes of reporting electronic transactions.  In short, it’s good news. Below is text, reviewed and developed in cooperation with IRS, about how they interpret the 6050W rule.

Farmers Markets Requirements Concerning IRS 6050W

A central payor in a farmers market scenario may have an obligation to issue information reports (via a 1099-K) documenting payments made to market stall merchants if their relationship meets the definition of a third party network and if the number and amount of the transactions exceeds certain thresholds.

A third party network is any arrangement which involves the establishment of accounts with a central organization by a substantial number of persons (50 or more, according to the legislative history). Third party network arrangements, in a farmers market context, may include scrip currency programs. In such arrangements, customers use electronic payment to receive approved scrip from a central payor (the farmers market), which is then exchanged for goods with individual market stall-holders, who are reimbursed by the central payor (the farmers market).  Third party network transactions are reportable only if total annual transactions with respect to a particular payee exceed $20,000 and 200 in number.


Thus, small farmers markets (those with 50 or fewer stall merchants) are not subject to 6050W because they are not third party networks.  Larger farmers markets that constitute third party networks are subject to 6050W only to the extent that payments to a particular stall merchant involve more than 200 transactions and exceed $20,000.  (Note: “transactions” refers to the exchange of scrip between farmer and farmers market, not between customer and farmer).


Documentation:
A central payor is responsible for keeping books and records to substantiate that he/she is exempt from 6050W information reporting as a third party network. The primary reasons a small farmers market would be outside the scope of 6050W would be because (1) there are not a “substantial number” of farmers (fewer than 50) to whom a central payor is making payments, (2) payments to any given farmer in the market by such a central payor do not exceed $20,000 in a calendar year or (3) transactions by any given farmer (in which the farmer exchanges redeemed scrip for cash by the central payor) do not exceed 200 in a calendar year.  Depending on the sophistication of the central payor (farmers market), much of this information is already being kept.  Information about the number of vendors to which the central payor makes payment, the number of transactions with each vendor, and the total amount paid out are all relevant items for documentation.  This information should be collected and maintained for each calendar year beginning January 1, 2011.  For more specific legal and taxation advice, farmers markets should seek services of a qualified tax professional.

More information about Internal Revenue Code section 6050W can be found on the IRS web site.  Third party networks subject to full reporting requirements under 6050W can preview form 1099-K here.

 

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2011/08/24/reporting-of-snap-transactions-to-the-irs/feed/ 0 USDA seeks nominations for the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee http://fmmn.org/2011/07/14/1227/ http://fmmn.org/2011/07/14/1227/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:49:10 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=1227 Please see the following notice from USDA.

Are you a fruit and vegetable grower/shipper, wholesaler, broker, retailer, processor, fresh cut processor, foodservice supplier, employee of a state agency involved in organic and non-organic fresh fruits and vegetables at local, regional and/or national levels, employee of a state department of agriculture, or trade associations regarding fruits and vegetables? And do you have ideas for how the USDA can better serve the fruit and vegetable industry?

The USDA is currently collecting nominations for the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. This Committee offers advice to the USDA about pertinent issues regarding the fruit and vegetable industry and provides suggestions and ideas to the Secretary and to the Agricultural Marketing Service about how the Department’s programs can better serve the industry. The Committee is composed of 25 voluntary members chosen by the Secretary of Agriculture, and members serve 2-3 years.

Nominations are due by July 20. Information about the Committee’s functions and the nomination process is in this press release and this Federal Register Notice.

This is an important vehicle for industry members to work directly with the USDA to develop better programs. We hope that you will help us identify effective and visionary nominees for this Committee

Velma R. Lakins
Agricultural Marketing Specialist
USDA/AMS/TM/MSD
1400 Independence Ave., SW, Rm 4523-S
Washington, D.C. 20250-0269
Ph: 202-690-8103
Fax: 202-690-0031

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2011/07/14/1227/feed/ 0 Implications of IRS electronic payment reporting requirements http://fmmn.org/2011/04/19/implications-of-irs-electronic-payment-reporting-requirements/ http://fmmn.org/2011/04/19/implications-of-irs-electronic-payment-reporting-requirements/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:18:13 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=1158 A few short weeks ago, the Farmers Market Coalition became aware of a new Final Rule related to IRS reporting requirements for electronic transactions. This regulation, ‘Information Reporting for Payments Made in Settlement of Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions,’ (6050W, for short) requires that all payments, including EBT, debit, and credit sales, be [...]]]> A few short weeks ago, the Farmers Market Coalition became aware of a new Final Rule related to IRS reporting requirements for electronic transactions. This regulation, ‘Information Reporting for Payments Made in Settlement of Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions,’ (6050W, for short) requires that all payments, including EBT, debit, and credit sales, be reported to the IRS (via 1099K, a form they are currently creating) by the merchant processing companies facilitating these transactions (such as J.P. Morgan, ACS, or Fidelity). Essentially, this is to ensure that the IRS receives an annual record of all the incoming electronic transactions conducted by merchants, whether they’re hardware stores, cafés, farmers markets, or farmers themselves. Nonprofits are not exempt from reporting requirements, according to the IRS.

Read the full story for a detailed analysis of how this will be affecting markets and vendors.

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2011/04/19/implications-of-irs-electronic-payment-reporting-requirements/feed/ 0 House Spending Bill Cuts Small Ag Funding http://fmmn.org/2011/03/01/house-spending-bill-cuts-small-ag-funding/ http://fmmn.org/2011/03/01/house-spending-bill-cuts-small-ag-funding/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:12:48 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=1112 Ohio Action Alert

Two weeks ago, the House passed its spending bill (“continuing resolution”) for Fiscal Year 11 – the year we’re in right now. Their bill would cut over $5.2 BILLION from agriculture – a disproportionate share of the budget! (a 22% cut, compared with 6% from other sectors.)

While the bill does not [...]]]> Ohio Action Alert

Two weeks ago, the House passed its spending bill (“continuing resolution”) for Fiscal Year 11 – the year we’re in right now. Their bill would cut over $5.2 BILLION from agriculture – a disproportionate share of the budget! (a 22% cut, compared with 6% from other sectors.)

While the bill does not cut the Farmers Market Promotion Program, the House does cut severely into many programs that underpin the profitability of farmers who sell at our farmers markets and the communities that our markets serve. For example, farm credit (especially for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers) is severely cut, as are conservation programs (over $500 million cut out of just four conservation programs!) and many research and outreach programs. The bill completely eliminates key programs like ATTRA (the National Sustainable Information Service), the Organic Transitions Research program, and many others.

The Senate is our only hope for pushing back, and we urgently must push our Senators to do so. Please call both our senators and ask them to oppose unjust spending cuts affecting small farms and sustainable and organic farmers.

Sherrod Brown
http://brown.senate.gov/
p (202) 224-2315
f (202) 228-6321
Web Form:  http://brown.senate.gov/contact/

Rob Portman (R – OH)
p (202) 224-3353
Web Form: http://portman.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

The bill (H.R. 1) unfairly targets programs that serve sustainable and organic farmers.  It makes deep cuts in farm credit, agricultural research, and extension.  It slashes funding provided in the 2008 Farm Bill for conservation and would terminate programs that serve beginning and minority farmers without making any cuts to commodity or crop insurance funding. The cuts are reckless and unjust, threatening economic recovery in rural communities struggling to create jobs, find new markets, and renew economic life.

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2011/03/01/house-spending-bill-cuts-small-ag-funding/feed/ 0 Wireless EBT at Farmers Markets to Get Federal Support http://fmmn.org/2011/02/26/farmers-market-coalition-%c2%bb-blog-archive-%c2%bb-fmc-thanks-obama-for-supporting-wireless-ebt-at-farmers-markets/ http://fmmn.org/2011/02/26/farmers-market-coalition-%c2%bb-blog-archive-%c2%bb-fmc-thanks-obama-for-supporting-wireless-ebt-at-farmers-markets/#comments Sat, 26 Feb 2011 21:57:17 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=1109 On February 14th, 2011, President Obama released his proposed budget for FY 2012. Despite more than $3.2 billion in proposed discretionary cuts to the overall USDA Budget, the President showed some Valentine’s Day love for farmers markets by including $4 million in his proposed budget for USDA Food and Nutrition Service for providing wireless POS [...]]]> On February 14th, 2011, President Obama released his proposed budget for FY 2012. Despite more than $3.2 billion in proposed discretionary cuts to the overall USDA Budget, the President showed some Valentine’s Day love for farmers markets by including $4 million in his proposed budget for USDA Food and Nutrition Service for providing wireless POS devices to farmers markets.

The Farmers Market Coalition issued a letter of thanks to the President, Secretary Tom Vilsack, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, and administrators in the Food and Nutrition Service.

Read the full story.

FMMN is a member of the Farmers Market Coalition, in our continuing efforts to bring resources to Ohio Farmers’ Markets.

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2011/02/26/farmers-market-coalition-%c2%bb-blog-archive-%c2%bb-fmc-thanks-obama-for-supporting-wireless-ebt-at-farmers-markets/feed/ 0 Good News for Local Food http://fmmn.org/2011/01/05/good-news-for-local-and-regional-food/ http://fmmn.org/2011/01/05/good-news-for-local-and-regional-food/#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:47:37 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=878 President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act today, after a long bout of legislative wrangling by local food advocates, small farmers and their allies for food safety rules that protect consumers without curbing the growing movement toward fresh, local and regional food.  The food safety bill passed by the House in July of 2009 [...]]]> President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act today, after a long bout of legislative wrangling by local food advocates, small farmers and their allies for food safety rules that protect consumers without curbing the growing movement toward fresh, local and regional food.  The food safety bill passed by the House in July of 2009 would have imposed a one size fits all regulatory system biased toward  industrial agriculture with a regressive registration fee, expensive food safety plans, and regular on-farm FDA inspections regardless of the degree of the potential risk for food borne illness.  The new regulatory burdens threatened to erect formidable barriers to the developing local and regional markets for many small and moderate sized farms.

In the past two years, small farm advocates worked to win small and mid-size farm amendments to the legislation.  One organization that was key to the efforts was the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

The  amendments incorporated into the Food Safety Modernization Act and signed today by the President include:

  • An amendment, sponsored by Senator Sanders (I-VT), giving FDA the authority to either exempt farms engaged in low or no risk processing or co-mingling activities from new regulatory requirements or to modify particular regulatory requirements for such farming operations.
  • An amendment, sponsored by Senator Bennet (D-CO), to reduce unnecessary paperwork and excess regulation required under the preventative control plan and the produce standards sections of the bill, including instructions to FDA to minimize the number of different standards that apply to separate foods, to make requirements scale appropriate, and to prohibit FDA from requiring farms and other food facilities to hire outside consultants to write food safety plans.
  • An amendment, sponsored by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), to provide for a USDA-administered competitive grants program for food safety training for farmers, small processors and wholesalers, with a priority on small and mid-scale farms.
  • An amendment,  sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), to strip the bill of wildlife-threatening enforcement against “animal encroachment” of farms and require FDA to apply sound science to any requirements that might impact wildlife and wildlife habitat.
  • An amendment, sponsored by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), to exempt farmers from extensive and expensive traceability and recordkeeping requirements if they sell food directly to consumers or to grocery stores, to allow labeling that preserves the identity of the farm through to the consumer to satisfy traceability requirements, and to in most cases limit farm recordkeeping to the first point of sale when the product leaves the farm.
  • An amendment, sponsored by Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Kay Hagan (D-NC),to provide a size appropriate and less costly alternative to preventative control plans and produce standards for farmers who:
    • Direct market more than 50% of their products directly to consumers, stores or restaurants,
    • Have gross sales (direct and non-direct combined) of less than $500,000,
    • Sell to consumers, stores, or restaurants that are in-state or within 275 miles, and
    • Provide their customers with their name, address and contact information.

Source: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2011/01/05/good-news-for-local-and-regional-food/feed/ 0 Food Safety Bill moves on to the President’s Desk http://fmmn.org/2010/12/21/senate-passes-food-safety-bill-again/ http://fmmn.org/2010/12/21/senate-passes-food-safety-bill-again/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:55:33 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=871 Earlier today the House of Representatives passed  H.R. 2751 The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act with 215 voting for and 144 against.  Ten Republicans voted for the bill (see Final Vote). This is the bill that the Senate passed by voice vote on Sunday, December 19th, with the Tester-Hagan amendment protecting small farms intact.

The food safety bill hit a roadblock after passing the Senate in late November because a provision requiring the collection of user fees violated the Constitutional mandate that all revenue-generating measures must originate in the House.  House leaders then attached the bill as an amendment to two separate spending bills, neither of which were able to gain Republican support in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) circumvented the original technical mistake by attaching the bill to a House-originated measure (HR 2751) authorizing a cash-for-clunkers program – a “shell bill” with bipartisan support.  Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), who had threatened to filibuster S.510 in November, dropped his objection at the last minute, allowing the food safety bill to pass unanimously.  The Washington Post reported this morning that Coburn staffer John Hart did not know why the Senator relented.

Text of the Bill: HR2751

President Obama is expected to sign the bill before Christmas.

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2010/12/21/senate-passes-food-safety-bill-again/feed/ 0 Farm Link Tool for Beginning Farmers http://fmmn.org/2010/12/13/farm-link-tool-for-beginning-farmers/ http://fmmn.org/2010/12/13/farm-link-tool-for-beginning-farmers/#comments Tue, 14 Dec 2010 03:17:05 +0000 Mayda http://fmmn.org/?p=868 On Monday, December 13, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the release of TIP Net, an online tool to help link retiring farmers who have expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts with beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers who want to buy or rent land for their operations.

Under the Transition Incentives Program (TIP), administered [...]]]> On Monday, December 13, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the release of TIP Net, an online tool to help link retiring farmers who have expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts with beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers who want to buy or rent land for their operations.

Under the Transition Incentives Program (TIP), administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency, retired or retiring owners or operators with expiring CRP contracts can receive up to two additional annual rental payments if they sell or lease the CRP land to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers who are interested in bringing the land into production using sustainable grazing or crop production methods, including transitioning to organic.

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition » Archive » USDA Introduces Online Farm Link Tool for Beginning Farmers.

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]]> http://fmmn.org/2010/12/13/farm-link-tool-for-beginning-farmers/feed/ 0