Local farmers & ranchers learn about benefits through USDA

By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Copyright 2013

Maverick County farmers, ranchers, producers, and landowners learned about the many benefits and programs available to them through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at a Maverick County Agriculture Workshop sponsored by the Texas Farm Service Agency on Thursday, September 12, 2013, held at the County Extension Service Office located at the Zan Matthies Show Barn in the Maverick County Lake on 2350 Main Street.

Texas Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Judith A. Canales welcomed local farmers, ranchers, landowners, and producers attending the important Maverick County Agriculture Workshop and introduced them to all the USDA programs and representatives present at the workshop. Canales stated that she “pledges to help all Maverick Countians interested in participating in any USDA program or benefits and to bring future seminars and workshops to Eagle Pass regarding USDA programs.” Canales stated that USDA through its many agencies and programs is a critical partner in bringing economic and agricultural development to rural communities in the United States, including Maverick County. Canales encouraged Maverick County ranchers, farmers, producers, and landowners to take advantage of the many programs and benefits available at USDA and its supporting agencies.

Other speakers at the Maverick County Agriculture Workshop included Joe Lopez, District Director of the Texas Farm Service Agency; Serafin Aguirre, District Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service; Joe De Ochoa, Area Director, Texas USDA Rural Development; and Oscar Galindo, Maverick County Extension Service Agent, Texas A & M Agrilife Extension Service. Also assisting at the workshop was Ivan Camacho of the Texas/Mexico Border Coalition, a Community-Based Organization, and Sarah Webb, Farm Loan Manager of the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Approximately 20 local and out-of-county farmers, ranchers, producers, and landowners attended the Maverick County Agriculture Workshop.

For more information, please call Joe De Ochoa, Area Director, USDA Texas Rural Development at (830) 278-9503; Sarah Webb, Farm Loan Manager, USDA Texas Farm Service Agency at (830) 278-4571; Serafin M. Aguirre, District Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service at (830) 773-2518; or Oscar Galindo, Maverick County Extension Service Agent at (830) 773-5064.