Organic Cider Production Farm Walk & Livestock Producers Disaster Assistance Program

I'm Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

On September 8 Washington's only certified organic cidery, Alpenfire Orchards in Port Townsend, will be hosting a Tilth Producers of Washington and WSU Small Farms Program Farm Walk. Angela Anegon, Education Coordinator with Tilth Producers of Washington.

ANEGON: So they will be showing us their management of their diverse cider apple orchards and how they produce those hard apple ciders as well as their value added vinegars.

Alpenfire Orchards owners and operators Steve and Nancy Bishop planted their orchard in 2004 with more than 800 trees representing Early American, English and French cider specific apple varieties that have been used for hundreds of years because of their unique cider production qualities. For more Farm Walk registration and location information visit www.tilthproducers.org.

In order to secure assistance by September 30, 2014 livestock producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency office as soon as possible; as congressionally mandated payment reductions will take place for producers who have not acted before that date. USDA encourages producers to register, request an appointment or begin a Livestock Forage Disaster Program application with their local FSA office before October 1, 2014to lock in the current zero percent sequestration rate. For further details producers should contact their local FSA office.

That's Washington Ag Today.

I'm Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.