The training programs provide information about safe pesticide use, pest management and environmental stewardship.

Programs are scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 13 at the Kenesaw Senior Center in Kenesaw and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. that day at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Hastings.

Farmers may satisfy the certification requirement in one of two ways: Either attend a private pesticide safety training program or complete a pesticide safety self- study course.

The private pesticide safety courses are offered this spring by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. The self-study course materials are available throughout the year at all UNL Extension offices.

Applications to restore wetlands are being taken

Natural Resources Conservation Service offices are accepting applications from Nebraska landowners who want to restore a wetland on their property with the Wetlands Reserve Program.

"Winter is a perfect time to start the process and get further information if you are interested in restoring a wetland," said Steve Chick, NRCS conservationist. "Getting a wetland restored takes some time to design the wetlands work to be done, get an appraisal of the land, file an easement (if desired) on the land and actually get the restoration work completed. If a person came into the office today, it would be several months before all those factors are worked out. There is no commitment by the landowner until near the end of the process."

Wetlands provide several natural benefits, Chick said. They can act as a filter for water that passes through or perhaps is stored there. They also benefit wildlife in the wetland and the surrounding area. Landowners can profit from recreational activities like birdwatching or lease hunting.

"Wetlands can be grazed if it is part of the plan approved by NRCS," said Chick.

The conservationist said both the Senate and House versions of a new farm bill include a Wetlands Reserve Program.

Landowners can select from three options: a 10-year restoration cost-share agreement, a 30-year conservation easement and permanent easements. WRP is a voluntary program and the landowner retains ownership and control.

"An inter-agency team led by NRCS will meet with the landowner to discuss the wetland restoration and so all questions about design, wildlife concerns and plant varieties can be answered in one-stop," Chick said.

In Nebraska, more than 450 landowners have enrolled 62,800 acres into the program, with 45,000 of those being restored lands.

"We can provide the financial assistance and technical design to complete the job," Chick said.

More information on restoring a wetland through WRP is available at www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov/programs or at an NRCS office in any USDA Service Center.

More than $100 million invested in rural Nebraska

The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development has released its' 2007 Annual Report for Nebraska. The report reveals that $109.7 million was infused into the state's rural economy to assist in areas of housing, utilities, community facilities, business, telecommunications, value-added and energy.

"USDA Rural Development is a leading advocate for rural Nebraska, as our annual report witnesses," said Scot Blehm, state director of USDA Rural Development. "We offer an array of programs that bring a greater quality of life to rural areas. These benefits are multiplied when our resources are leveraged with those of our many partners."

The report reveals that 536 households became rural homeowners, with 126 existing rural homeowners receiving needed home repairs. A 10-unit group home will be built in Beatrice, while five existing rural rental housing complexes are slated to receive updates.

Nearly 3,900 tenants of Rural Development rural rental housing complexes were assisted with affordable rents. Twenty-one community facility projects received dollars for health care and assisted-living facilities, emergency equipment, sirens or community buildings.

A dependable supply of quality water will be delivered to rural Nebraskans via 13 water projects. Sanitary waste disposal improvements are scheduled for five rural communities.

"It is Rural Development's desire to become a household name as the ... lender of first opportunity and an asset in the financial toolbox of each rural community," Blehm said. "We encourage rural residents and communities to contact us about the needs of their rural area."

$18.4 million available for value-added ventures

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is accepting competitive applications for $18.4 million in grants to develop value-added agriculture business ventures and alternative sources of renewable energy.

The $18.4 million offered through the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program encourages independent producers of agricultural commodities to process their raw products into marketable and value-added goods, thereby increasing farm income.

The VAPG program is open to eligible independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.

Value-added products are those agricultural products that gain value through processing, production, segregation or other means, or produce renewable energy on a farm or ranch. The maximum allowable grant amount is $100,000 for a planning grant and $300,000 for working capital. Matching funds are required for eligibility.

Grant funds may be used to fund one of the following two: (1) planning activities needed to establish a viable value-added marketing opportunity for an agricultural product (e.g., conduct a feasibility study and/or develop a business or marketing plan); or (2) acquiring working capital to operate a value-added business venture that will allow producers to better compete in domestic and international markets.

Applications must be postmarked no later than March 31. Detailed information about application and program requirements is included in the Jan. 28 publication of the Federal Register.

For further VAPG program information, an application package or assistance with grant applications, contact your local USDA Rural Development Office: Ainsworth, (402) 387-2242; Kearney, (308) 237-3118; North Platte, (308) 534-2360; Norfolk, (402) 371-5350; Lincoln, (402) 423-9683; Lincoln State Office (402) 437-5554.

Additional program information can be found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm. An application template can be found at: http://fpc.unl.edu/Business/grant.shtml.