23rd Annual Conference
Climate and Economic Impacts – Changing and Adapting for Success in Indian Agriculture and Livestock
January 18 – 20, 2011
Avi RESORT AND CASINO
LAUGHLIN, NEVADA
Monday – January 17, 2011–10:00 am – SWIAA Work Session – prepare Conference packets
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Early Registration
Tuesday – January 18, 2011
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Registration
9:00 Opening Ceremonies
Posting of Colors – SWIAA Veterans
National Anthem – Tanisha Crawford, Tohono O’odham Nation
Welcome –Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe - Chairperson
9:30“Colorado River Update” – Ms. Ruth M. Thayer, Program Manager, Native American Affairs Office, Lower Colorado Region, US Bureau of Reclamation
Update on Colorado River system storage, environmental concerns and issues for water management.
10:30 Refreshment Break
10:45Monero Mustang Sanctuary – Ms. Sandi Claymore
11:30BioSoil Enhancers – Mr. Tom Fridena/Wells Hampton
12:00Lunch on your Own
1:30 pm“Agricultural Taxes” – Ms. Ruby Ward, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Utah State University
2:15Renewable Energy and Agriculture – Growing Sweet Sorghum for Ethanol Production
Mark Riley, Ph.D.Professor and HeadAg. and Biosystems Engineering
3:00Refreshment Break
3:15Business Plan for Successful Agriculture – Ms. Donna Matthews, NRCS
Farming and ranching is too often seen as just what we do rather than a business. This presentation will share some easy to use tools that will take the mystery out of business planning for your agriculture operation. Business plans can help you determine which areas of your operation are or are not making money, plan for the future and have the information you need to obtain funding for improvements and growth.
4:00SWIAA Annual Membership Meeting
5:00Get Acquainted & Renew Old Friendships
Wednesday – January 19, 2011
9:00 amWatershed Impacts Due to Climate Change – Mr. Zack Guido, Associate Physical Scientist, Climate Assessment of the Southwest (CLIMAS)
9:45“Touch of Love” – Mr. Steve Harris presents wildhorse management
10:30Refreshment Break
10:45“Crop Rotation and Cover Crops” – Mr. Bruce Munda, Plant Resource Specialist, USDA NRCS Tucson Plant Materials Center and Robert Sotomayor, Ag Development Specialist
Soil improvement practices, use of organic matter types, legume plantings, use of natural soil bio-materials.
12:00Lunch on your Own
1:30 pm“Agricultural Improvement Practice, EQIP program, on the Navajo Nation” – Mr. Gilbert Harrison, Sr.
Personal experience applying for, implementing, and results ofuse of an EQIP grant. Presentation based on twoseparate EQIP grants and ability to carry outbothgrantrequirements to improve 17 acre farm on the Navajo Reservation. Work included plan, design, construction, and now use the system.
2:15“Animal Disease Traceability Framework” – Dr. Terry Clark, APHIS
3:00Refreshment Break
3:15“FTREP Assessment Results” – Dr. Joseph Hiller, Assistant Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona
Provide information and update of the “Needs Assessment of Extension in Indian Country.
4:00“Keepseagle v. Vilsack-Announcing Native American Farmers' Settlement with USDA” – Mr. Anurag Varma, Patton Boggs, LLP
4:30RMA’s new Pasture, Rangeland and Forage insurance program – Mr. Richard Mansfield, Risk Management Specialist, Davis Regional Office
6:00Social Hour, Dinner and Awards
8:00Entertainment – Dance to the Music of Midnite Rez
Thursday – January 20, 2011
9:00 amGreenhouse Experiences –Mr. David Elder, Owner of Elder’s Greenhouse & Garden, Aztec, NM.
Gardening and vegetable transplants (from the greenhouse), flame weeding, unconventional transplants, plastic mulch (colors), economically viable, continued learning, fellow comrades/partners.
9:45 amSchool Gardens – How do they Grow? Robert Sotomayor, Agricultural Specialists
Justifications for school gardens, mini-orchards, green houses; training teachers and students; developing budgets; sources of seeds, trees, equipment and tools; and integration of school gardens into school curricula
10:30Refreshment Break
10:45“Financial Assistance and Success with Indian Agriculture” – Ms. Shawneen Stevenson, Farm Loan Manager, and Angela Roberts, Farm Loan Officer USDA Arizona Farm Service Agency
The US Dept. of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is committed to providing family farmers with assistance to meet their farm needs. This assistance includes farm loans for operating expenses, equipment and livestock purchases, family living expenses, etc.In addition, the Conservation Loan Program (CLP) is an opportunity for many family farmers to possibly secure loans to make conservation improvements to their land.Arizona FSA provided $634,825 in direct loan funds to American Indian farmers and ranchers in FY 2010. FSA also provides producers with financial assistance for crop production and/or quality losses due to natural disasters, wool and mohair assistance programs, emergency water hauling for livestock, dairy loss assistance, etc.
11:30“Precision Agriculture” – Mr. Joshua Moore, Colorado River Indian Tribes
12:00Luncheon and Scholarship Awards – Anika Enos, Gila River Indian Community; Alexandra Carlisle, Navajo Nation and Edward Poncho, Pueblo of Laguna
1:30 pm“Agricultural Enhancement, Protection and Education” – Anika Enos, Gila River Indian Community
1:50“Agricultural Enhancement, Protection and Education” – Alexandra Carlisle, Navajo Nation
2:20“Agricultural Enhancement, Protection and Education” – Edward Poncho, Pueblo of Laguna
2:30Closing Ceremonies
3:30SWIAA Executive Meeting