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Tractor Supply Launches Annual FFA Fundraiser

Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, has launched its ninth annual National Future Farmers of America Organization T-shirt fundraiser. For a limited time, customers can purchase special-edition FFA T-shirts exclusively at Tractor Supply stores nationwide and online to support FFA and its ongoing commitment to the future of agriculture.

Campaign proceeds will be distributed to FFA chapters across the country, funding agricultural programs and activities for students and alumni in support of future leaders at the National FFA Convention & Expo, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, Nov. 1-4.

The T-shirt fundraiser has generated nearly $2.2 million in sales since the program’s inception in 2015, with 2022 marking the highest T-shirt sales to date at $412,812. Tractor Supply also proudly supports FFA and its mission through multiple annual fundraising events, such as Grants for Growing and many activities at the local level.

“We are immensely proud to announce our partnership with FFA in this year’s T-shirt campaign,” said Kimberley Gardiner, chief marketing officer of Tractor Supply. “Each shirt sold is a symbol of our long-standing commitment to empowering the future of agriculture. With every purchase, we are not only supporting FFA but also investing in the dreams and aspirations of future leaders in our community.”

The campaign will benefit four programs: the Living to Serve student community empowerment program; Alumni Legacy Grants, which provide $1,000 scholarships annually to students pursuing degrees in agricultural education’ New Farmers of America Archives aimed at promoting inclusivity and accommodating students of all races and backgrounds; and Gift of Blue, which provides funding for members who might not otherwise be able to afford their own jackets.

For more information on the fundraiser, visit TractorSupply.com/FFA and follow Tractor Supply on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

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SEG Gives 1.5 Million Meals During Hunger Action Month

Winn Dixie sponsored Mobile Pantry handout at the Goodwill in New Orleans on July 26, 2021.

Southeastern Grocers Inc., parent company of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, is donating more than 1 million meals to Feeding America and an additional 500,000 meals between five of its network food banks in the Southeast to help alleviate hunger in underserved communities during Hunger Action Month.

The grocer also launched its in-store community donation program to benefit the American Red Cross’ disaster relief efforts to support people affected by disasters, big and small. The community donation program will run during peak hurricane season and following the devastating impact from Hurricane Idalia throughout the Southeast.

Raymond Rhee, chief people officer for Southeastern Grocers, said“As a grocer serving five coastal states, we have witnessed firsthand how a natural disaster’s impact can amplify the struggles faced by millions of families across the Southeast, many of whom already carry the burden of food insecurity.

“Today and every day, we are dedicated to supporting our neighbors to ensure no one faces these hardships alone. Through our ongoing partnerships with Feeding America and the American Red Cross, we turn compassion into action by nourishing and rebuilding our communities when they need us most.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to fight hunger, SEG and the SEG Gives Foundation will provide $100,000 to Feeding America, plus $50,000 in additional monetary contributions to five Feeding America food banks within the grocer’s footprint. SEG will also host five mobile food pantry events during Hunger Action Month with the following local Feeding America network food banks to provide more than 76,000 pounds of fresh produce and shelf-stable products to thousands of families and individuals who face hunger daily:

  • Feeding Northeast Florida
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
  • Feeding Tampa Bay
  • Feeding South Florida
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana

Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month is held annually each September to raise awareness of the hunger crisis nationwide. According to Feeding America, 1 in 6 people across the United States relied on charitable food assistance at least once in 2022.

SEG and the SEG Gives Foundation remain steadfast in their commitment to help ease the burden for those struggling to put food on the table. The grocer recently donated $160,000 to eight Southeast food banks to help combat food insecurity among families during the summer months. SEG donated more than $700,000 and 14 million pounds of food to help alleviate hunger across its five-state footprint last year.

Additionally, the grocer is launching an in-store community donation program to benefit the American Red Cross in support of its mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies​. Customers can help equip the nonprofit by donating $1, $5 or simply rounding up their grocery bill while shopping their local Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores now through Sept. 26.

Every dollar donated through SEG’s community donation program will help support Red Cross Disaster Relief, which provides essential aid to those affected by disasters across the country, including food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance.

Last year, SEG, together with the SEG Gives Foundation and generous customers, donated more than $600,000 to support disaster relief efforts. The grocer was also recently recognized by the Northeast Florida Chapter of the Red Cross as their Community Partner of the Year. The recognition followed SEG’s vital aid response to destructive flooding in Fort Lauderdale earlier this year where local associates distributed meals and water to residents to support the community during recovery efforts.

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USDA Milk Loss Assistance Announced

The U.S Department of Agriculture announced Milk Loss Program assistance for eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed, without compensation, from the commercial milk market due to qualifying weather events and the consequences of those weather events that inhibited delivery or storage of milk (e.g., power outages, impassable roads, infrastructure losses, etc.) during calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Administered by the Farm Service Agency, signup for MLP begins Sept. 11 and runs through Oct. 16, 2023.

“Frequent and widespread weather-related disasters over the past three years have impacted U.S. dairy. These producers continue to face supply chain issues, high feed and input costs, labor shortages, and market volatilities,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “The reality for dairy producers is that cattle are milked at least twice a day, producing on average, six to seven gallons of milk per cow, per day.

“That milk must go somewhere, and when it can’t get where it needs to go and can’t be stored due to circumstances beyond a producer’s control we need to help. The Milk Loss Program will help offset the economic loss by producers left with no other choice but dumping their milk during disasters.”

On Dec. 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 117-43), providing $10 billion for crop losses, including milk losses due to qualifying disaster events that occurred in calendar years 2020 and 2021.  Additionally, the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328) provides approximately $3 billion for disaster assistance for similar losses that occurred in calendar year 2022.

MLP compensates dairy operations for milk dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market due to qualifying disaster events, including droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), and smoke exposure that occurred in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 calendar years. Tornadoes are considered a qualifying disaster event for calendar year 2022 only.

The milk loss claim period is each calendar month that milk was dumped or removed from the commercial market. Each MLP application covers the loss in a single calendar month.  Milk loss that occurs in more than one calendar month due to the same qualifying weather event requires a separate application for each month.

The days that are eligible for assistance begin on the date the milk was removed or dumped and for concurrent days milk was removed or dumped. Once the dairy operation restarts milk marketing, the dairy operation is ineligible for assistance unless after restarting commercial milk marketing, additional milk is dumped due to the same qualifying disaster event. The duration of yearly claims is limited to 30 days per year for 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms can contact their local FSA county office.

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