Love at First Crush

This past weekend the Morrison & Company team had the opportunity to take part in Pacific Farms and Orchard's Love at First Crush event in Gerber, California.

                    

Pacific Farms and Orchards, a Morrison & Company client, is a third generation family owned and operated farming operation. They farm prunes, walnuts, almonds, but most people probably know them for their award-winning Pacific Sun Olive Oil. Pacific Farms has its own olive mill and on Saturday, the public was invited out to the farm to see how extra virgin olive oil is made.

We had fun tasting the olive oil (especially the Meyer Lemon oil) and learning a little bit more about the Tehama County farm and how they make their world class olive oil.  We're already looking forward to heading out to the farm next year!

Roberti Ranch Solar Ribbon Cutting

Jane Roberti, Stacy Kennedy of Morrison & Company, and Dave Roberti

On Friday the Morrison & Company team had the wonderful opportunity to head to Sierra County in Northeast California to celebrate Roberti Ranch and the official unveiling of their 500 kilowatt solar system.

Dave Roberti and his family run a cattle and hay operation in rural Loyalton, California and were looking for a way to decrease the costs to power their nine 100-horsepower irrigation pumps. The family decided on solar energy and contacted Morrison & Company to help with a Rural Energy for America Program grant.

With Morrison & Company's help, Roberti Ranch was successful with their grant application and ended up securing the largest REAP grant award in California at $204,000 and the largest REAP loan guarantee in the nation at $1.4 million.

Roberti Ranch's solar project is the first in the Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative District and officially went online September 28.

We were so honored to take part in Roberti Ranch's project and to witness what hours of grant writing can help achieve.

If you're interested in learning more about REAP and the opportunities that may exist for your farming or ranching operation visit here or contact Morrison & Company at (530) 893-4764.

Brent Morrison, Hugh Mattingly of Tri Counties Bank and Stacy Kennedy






Stacy Kennedy, Toni Scott, Brent Morrison

FAFCO Solar Water Heating

Brent Morrison enjoying a tour of FAFCO

Morrison & Company recently had the opportunity to meet with the amazing team at FAFCO, the oldest and  largest solar thermal manufacturer in the United States.

FAFCO, based in Chico, California, has developed revolutionary solar water heating technology, which uses unglazed polymer solar collectors to capture the sun's energy. The energy collected is used in a FAFCO solar hot water system which feeds into a company's existing boiler and water supply to pre-heat water.

 FAFCO's technology is able save customers considerable energy costs and with assistance from the California Solar Initiative and other sources, FAFCO estimates that users can experience a three to four year payback on investment. Long known for their swimming pool heater applications, FAFCO sees this technology assisting residential and business owners alike, with a particular benefit for large users of water like food processors. FAFCO's first large industrial installation is set for later this fall at a Butte County, California, dried fruit processor.

Morrison & Company is delighted to be a part of the conversation as FAFCO is rolling out this new technology and we'll post updates on this blog as new developments emerge. Congrats FAFCO! 

Morrison & Company Client Awarded REAP Grant Funding

The USDA recently released the recipients of grants and loan guarantees through the Rural Energy for America Program and Morrison & Company was pleased to see one of our clients included on the list of successful awardees.

Morrison & Company worked with Roberti  Ranch (see our previous blog post here) to complete a REAP application. Roberti Ranch was one of the 500 agricultural producers across the country receiving funding through REAP. Collectively, the USDA awarded a total $27 million in REAP funding to project nationwide.

Roberti Ranch was awarded almost $205,000 in grant funding and received a $1.4 million loan guarantee.  Five other REAP recipients hailed from California, with Roberti Ranch receiving the highest grant award in the state.

Roberti Ranch will use the funding for a solar project that will help offset electricity costs on their Sierra County hay and cattle ranch. Morrison & Company is planning to travel to see the project in October.

If you're interested in learning more about REAP, visit the program website here. The 2012 program will likely be released midyear. To stay informed on grant announcements for REAP and other USDA grant programs, be sure to subscribe to our blog.

Geoff Chinnock graduates from Civic Pioneers Institute

Earlier this month, Morrison & Company celebrated with Geoff has he completed a year-long leadership program through the Civic Pioneers Institute.

Over the last 12 months, Geoff attended monthly leadership sessions and  workshops designed to provide professional development and civic engagement.  He joined several other local  professionals in government, private business, education and non-profits.

We are so proud of Geoff's accomplishments through the Civic Pioneers Institute and are excited for him to join the impressive list of program alumni.

Congrats Geoff!

Roberti Ranch Solar Project

Credit: CA Farm Bureau

We are so excited to get our copy of the California Farm Bureau Federation's Ag Alert this week!

Dave Roberti, one of Morrison & Company's favorite clients, is featured in the publication for his solar project that is currently being installed on his Sierra County hay and cattle ranch. You can check out the online version of the story here.

Roberti Ranch worked with our talented Morrison & Company team to apply for Rural Energy for America Program funding to help finance the project and was successful in securing funding. Morrison & Company has had a 100% success rate with the Rural Energy for America Program.

If you're interested in learning more about the Rural Energy for America Program check out one of our past blog posts here. The 2011 program is closed, though the 2012 program is likely to be released by midyear.

Morrison & Company is looking forward to traveling to Roberti Ranch to see the impressive solar array this Fall. Be sure to check back on our blog for pictures and more information on the project at the end of the month, or subscribe to our blog at the right of this page so you don't miss it!

Morrison & Company Welcomes New Consultant

Tim already hard at work in his Morrison & Company office.

Today, Morrison & Company welcomed its newest consultant, Tim Peters of Chico.

Tim grew up in nearby Willows, California, graduated with an accounting degree from Chico State and most recently worked for Chico-based CPA firm Matson and Isom.

Like Geoff, Stacy and Brent, Tim brings his experience as a CPA and background in accounting to Morrison & Company and is excited to put his talents to use for the clients we serve in food, agribusiness, processing, distribution, alternative energy, manufacturing and other industries.

Stay tuned to this blog for more information on Tim, as we will surely be documenting his adventures with  Morrison & Company.  

New Clairvaux Blessing of the Grapes

Last week, Toni from our Morrison & Company team had the opportunity to attend New Clairvaux Vineyard's Blessing of the Grapes. (See a video here)

The event, held at the Abbey of New Clairvaux, was beautiful and offered a glimpse into the community of Trappist monks who grow the grapes for wine. The blessing offered a reminder to give our best out of our gratitude for the blessings we have received.

Deep into our "harvest" season of Value Added Producer Grant writing, Morrison & Company has much to be thankful for, and our team is certainly working hard right now to give our all to our clients.

Once we're done with our "harvest" we're looking forward to taking a trip back up to the vineyard and abbey to enjoy the bounty of New Clairvaux's harvest. 

Butte County Farm Bureau Partner BBQ

Brent Morrison, Sarah Reynolds of Llano Seco Rancho and Toni Scott enjoy the Butte County Farm Bureau Partner BBQ. If you look in the distance, you can see Geoff Chinnock discussing olive oil production with a Butte County grower.

Morrison and Company has been extremely busy these past few weeks, as our team works to complete proposals for the 2010 USDA Value Added Producer Grant Program (visit our Morrison Grants blog post here for an update).

Still, there's always time for good food and good company and Brent, Geoff and Toni had a great time last week at the Butte County Farm Bureau Partner BBQ. The meal showcased why we love our farmers so much (thank you beef cattle ranchers) and Chico's own Cupcake Crusader provided a divine dessert option.

We're already looking forward to next year!

Game Changers of the Year

Last week, the winners of the California Agriculture Innovation Awards were announced and two of Morrison & Company’s clients made the final list.

Lundberg Family Farms was honored as the 2011 Game Changer of the Year award in the category of Innovation in Organics and Blue Diamond Growers won in the Global Market Leadership category. Twelve Game Changers were announced and all will be honored at Grow California Agriculture Innovation Conference this week. Though they didn’t make the final list, Sunsweet Growers, another Morrison & Company client was in the top 25.

For more information on the conference visit this link and to learn more about the types of services Morrison & Company offers, click here. Congrats to Lundberg and Blue Diamond!

California Agriculture Innovation Awards

The top 25 finalists for the California Agriculture Innovation Awards were announced this week and we were proud to see three Morrison & Company clients on the list.  Sunsweet Growers, Lundberg Family Farms and Blue Diamond Growers were all highlighted for their remarkable accomplishments in ag innovation.

Consultant Toni Scott was also pleased that alma mater California State University, Chico’s College of Agriculture is a finalist. Toni graduated from CSUC with her undergraduate degree in political science and agriculture business and her first professional writing job was for the CSUC College of Agriculture.

Twelve of the 25 finalists will be chosen in their respective categories as a 2011 Game Changer;  the awards will be presented by California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross and will include an official state resolution from the California Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy.  Award recipients will be announced at the Grow California Agriculture Innovation Conference July 21 at University of California, Davis.

For more information on the conference visit this link. To see a representative list of the great clients Morrison & Company serves in food, agribusiness, processing, distribution, alternative energy, and manufacturing, click here.

Chico Chamber Community BBQ and Cook-Off

Morrison & Company’s Toni Scott is proud to be a committed leader in Chico’s Young Professionals Organization.

Thursday evening the group had the opportunity to participate in the Chico Chamber of Commerce Community BBQ and Cook-Off at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. The YPO team had a great time celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of R.W. Knudsen Family, one of Chico’s premier businesses, as well as networking with members of our beloved community.

YPO’s Spin it to Win it game was a hit with attendees and was almost as popular as Sierra Nevada’s booth!

This week, YPO will host a luncheon featuring guest speaker Brian Grossman of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Follow this link to learn more about the luncheon and to RSVP for the informative and fun event.

Morrison & Company is dedicated to investing in our community through organizations like YPO. If you are interested in learning more about YPO or the Chico Chamber of Commerce, follow this link.

To learn about the professionals at Morrison & Company and the other organizations they support, click here.

A morning with Transfer Flow

Geoff with a Transfer Flow fuel tank

This morning Geoff and Toni with the Morrison & Company team were treated to a tour of Transfer Flow, Inc. 

The fascinating Chico company is a full service fuel system manufacturer for van conversion, body builder and OEM manufacturers.

Their tanks, which are designed by top engineers and go through rigorous testing, increase fuel capacity and driving range.

Transfer Flow is consistently on the cutting edge of innovation and company co-founder Bill Gaines is a strong proponent of propane as an alternative energy source.

Technology already exists for a liquid propane autogas system and Gaines says liquid propane is cheaper and cleaner than other alternative fuel sources. The technology has positive benefits for any industry, especially agriculture, where producers are consistently facing rising fuel costs and regulations. 

As a proud supporter of propane energy, Transfer Flow is hosting California’s first Propane and Installation Training Program. The free 5-day course will provide an overview of alternative fuels and hands-on training with a liquid propane autogas system.

For more information on the class go here. It’s certainly an opportunity that you will want to be a part of. Check out this story written about Transfer Flow for more information about the company and be sure to watch this video.

Morrison & Company always considers it an honor when we get to spend time learning about great businesses that are doing remarkable things. Not only does the information we learn benefit our clients, but it also allows us to build meaningful relationships with people whose accomplishments leave us inspired.

If you have an inspirational idea for your business, check out our information on planning and feasibility. Every good idea need a great business plan, and we have the expertise to help you accomplish your dreams. You might also want to check out our grants database to see if there’s alternative financing available for your venture.

Agricultural Council of California Legislative Day



Brent and Governor Jerry Brown

Brent Morrison and Geoff Chinnock of the Morrison & Company team spent Tuesday in Sacramento at the Agricultural Council of California’s Legislative Day.

As allied members of the Ag Council, Morrison & Company was brought up to speed on the council’s work at the capitol. The Ag Council provides a unified voice for cooperatives and other farmer-owned businesses in the state legislative and regulatory arenas.

Members were also provided an opportunity to meet with state legislators and Brent and Geoff spent some quality time with Senator Doug LaMalfa and Assemblyman Dan Logue.

Geoff, Senator Doug LaMalfa, and Brent

The event ended with a reception, where Brent and Geoff mingled with California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, Assemblyman Jim Nielsen and California State Governor Jerry Brown.

Morrison & Company’s participation in the Ag Council’s Legislative Day exemplifies our commitment to stay engaged in the agriculture industry. With so many of our clients hailing from the agribusiness sector, we consider it our duty to know the issues facing the agriculture industry and the solutions we can help foster.

To learn more about Morrison & Company’s dedicated team, check out our about page, or for a representative list of the businesses we serve, click here.





National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives Conference

Stacy Kennedy, Geoff Chinnock, Toni Scott and Brent Morrison at the NSAC meeting in Napa.

Last week, the Morrison & Company team  traveled to beautiful Napa to take part in the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives Far Western Chapter Annual Meeting.

Stacy and Toni came down a day early to take part in the educational program where they learned what exactly a cooperative is and why it is a beneficial business model. They also stayed enthralled as they were educated on the unique accounting and taxing practices that apply to cooperatives. 

Brent and Geoff joined Stacy and Toni later on, and together the entire Morrison and Company team attended the conference's general program which included an amazing line-up of guest speakers.

We already bragged about getting to hear from California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger, but we were also treated to addresses from Emily Rooney, Agriculture Council of California president, former California State Assemblyman Rick Keene and economist Gary Zimmerman.

We were also lucky enough to win some fabulous raffle prizes. Toni walked away with her favorite flavor of Blue Diamond Almonds (dark chocolate mint), Stacy scored a great hat and some fruit cups courtesy of Pacific Coast Producers and we were all treated to CoBank pens and Sunsweet Plum Amazins at our seats! Stacy also won the meeting's grand prize...an iPad! She's excited to put it to use to serve our great clients.

We can't wait until next year's meeting. See you in Tahoe!

Morrison & Company In Napa



Geoff Chinnock and Stacy Kennedy of Morrison & Company take a break at the NSAC conference.

The Morrison and Company team is spending this week in Napa at the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives Far Western Chapter Annual Meeting.
Some of our most valued clients are cooperatives and we continually strive to remain informed of and engaged in the unique issues facing these grower-owned companies.

We spent today learning about new tax regulations, water issues and how to best maximize profits for cooperatives and were treated to a host of excellent speakers, including California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger.We are having a great time educating ourselves, while connecting with some of the most talented professionals in agribusiness.

There's still one day left of the conference and we are thrilled to return to Chico and share more photos and information with you! Be sure to check back on our website for a full recap of the meeting highlights.

Showcasing your talents

At Morrison & Company, every person on our team has a broad range of talents that we have picked up through professional and life experiences.

Some of those talents, we use in our everyday work. Others only get put into action on occasion.

Earlier this week, Consultant Toni Scott was able to put to use one of her lesser known accomplishments as she judged the Miss Glenn County competition.

Toni representing the California dairy industry
circa 2003

Toni represented her home county as Miss Del Norte in 2002-2003 and was a Dairy Princess.

The scholarship money earned from both endeavors helped pay for her college education and equipped her with the leadership, networking and public speaking skills that make her successful today. Though Toni no longer walks around in her crown and sash (at least in public) that experience set the foundation a strong future.

Every company has those qualities, those experiences in their past that have brought them to where they are today. Sometimes we forget about those characteristics or we’re too humble to talk about them with others.

At Morrison & Company, we pride ourselves on bringing to light all the great things your company stands for. Whether it’s on a grant application, a business plan or a feasibility study, we take the time to get to know you – all your talents and accomplishments – to ensure that we accurately represent all that you stand for. Your business may not boast a former pageant princess, but we’re confident you’ve have some royal success that we can help promote.

Morrison Celebrates with Alternative Energy Systems

Toni Scott, Geoff Chinnock and Brent Morrison of Morrison & Company enjoy the ribbon cutting for an Alternative Energy Systems solar project.

Yesterday, Morrison & Company had the chance to celebrate with the Boys and Girls Club of Chico as they welcomed the new installation of solar panels on one of their downtown Chico buildings.

Chico’s Alternative Energy Systems, Inc. managed the project and launched a fundraising campaign to ensure its success. For every solar contract AES secured, they donated $500 to a fund specifically for the Boys and Girls Club project. The fund reached $25,000 in March and Pacific Gas and Electric stepped in to match that with another $25,000.



Brent Morrison learns about Sunpower solar



The solar panels, which are Sunpower technology, were recently installed by AES on the rooftop of the Boys and Girls Club gym and storage facility. The nonprofit organization expects to save $5,500 in annual energy costs by going solar.

We’ve worked with AES in the past on on-farm solar projects and were happy to show our support of their latest success. Their work includes commercial, residential and agricultural projects and they are a dedicated, organized and talented team to work with. Alternative energy makes good economic and environmental sense and we’ve been able to help several farming operations make the shift to solar. If you’re thinking about transitioning to solar power be sure to read our blog posts about the Rural Energy for America Program and contact us with any further questions.

California Olive Ranch Gets Rave Review

At Morrison & Company, we are proud to represent some of the best clients in agribusiness.

We of course know that, but it’s great when other people recognize it to.

Phil Lempert, the infamous Supermarket Guru, is a leading food industry analyst, journalist and trend-watcher. He produces daily reports on food news and also offers new product reviews.

This weekend, Lempert raved about California Olive Ranch Olive Oil on Doug Stephan’s Good Day, a national talk radio program that is heard on more than 350 radio stations by more than 3.5 million listeners every week.

California Olive Ranch is the largest producer of olive oil in the U.S. and has been one of Morrison & Company’s esteemed clients for several years. Naturally, we were proud to hear the outstanding review.

Lempert said he has tried olive oil from all over the world, but had never tasted anything as good as California Olive Ranch’s 100 percent California grown and processed  extra virgin olive oil.

“This olive oil is the best olive oil that I’ve ever tasted,” Lempert said. “The aroma, the freshness, just everything about it.”

The broadcast can he heard here. Click on May 14 and then click on the Good Day link with Phil Lempert. California Olive Ranch featured at 37:00 minute mark. Mike Forbes of California Olive Ranch joined Lempert on the show, offering insight as to why COR’s olive oil is so supreme. Forbes noted that COR’s  olives are grown on a trellis, like wine grapes, which allows for a quick harvest and enables COR to produce the freshest and tastiest olive oil possible.

The Morrison & Company team only cooks with California Olive Ranch olive oil, which can be purchased here. Lempert’s official review of the Miller’s Blend will be published tomorrow and available on his website.   

Chico Innovation Lab Grand Opening

Yesterday evening, Morrison & Company celebrated the grand opening of Chico’s Innovation Lab, a valuable resource that will help emerging North State businesses grow while accelerating the development of innovative technologies.

The lab is founded by a wide ranging group and represents a strong public-private partnership.  

A partial list of founders includes NoRTEC, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, California Employment Development Department, Chico State, Butte College, and USDA Rural Development.

Morrison & Company is among the list of donors that dedicated matching efforts to the Governor’s Innovation Challenge Grant, which provided seed funding for the Innovation Lab.

We have dedicated our talented staff to assist business that come to the Innovation Lab for support and in that, join a strong team of donors, including Chico Electric, Chabin Concepts, Alternative Energy Systems and Recology.

Morrison & Company’s expertise in green energy, grants and overall business development and support made us a perfect fit as a supporter of this venture.

We had a great time meeting with leaders in innovation and local entrepreneurs Thursday evening and look forward to our continued role in the Innovation Lab’s success.

Here's some more photos from the event and be sure to check out this story that our own Toni Scott wrote before joining Morrison & Company.

Geoff Chinnock (left) and Brent Morrison enjoy themselves at the Chico Innovation Lab Grand Opening Thursday.

Our good friend and USDA California Rural Development State Director Glenda Humiston talks to the crowd about the great opportunity the Innovation Lab will provide the north state and California as a whole.

U.S. Farm Exports Set Record

U.S.  farm exports reached record-breaking highs in the first half of FY 2011, according to data released by the USDA yesterday.

The first half of the federal fiscal year has seen farm exports top $75 billion, a figure that is 27 percent higher than the same period last year.

In a press release issued yesterday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack credited farmers and ranchers for helping the nation rise out of the recession and attributed farm exports with supporting more than one million domestic jobs.

At Morrison & Company we have assisted clients with business plans, feasibility studies and grant applications to help expand into foreign markets. We’ve had much success and are honored that we can contribute to a thriving international agriculture economy.

If you want to be one of those farming operations, cooperatives or food processing companies contributing to the power of U.S farm exports, check out our company website or visit our grants website to see if there’s federal funding available to you. 

USDA announces first official biomass project area

Today the USDA announced the establishment of the first official Biomass Crop Assistance Program Project Area.

The federal biomass program, established in the 2008 Farm Bill, incentivizes the production of crops for biofuels.

The first project area within the program will be in Missouri and Kansas, across 39 contiguous counties. Up to 50,000 acres will be dedicated to crops that will turn be used for the manufacturing of biomass fuels. The project is being led by Show Me Energy Cooperative of Centerview, Missouri.

Biomass crop producers in the established project area will be eligible for reimbursements of up to 75 percent of the cost of establishing a bioenergy perennial crop, and can receive up to five years of annual payments for grassy crops and up to 15 years of annual payments for woody crops. BCAP also provides matching payments for up to two years for the collection, harvest, storage and transportation (CHST) of eligible biomass materials to a qualified biomass conversion facility by eligible material owners.

The establishment of this project area is just one step the USDA is taking to spur the development of biofuels, with grant funding and incentives available for interested producers. If you are exploring the leap into biofuels production, make Morrison & Company a part of that journey. We can help you with feasibility studies, business plans or grant applications and have developed a broad resume working with alternative energy and biomass projects.

Telling your company's story

Morrison & Company’s Toni Scott was asked to give a presentation to a group of potential candidates at the California Federation of Republican Women Northern Division conference this past weekend.

As a former newspaper reporter, Toni spent several years covering local and state politics.

Part of that experience included campaign coverage, which spanned from researching and reporting contributions made to city council hopefuls to sitting down for a private interview with gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.

Toni spent Friday talking with potential candidates from around Northern California about how to work with the press to tell their stories and how to best communicate their core values and missions.

That lesson is something that is extremely beneficial to political candidates, but is one that businesses and farming operations alike should also take into thoughtful consideration.

Here at Morrison & Company, we pride ourselves on telling the stories behind our amazing clients. Whether it’s for a grant application, a feasibility study or a marketing assessment, our team’s main focus is to deeply understand the clients we work for and then tell their stories to grant reviewers, lending institutions, and customers. Visit our website to see how to tell your story through Morrison & Company’s services. What’s your story that you want to tell the world? 

Chamber Innovation Luncheon

The Morrison & Company team spent part of our afternoon at the Chico Chamber of Commerce Innovation Luncheon today.

It was great to connect with so many innovative business leaders and to hear from keynote speaker Holly Green.

We were also impressed to hear the remarkable story of one of Chico’s very own innovators.

Tim O’Connell, founder of Rescue 42, was awarded the Chamber’s Innovator of the Year Award.

O’Connell, who has a long history as a local volunteer firefighter, is famous for his tool that improves the function of Jaws of Life equipment. He has come out with another astounding invention.

O’Connell’s VAULT, a mobile command center, is the latest winning idea that is certain to put Rescue 42 on the map once again. Check out his company and the product here.

Thinking about ways to innovate your company or bring a new product to the market? Check out Morrison & Company’s services. We’ve worked on a broad range of innovation projects and are extremely skilled at conducting feasibility studies, business plans or even strategic planning sessions.

Vote for California Olive Ranch, Lundberg Family Farms

Morrison & Company is proud to boast a long list of amazing clients. But what makes some of our clients even more fabulous is that they are often producers of delicious products.

Here’s your chance to agree with us. Both California Olive Ranch and Lundberg Family Farms have been nominated for a 2011 ‘Best of’ Foodie Award by Vegetarian Times magazine. Visit this link to vote for them in categories 16 and 17.

And when you’re done, check out our website to see some of our other selected clients. We are honored to work with some of the most respected agribusinesses in the world, who also happen to produce some of the tastiest products.

Using grant funding for farm innovations

As active bloggers here at Morrison & Company, we also spend time reading other blogs.

Companies, individuals and even state and federal agencies have found blogs to be an important way to interface with their clients and the public.

The USDA maintains a fairly prolific blog, averaging a few posts a day, complete with pictures.

We love learning what farmers and ranchers are doing on their operations and were encouraged to read today’s USDA blog post about hay farmer Roger Barton.

With federal grant funding, Barton was able to help design and install a hydroturbine system to irrigate his farm, replacing his old expensive diesel-powered system.

The new cost efficient and environmentally friendly equipment generates enough electricity to power Barton’s irrigation system and he says he was able to eliminate his $3,500 a year fuel bill.

Read Barton’s full story here and if you’re inspired, check out Morrison & Company for more information on how we can help you take some of the same efforts on your farming operation. Morrison & Company has been extremely successful in helping to secure federal grant funding for farmers and ranchers who want to save energy costs and improve farm efficiency.   

                                                                                                                                       

Morrison & Company featured in Chico Enterprise Record

Some exciting changes at Morrison & Company were formally announced in today’s Chico Enterprise Record.

Geoff Chinnock has been named a principal with Morrison & Company and Toni Scott was recently hired as a consultant.

In the press release sent to the E-R, managing principal Brent Morrison touted Chinnock’s dedication to the company’s clients.

“Geoff gets it,” Brent said. “He knows we are here to serve our clients straight-forwardly and efficiently, and they really appreciate him for it. Geoff epitomizes exactly what we want to be at Morrison & Company.” 

Brent also said he was enthusiastic to add Toni to the Morrison & Company team. Toni was most recently employed as a reporter for the Enterprise Record.

“From her work at the paper it was no surprise that Toni is a talented writer and a terrific researcher, but she is also a gifted analyst and a people person,” Brent said. “She is creative, efficient, understands pressure and deadlines, and handles it all in a way that people come away liking her. Toni is just a great addition and we see her being an important part of Morrison & Company for years to come.”

Visit the link to see the write-up in the paper or check out the pdf version of the story.

USDA seeking comments to help improve programs

With many of our clients hailing from the agribusiness sector, Morrison & Company has become extremely experienced in a number of USDA programs over the years.

Like aspects of any company or organization, there is always room for improvement in these programs.  

Recognizing that fact, the USDA is asking for public comment on program rules as it moves forward in reviewing Rural Development, the Risk Management Agency, the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The USDA says it is particularly interested in receiving public input on how it can simplify and reduce the reporting burden for entry and access to USDA programs, while reducing its administrative and operating costs by sharing similar data across participating agencies.

If you have comments or ideas, visit www.regulations.gov.

As of the date of this blog, the site doesn’t seem to be accepting comments related to the regulatory review of the programs, but we expect that portion to go live soon.

Federal funding for renewable energy projects available

USDA Rural Development is now accepting applications for its Rural Energy for America Program.

The federal program provides grants and loan guarantees to agriculture producers and small rural businesses for energy efficiency improvement projects and renewable energy projects.

Farmers and ranchers looking to install solar, wind, bioenergy, anaerobic digesters, hydropower or other renewable energy sources on their operations may qualify for the program.

USDA is providing funding for up to $61 million in guaranteed loans and $42 million in grants through the program.  

This year’s grant program includes a clarification that agricultural producers in non-rural areas are eligible for REAP assistance. Small businesses must still be located in rural areas.

Morrison and Company has been successful in secure grant funding and loan guarantees through the REAP program for many clients. For more information on how Morrison and Company can help you, contact Brent Morrison at 530-893-4764 ext. 202 or visit morrisonco.net.

The full text of the grant announcement is available at:

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2011/04/0164.xml

On-Farm Renewable Energy

With fuel and energy prices continually rising and farming operations striving for sustainability, on-farm renewable energy is becoming a popular alternative for farmers across the nation. 

 

At the recent California Climate & Agriculture Network Summit, Brent Morrison, Morrison & Company’s managing principal, joined a panel discussion about on-farm renewable energy.

 

Brent provided an overview of existing technologies, a preview of those in the pipeline, and discussed how Morrison & Company helps farming operations and others get grant  funding and loan guarantees for renewable energy projects.

 

Morrison & Company’s expertise in grant writing and experience with alternative energy sources equips us to serve clients looking to go green. The projects Morrison & Company has worked on range from a small family farm solar array to a proposed $100 million wind farm.

 

Check out Brent’s PowerPoint presentation and note that the Rural Energy for America grant application period is expected to open soon.

http://www.morrisonco.net/CalCAN_Presentation.pdf.