Owning your farm or ranch is a dream to pursue. With the implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill, government agencies are reaching out to those who want to begin farming. The Iowa State University Extension has been assisting people for 15 years, encouraging and helping those interested in starting a farm or ranch.
WOWT-DT, Omaha reported, “Government programs play a major role in assisting young people who wish to pursue a farming career. In addition to the 2008 Farm Bill changes, the state of Iowa also has developed programs that have proven to be valuable tools,†said Dave Baker, Beginning Farmer Center farm transition specialist. “The Center monitors existing and new programs that can be a part of farm families succession plans. Several basic programs at the national level will give more opportunities to beginning farmers.â€
Just a few changes include more loans and grants for programs designed to aid those interested in farming.
Farm Plus Financial can work in conjuction with some of the beginning farm programs offered through various government agencies such as the FSA (Farm Service Agency). For more information on farm loans or ranch loans visit Farmers Plus Financial. You may also reach Farm Plus by calling toll free 866-929-5585. Iowa farm loans are available. Make your dream a reality.
The Save the Family Farm and Ranch Act was reintroduced in senate by Representative John Salazar, D-Colo. It was first introduced in April 2007 and would defer payment of estate tax on family farms if the land is used for any agriculture or conservation purposes.
According to Salazar many people inherit farms but have to sell them because they cannot afford the taxes. Salazar told Farm Futures, “Our intention is by removing that and utilizing the IRS definition of a family farm; they would then be allowed to defer the death tax until the time the person would decide to sell it for development or something else.”
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determines land a farm if it derives at least 50 percent of the gross income from farming. The current inheritance tax rate is at 45 percent after $2 million. Land value often easily exceeds $2 million.
The Save the Family Farm and Ranch Act would save farms and some agricultural. It keeps farms in families as well. It prevents farmland from being developed into commercial property.
“I think there’s great interest in doing this,” Salazar said. “There are a lot of people that are very concerned about the open space and our ability to provide food not only for this country but the world.”
If you’re in the market for financing to start your own farm, be sure to contact Farm Plus Fianancial. Two ways to contact a Farm Plus representative, either by clicking here or call them toll free at 866-929-5585.
The Mills Mint Farm of Stanfield will be honored as the winner of the 2008 Cooperator of the Year. The Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District hand the award out yearly.
The Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District’s mission statement is: “To conserve, protect and develop soil, water, and other natural resources for the economic and environmental benefit of the residents of Umatilla County.â€
The award is going to the Mills Mint Farm because it is involved in conservation in many ways. The farm, that started as a dairy farm in 1950, grows sweet corn, sugar snap peas, grass seed, alfalfa and wheat on 3,000 acres of farmland.
The award will be given to The Mills Mint Farm on January 29 at the Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District annual meeting. Tickets are available to attend the event.
If you are interested in Farm Loan financing for your Oregon farm or Oregon ranch property you can reach Farm Plus Financial by clicking here or calling toll free 866-929-5585.
As part of Oregon’s 150th birthday celebration, five farms will be honored at the state’s capitol. The awards, recognized by the Oregon Century Farm and Ranch Program, will be given to families who have maintained at least a portion of their farm for 150 years. The farms have also received their Century Farm award status in 1958 or 1959.
The families being honored are:
*Donald C. Goodrich and Eunice M. Goodrich- The William Goodrich Farm founded in 1848 in Yamhill County.
*Marian L. Gray- The Jeremiah Rowland Farm founded in 1844 in Yamhill County.
*William Hoyt- Ira Hawley Farm founded in 1852 in Lane County.
*Leland R. Montgomery- William Grimes Montgomery Farm founded in 185501866 in Linn County.
*Rebecca Owen- Nicholas Sprenger Farm founded in 1852 in Linn County.
The awards will be handed out February 14 in Hearing Room F at the Capitol at 1 p.m. Speakers include spokespeople from the Oregon Century Farm and Ranch Program, Oregon Department of Agriculture, The Oregon Farm Bureau and the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation.
The award in its second year, 14 families received the award last year.
If you are interested in joining the tradition and purchasing a farm or ranch, contact Farm Plus Financial for more information on farm financing.
Legislators in Salem, Oregon are considering passing a bill that puts Oregon-grown food from the farm into school lunchrooms. It is known as the “farm to school†bill. Many feel it is a way to help family owned farms get business, but it is also to improve school lunch programs brining healthy, organic food to the children’s plates.
The bill not only supplies healthy food, but it also supports Oregon agriculture. The marketplace would be a constant support of the industry. Farms, ranches and manufacturers would benefit from the program. The legislation would fit right in with the plan of the new U.S. secretary of agriculture, Tom Vilsack.
Some senators are concerned that Vilsack will neglect to acknowledge the different types of organic farmers, despite Vilsack’s support for the industry. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said the USDA needs to prioritize resources because there are the small farms on 40 organic acres growing crops, but there are also the production farmers with 10,000 acres who practice alternative agriculture. Roberts’ seems to be more concerned for the big production farms than the family.
When looking at Oregon Agriculture, families operate 98 percent of farms.
Video footage of representatives Tina Kotek and Brian Klem speaking about the Farm to School legislation.
A study at the UK’s Bristol University has found farmers in North American and Europe could help lower global warming by 0.1C just by choosing crops that reflect solar energy back into the atmosphere.
The process is as easy as it sounds. Researchers say that because farming has a global infrastructure already, so it should be easy to use it to benefit the climate. Ultimately farmers need to pick crop varieties that are naturally reflective. Once solar energy hits these plants’ leaves they are sent back into space. The more reflective leaves, the more solar energy that is sent back into space.
The researchers have run successful tests and are trying again to assure the research is accurate.
“But another possibility for the future would be to produce a [leaf] surface that differs in reflectivity at different wavelengths, so it could selectively absorb wavelengths involved in photosynthesis,” Dr. Andy Ridgewell told BBC News.
The only problem with the research is that growing different crops will only work in North America and Europe because in other places the reflection is done by clouds, so the ground’s albedo would have very little impact.
This change is not the perfect answer to the world heatwave, but it will help in smaller areas. For example Europe is expected to have many heatwaves this summer, planting reflective crops will change the climate in that specific area, people in South America will not see a change from this.
Another problem is getting farmers involved. A solution may be to give them carbon credits for making a conscious effort to improve the climate.
“You certainly wouldn’t have to replace food crops, so food production shouldn’t be affected by our idea,” Ridgewell said.
Since the industrial age temperatures rose 0.7C. By the end of the century, at the rate the world is going, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts the average global temperature will have risen by 1.8-4.0C compared to 1990s levels.
Xcel Energy signed a deal through a power purchase agreement with NextEra to develop a 152-megawatt wind farm in northeastern Colorado. The farm will be called the Northern Colorado Wind Facility. The exact location of the farm is at northern Colorado’s Peetz Table. Currently this location is home to two wind farms that generate 400 MW.
Xcel Energy, a Denver based company, chose NextEra out of many proposals that totaled more than 2,400 MW of wind power.
The project is estimated at $300 million but will generate enough power for about 38,000 homes. This farm will be the fifth largest wind farm in existence.
The deal for the wind farm will go through if approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.
A wind farm consists of many wind turbines use to produce electrical power. A large wind farm will have anywhere from 24-100 turbines. The land between turbines can be used for agriculture. Farm Plus Financial utilizes various government guaranty programs in the process of financing wind farms in Colorado and many other States. If you’re interested in financing a wind farm click here or call #866-383-5585.
A recent study conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research, “Improvements in Life Cycle, Energy Efficiency, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Corn-Ethanol,†proves the implementation of corn ethanol is lowering our GHD emissions. By using corn-ethanol emissions are lowered by 48-59 percent when compared to petroleum. Not only does it lower emissions, but it also returns 29-123 percent of the energy used to produce it. Using more corn-ethanol lowers our dependency on foreign oil as well. This allows for gas prices to stay down 29-40 percent. One barrel of corn ethanol produced replaces 1.2 barrels of petroleum.
If you’re in the market for financing, whether it be for your crop operation or an ethanol plan be sure to contact Farm Plus Fianancial. Two ways to contact someone at Farm Plus, either by clicking here or call them toll free at 866-929-5585.
One of the most fun parts of having a farm is naming your new home. For most people it is a tough job putting a name on the one lifelong dream. A lot of people feel a farm should have a name so it sounds classy or businesslike. I think adding a name makes it personal and meaningful.
Names can come out of anywhere, but a lot of people name their farms after significant people, places, dreams or features of the land.
Onlineforums are dedicated to farmers looking for names, or looking to inspire others. Here are some very creative names:
*Rock Creek Gardens: Named after The Rock Creek that runs through this farm.
*Dogridge: This farm is home to dog lovers on acreage with rocky ridges through it.
*Busy Solitude Farm: Named after a quote by Votaire, “The happiest of all lives is a busy solitude.â€
* C ‘n’ J’s acres: C and J are the initials of the owners and sons.
Some states even allow you to register your farm name.
If you’ve dreamed of your own Fallen Oaks farm or C ‘n’ J’s Acres, it is a possibility! Farm loans are available. Check out the Farmer’s Financial Plus Web Site to learn more.
Look to what inspires your or is important to your life. Even if you don’t think it is “farmsy enough,†it will be creative and stand out.
Everyone is looking for cheaper ways to get healthy food. Today, many are aware of the consequences our actions have on the environment and his or her body. People want to know where their food is coming from and how it is grown.
An easy way to assure your food is truly organic is to grow your own. Organic farming is becoming a popular trend because a small investment can save you a lot of money in the long run. The cost of production of your own produce or meat and poultry compared to supermarket costs is incredible. By growing your own food you do not have to pay for transport, taxes or any other costs figured into a grocer’s final price.
The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) sees the growing trend as well. Last Saturday the association held a conference at Worcester Technical High School featuring workshops on organic farming, gardening and more. This year’s workshops had almost 300 more participants than the last year.
Craig S. Semon from the Telegram and Gazette reported the director of NOFA, Julie Rawson said, “Organic can be for rich people and it can also be for you. You can learn how to take charge of your own life and raise your own food and raise your own really healthy food.â€
Jack Kittredge, NOFA public policy coordinator, said society’s biggest concern is safe food. He thinks no one feels safe and people feel like the government is not looking out for them.
“We’re in a really fragile place in the world and we really have to learn in order to survive global warming and no oil or weak oil or whatever is going to happen. People are going to have to really start gathering skills,†Ms. Rawson said. “We need to be able to keep our old people warm in their houses and we need to make sure that our children are eating decent food. I really feel that our culture has started to crumble in a lot of ways.â€
Many people consider starting an organic farm, but do not know where to start. There are many places to go for advice and guidance. Organizations like NOFA offer a lot of useful and easy to understand information. Agents can help you find the perfect agriculture real estate once you learn the basics.
Do not hesitate. Agriculture loans are available for you to start a farm or ranch of any size. Despite what people think, even when the economy seems to be going only down, farm loans are available. Visit Farm Plus Financial to inquire or set up an appointment.
