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Archive for December, 2009
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
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The Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment is asking the USDA to suspend loans and loan guarantees that are intended to expand poultry and hog production.
The campaign sent a letter containing 25,000 signatures to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack asking for a suspension much like the one that was made under President Clinton in 1999.
According to the letter hog farmers have been “looking at below-cost-of-production for two years now.” While the hog industry is a slump, economic experts believe the industry would overall have to cut breeding stock by 10 percent. However, so far three percentage cuts have been made.
Despite these swindling numbers, the Farm Service Agency has given up $264.4 million in loans for hog and poultry expansions.
Other groups that are involved include The Missouri Rural Crisis Center and Iowas Citizens for Community Improvement.
All groups agree that the freeze would not make producers unable to pay back debts, but in return help the struggling industry to get out of debt.
Inflation fears? Refinance with Farm Plus before farm loan rates rise. Farm loan rates starting at 2.99% with 25 year terms. See our rate sheet here or call, toll free, 866-929-5585.
Tags: hog farmers, obama, Tom Vislack, usda
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
The USDA has enrolled 255 million acres into the new Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program.
The acres stretch over 1.7 million farms that will be in return receive direct payments. $4 billion will be sent to these farmers and producers by the end of the year.
“The sign-up numbers demonstrate that producers value having the option of two programs from which to choose the greatest benefit to their individual farming operation,†said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I also want to remind all producers that 2010 sign up for Direct and Counter-cyclical Program and Average Crop Revenue Election has already started and the deadline is June 1, 2010.â€
ACRE is a program that is part of the 2008 farm bill that is an alternative revenue-based safety net to the price-based safety net provided by counter-cyclical payments for crops from 2009 to 2012.
Those participating in the program are also eligible for low-rate marketing loans from the USDA.
Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota have the most acres enrolled in the program.
Federal Reserve stated interest rates likely to rise. Refinance your farm loan before rates go up. Call a representative by dialing 866-929-5585 or visit us online.
Tags: A.C.R.E., usda
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
New Mexico farmers may be eligible for loans from the United States Department of Agriculture.
The USDA Rural Development state director, Terry Brunner, said the agency is going to award up to $100,000 to producers to add to the value of the commodities they produce.
The Value-Added Producer Program is intended to help producers develop and market their products. The money can be used for business plans, marketing or working capital.
Looking for a farm loan? Farm Plus has low-rate loans starting at 2.99%. Call us today at 866-929-5585 to speak with a representative or visit our website for more information.
Tags: usda, value added producer program
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
A bill passes last week in the senate offering $350 million in emergency funding for the agriculture industry. This comes form $121 billion spending bill set for the 2010 budget year, and of this money $290 million will go as direct payments to farmers.
Aside from payments to farmers, $60 million of this will be used by the government to buy cheese and other dairy products that will be donated to nutrition programs and food banks.
Some struggling farmers are breathing a sigh of relief. Bonnie Ayers, operator at Land of Living Farm, told an Ohio newspaper, “When you take into account the costs associated with the animal’s health issues, the cost of feed, farm employment, and add to that a struggling economy, it’s become too difficult for farmers to survive.” She added that the average farmer with 100 cows is losing up to $10,000 a month.
In the past year, milk prices dropped below $10 per hundredweight, or 100 pounds, a standard measure used on dairy farms.
There is no word on how much each farmers will receive.
Farm loan rates starting at 2.99%. Lock in before farm loan rates rise. Contact Farm Plus by clicking here or calling toll free 866-929-5585.
Tags: budget relief, dairy farmers
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
New York senators are pushing for $60 million for dairy farmers struggling during the current hard times.
“The dairy industry is suffering mightily right now,” Catharine Young told the Chautauqua County Farm Bureau during at its annual meeting. “This is more like a depression than anything else for the dairy industry.” Young feels that $60 million would stimulate the rural economy.
Young proposed the 2009 Dairy Investment Act for immediate assistance to farmers who cannot afford loans or have maxed their credit out.
The USDA will be receiving $290 million set to aid dairy farms across the country, and $45 million is expected for New York farms. Despite this, New York farmers will suffer $400 to $600 million in losses this year. New York is the third-leading dairy producer in the country.
Farm loan rates starting at 2.99%. Lock in before farm loan rates rise. Contact Farm Plus by clicking here or calling toll free 866-92-5585.
Tags: dairy farmers, usda
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
120 agricultural groups have written letters to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee opposing the Waxman-Markey bill that restricts carbon dioxide emissions.
Major players in the opposition include the American Farm Bureau, Pork Producers Council, USA Rice Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Chicken Council, National Association of Wheat Growers, American Meat Institute and North American Millers Association.
Although reports say that the bill will only cost households $175 per year in 2020, Tracy Taylor Grondine of the American Farm Bureau disagrees. “Most media outlets are only focused on the front-end effects of the climate bill,†Grondine explained. “In 2020, carbon reductions will only be starting and the industry will be receiving significant carbon credit giveaways. But by 2050, the 17 percent cut in agriculture emissions from 2005 levels is estimated to rise to 82 percent, and there will be no more credit giveaways. So, by 2050 that 5 percent hit will grow to something more like a 15 percent reduction in farm income.â€
According to Adam Basford of the Florida Farm Bureaus, costs down the road will be much higher down the road. “According to the EPA, the legislation would cost farmers $5 billion [initially] and by 2050 the cost would rise to $13 billion,†he said.
Although these are concerns, the biggest point is that the bill raises prices for consumers who will ultimately take it out on the agricultural industry.
“The very essence of cap-and-trade is to increase prices so much that consumption, and therefore emissions, are reduced,†Basford explained. “Farm Bureau has continually said that any cap-and-trade legislation must make economic sense for agriculture. It must be structured in a way that the costs do not outweigh the benefits for family farms, rural communities, and the overall economy. The Florida Farm Bureau opposes this bill because it forces Florida’s farmers, consumers, and families to lose.”
The bill is still up for discussion in the House.
Looking to refinance your farm loan before inflation hits? Farm Loan interest rates starting at 2.99% and terms up to 25 years. See our rate sheet or call 866-929-5585 to speak with a representative.
Tags: bill, carbon emissions, public works committee
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke with activists in Des Moines on October 13 in support of Obama’s administration’s efforts to promote farmers markets and locally-grown food in schools, hospitals and other government-ran buildings.
These views were crowd-pleasers, but when he refused to agree with a questioner’s view that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are dangerous, the crowd booed.
Vilsack agreed that he’s open to research on the safety of GMOs, but never said they were a bad idea. “You all see one answer. I talk to other people who see completely different answers,” said Vilsack.
The visit’s main purpose was “Know your farmer, know your food” campaign which is popular with most people in the agricultural industry. Over the past year the popularity of farmers markets has increased by 13 percent. The program would not only promote local farms, but it offers loans to help co-ops and rural businesses to begin food processing.
He added that the locally grown food industry has reached $5 billion in the United States and can help not only improve nutrition, but rural economies in the recession as well.
Federal Reserve stated interest rates likely to rise. Refinance your farm loan before rates go up. Call a representative by dialing 866-929-5585 or visit us online.
Tags: obama, Tom Vislack
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
The U.S. Department of Justice is going to hold a “workshop” in Wisconsin concerning antitrust issues with the dairy industry.
U.S. Senator Herb Kohl made the announcement after Kohl and other legislators pushed the Justice Department and the USDA to look into antitrust enforcement, but mostly the consolidation of milk processors and noncompetitive practices.
The less competition, the less money farmers are getting for their products.
“Dairy farmers across the nation are facing acute economic pain,” Kohl said in a press release. “They are being battered by a perfect storm of high input costs and historically low dairy prices. They’ve lost more than $4 billion in equity. Their stories are compelling and painful and we have to find a better system.”
Federal Reserve stated interest rates likely to rise. Refinance your farm loan before rates go up. Call a representative by dialing 866-929-5585 or visit us online.
Tags: dairy farmers, justice department
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
Illinois farmers aren’t having much luck with the weather during this harvest.
Corn and soybean growers are in their second week of rain, having 4 1/2 times as much rain as normal. This season has seen 2.57 inches of rain compared to a normal 0.57 inches. Not only does this mean the corn cannot dry to be harvested, but the ground is also too muddy for farmers to work on.
The USDA has reported that Illinois harvest are at six percent, this is far behind the 56 percent average for this time of year. Soybeans are at 10 percent, but should be at 64 percent.
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Tags: harvest, illinois
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
West Virginia’s meat producers are seeing an increase in numbers.
According the the USDA, red meat production has increased by 26 percent in West Virginia in the last year.
In September cattle, hog and sheep farmers produced over 1 million pounds of meet. This is in addition to the 740,000 pounds of red meat already produced in 2009.
Nationwide USDA figures show red meat production is down from 2008, but West Virginia is coming out on top. The estimated numbers are currently at 4.26 million pounds for September.
Looking to refinance your farm loan before inflation hits? Farm Loan interest rates starting at 2.99% and terms up to 25 years. See our rate sheet or call 866-929-5585 to speak with a representative.
Tags: cattle production
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