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Archive for the ‘General’ Category
Monday, February 6th, 2012
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recently threatened private banks with nationalization if they refused to support his government agricultural programs.
Chavez’s presidency has been nothing if not controversial. At the center of his government’s most recent activities have been efforts to increase governmental control of critical economic sectors. Of primary importance has been revolutionizing and nationalizing key agricultural industries.
Over the past several years, Chavez has moved to restructure agriculture in Venezuela. In 2010, his government nationalized the nation’s largest agricultural supply company as well as the nation’s largest fertilizer company. The attention paid to the farm sector has paid off. In recent years, the amount of cultivated land has increased 48 percent and the production of staple crops like rice has increased 84 percent.
Financial support for these agricultural projects is the key to their support, Chavez says. Venezuelan laws require banks to provide 10 percent of their lending to finance government development projects. These requirements, Chavez says, are not being followed. During a weekly radio address, Chavez claimed, “The private banks that do not comply with the constitution and their duty, well, I do not have any problem nationalizing them. We must ensure the constitution and laws are complied with!”
In addition, Chavez singled out the largest banks in the country, accusing them of undermining national progress. According to Chavez, large banks need to do more to make money available to cash strapped farmers.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: Hugo Chavez, rural development, Venezuela
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Monday, February 6th, 2012
On the heels of a major crop boom last growing season, Iowa is currently facing one of the driest springs in recent history.
Last summer farmers across the country experienced a string of bad weather. In Iowa and the rest of the Midwest, an unusually wet spring prevented crop planting and delayed harvest. In addition, an unusually hot summer worried many farmers.
Despite this poor weather, farmers still managed to raise 200 bushel-per-acre corn crops and 25 bushel-per-acre soybean crops. The corn crop in particular was a major boon to farmers who were able to take advantage of ethanol demand.
However, the days of big harvests may be over, farm experts say. In Iowa, typically wet falls (particularly October and November) make up for hot summers and replenish the state’s dry soil. This fall, however, has been the driest in 35 years, with the hardest hit regions being the northwest, the state’s largest corn producer.
According to some farmers, the state will need about 8-10 inches of rain in order to recover for the spring harvest. According to climatologists, if current weather patterns continue, the state is unlikely to receive enough rain for harvest time. Despite this gloomy forecast, some experts believe that after the spring soil thaw, the state could still get enough moisture to protect spring crops.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: drought, iowa
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Monday, February 6th, 2012
Joining Florida and Iowa, the Nebraska legislature is considering legislation that would limit the ability of animal rights activists to make undercover videos.
State Senator Tyson Larson, a Nebraska rancher, sponsored the legislation. It would close the legal window between observing animal abuse and reporting it to authorities, which is currently at two days, to twelve hours. In addition, the bill would require whistleblowers to surrender all video, photo, or audio evidence to authorities.
Larson says that these new requirements would prevent activists from using evidence to support their own causes, a goal that would better protect animal welfare. Opponents, on the other hand, say that the bill is a naked attempt to silence animal rights activists and cover up animal abuse.
According to officials from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, animal welfare investigations can sometimes take weeks, and requiring a twelve hour reporting window could limit the ability of investigators to demonstrate a pattern, allowing farmers to claim that the abuse was an isolated incident.
Nebraska is the latest state to attempt to limit the creation and distribution of animal rights videos. A bill that would require express permission from farmers in order to film is moving through the Florida Statehouse and Iowa legislators are attempting a revive a stalled bill that would criminalize seeking farm employment under false pretenses.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: animal rights, Humane Society, nebraska
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Monday, February 6th, 2012
While agriculture remains one of the most important parts of the U.S. economy, over the past several decades the industry has been in a state of flux. The growth of large-scale agribusinesses and the gradual aging of farmers (with fewer and fewer young farmers entering the profession, the average age of farmers is increasing) has put significant pressure on small farmers nationwide.
When farmers quit the profession, their land is frequently sold, often to developers who have no interest in continuing agricultural production. According to the American Farmland Trust, a private organization dedicated to preserving farm and ranchland across the country, over 1 million acres of farmland are lost each year.
While many states have created programs dedicated to paying farmers for preserving their farmland, two private companies are raising test funds for a private preservation program. The Davis and Sacramento natural food cooperatives recently began the “One Farm at a Time” Initiative.
The One Farm at a Time initiative hopes to raise between $300,000 and $400,000 to purchase an easement in the Yollo Valley, the location of the Good Humus Farm, the initial target of the cooperatives’ program, that would preserve the area as farmland in perpetuity. In addition, the easement would help younger farmers purchase the land for its agricultural value, which is significantly less than its outright land value.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: Cailifornia, local farming, small farms
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Monday, February 6th, 2012
In a recent visit to Florida, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan hyped the Know Your Farmer Know Your Food initiative, a Department of Agriculture program aimed at strengthening connections between farmers and local consumers.
Initially authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, the Know Your Farmer initiative seeks to break down barriers between local growers and local consumers, encourage small farming across the country, and promote better nutrition.
One of the principle ways, according to Merrigan, that consumers and farmers can build stronger ties is through school lunch programs. An important part of the Know Your Farmer initiative includes subsidizing schools that purchase produce from local farms and promote healthier eating.
In addition to better nutrition, Merrigan stated that the initiative could improve local economies.
“The Obama administration is working hard to find creative ways put people back to work and build an economy that works for everyone, not just a wealthy few,” said Merrigan. “Floridians can lay a new foundation for economic growth, build and revitalize critical infrastructure through supporting and establishing local and regional food, and ultimately create more good jobs and more agricultural products stamped Made in the USA.”
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: kathleen merrigan, sustainability, usda
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Saturday, January 28th, 2012
A bill being debated in the Washington State assembly that would restrict the usage of pesticides near residential areas is picking up steam, according to sources in the Washington Statehouse.
Sponsors of the bill say that it is necessary to protect farm workers and local residents from the negative health effects of pesticide use. Farmers, on the other hand, argue that the bill would hamper agricultural production and is unnecessary given current federal pesticide regulations.
The bill in question would create buffer zones preventing farms from spraying pesticides within a half-mile of schools, day cares, and residential homes. The bill is based on current regulations that prevent pesticide spraying within a half mile of commercial greenhouses.
Current federal regulations impose no distance requirements, choosing instead to require farmers to read and obey warning labels on pesticide containers.
Representatives of the Columbia Legal Service, a non-profit organization that supports the proposed bill, argue that humans deserve the same protection as grapes (which are currently protected with pesticide buffer zones).
Farmers, on the other hand, argue that the bill is not necessary. According to the head of the Yakima Valley Growers and Shippers Association, “Humans are protected more than a grape. It’s just done in federal regulation rather than in state law.”
In addition, state agencies are unsure about the efficacy of the bill. According to the departments of Health, Agriculture, and Labor, the state government does not have the manpower or the resource to efficiently enforce the new legislation.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: pesticides, washington
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Saturday, January 28th, 2012
In his annual letter as the head of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates stressed the importance of agricultural research in combating global poverty, hunger, and climate change.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private charity in the world, with an endowment of roughly $37.1 billion. It’s primary goals include expanding access to healthcare, fighting extreme poverty, and expanding access to education and information technology.
In his 2012 letter, Gates linked his foundation’s commitment to ending poverty with technological advances in agricultural production. Citing the Green Revolution in the 1960s and 70s, Gates credited scientific advances in farming with helping to reduce significantly poverty and hunger, increasing food production 50 percent in some places and helping to lower global extreme poverty from 40 percent in the 1950s to roughly 15 percent today.
These agricultural advances, however, are threatened by the current political and economic climate. In the United States, the recent austerity measures embraced by Congress have led to massive reductions in agricultural funding. These budget cuts have led to the closures of many agricultural research centers across the country.
Reducing this funding, Gates argues could lead to increased poverty and hunger across the globe. “The world faces a clear choice,” Gates said, “If we invest relatively modest amounts, many more poor farmers will be able to feed their families. If we don’t, one in seven people will continue living needlessly on the edge of starvation.”
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has already committed about $2 billion to helping poor farmers boost their productivity.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: Bill Gates, climate change, famine, food security
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Saturday, January 28th, 2012
Earlier this week, several house Representatives introduced legislation that would standardize animal treatment requirements regarding hens on egg farms across the country.
The proposed legislation would expand and standardize the amount of space required for egg-laying hens. Current standards vary from state to state, but are at least 67 square inches for most egg producers in the United States.
The proposed bill would nearly double that space, requiring egg producers to provide at least 124 square inches for white egg producing hens, the majority of birds in the U.S., and at least 144 square inches for brown egg producing hens. In addition, the bill would require separate areas for nesting, perching, and dust bathing. Most egg producers would have 18 years to implement these new changes.
The bill is part of a compromise reached last spring between United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States, whose alliance shocked many agricultural groups across the country. While the bill does not go as far as many animal rights groups had hoped, the HSUS originally wanted at least 214 square inches per bird, it is a major step forward for animal rights activists.
Leaders of the HSUS and several egg producers around the country are praising the bill. Wayne Pacelle, the CEO of the HSUS, recently stated, “Passing this bill would be a historic improvement for hundreds of millions of animals per year,” and representatives from J.S. West & Co., a major California egg producer, stated, “A national standard reflecting the public’s desire for a standard of care for egg-producing hens is very important.”
Some agricultural groups have criticized the bill. The National Pork Producers Council, for example, has condemned the legislation as an unwarranted federal takeover of local agricultural issues.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: animal rights, egg farms, Humane Society, United Egg Producers
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Saturday, January 28th, 2012
In a statement earlier this week, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the settlement ceiling for Hispanic and women farmers involved in a class action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been raised to $250,000 (an increase from the previous amount of $50,000).
The lawsuits, which have been tied up in legal decisions for over a year, stem from the 1980s. Plaintiffs claimed that the USDA issued farm loans discriminatorily, denying loans to Hispanic farmers as well as female farmers.
The USDA has already settled a similar lawsuit filed by African American farmers who claimed that they faced the same discriminatory treatment by USDA loan officers.
The settlement program was announced in February 2011. Up to $1.33 billion is available to eligible Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who agree to settle voluntarily their claims. Participation is not compulsory and farmers are still able to pursue their claims through the court system.
In his statement announcing the increased ceiling, Vilsack reiterated his commitment to diversity in the USDA. “The Obama Administration has made it a priority to resolve all claims of past discrimination at USDA, and we are committed to closing this sad chapter in USDA’s history,” he said. “Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege past discrimination are encouraged to participate in an improved claims process.”
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: discrimination, tom vilsack, usda
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Saturday, January 28th, 2012
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, changing current agricultural practices is the key to addressing and solving global climate change.
As world leaders prepare for the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and colloquially known as the Rio+20), much of the world’s focus is on reforms to current agricultural practices. Specifically, transnational activist groups, the United Nations, and supranational organizations like the European Union have all addressed the need to create a sustainable agricultural system in order to prevent massive ecological devastation and global food shortages.
Climate change is quickly emerging as a major threat to agricultural production, both globally as well as in the United States. Last summer’s drought in Texas, which some experts believe will continue until next summer, has already devastated farms across the state. Similar droughts have struck across the South and Southwest, worrying many farmers who fear that this may be the new climatological norm.
Farmers can ameliorate some of the dangers posed by climate change, UN officials believe. According to Jose Graziano da Silva, the new head of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, “Agriculture contributes 30 percent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming and we must raise the awareness of our farmers.”
“Agriculture is not just part of the problem,” he also stated, “it is also part of the solution to the environment issue. It can contribute a lot to the planet’s sustainable development, by finding techniques less harmful to the environment, by helping with clean energy and with a better redistribution of production.”
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: climate change, sustainability, United Nations
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