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Archive for the ‘Iowa farm loans’ Category
Friday, August 28th, 2009
The USDA has responded to the pork industry’s request for more money. Iowa Governor Chet Culver and eight other governor’s asked the USDA to support the industry by purchasing more pork.
However, the USDA cannot find extra money in the budget to do this.
The USDA has purchased $117 million in pork products for the nutrition assistance programs during the fiscal year, but the governors are asking the department to purchase $50 million more.
“Due to economic conditions, the value of requests for commodity purchases far exceeds the amount of remaining funding, but we will continue to monitor market developments and make decisions accordingly,†USDA spokesman Justin DeJong said.
Are you in the market for a farm loan? Farm Plus has low-rate farm loans available today! Call 866-929-5585 to speak with a representative or visit our website for more information on farm loans.
Tags: pork, usda
Posted in General, Iowa farm loans | No Comments »
Friday, August 28th, 2009
A new opportunity has arose for corn farmers. Cobs, the part left behind after harvest, are always planted back into the ground to add nutrients to the soil and make for a better harvest.
However, companies from South Dakota and California are building two plants in Iowa. One plant will turn the material into ethanol and the other will turn cobs into fertilizer.
The plants are expected to cost over $200 million. Farmers can sell the cobs to these plants to make extra profit off their harvest.
In the current economic system this news is exciting to many farmers.
“We’re excited about it,” corn farmer Jim Boyer told the Associated Press. “there’s an opportunity for another profit to stream off our farm.”
The projects could generate over $10 million a year for local farmers. The plants should be completed by 2011 and will process 130,000 tons of cobs per year. Farmers can expect $50 per ton of cobs.
Interested in a low-rate farm loan? Contact Farm Plus today by calling 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information about our low-rate farm loans.
Tags: california, corn, iowa, south dakota
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Friday, August 28th, 2009
After two years of trials no one has officially decided that growers should use fungicide on corn crops.
Many farmers have tried to see the affects, but half farmers have reported a higher yield and some have reported the same amount.
Iowa State University is running extensive research but find that it is hard to determine if a yield will be higher in industry because the application of fungicide is different.
In 2008 theyield in small trials was 3.5 bushels per acre and at a soybean on-farm network. However other studies done by Purdue University found the average of 7.4 bushels per acre. Hi-bred research found the highest increase with 12-16 bushel acre increases.
Overall the investment may be worth the extra money based on the research done thus far.
If you choose to use fungicides consider the following before applying:
*Cost of fungicide, plus application
*price of corn
*drying costs
*harvestability
Do you need a farm loan? Call Farm Plus today! Low rate loans are available today. Call 866-929-5585 to speak with a representative or visit online for more information about farm loans.
Tags: fungicide, iowa, iowa state university
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Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
Experts believe Iowa farmland may increase in value over the next few months.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported from January to April of this year, values dropped seven percent. In southeast Iowa land value dropped only five percent.
Although land value may be dropping, the Farm National Company in Des Moines said medium quality farm land is steady in certain parts of the state.
Many people are perusing for the perfect piece of land and there is a lot of land to choose from.
Livestock land is not expected to do as well as green farmland.
Bob Wells at the Iowa State University Farm said the market is steady because of low interest rates. Most loans have a 5-6 percent interest rate.
“One of the biggest fears we have is rapidly increasing interest rates, which would be detrimental to farmland values,†Wells said.
70 percent of the purchases made over the year was made by actual farmers and 24 percent were made by investors.
“A lot of our investor purchasers have left the market,†Wells said. “The biggest pool of people we have out there for land are the farmers.â€
At the end of 2008 the Iowa State University Extension reported that farmland was valued at $4,500 an acre. It is expected by the end of the year values will be between $5,000-6000.
Are you looking to purchase farmland? Farm Plus offers low-rate loans for farming or ranching! Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information.
Tags: appreciation, iowa, land value
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Thursday, May 21st, 2009
The American Wind Energy Association released data announcing the top states currently producing wind energy and those that have plans for future wind power projects.
1. Texas. Texas currently has 7,907 megawatts of wind power. 1,102 megawatt are in construction now.
2. Iowa. Iowa has 2,883 megawatts and 210 under construction.
3. California. California has 2,653 megawatts of wind power with 125 under construction.
4. Minnesota. With 1,803 megawatts across the state of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota comes in fourth.
5. Washington. Washington is right behind Minnesota with 1,479 megawatts.
6. Oregon. Oregon currently has 1,363 megawatts of wind power with 126 under construction.
7. New York. New York has 1,262 megawatts today, with 21 under construction.
8. Colorado. As the eighth top state in the United States, Colorado has 1,068 megawatts of wind powered electricity.
Wind power is a growing trend among farms because the government offers great subsidies. For more information on subsidies and farm loans contact Farm Plus today. Farm Plus has many low-rate farm loans for your needs. Call 866-929-5585 for more information on farm loans or visit online.
Tags: renewable energy, wind farm, wind power
Posted in Calfornia Farm Loans, Colorado farm loans, Iowa farm loans, Minnesota Farm Loans, Oregon farm loans, Washinton Farm Loans | No Comments »
Thursday, May 7th, 2009
After an 11-day Asian trade mission, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey has a positive outlook that Iowa soybean exports to China and Taiwan will remain strong despite the current worldwide recession.
Parts of China have been hit hard by manufacturing productions shutdowns that will effect U.S. imports, but the demand for pork and chicken livestock remains constant. This is good news for Iowa.
“They’re not going to be able to produce enough grain, certainly not enough soybeans, to feed their own. They’re going to need imports,†said Northey told the Quad City Times.
“It’s going to continue to grow. It may grow at a little slower pace right now. But I think it’s going to continue to grow and I really think that within the next few years they’ll have a need to import corn as well,†the Iowa agriculture secretary said.
While in China, Northey met with feed manufacturers and soybean crushers that cannot keep up with the demand that increases 10 to 20 percent each year. Because they cannot keep up domestically, they must look to outside sources.
Looking to purchase a farm in Iowa? Contact Farm Plus today for a low rate farm loan. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information.
Tags: asia, exports, iowa
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual Prospective Plantings report on March 31. The report indicates that corn acreage will be down 1 percent in comparison to 2008 while soybean acreage will slightly increase.
Minnesota growers are estimated to plant 7.6 million acres of corn in 2009, down from 7.7 million. Iowa growers will plant 13.2 million, down from 13.3 million.
Overall it will be the third largest year of corn acreage across the country. The plan is 85 million acres of corn for all purposes, and only in 1949, 2007 and 2008 did farmers plant more than that.
The decrease comes after the demand for ethanol and livestock industries has lessened and there is less need for corn to export overseas.
The lack of exports is blamed on the falling value of the dollar. The National Corn Growers Association wants to find ways to increase demand through ethanol and the livestock industries.
Although corn production is expected to be down, soybean production will increase. In Iowa 9.85 million acres of soybeans will be planted when only 9.75 million were planted last year. Minnesotan producers will produce less soybeans then last year, only 7.0 million acres in 2009. Overall soybean production is expected to hit 81 million acres, slightly more than last year.
If you’re seeking a farm loan for a purchase, refinance, or expansion, Farm Plus Fiancial offers farm loans with historically low interest rates and fixed terms up to 30 years. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information regarding farm loans.
Tags: corn, usda
Posted in General, Iowa farm loans, Minnesota Farm Loans | No Comments »
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Organic farming is quickly gaining popularity as people are learning what is happening to the planet and their bodies. Few realize that it dates back decades.
Tom and Irene Frantzen, this year’s winner of the 2009 Farmers of the Year by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services, have been using organic farming methods since 1979.
Tom saw Pope John Paul II speaking in Des Moines, Iowa about preserving the land in 1979 and immediately started using fewer chemical inputs. His efforts were taught to him by the Practical Farmers of Iowa where he served as president in 1991 and 1992.
The Frantzens spent many hours learning innovated techniques from various farmers, classes and even visiting farms in Sweden. The couple used an experience in Sweden to change their entire farming process. The farms used deep straw bedding for hogs. This technique traps heat in the straw so barns do not have to be heated. When fresh straw is put down, the old straw goes on top the fields to add nutrients to the ground.
In 1998 the land owned by the Frantzens was certified organic. In 1999 their hogs were also certified, followed by their beef in 2003.
The Frantzens are very involved in the organic farming community in the Midwest and are an inspiration. They show that hard work and the willingness to learn pay off in the end.
Have you been tossing around the idea of purchasing land for organic farming or conventional farming? Contact Farm Plus today. Low rate agriculture loans are available. Contact a representative about farm loans by phone at 866-929-5585 or online.
Tags: iowa, midwest, organic farms
Posted in Iowa farm loans, Wisconsin Farm Loans | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) have announced ways to improve the three largest corn-using sectors in the state: livestock feeding, ethanol and trade.
Most discussions between members of The National Corn Growers Association in 2008 and 2009 so far were about resolutions. ICGA president-elect Don Elsbernd said, “It was a year for making incremental adjustments instead of major policy changes.”
An example given in a recent press release, according to Elsbernd, is the policy supporting testing and certification of conversion kits that could be retrofitted onto cars to allow them to burn E85. “We want to make it easier for more consumers to drive flex fuel vehicles and buy E85 at the gas pump.”
Another resolution, and an Iowa response to President Obama’s budget, is to cut off farm program direct payments based on the level of gross sales. Elbsbernd said that gross sales are not a reliable measure of farmers’ profitability in the current climate of volatile grain prices and extremely high input costs.
Elbsbernd is proud of the farm leadership behind the ICGA and NCGA. “We have a system where the ideas an Iowa grower brings to our summer roundtable meetings can advance to the national policy level and become the official position of the entire National Corn Growers Association- that means real grassroots leadership at work in the halls of Congress.”
If you are interested in purchasing agricultural land, loans are available today. Ranch loans and farm loans are available through Farm Plus Financial and rates are at historic lows. Farm Plus works with various government agencies to help people own a farm of their choice across the country. For more information on farm loans please contact a representative today. Contact one via telephone at 866-929-5585 or visit online.
Tags: corn, iowa, NCGA
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Thursday, February 19th, 2009
Economic development officials pushed to provide two rural counties with national rankings for high-speed Internet access on farms and have seen great success thanks to aggression.
The development project is for Kearney County, Nebraska and Clay County, Iowa. Developers feel that the broadband access will gives farms in the area a competitive edge.
“We may have someone from Minden, Nebraska, come up with the next Yahoo,” said Lisa Stadler, executive director of the Kearney County Economic Development Agency based in Minden.
According to the 2007 agriculture census, Kearney County, Nebraska ranks seventh among rural counties with the highest percentage of farmers connected to high-speed Internet. 65 percent of Kearney County’s farms are connected to high speed Internet.
Clay County on the other hand ranks 20th with 58 percent of its farms connected to high-speed Internet.
The numbers are most important because they show that rural farms have the opportunity to run modern businesses. The Internet provides not only connection to less rural areas, but it is a gateway to deliver goods and services as well as strike up more business. Farmers mostly rely on it to conduct business that cannot be done face to face.
In comparison to the rest of the country, Kearney County, Nebraska was beat by Nantucket (Mass.), Pitkin (Colorado.), Hood River (Oregon.), and three other ski counties in Colorado.
If you are interested in buying rural land for agriculture, farm loans and ranch loans are available today. Contact a representative at Farm Plus with any questions about farm loans or ranch loans. Interest rates are at historic lows. Call toll free 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information.
Tags: colorado, iowa, nebraska, rural
Posted in Iowa farm loans, Nebraska Farm Loans | No Comments »
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