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Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Saturday, December 17th, 2011
Several weeks ago, a U.S. Department of Agriculture plan to create a 15 cent per tree Christmas tree tax was leaked to the media. In the ensuing days, pundits and bloggers mocked the idea as a tax on the holiday season. In the wake of the fallout, the USDA has permanently shelved the idea, to the chagrin of many farmers.
The tax, like many other industry supported checkoff programs, would have been funded by the tree industry. The money raised by the extra tax would have gone to pay for marketing programs and agricultural research. The tree industry, many believe, is experiencing a major decline in the face of the economic recession and stiff competition from artificial trees.
The misguided public fervor reached a peak when South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint proposed an amendment to an Energy and Water Appropriations Bill that would end 20 various agricultural checkoff programs, a move that would most certainly damage the farm industry as a whole.
In order to combat this negative publicity, several farm organizations have written an open letter to Congress, the USDA, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. In the letter, they defend checkoff programs, stating, “With oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), producers have taken it upon themselves to fund over $905 million of research, promotion and consumer education programs annually through checkoff activities at no cost to the federal government. In these austere budgetary times, our producers should be commended and certainly deserve the support of the authorizing committees and USDA.”
In addition, they criticized the media, and stated that, “Our members see the checkoff program as an investment in their families’ future, an investment which they and their fellow producers have voluntarily adopted. We support these programs and look forward to working with you to ensure their continued success.”
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: checkoff programs, Christmas, Jim DeMint, usda
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Sunday, November 13th, 2011
Next week Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will travel to China and Vietnam to promote American agricultural products abroad. Secretary Vilsack has long been an advocate of expanding American export markets, boasting that increased agricultural production creates desperately needed domestic jobs.
Vilsack’s decision to visit China and Vietnam represents the increased market power of those two nations. Vilsack is not the only American politician to visit East Asia. Last month, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder headed a trade delegation to China, hoping to increase Michigan farm exports and boost the state’s economy.
This year, China jumped ahead to become the largest importer of American agricultural goods, moving ahead of Canada and Mexico. Vietnam also increased its imports, moving from the 50th to the 15th place in terms of American market shares.
The goal of the trip, according to Vilsack, is to “strengthen trade relationships we have with both nations, support the American brand, and create more opportunities for American producers to sell their goods throughout the Asia Pacific region.”
Preparing for the upcoming trip, Vilsack praised free trade agreements, lauding President Obama for, “sign[ing] new trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. When implemented, they will increase farm exports by an additional $2.3 billion—supporting nearly 20,000 American jobs—by eliminating tariffs, removing barriers to trade and leveling the playing field for U.S. producers.”
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: china, President Obama, tom vilsack, USDS
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Saturday, August 13th, 2011
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation rejected proposed changes to federal transportation guidelines that some saw as harmful to farmers. In an era of rising gas prices and increased fuel costs, transportation is one of the biggest costs facing many farmers. Throughout the country, farmers have gone out of business in the face of ever increasing fuel prices and higher and higher maintenance costs for American farms.
The changes being considered by the Department of Transportation would have added to those costs, farm advocacy groups claim. Some of the suggested changes would have reclassified crop-share tenant farmers as for-hire carriers, requiring farmers to maintain at least $750,000 in insurance coverage, requiring DOT registration numbers for farm vehicles, and requiring farm haulers to apply for commercial driver’s licenses.
In the face of these suggested changes, farmers across the country lobbied their political representatives as well as farm advocacy groups, forcing the DOT to abandon considered changes.
According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the DOT has no plans to inject more regulation into an already tightly regulated industry. In addition to opposing further regulation, LaHood has pledged to work with farmers and state transportation agencies to ensure national standards across the U.S. “Farmers deserve to know that reasonable, common sense exemptions will continue to be consistently available to agricultural operations across the country,” LaHood stated.
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: Department of Transportation, farm vehicles, Ray LaHood
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Sunday, July 31st, 2011
Country music sensation Willie Nelson is set to be inducted in the Agriculture Hall of Fame. The induction will take place on August 13, shortly before the 26th annual Farm Aid concert. Nelson’s selection is a controversial one. Some individuals are uncomfortable with inducting celebrities into a Hall of Fame that includes Abraham Lincoln, Bob Dole, and John Deere.
It is Nelson’s work as the president of Farm Aid that guaranteed him a spot in the Ag Hall of Fame, sources say. The first Farm Aid concert was held on September 22, 1985; its initial goal was to raise money for struggling family farmers. The 1980s was a particularly bad period for farmers. The collapse of agricultural prices left many farmers in debt and at risk of losing their farms.
Farm Aid benefitted many of these struggling farmers and has become a yearly event featuring support from a wide variety of celebrities as well as politicians. Since its creation, the Farm Aid Corporation has raised over $39 million to promote family farming in the United States.
Nelson’s induction represents his unwavering commitment to the American farmer. For the past 26 years Nelson has dedicated his time to the Farm Aid Corporation and has headlined every Farm Aid concert.
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
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Sunday, April 10th, 2011
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is hoping to rush through legislation to allow the importation of fungus used as a natural pesticide. The fungus in question, Beauveria bassiana GHA, is currently on Hawaii’s list of restricted microorganisms. State officials say that the fungus poses little threat to the environment or to human life.
Beauveria bassiana GHA is a naturally occurring fungus that is found in soil throughout the world. The fungus poses little threat to human life. The benefit posed by the fungus is its pesticide properties. The fungus kills a variety of agricultural pests, most importantly for Hawaii the Coffee berry borer. The beetle has recently posed a major threat to Hawaii coffee production. Discovered in 2010, the beetle population has exploded in recent months, destroying significant amounts of Hawaii’s coffee crops (some farms report up to 60% losses).
Although researchers are unclear how the infestation grew so large so quickly, some have hypothesized that recent droughts led to a decline in naturally occurring Beauveria bassiana GHA fungus, a decline which prevented the naturally occurring limitation of the coffee beetle population.
Officials hope that the rule change can be approved quickly in order to preserve the coffee crop and to prevent significant financial hardship by Hawaii farmers and further damage to the state economy.
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
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Friday, March 4th, 2011
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the Department of Agriculture is offering loans and grants for over 500 renewable energy programs to help farms and ranchers become more energy efficient and reduce energy costs. The USDA is offering over $30 million in loans to over 500 recipients, with funding provided through the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP.
“These loans and grants will generate and save energy for the nation’s farmers and rural small businesses for decades to come,” Vilsack said. “The funding will help replace outdated equipment, such as old, inefficient grain dryers, insulate buildings, allow recipients to obtain energy audits and incorporate renewable energy technologies into their operations so they can compete in the 21st Century global economy.”
Rural farmers and businesses across the country have benefited from these REAP loans. Keith Alverson, a South Dakota farmer, has received nearly $100,000 in loans and grants to purchase new grain elevators and to make energy efficiency improvements to his Chester farm.
Authorized in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, REAP funding rests upon the recipient meeting various conditions for grants and loans. More information on REAP can be found here.
This article compliments of Farm Plus Financial. 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: REAP, renewable energy, Tom Vislack, usda
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Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
Debbie Stabenow of Michigan was named the chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee.
The Senate Agriculture Committee is responsible for overseeing nutrition legislation as well as drafting the 2012 Farm Bill. Stabenow will be the leader writer of the legislation that helps support producers in all sectors of the agriculture industry.
Stabenow will take the position in January. “Agriculture is critical to Michigan’s economy, employing a quarter of our workforce. Not only does agriculture create jobs and feed our families across America, but it is also helping us develop new fuels and energy sources,” she said.
The 2012 Farm Bill is already in the works as senators travel across the country to meet with farmers. The goal for the legislation is to assist farmers in ways they feel would best improve the industry. Town hall meetings have occurred in such states as Idaho and California to hear the concerns and options of producers in all areas of agriculture.
For more information contact Farm Plus at 866-929-5585.
Written by: Melissa Warner / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: agriculture committee, senate, stabenow
Posted in General, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
A recent Purdue University study hopes to shed light on federal air quality standards and livestock farms. The project leader, Al Heber, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering, claims that his study is the largest of its kind and hopes that his data will be used by the EPA in creating emissions models. “This is some good, solid data to know what the emissions are for various species,” Heber said, “We didn’t know this before. This is something that we are really excited about, and I’m proud to have been involved.”
Industry leaders are cautiously assessing how the data will be used by the EPA and what the end results for livestock farmers will be. Josh Trenary, Indiana Pork director of business development, lauded Heber and his team, praising the dedication he showed in his two year project. He also urged caution, stating, “The completed data set has limited value as a regulatory tool… It is all about the interpretation. It is too early to tell what kind of effect the [study] will have on Indiana’s pork farmers, because the data has yet to be analyzed and distilled down to specific emissions factors.”
Data on ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions, major byproducts of many types of livestock farms, was measured in Heber’s study. These emissions are regulated by the EPA, and livestock producers must notify regulators if their emissions surpass regulated amounts. The study found that emissions vary based on a number of factors, including waste collection and treatment, types of animals raised, and weather. The $14 million study was funded by the Agricultural Air Research Council, an agricultural nonprofit, and oversaw by the EPA.
Farm Plus Financial is committed to helping farmers and ranchers across the United States. If you are looking to start or reinvest in a farm or ranch, contact a friendly Farm Plus representative for information on the loan process. Farm loan rates are at historic lows starting at only 3.03%. Call 866-929-5585 to speak with a Farm Plus representative today or visit us online for more information.
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus staff writer
Tags: agricultural air research council, herber, purdue
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Friday, February 4th, 2011
The best way to educate people about agriculture is by starting early.
One way the Wisconsin Farm Bureau is encouraging education is through classroom funding. Teachers can apply for the 2011 White-Reinhart funds for $500 to fund current or existing agricultural programs. This money can be used for a variety of activities related to agriculture from grades K through 12. The ideal programs will encourage and interest students in the agriculture industry.
Scholarships are also available for teachers seeking funding to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference. These scholarships cover travel expenses for teachers from grades K through 12 interested in learning innovated ways to bring agriculture into the classroom. Teachers must use the information on fuel, agriculture and nutrition to educate students and excite them about agriculture.
Those interested in applying for school or personal scholarships should contact the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation at 608-828-5719 with any questions.
Call Farm Plus today at 866-929-5585 for more information on this and other agriculture funding.
Tags: agricultural programs, farm bureau, wisconsin
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Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
Texas rice farmers have anxiously been following efforts in Congress to end the economic embargo in Cuba. Passed during the Cold War, trade with and travel to Cuba has been banned by the US for decades. Farmers now, particularly rice farmers in Texas hope that these bans will be lifted, opening Cuban markets to US trade. Unconcerned with ideological issues, farmers are more interested in potential profits than partisan hostilities. “Farmers are bottom line-oriented,” said Thomas Wynn, an economist and rice farmer from Egypt, Texas.
Proponents of ending the ban believe that the sluggish US economy offers the best chance in years to end the embargo and open up Cuban trade. They also believe that ending the ban could reinvigorate the US economy, particularly the Texas rice trade, which has suffered from the recent economic decline. “The impacts would be enough to ensure the survival of a significant percentage of Texas agriculture,” Wynn said.
If the embargo is lifted, economists have estimated a significant increase in economic activity in Texas. Opening the agricultural market in Cuba could potentially double Texas’ agriculture exports, adding $18 billion to a $20 billion economy. Trade with Cuba would also help generate $16 billion in overall agricultural economic activity. On a national level, Cuban trade could generate over $350 million and generate thousands of new jobs. At a time when we are struggling to create jobs, this is a bill that would help solve at least part of the problem,” said Parr Rosson, an economist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M’s Texas AgriLife Extension.
In need of financing? Contact Farm Plus today for information on our low-rate agriculture loans. Call us at 866-929-5585 or visit our website for more information on farm and ranch loans.
Tags: congress, cuba, rice, texas
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