|
|
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Monday, March 5th, 2012
The Chinese government recently announced that it would increase investment in its agricultural sector, ramping up farm loans and farm subsidies in order to increase domestic food production and modernize its agricultural infrastructure. China has long been one of the major importers of American agricultural products. With over 1 billion citizens, China accounts for roughly 1/5 of the world’s population, but only 9 percent of its arable land. By increasing access to farm loans and farm subsidies, the Chinese government hopes to reduce their nation’s dependence on foreign food sources.
In an ambitious blueprint for agricultural reform, the Chinese State Council laid out a series of farm goals the country hopes to achieve over the next several years. By increasing access to farm loans and government support, the State Council hopes to improve land yield, resource efficiency, labor productivity, and technical innovation. Achieving these goals could help prevent a future national security crisis and increase the economic stability of the Chinese state.
Vital farm loans and government grants would go towards increasing corn and soybean production in particular. While China is largely self-sufficient in wheat production, it relies heavily on soybean and corn imports. This lack of food supply has helped increase consumer inflation. Farm loans and grants to large-scale agricultural producers could help stimulate domestic production. In addition, the State Council laid out a goal of promoting the use of modernized agricultural practices, revising guidelines on seed cultivation, and pressuring major banks to free up capital for farm loans and agricultural investment.
In addition to these traditional changes, the Chinese government hopes to encourage significant technological innovation through direct government investment. Chinese officials called for scientific research into seed production and the development of disaster resistant plants. The government is also considering expanding access to farm loans for farmers who participate in these scientific endeavors. Finally, according to documents issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the government has committed to across the board increases in agricultural funding, including increasing direct investment and expanding access to farm loans.
Tags: agricultural finance, farm loans
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, February 19th, 2012
For the past year, mid-Atlantic farmers and the Environmental Protection Agency have been fighting over the status of the Chesapeake Bay, with the EPA seeking to limit environmental degradation to major U.S. waterways and farmers arguing that the agency is an example of an over-regulatory federal government.
The Chesapeake Bay has been a potent symbol for environmentalists for decades. In the 1970s, the bay became the first body of water to contain an identifiable marine dead zone, an area of water where oxygen has been so depleted that life can no longer be sustained. These dead zones have expanded, wreaking havoc on the marine ecosystem.
The cause of this environmental degradation was pollution discharged into the bay. A major part of this pollution was runoff from farms along Chesapeake waterways. The heavy use of chemical fertilizers, combined with runoff after storms, led to large amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen entering the bay, encouraging large-scale algae blooms that covered the surface of the water, blocking sunlight and depleting oxygen.
In an effort to help restore the bay, the EPA increased regulation of sediment discharge into Chesapeake waterways, instituting stricter controls on farms across the mid-Atlantic. The regulations rely on computer models, which are based on pollution data collected across the region.
Some farmers are criticizing these data, arguing that they do not present the full picture of environmental consciousness. For example, many Chesapeake farms use voluntary best-management practices to reduce runoff and erosion. These practices are not always included in gathered data. In addition, many farmers claim that the EPA model assumes the worst, vastly overestimating the pollutants contained in farm runoff.
Regardless of the accuracy of the model, farmers are also challenging the EPA’s right to impose these regulations at all. Farm advocacy groups have sued in federal court, arguing that the Chesapeake project represents a vast overstepping of the EPA’s mission.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: chesapeake bay, EPA, farm bureau
Posted in Florida Farm Loans, General, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, January 8th, 2012
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a drought resistant strain of corn developed by Monsanto, clearing the corn for sale in the United States.
Corn is the most prevalent crop grown in the United States with over 91 million acres grown this year alone. Over the last several years, corn production in the United States has skyrocketed, largely due to increased overseas demand and ethanol production.
Given the importance of corn to American farmers, the development of heartier strains has been a top concern for genetically modified food producers like Monsanto. When they applied for approval of their modified corn, Monsanto reported that about 40 percent of crop loss in North America was due to a lack of moisture.
According to a Monsanto official, “Our drought system is designed to help farmers mitigate the risk of yield loss when experiencing drought stress, primarily in areas of annual drought stress.”
Now that the USDA has approved their corn, Monsanto has announced that it plans farm trials across the Great Plains in order to prepare for commercial development and marketing.
Assuming the trials are successful, this new strain of corn could be sold globally, helping to ease international food shortages, particularly in drought-afflicted regions.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: genetically modified food, Monsanto, usda
Posted in Florida Farm Loans, General, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, January 1st, 2012
With much of the Western world’s economy still struggling in the face of the European Debt Crisis and an ongoing American economic recession, European economists are looking for ways to jumpstart their respective national economies. In the United Kingdom, agricultural and economic officials believe that a strengthened farm sector could help boost a struggling nation.
An expansive agricultural sector is a major factor in the growth of the British economy. According to the Nation Farmers’ Union president, increased exports of agricultural products have put the UK on track for a record export year. This growing export economy has helped create 9,000 agricultural jobs in the UK.
Exports for the first half 2011 are estimated to be around £5.8 billion, an increase of over 13 percent from last year. Agricultural leaders are using these financial gains to call for limiting EU green farming reforms, which some farmers believe will only create governmental red tape.
According to Agriculture Minister Jim Paice, “We are working in Europe to reform the Common Agricultural Policy so it encourages improved competitiveness and better environmental performance, with less reliance on subsidies. We are also making our own regulations simple and effective so it’s easier for farmers to do their job.”
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: European Union, National Farmers Union, United Kingdom
Posted in Florida Farm Loans, General, Iowa farm loans, Minnesota Farm Loans, Uncategorized, Wyoming Farm Loans | No Comments »
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.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: checkoff programs, Christmas, Jim DeMint, usda
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, December 12th, 2011
The past several months have seen a remarkable increase in commodity prices and in farm profits. In part driven by ethanol production and in part driven by increased foreign consumption, corn prices have gone through the roof, dramatically increasing the profits of farms across the country.
These increased prices have been a double-edged sword. While the increased profits have helped stimulate local economies and have been a major boon to farmers, they have come at the cost of increased prices for consumers at grocery stores across the country.
However, another cost of these increased land values has appeared in the form of higher property taxes. Particularly in states where agricultural property taxes are determined by examining the economic productivity of farmland, such Ohio, which sits in the middle of the Corn Belt, small farmers are expected to be hit hard.
In Ohio, property values are determined by Current Agricultural Use Valuation, which examines crop yields, crop patterns, and crop prices to determine the value of farmland. Given the sharp increase in the price of corn and the higher than average yields seen across the Midwest, many economists are predicting a significant increase in agricultural property taxes.
While the increased taxes are not likely to drive farmers out of business, they can pose a serious burden to small farmers who, unlike their corporate cousins, do not have the ready capital to absorb increased operational costs.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: commodity prices, ethanol, property taxes
Posted in Florida Farm Loans, General, Uncategorized | No Comments »
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.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: china, President Obama, tom vilsack, USDS
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, October 16th, 2011
According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Dakota’s crop harvest is down significantly from recent years. The last several months have been difficult for North Dakota farmers. Severe weather struck hard last spring, exposing crops to early frost, extreme cold, heavy rain, and powerful wind.
While the string of bad weather has ended, North Dakotan farmers are still struggling to recover from the damage done last season. In particular, the weather disrupted and delayed planting, which translates into a significantly lower harvest than in previous years.
The lowered harvest is consistent across the board with North Dakota crops. Some farmers report that their wheat harvest is at 50 percent of last year’s yield. The USDA has reported that canola production is down 43 percent from last year and dry, edible bean production is down 50 percent.
These major losses will most likely be reflected in the North Dakota economy. Agricultural officials are currently predicting at least tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue, possibly reaching the hundreds of millions. These losses mean lowered sales for non-agricultural businesses as farmers spend less. Ultimately, these dismal harvests could also result in increased unemployment.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: farm subsidies, north dakota, severe weather, usda
Posted in Florida Farm Loans, General, Uncategorized | No Comments »
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.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: Department of Transportation, farm vehicles, Ray LaHood
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
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.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
|
|
|
|
