http://www.farmloans.com/blog FARM PLUS FINANCIAL offers farm loans and ranch loans to American farmers Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:34:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 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 ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/washington-debates-pesticide-restrictions/ 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. ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/bill-gates-addresses-farming-revolution/ 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 ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/congress-considering-egg-farm-bill/ 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 ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/discrimination-settlement-ceiling-raised-for-hispanic-and-women-farmers/ 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 ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/agriculture-key-to-addressing-climate-change/ In a gathering of agricultural ministers and food policy experts in Berlin, farm leaders decried food waste and pointed out the nearly 1 billion people worldwide who experience chronic food shortages. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, food security and hunger are some of the most important issues ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/farm-officials-protest-food-waste/ In an announcement earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that they were expanding eligibility for loans for beginning and disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Over the past several years, the average age of American farmers has been increasing, leading to a graying of the profession. In addition, while agriculture ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/usda-expands-new-farmer-loans/ With the debate over the 2012 Farm Bill about to heat up, farmers are renewing the fight over direct farm payments and insurance programs. With the recent austerity hysteria, Senators and Representatives have appeared more willing to end direct farm payments then they ever have before. Over the past few years, ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/farmers-trade-subsidies-for-insurance/ In a sign of major erosion of public support, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture recently came out against new wind farm projects, citing health concerns and questions about efficiency. While the OFA says that it remains committed to green energy programs, the groups says that wind farms are dividing rural communities ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/canadian-farmers-protest-wind-farms/ Earlier this week, businesswoman and television personality Martha Stewart released an internet video decrying animal cruelty and the treatment of factory farm livestock. In her video, Stewart condemned the cramped, dirty conditions frequently found in many factory farms across the country. In addition, she criticized the treatment of many animals in ... http://www.farmloans.com/blog/general-farm-loans/martha-stewart-speaks-out-against-animal-cruelty/