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Posts Tagged ‘south dakota’
Sunday, January 1st, 2012
The growing farm sector in South Dakota is threatening prairie wildlife, according to some environmental experts.
In the wake of increased commodity prices due to international demand and ethanol subsidies, farmers across the Great Plains are stepping up production, increasing their crop yields, and expanding their tillable acreage. In some cases, farmers are even opting out of the Conservation Reserve Program, choosing to plant corn rather than leave their fields fallow.
This increased production, however, is accelerating habitat loss and endangering South Dakota wildlife, primarily pheasants.
South Dakota pheasants have been an important part of the state’s culture, economy, and ecology. Pheasant hunting in particular has been a major part of the South Dakota economy and the large pheasant population has been able to support a robust tourist economy.
The increased crop production, however, is threatening the habitat of South Dakota pheasants as farmers across South Dakota are expanding their efforts to drain wetlands and drain water on their property. While doing this allows them to plant more crops, it also destroys the nesting areas of pheasants.
Wildlife experts are predicting a major decline for South Dakota’s ecosystem. According to the former director of South Dakota’s Game, Fish, and Wildlife Department, “Anyone who thinks South Dakota can continue to produce the pheasants, ducks and other wildlife it has in the past just doesn’t know what’s going on here. You’re quite possibly witnessing the end of an era. Some of the nation’s last, best prairies and potholes are going away.”
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: Conservation Reserve, pheasants, south dakota
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Thursday, August 25th, 2011
Earlier this week, South Dakota Senator John Thune and South Dakota Representative-at-large Kristi Noem discussed the upcoming Farm Bill. The long anticipated 2012 Farm Bill, which will replace the nearly $300 billion 2008 Farm Bill, has long been a source of speculation. Senators, Representatives, and farm organizations like the Farm Bureau have attempted to shape final bill that will be passed next year.
However, the last several months have given American farmers remarkable insight into the future of the Farm Bill. The economic recession of 2008, combined with present Congressional fears of deficit spending, have lead many experts to predict a sparse Farm Bill that significantly cuts spending across the board.
Statements by two of South Dakota’s Congressional representatives have only entrenched this fear. In a meeting with agricultural leaders in Rapid City, South Dakota, Thune and Noem stated that high farm commodity prices, combined with a larger agricultural economic boom, would only embolden efforts to cut agricultural funding from the upcoming Farm Bill and from upcoming budgets.
“Because of the good farm economy, this farm budget is a huge target right now for cuts,” Thune told his audience. However, both Thune and Noem reassured farm leaders that they would do their best to make sure that agricultural spending is not disproportionally cut in upcoming budgets.
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: farm bill, john thune, Kristi Noem, south dakota
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Thursday, August 25th, 2011
South Dakota farmers are protesting potential tax increased, and have petitioned state legislators to reject raising taxes on farm equipment and vehicles. The proposed tax policies are another result of the ongoing economic recession in the United States. Faced with shrinking revenues, various states are looking for ways to squeeze out extra tax revenue without having to raise taxes outright.
The proposed plan in South Dakota currently looks to remove tax exemptions on a series of goods and items sold in the state. Adding extra goods and services to the tax rosters (current South Dakota sales tax is four percent) would g a long way in balancing the state’s budget and raising tax revenues. Adding sixteen extra items, the state Sales Tax Review Committee claims, could add an extra $80 million in revenues.
However, many farmers claim that applying sales tax to fertilizer sales and machinery repairs could seriously damage the state’s agricultural industry. Increasing maintenance costs, they argue, are not only impractical, but also unfair. Some South Dakota farmers see the proposal as placing the financial burdens of the entire state on the shoulders of a single industry.
The tax debate comes in the midst of fierce debates, both at the state and federal level, over the role of agricultural in local economies. Farmers and agricultural officials have indicated a willingness to make shared sacrifices for the good of the country, accepting the need for fewer subsidies and some higher taxes, but many see the repeated attacks on the industry as unwarranted and bad for the larger economy as a whole.
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: farm subsidies, sales tax, south dakota
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Monday, February 8th, 2010
As of January 5, 2010 South Dakota producers are eligible for the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program.
Senator John Thune made the announcement following the approval of the program through the 2008 Farm Bill. Payments will be made until September 30, 2011.
“The Farm Safety net is designed to give farmers and ranchers a measure of peace of mind when natural disaster strikes,” Thune explained. “Permanent disaster programs provide assurance that needed disaster funding will not be held up by political gamesmanship in Washington.”
The program will benefit producers because the money will be available immediately from the state.
Those eligible include producers with land in counties with a USDA Secretarial Disaster Designation and countiguous counties. Producers outside the counties with crop production that is less than 50 percent normal is also eligible.
Contact your local Farm Service Agency for more information.
Inflation fears? Refinance with Farm Plus before farm loan rates rise. Farm loan rates starting at 2.99% with 25 year terms. See our rate sheet here or call, toll free, 866-929-5585.
Tags: farm bill, john thune, south dakota
Posted in South Dakota 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
Posted in General, Iowa farm loans | No Comments »
Friday, March 20th, 2009
Despite a mysterious disease killing millions of honeybees, California ranks third in the United States for honey production.
According to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, honey production rose in California by more than one-third in 2008. 360,000 hives were based in California that produced 18.3 million pounds of honey in comparison to 13.6 million pounds produced in 2007.
This resulted in $26 million revenue for beekeepers in California. Every year thousands of beekeepers take their bees to California to pollinate blossoming nut and fruit trees.
North Dakota and South Dakota only top California in honey production.
If you are interested in honey productio,n agriculture loans are available. Contact Farm Plus today for more information regarding low-rate agriculture loans. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online.
Tags: bees, california, honey, norther dakota, south dakota
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