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Posts Tagged ‘tom vilsack’
Monday, February 6th, 2012
Officials from the Farm Service Agency are protesting plans to shut down more than 130 FSA offices nationwide. The closures are part of a larger effort by the Department of Agriculture to reduce budget waste and trim nearly $3 billion of spending by the end of the year.
As part of the USDA’s efforts to reduce spending, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently announced the “Blueprint for Stronger Service Plan,” which would shut down more than 200 USDA and FSA offices.
According to Vilsack, the offices in question are non-vital. “Of the 131 offices on the list, 35 currently have no employees,” he said. “The balance of the offices have either one or two employees and are within 20 miles of another FSA office. The work of these offices will be assigned to the adjoining county office, and personnel given the opportunity to transfer as well.”
FSA employees, however, are concerned that the cuts could hinder the organization’s work. Many FSA officials point out that the organization has been on the receiving end of budget cuts for over a decade, leaving the agency severely understaffed. These closures may only serve to exacerbate that short handedness.
In addition, some FSA workers have pointed out that the closures may not even save much money. Given the selection of lightly staffed, smaller offices, the shutdowns may save very little money. Some employees suggest that modernizing the FSA and filling employment shortages could make the agency operate more efficiently, saving money in the long-term.
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 service agency, tom vilsack, usda
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Monday, February 6th, 2012
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a nearly $250 million financial commitment to an Oregon based company researching new methods of producing biofuels.
The announcement comes at a unique time in agricultural history. On the one hand, the farm industry is currently beset by deficit hawks in Congress who are looking to balance the federal budget on the backs of agricultural programs. On the other hand, the farm industry is more profitable than ever before thanks to booming land prices and rising crop prices.
One of the major causes of these increased crop prices is the increased global demand for corn-based ethanol. The demand for ethanol has dramatically increased the price of corn and created a major debate between farmers eager to capitalize on high prices and environmental activists who are concerned that ethanol is wasteful and contributes to high food prices and global hunger.
The USDA’s investment in Oregon’s ZeaChem Boardman Biorefinery may satisfy some of these environmental concerns. The refinery uses high-yield cellulosic fermentation technology to convert agricultural residue and farm waste (such as wheat straw and corn stover) and woody biomass into advanced biofuels and biomass chemicals.
In his statement announcing the USDA’s investment, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack linked furthered biofuel research to American economic growth, stating, “This project and others like it will help to establish a domestic advanced biofuels industry that will create jobs here at home and open new markets in the Pacific Northwest and across America.”
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: biofuel, tom vilsack, usda
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Monday, February 6th, 2012
Farmers along the Missouri River are seeing red at news that they missed a deadline to sign up for disaster aid.
The flooding was a part of last summer’s extreme weather than extended across much of the country. In order to control water levels along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, which had risen dangerously due to heavy rainfall and spring thaws, the Army Corp of Engineers released massive amounts of water from upstream reservoirs.
The flooding, which began in June, only receded in the last few months, with many farmers in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri experiencing flooded cropland as late as October.
Over $300 million in federal funds are set aside to help farmers recover from floods. The money, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program, helps farmers clear drainage ditches, repair levees, and reshape eroded banks.
The problem that many farmers are experiencing, however, is that the deadline for application was June 30, too early for many farmers who experienced flooding in the fall. In addition, given the lateness that the water receded, remaining in place well into the fall, many farmers were unable to fully assess the damage until well after the deadline had passed.
In the words of one Missouri farmers, “It certainly is disappointing that we can’t have access to funds that are basically earmarked for disasters like this.”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack promised that the USDA would work with farmers to ensure that they get federal support. “We will continue to work with our existing programs to give them as much help as possible,” he said.
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: disaster funds, tom vilsack, usda
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Saturday, January 28th, 2012
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 tied up in legal decisions for over a year, stem from the 1980s. Plaintiffs claimed that the USDA issued farm loans discriminatorily, denying loans to Hispanic farmers as well as female farmers.
The USDA has already settled a similar lawsuit filed by African American farmers who claimed that they faced the same discriminatory treatment by USDA loan officers.
The settlement program was announced in February 2011. Up to $1.33 billion is available to eligible Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who agree to settle voluntarily their claims. Participation is not compulsory and farmers are still able to pursue their claims through the court system.
In his statement announcing the increased ceiling, Vilsack reiterated his commitment to diversity in the USDA. “The Obama Administration has made it a priority to resolve all claims of past discrimination at USDA, and we are committed to closing this sad chapter in USDA’s history,” he said. “Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege past discrimination are encouraged to participate in an improved claims process.”
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: discrimination, tom vilsack, usda
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
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 remains a major part of the American economy, the number of Americans engaged in farming has decreased, with more and more agricultural production being consolidated in the hands of large-scale agribusinesses.
According to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, one of the biggest complaints he has heard as he tours the country is the difficulty in acquiring enough capital for new farmers to open up an agricultural business.
The new rules being considered would provide flexibility for Farm Service Agency officers to consider prior farm training (including formal and informal education) when making loans. In addition, the rules would encourage farmers and ranchers to sell their property to a new generation of farmers by offering landowners a 90 percent guarantee against losses to the seller.
Vilsack and the USDA hope that these new rules will help bring young farmers into the agricultural profession.
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, tom vilsack, usda
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Saturday, January 21st, 2012
Earlier this week, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton met with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to hammer out a commitment from the state and federal governments regarding water quality in Minnesota.
In a ceremony at the Minnesota capitol, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Dayton and Vilsack committing both governments to develop new programs to encourage voluntary conservation practices designed to improve water quality.
Praising the signing, Dayton stated, “Water and food are two of society’s essential resources. Today, we are taking a bold step for a program, which keeps agriculture a cornerstone of our economy and also protects the health of our rivers, lakes and streams. It is vital that we have both.”
Secretary Vilsack promised that the program would serve to reward farmers who made serious commitments to environmental conservation, stating, “Establishment of this program will protect our water resources by providing assurances and incentives to participating farmers that their good deeds – their strong commitment to conservation – will be recognized.”
While the details of the program will be worked out over the next months, the basics revolve around the creation of a conservation certification program. When farmers comply with these certifications, they would be prioritized for federal cost-share funding and would be exempted from certain water quality regulations for their duration of their commitment.
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: Mark Dayton, tom vilsack, usda, water quality
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Saturday, January 14th, 2012
At the annual Farm Bureau Federation meeting in Honolulu, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced about $150 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture budget cuts.
According to Vilsack’s message, the cuts are necessary because of the roughly $3 billion in discretionary budget cuts the USDA has experienced since 2010. “Over the course of the last year or so we have obviously been challenged with reduced budgets,” Vilsack said.
Vilsack portrayed the cuts as a way to streamline USDA programs. In addition to closing over 100 Farm Service Agency offices, the department will shut down a variety of support centers, including a number of farm research centers across the country.
According to Vilsack, “It’s reasonable to assume we’re all going to be faced with this because we have to get our fiscal house in order. My thought was I would rather be proactive. I would rather take the time to do it comprehensively than be forced to do it in a short period of time when your options are very limited.”
Vilsack also pointed out that the $150 million saved in budget cuts is not related to the $23 to $40 billion in cuts expected when Congress gets back in session.
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, tom vilsack, usda
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Saturday, January 14th, 2012
In a survey done at the latest Farm Bureau Federation meeting in Honolulu, farmers indicated their hope that farm safety programs will continue in the next Farm Bill.
The past several months have been difficult for many American farmers. While commodity prices have skyrocketed, leading to record high farm profits, many farmers have experienced major losses due to extreme weather in nearly every region of the country. In addition, with the 2008 Farm Bill about to expire, many farmers are nervous due to Congress’ inability to pass the long-debated 2012 Farm Bill.
At a Farm Bureau meeting in Honolulu, farmers expressed a hope that the next farm bill will continue major farm safety net programs. Currently, the 2008 Farm Bill authorizes a series of safety programs that include direct farm payments, subsidies triggered by low farm prices, and government subsidized crop insurance.
While farmers are nearly unanimous in hoping that farm support programs will continue, there is some disagreement as to how best to maintain these programs. 39 percent of farmers surveyed at the meeting indicated that they would prefer to maintain the supports contained in the 2008 Farm Bill. About 36 percent responded that they would support switching the current system to a revenue insurance program.
The 2012 Farm Bill is set to resume debate in the House and Senate when both houses return from recess.
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, tom vilsack, usda
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Saturday, January 14th, 2012
Earlier this week, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the Department of Agriculture planned to close nearly 250 offices across the country, most of them dealing with aid for farmers.
Currently the USDA operates thousands of offices across the country, ensuring that each rural county has at least one Farm Service Agency office.
USDA office closures have been debated before. In the past several years, the USDA has attempted to shut down unnecessary and inefficient offices around the country. Each time, however, the organization has run into opposition from Congress. Prompted by resistance from farm advocacy organizations, Congress has refused to shutter offices without adequate notification and proof that the local office is not needed.
Vilsack has stated that the closures will not hinder the USDA’s larger mission, saying, “Even with these changes, USDA will still have a strong presence in virtually all counties in the country as well as around the world. Over the long haul, we believe farmers and ranchers across the country will be better served by the choice we made.”
Vilsack claims that the closures will help streamline USDA operations. Replacing physical offices with an increased electronic presence, the USDA claims, will make it easier for farmers to receive federal services. In addition, the closures will help save up to $150 million a year.
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 bureau, tom vilsack, usda
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Monday, December 26th, 2011
Earlier this week, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made a statement that seemed to endorse a change in USDA policy governing the use of antibiotics in livestock. The statement generated a great deal of controversy and was seized on by public health advocates as evidence of a new federal policy regarding antibiotics.
Referring to antibiotic use, Vilsack stated, “Working with the farm community, I think it’s clear we would like to see those antibiotics used in the context of disease control and disease response as opposed to any other reason or purpose for using them. And we’re working with state veterinarians associations and land-grant universities to ensure that there’s a better understanding of the importance of using antibiotics judiciously.”
Public health advocates latched onto Vilsack’s emphasis on disease control. These groups, as well as many Congressional Democrats, have argued that the use of antibiotics in healthy animal herds is a major public health risk, leading to the creation of drug resistant superbugs.
A recent study of supermarket meat seems to confirm these fears, indicating that about 25 percent of meat samples tested positive for drug resistant staph.
Some farmers, however, argue that judicious use of antibiotics is necessary to keep livestock healthy.
More recently, Vilsack seems to be walking back from his previous statement. USDA spokespeople have stated that, “Secretary Vilsack’s comments do not reflect a change in policy for the Department.”
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: antibiotics, livestock, superbugs, tom vilsack
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