(307) 631-2810
contact@agtvnetwork.com

Archive for April, 2012

Federal Government News

27 Apr

Subcommittee Examines Dairy Programs
in Third D.C. Farm Bill Hearing

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Thomas J. Rooney, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held a hearing on reforming dairy programs in the 2012 Farm Bill.  This is the third of eight hearings which are gathering agricultural leaders in Washington to share their perspective on farm policy.

Witnesses discussed problems with current dairy programs and provided feedback on proposals being considered to address those inadequacies.   Dr. Scott Brown, Assistant Research Professor at the University of Missouri, provided economic analysis of policies under discussion.  Other witnesses shared their perspective on the potential impacts of dairy reform.

“At our dairy audit hearing last fall, we got a sense for the inadequacy of some of our current dairy programs. We know that innovative ideas are needed in order to ensure our programs support our producers, facilitate product and market development, and continue to maintain the availability of safe, abundant, and affordable product for our consumers.  While consensus is building around some of the proposed reforms to dairy programs that we can implement in the Farm Bill, today’s hearing focused on some controversial elements, and that’s why it was critical for us to receive the economic analysis that we did in order to gain an understanding about how these new recommendations would work and what their impacts would be,” said Chairman Thomas J. Rooney (R-FL).

“As policy makers, we must be sensitive to the different geographical challenges and work to craft a consensus package that meets the needs of most if not all.  It is extremely important that facts and data drive the discussion as we work to craft a solution that will smooth out the roller coaster of highs and lows,” said Ranking Member Dennis A. Cardoza (D-CA).

Written testimony provided by the witnesses is linked below. More information regarding the 2012 Farm Bill process can be found here.

Witness List:

Panel I

Dr. Scott Brown, Assistant Research Professor, Integrated Policy Group, Division of Applied Social Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri

Mr. Patrick Joseph “Joe” Wright, V&W Farms, Inc., on behalf of Southeast Milk, Inc., Avon Park, Florida

Mr. Tom Barcellos, Board President, Western United Dairymen, Porterville, California

Mr. John Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Davisco Foods International, Inc., on behalf of International Dairy Foods Association, Le Sueur, Minnesota

Mr. Jerry Kozak, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Milk Producers Federation, Arlington, Virginia

 

Peterson Statement: Senate Agriculture Committee Approves 2012 Farm Bill


WASHINGTON – U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., today made the following statement after the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry approved the 2012 Farm Bill, “The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012.”

“This brings us one step closer to having a farm bill in place before the current bill expires in September. Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts have found a bipartisan way to move forward and the full Senate should now take action. Given today’s action, the House Agriculture Committee should move quickly to mark-up a farm bill.

“The strong, bipartisan tone set by the Senate mark-up makes me more confident that we can get past some of the recent partisanship and get a farm bill done this year. We know there will be differences between the House and Senate bills but I am confident that, if permitted, we can work through these differences in conference committee.”

 

 

Lucas Statement on the Senate Ag Committee’s Farm Bill

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON – Chairman Frank Lucas issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry approved the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012.

 

“I commend Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Roberts and the other members of the Senate Ag Committee for advancing their farm bill today.  This is an important first step in the development of the next Farm Bill. I look forward to concluding the House Agriculture Committee’s hearing process and working with Ranking Member Peterson and members of the Committee to write the House bill in the coming weeks.

 

“I am disappointed by the Senate bill’s commodity title because it does not work for all of agriculture. It fails to provide producers a viable safety net and instead locks in profit for a couple of commodities.

 

“I have made it clear that my chief priority is making certain that the commodity title is equitable and provides a safety net for all covered commodities and all regions of the country. A shallow loss program is not a safety net. It does not provide protection against price declines over multiple years and it does not work for all commodities.” 

 

Lucas Commends Farmers & Ranchers
for Pushing Obama Administration to Drop Youth Labor Rule

 

WASHINGTON – Chairman Frank Lucas issued the following statement regarding the announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that the agency is withdrawing a proposed regulation that would have prohibited young people from working on family farms.

“I am pleased that common sense finally prevailed and the Department of Labor withdrew its burdensome, misguided proposed rule that would have prevented young people from working on farms.  This proposed rule created great angst in the countryside about the impact it would have had on the future of the family farm.  It was a concern that agricultural producers kept raising during our Farm Bill field hearings.   

“The Obama administration has proposed numerous rules that affect family farmers and ranchers without fully knowing the impact of their actions.  I hope this will serve as a lesson to the administration that they should seek input from the agriculture sector before continuing to move forward with unworkable regulations.

“I applaud the efforts of my colleagues, specifically, the leadership of Rep. Rehberg, as well as Reps. Latham and Boren who introduced H.R. 4157, the Preserving America’s Family Farms Act that would have blocked DOL from implementing any regulation that prohibits youth from working on family-owned farms.

“I also commend the entire agriculture community, including the thousands of farmers and ranchers, who voiced strong opposition to this rule.  This victory is due, in no small part, because the entire agriculture community worked together.  It is a reminder of what we can achieve when we are united by a common goal.

 

House Bill Halts Administration’s Power Grab & Expansion of Water Regulation

WASHINGTON – Legislation was introduced in the House today to halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers’ attempts to illegally expand federal power under the Clean Water Act and extend the government’s regulatory reach to every ditch, puddle and pond in the country.

Leaders of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Agriculture Committee introduced H.R. 4965, a bill to prohibit the Obama Administration from finalizing or implementing the EPA and Corps Clean Water Act “guidance” in order to significantly broaden the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Act.  This guidance would allow the unprecedented regulation of waters, occasionally wet areas and land use decisions not previously subject to federal regulation.  Any regulatory expansion under the Clean Water Act must follow proper, transparent rulemaking procedures – not the unlawful, backdoor conversion of publicly unvetted agency guidance into de facto federal regulation.

The Obama Administration is doing everything in its power to increase costs and regulatory burdens for American businesses, farmers, and individual property owners,” said the bill’s sponsor, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL).  “This federal jurisdiction grab has been opposed by Congress for years, and now the Administration and its agencies are ignoring law and rulemaking procedures in order to tighten their regulatory grip over every water body in the country.  But this Administration needs to realize it is not above the law.”

“The public has a right to be heard on federal actions affecting their lives,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV).  “The voices of our constituents should, and must, have an impact on the decision-making process; yet, here again, the EPA is seeking to impose its will via interim guidance and then asking for the public’s views after the fact.  This method of operation leaves citizens with little faith that the government understands or cares about the effect its actions have on their lives, and it leads to unworkable, inequitable Federal regulations that undermine the People’s faith in their own government.”

“The new authorities granted in this guidance would allow the EPA and the Corps of Engineers the authority to regulate almost any body of water in the U.S.,” said Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK).  “That means farm ponds, stock tanks, and seasonal runoff ditches could conceivably be included under new regulations.  The economic impact on farmers, ranchers, and rural communities would be devastating.  This legislation allows us to restore and protect our natural resources by working together and balancing state and federal authority.  President Obama and his EPA must stop this pattern of over-regulation and intrusion into individual and state rights.” 

“I believe in protecting our waterways, and that the Clean Water Act is the law of the land,” said Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN).  “This policy is too important to be done administratively and should go through a formal process, that’s why I am joining my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and supporting this bill.  I was opposed to this Clean Water Act expansion when the Bush Administration tried it and now when the current Administration is trying it.  We should not be regulating every puddle, pond and ditch.  We need to provide certainty in our permitting process so agriculture and businesses can predict and plan for the future.”

“This bipartisan effort should be a message to not only the EPA, but to all federal agencies that it is unacceptable for unelected bureaucrats in Washington to expand their authority on their own initiative,” said Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-OH).  “This legislation is critical to beat back the overreach of the EPA and I am proud to sponsor it alongside the Chairmen and Ranking Members of both the Agriculture and Transportation Committees.”

In February, EPA and the Corps sent a final guidance document entitled “Guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act” to the Office of Management and Budget for regulatory review.  Mica, Lucas, and Gibbs joined Senate Republicans in writing to the Office of Management and Budget to oppose changes to the scope and meaning of the Clean Water Act sought by the Administration through guidance.

Statutory changes to the Clean Water Act must be submitted to Congress for legislative action, and regulatory changes require a notice and comment rulemaking, according to the Administrative Procedure Act.

The legislation introduced today prevents the Administration from skirting the law and would require a formal rulemaking for any attempt to change the definition of “waters of the United States” and increase the federal government’s power under the Clean Water Act.



House Ag Committee

26 Apr

Subcommittee Kicks Off DC Farm Bill Hearings
with Focus on Rural Development Programs

 

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Timothy V. Johnson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture, held a hearing to review U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural development programs in advance of writing the 2012 Farm Bill. This is the first of eight hearings, which will be held by the Subcommittees to hear from agricultural stakeholders before the House Agriculture Committee begins drafting the reauthorization of agricultural programs.

Witnesses at today’s hearing provided feedback on the programs administered by USDA’s Rural Development agency, which includes the Rural Business and Cooperative Service (RBS), the Rural Housing Service (RHS), and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Members heard from two panels of witnesses who explained how programs can be improved to increase their effectiveness. Further, witnesses testified that continued investments in water, energy, and broadband infrastructure are vital for enhancing the quality of life and economic opportunities for individuals living and working in rural communities.

“Getting our debt under control will take shared sacrifice. Every single component of federal spending needs to be examined for efficiencies and savings. As the Committee considers how to reauthorize current programs in the next Farm Bill, it’s important to seek ways to weed out activities and authorities that are either redundant or ineffective. In doing so, these programs would be made more accessible to applicants, reduce USDA’s administrative burden, and focus program resources on core responsibilities,” said Chairman Timothy V. Johnson (R-IL).

“Over 50 million people call rural America home, and if we truly want to build a 21st century economy, they must be part of the solution. Rural communities rely on the rural development programs to provide and modernize services and facilities. As we move forward with the 2012 Farm Bill, we are trying to target and leverage funds where they can be most effective, said Ranking Member Jim Costa (D-CA).

Written testimony provided by the witnesses is linked below. More information regarding the 2012 Farm Bill process can be found here.

Witness List:

Panel I

The Honorable Charles F. Conner, President and CEO, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Donald Larson, Commissioner, Brookings County, South Dakota; on behalf of the National Association of Counties.

Ms. Leanne Mazer, Executive Director, Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, Frostburg, Maryland; on behalf of the National Association of Development Organizations.

Panel II

Mr. Frank Dunmire, Executive Director, Illinois Rural Water Association, Taylorville, Illinois; on behalf of the National Rural Water Association.

Mr. Robert Stewart, Executive Director, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Washington, D.C.

Mr. David Rozzelle, Executive Vice President, Suddenlink Communications, St. Louis, Missouri; on behalf of the National Cable Telecommunications Association.

Mr. Mark Bahnson, CEO & General Manager, Bloomingdale Communications, Bloomingdale, Michigan; on behalf of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association.

 

In Case You Missed It: Lucas Emphasizes Importance of
Giving Job Creators Access to Credit
House passes bipartisan bill H.R. 3336

WASHINGTON – Chairman Frank Lucas spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.R. 3336, the Small Business Credit Availability Act. The legislation will ensure that community banks can continue to responsibly manage risk and provide credit to America’s small businesses. It is one of six bills considered by the Agriculture Committee to bring balance to the Dodd-Frank rulemaking process. The legislation passed by a vote of 312 to 111.


The text of Rep. Lucas’s floor speech, as prepared for delivery, follows:

Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for this bill. First and foremost, I’d like to thank my Committee’s Ranking Member, Mr. Peterson, and his staff for their diligent work on this bill on behalf of end-users and small business lenders. We have a long-standing tradition of bipartisanship at the Agriculture Committee and their work was invaluable.

I’d like to thank Representative Hartzler for her leadership on H.R. 3336 on behalf of small financial institutions and the businesses they serve.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank Representative Hultgren and Representative Boren whose legislation, H.R. 3527, will not be considered today. As a result of their leadership and Mr. Peterson’s support, many of the critical issues for end-users addressed in H.R. 3527 were resolved by the CFTC in its final “definitions rule.”

I think we can reasonably feel reassured that agricultural cooperatives and other end-users out in the countryside won’t be unnecessarily deemed “swap dealers” and regulated like the largest financial institutions.

As I said from the outset, if the CFTC, on its own, resolves concerns we have raised for months in our Committee room, we would not proceed with legislation. And that is what we’ve done with H.R. 3527.

However, concerns with the implementation of Title VII remain, and so we are here today to proceed with H.R. 3336. This bill addresses issues that are important to community and farm credit banks—organizations which are instrumental to the economic vibrancy of our towns and rural communities.

In the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress was careful to ensure that new regulations wouldn’t impose unnecessary costs on small institutions that might deter them from extending credit to businesses across America.

Small banks pose very little risk to our financial system. Within the banking system, 96% of the notional value of derivatives is held by the 5 largest banks. The very small remaining percentage of the derivatives exposure in our financial system is spread across hundreds of small institutions.

That’s why Congress never intended for these community lenders to be regulated the same as the largest global financial institutions.

This bill aims to restore Congressional intent by exempting small banks, credit unions, non-profit cooperative lenders and farm credit institutions from costly clearing requirements under Dodd-Frank. It also ensures that banks can provide can continue to provide risk management tools to their borrowers.

In addition, thanks to the leadership of Representatives Schilling, Owens and McIntyre, provisions in H.R. 3336 will ensure “captive finance affiliates” of manufacturing companies like John Deere and Caterpillar are eligible for the same exemptions as their parent companies and other end-users.
These affiliates are an important source of credit to consumers and businesses, and promote our manufacturing sector.

Lastly, through the hard work of Representatives Costa, Cardoza and Baca, H.R. 3336 clarifies that utilities will not be miscast as “swap dealers” because they enter into contracts that are required by state law. The legislation clarifies that complying with state laws alone won’t also draw new and costly federal regulations.

There are many Members on both sides of the aisle at the Ag Committee who have spent time getting this bill to where it is today. We have been careful not to create loopholes or stray from Congressional intent. The bill does not open the door for large financial players to evade regulation or engage in speculative or highly risky activities.

Mr. Speaker, in this economy, it all comes back to jobs. To create new jobs, businesses need access to credit to make new investments. This bill ensures that businesses maintain access to credit from community lenders.

So I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3336, and ensure America’s small businesses can continue to access the credit they need to build our economy.

I yield back the balance of my time.

 

The Ag Minute: H.R. 3336 Ensures Community Lenders
Can Continue to Provide Credit to Job Creators

WASHINGTON – This week during The Ag Minute, guest host Rep. Vicky Hartzler discusses H.R. 3336, The Small Business Credit Availability Act, which she introduced to protect small lenders from regulations designed for the largest Wall Street banks and to ensure small businesses have access to credit and risk management tools. It clarifies derivatives regulations so they do not unnecessarily and unintentionally burden important sources of credit to consumers and businesses across the country. The bill passed in the House Agriculture Committee with unanimous support and will be considered today by the full U.S. House of Representatives.

Click here to listen to The Ag Minute. The transcript is below.

“For many farmers, ranchers, and other small businesses across the country, the community and farm credit bank serve as the lifeline for their operations.  Those businesses count on receiving a loan or a line of credit to buy new equipment or hire new employees. 

“But, some regulations within the Dodd-Frank Act could put that support in jeopardy because it would make it more expensive or nearly impossible for those community banks to use important risk management tools such as derivatives.  Further, some proposed regulations would burden small lenders with costly new regulations designed only for the largest Wall Street banks.

“With an already fragile economy, it’s so important that we do all we can to encourage economic activity rather than stifle it.  Having access to credit is critical for economic growth. 

“That’s why I introduced H.R. 3336, The Small Business Credit Availability Act to protect our community lenders from burdensome regulations that would limit the flow of credit to our job creators.

“H.R. 3336 is a common sense bill that clarifies Congressional intent and ensures that small banks, credit unions, and farm credit institutions can continue to use risk management tools, as well as continue to provide these tools for our farmers, ranchers, and small businesses.”

The Ag Minute is Chairman Lucas’s weekly radio address that is released from the House Agriculture Committee.


April Equipment Highlight

26 Apr

The final edition for April 2012 and the poultry industry wraps up.

 

 -> Products / Egg collection / ANACONDA
ANACONDA
It is ideal for transporting eggs from the head of the housing to the gathering centres.
Its particular conception allows the eggs to be conveyed overcoming curves, ascents, drops, long distances without rolling or collisions, and as a result avoiding cracking, breaking or dirtying of the eggs.
Standard widths from 40 to 100 cm are available on the basis of the requirements of the egg gathering centre plants.Quality of the materials: stainless steel, anodized aluminium and high quality technopolymers are the components of the ANACONDA system. It is constructed with modular elements combined with simplicity in mounting and the possibility to reuse all the materials should the cage models be renovated.
Anaconda is an integrated system that allows positioning of centralization at the height of the various belts of the housing and their towing.
The ANACONDA LIFT has been conceived to adapt, during mounting, to any kind of cage.
The speed of the belts is “variable” so that the egg flow is adjusted in relation to the capacity of the sorting machine or packaging machine.

A gear motor provides to lift the centralization by means of gears, connected to one sole shaft, that operate on racks fixed to vertical columns.
Once the ANACONDA has been positioned, another gear motor provides to tow the belts with variable speed in order to optimize egg gathering.
The horsepower employed for a building is limited to 1.5 HP.

EXPELLER
The passage of the eggs from the belts directly to the centralization is facilitated by a device that accompanies the eggs gently and also allows gathering of broken eggs or those without a shell.

TELESCOPIC JOINT
It allows lifting of entire sections of the conveyor while the chain is moving.
SAFETY SYSTEM
A special electronic unit controls the passage of the housing and stops gathering should inconveniences arise.

Besides acoustic-luminous signals for machines in motion, a micro emergency stop is provided for which is connected to a cable that is located along the whole length of ANACONDA.

LUBRICATION
This particular device allows controlled lubrication of the belt conveyor during operations.

ASCENTS AND DESCENTS
The particular shaping of the ascents and descents is for avoiding that the eggs roll and consequentially crack.

EGG-COUNTING SYSTEM
It counts the eggs coming out from each belt, with totals per level and per building,
 Products / Rearing / IDEAL ATLANTA
INPUT
The carts for distributing feed are equipped with special dosers that allow adjustment of the quantity of distributed feed in relation to the age of the subjects and to the number of daily feedings.
The chicks access to the feeder from the first day of life having no obstacles such as adjustable gratings or doors.
This is made possible by a flap with centralized control for optimizing the access space of the animals to the feeder.

DOOR
The door can be supplied in the following versions:
• SLIDING (horizontally): it allows gradual opening of the cell accordingly avoiding the possibility of the chicks going out during the vaccination phases.
• SPRING: it allows total opening of the cell. It is more practical and functional.

DRINKERS
The cells where the chicks are kept from their first day of life are equipped with a drinker with a nipple and a floating cup. The other cells have two nipples each, otherwise multi-directional nipples (snaps) can be mounted.
Height adjustment can be carried out with a centralized lifting system.

ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT
LEnvironmental conditions are the basis for obtaining optimum results both regarding the quality of the poultry produced and production costs. “TECNO” bio-air conditioning, with computerized control, fully satisfies these needs:
• ideal internal temperatures both when heating and when cooling;
• optimal oxygenation of the animals with gradual air change;
• a healthy environment;
• energy consumption control.
Equipped with a “MACRONEW” computer, it controls and commands all the various phases of air-conditioning: heating, ventilation, cooling, windows.

HEATING
Hot air generators can be installed inside the building and uniformly distributed along its length.
The external generators guarantee temperature uniformity with easy installation and low operating costs.

PAD COOLING
With cellulose panels close to the wall or with a lower window for air intake with the pad off.

TECNO FOG SYSTEM
With high pressure sprinkling nozzles + “NON WIND HOOD” / “DIMMING”.

STOCKING OF THE CHICKEN DUNG IN TWO STOREY BUILDINGS
Given the high density that the “ATLANTA” housing allows in the buildings and to eliminate the subsequent troublesome problem of chicken dung, TECNO POULTRY EQUIPMENT suggests, and in truth it is able to realize, plants that stock chicken dung in a storey underneath the housing. The chicken dung is ventilated and especially dried thus allowing removal at the end of one or more cycles.

CHICKEN DUNG REMOVAL
The intermediate levels have a stainless steel scraper that makes the chicken dung fall downwards into the ditch on the ground where it is removed with the traditional scraper in the ditch. The shape of the intermediate scrapers and the guide system between the boxes are covered by a TECNO POULTRY EQUIPMENT patent.

 


Farm Service Agency News

25 Apr
04/25/2012 08:57 AM EDT

 

For Immediate Release
April 24, 2012 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Florida/Virgin Islands Farm Service Agency
PO Box 141030
Gainesville, Florida 32614-1030
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/fl
USDA Announces 2012 County Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains and Oilseeds

 

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2012 — The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced county loan rates for the 2012 crops of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, soybeans and other oilseeds (sunflower seed, flaxseed, canola, rapeseed, safflower, mustard seed, crambe and sesame seed). The rates are posted on the Farm Service Agency (FSA) website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport.

 

The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes the national loan rates for the 2012 crops of wheat, feed grains and oilseeds at these levels:

 

Wheat $2.94 per bushel
Corn $1.95 per bushel
Grain Sorghum $1.95 per bushel
Barley $1.95 per bushel
Oats $1.39 per bushel
Soybeans $5.00 per bushel
Other Oilseeds $10.09 per hundredweight for each “other oilseed”
04/25/2012 09:30 AM EDT
For Immediate Release
April 24, 2012 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Florida/Virgin Islands Farm Service Agency
PO Box 141030
Gainesville, Florida 32614-1030
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/fl
USDA Designates 3 Counties in Florida as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Georgia

 

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Hendry, Nassau and Palm Beach counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by frost and freezing temperatures that occurred Jan 3-16, 2012.

 

“Assistance at this point and time is critically important for producers in Florida to help keep their farmland healthy for the remainder of the year,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I realize that during this time of disaster, federal assistance will be needed until conditions improve and farmers strive to recover from their losses.”

 

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Florida also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

 

Baker Broward Charlotte Collier
Duval Glades Lee Martin
Okeechobee

 

Farmers and ranchers in Charlton and Camden counties in Georgia also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their county is contiguous.

 

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas April 20, 2012, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

 

USDA also has made other programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE), which was approved as part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008; the Emergency Conservation Program; Federal Crop Insurance; and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

 

Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that the department’s authority to operate the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30, 2011. This includes SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses in the counties listed above are covered because the event triggering the loss occurred prior to the expiration of these programs; however, production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.
04/25/2012 11:40 AM EDT
Emergency Conservation Program Sign-up for Carroll County 

August 27 through August 29, 2011 Tropical Storm Irene caused flash flooding, high water and damage to cropland and fences in Carroll County. Farms suffering severe land damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by the Coos-Carroll Farm Service Agency County Office in Lancaster, NH. Sign-up for ECP will run from April 25 – May 25, 2012.

 

Producers suffering damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by FSA. Qualifying damage includes damage that would:
be so costly to rehabilitate that Federal assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive agricultural use be unusual and is not the type that would recur frequently in the same area affect the productive capacity of the farmland impair or endanger the land
A producer qualifying for ECP assistance may receive cost share levels not to exceed 75 percent of the average eligible cost of restoration measures. The following types of measures may be eligible:
removing debris from farmland grading, shaping, releveling, or similar measures restoration of permanent fences

Producers who have suffered damage to their land due to Tropical Storm Irene may contact the Coos-Carroll County FSA Office at 4 Mayberry Lane, Lancaster, NH 03584 or call 603-788-4602 (ext 2).
04/25/2012 11:53 AM EDT
Alex Dubish
651.602.7726
Alexander.Dubish@mn.usda.gov 

FSA Allocates an Additional 400,000 Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative

 

SAINT PAUL, MINN., April 25, 2012 – USDA Minnesota Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Linda Hennen today announced that FSA has allocated an additional 400,000 acres nationwide to the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program that improves habitat for high-priority wildlife species.

 

“SAFE is a voluntary conservation initiatives that provides an opportunity for grassroots conservation partners to develop related projects to address high priority wildlife needs through habitat restoration,” said Hennen.

 

SAFE project area proposals are being accepted for the purpose of improving habitat for the designated wildlife species in new areas as well as possibly expanding current SAFE project areas by requesting additional acreage. SAFE project sponsors must submit all project proposals as soon as possible for the State Technical Committee to complete the proposal review process.

 

The Minnesota FSA State Committee will complete the final review and submit recommended proposals to the National FSA Office for final evaluation no later than June 1, 2012.

 

Various conservation practices currently offered under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are fine-tuned through the SAFE proposal to improve, connect or create higher-quality wildlife habitats by promoting healthier ecosystems in the project areas identified as essential to the effective management of high priority wildlife species.

 

Hennen added, “Once a project proposal is approved and acreage allocated, the SAFE program is implemented through a continuous CRP signup allowing USDA to accept producer acreage offers year-round.”

 

As with other Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiatives, the land and producer must meet certain eligibility requirements. Once approval of the SAFE project is announced, interested landowners can submit offers to voluntarily enroll qualifying acres in a SAFE project/CRP contract for a term of 10 to 15 years. In exchange, SAFE/CRP program participants receive annual rental payments, project incentives and cost-share assistance to establish habitat-enhancing natural covers on eligible land.
04/25/2012 01:21 PM EDT
2012 DCP/ACRE Sign Up Ends June 1st! 

April 25, 2012- USDA Rhode Island Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director Ingrid Fratantuono reminds producer’s enrollment for Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program or the traditional Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) ends June 1st.
“Farmers in Rhode Island who are interested in enrolling in these programs need to add this important deadline to their list of ‘must do’ jobs,” Fratantuono said. “Producers should contact their local county office to enroll.” Annual contracts are required to be signed to receive program benefits.


USDA Farm Service Agency Items

24 Apr
04/24/2012 01:10 PM EDT

 

USDA Designates 3 Counties in Florida as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Georgia 

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Hendry, Nassau and Palm Beach counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by frost and freezing temperatures that occurred Jan 3-16, 2012.

 

“Assistance at this point and time is critically important for producers in Florida to help keep their farmland healthy for the remainder of the year,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “President Obama and I realize that during this time of disaster, federal assistance will be needed until conditions improve and farmers strive to recover from their losses.”

 

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Florida also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous. Those counties are:

 

Baker Broward Charlotte Collier
Duval Glades Lee Martin
Okeechobee

 

Farmers and ranchers in Charlton and Camden counties in Georgia also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their county is contiguous.

 

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas April 20, 2012, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

 

USDA also has made other programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE), which was approved as part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008; the Emergency Conservation Program; Federal Crop Insurance; and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

 

Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that the department’s authority to operate the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30, 2011. This includes SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses in the counties listed above are covered because the event triggering the loss occurred prior to the expiration of these programs; however, production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.
04/24/2012 10:49 AM EDT
USDA Announces 2012 County Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains and Oilseeds 

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2012 — The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced county loan rates for the 2012 crops of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, soybeans and other oilseeds (sunflower seed, flaxseed, canola, rapeseed, safflower, mustard seed, crambe and sesame seed). The rates are posted on the Farm Service Agency (FSA) website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport.

 

The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes the national loan rates for the 2012 crops of wheat, feed grains and oilseeds at these levels:

Wheat $2.94 per bushel
Corn $1.95 per bushel
Grain Sorghum $1.95 per bushel
Barley $1.95 per bushel
Oats $1.39 per bushel
Soybeans $5.00 per bushel
Other Oilseeds $10.09 per hundredweight for each “other oilseed”
04/24/2012 02:47 PM EDT
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas Farm Service Agency
PO Box 2900
College Station, Texas – 77841
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/tx
FSA Allocates an Additional 400,000 Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative

 

(COLLEGE STATION, TX) – April 24, 2012–USDA Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Executive Director, James B. Douglass today announced that FSA has allocated an additional 400,000 acres nationwide to the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program that improves habitat for high-priority wildlife species.

 

“SAFE is a voluntary conservation initiative that provides an opportunity for grassroots conservation partners to develop related projects to address high priority wildlife needs through habitat restoration,” said Douglass.

 

SAFE project area proposals are being accepted for the purpose of improving habitats for the designated wildlife species in new areas as well as possibly expanding current SAFE project areas by requesting additional acreage. SAFE project sponsors must submit all project proposals as soon as possible as the State Technical Committee is scheduled to complete the proposal review process on May 23, 2012.

 

The Texas FSA State Committee will complete the final review and submit recommended proposals to the National FSA Office for final evaluation no later than June 1, 2012.

 

Various conservation practices currently offered under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are fine-tuned through the SAFE proposal to improve, connect or create higher-quality wildlife habitats by promoting healthier ecosystems in the project areas identified as essential to the effective management of high priority wildlife species.

 

Douglass added, “Once a project proposal is approved and acreage allocated, the SAFE program is implemented through a continuous CRP signup allowing USDA to accept producer acreage offers year-round.”

 

As with other Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiatives, the land and producer must meet certain eligibility requirements. Once approval of the SAFE project is announced, interested landowners can submit offers to voluntarily enroll qualifying acres in a SAFE project/CRP contract for a term of 10 to 15 years. In exchange, SAFE/CRP program participants receive annual rental payments, project incentives and cost-share assistance to establish habitat-enhancing natural covers on eligible land.

 

According to Douglass, Texas currently has 76,376 acres across the state enrolled in existing SAFE program project areas benefitting targeted wildlife species including the Lesser Prairie Chicken, the Ocelot and the Mottled Duck as well as other wildlife species that are present in the enhanced habitat.

 

Completed SAFE project proposals can be submitted to the Texas State FSA office via email to Gaye.DeLeon@tx.usda.gov or Micky.Woodard@tx.usda.gov. For additional SAFE project area details or other questions, please contact your local FSA Office or visit the website at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov ; click on “Conservation Programs.”
04/24/2012 03:11 PM EDT
usdafsa: #Florida & #Georgia counties designated as primary natural disaster areas http://t.co/OVNZ4PJe #farmers #ranchers #ag #agchat #FL #GA

04/24/2012 03:03 PM EDT
usdafsa: 2012 county loan rates for #wheat, feed grains & oilseeds announced http://t.co/nZ5JYVRV #ag #agchat #farmers #soybeans #farm #sorghum

04/24/2012 03:06 PM EDT
usdafsa: @USDA unveils new food hub resource guide to expand market opportunities for #farmers & #ranchers http://t.co/p3DUnszi #ag #agchat #farm

04/24/2012 01:26 PM EDT
usdafsa: USDA Announces 2012 County Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains and Oilseeds http://t.co/VMfwJzqi

04/24/2012 01:02 PM EDT
usdafsa: USDA Announces 2012 County Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains and Oilseeds: USDA Announces 2012 County Loan Rates… http://t.co/WaDcLF1q

04/23/2012 05:34 PM EDT
usdafsa: #Oklahoma #Farm Service Agency reminds producers of acreage reporting deadline http://t.co/QC6WcleB #farmers #ag #agchat #OK

04/23/2012 05:31 PM EDT
usdafsa: “Women & Land” workshop to be held on Eastern Shore of #Virginia May 10 http://t.co/ZEdfV8fu #farmers #farm #ag #agchat #VA

04/23/2012 05:26 PM EDT
usdafsa: Weather worries linger for #Wisconsin #farm, #orchard owners http://t.co/wOdT3ENB #farmers #ag #agchat #WI

04/23/2012 05:02 PM EDT
usdafsa: Part 1 of Champions of Change: Innovations in Renewable #Energy video posted here http://t.co/dfIbNcIX #biomass #biofuel

04/23/2012 04:52 PM EDT
usdafsa: Part 2 of Champions of Change: Innovations in Renewable #Energy video posted here http://t.co/AdlsUQKc #biomass #biofuel
04/24/2012 06:18 PM EDT
For Immediate Release
April 24, 2012 

Contact:
Trudy Kareus, 720.544.2876
FSA Allocates an Additional 400,000 Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative
(Denver, Colorado) – April 24, 2012–USDA Colorado Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Trudy Kareus today announced that FSA has allocated an additional 400,000 acres nationwide to the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program that improves habitat for high-priority wildlife species.

 

“SAFE is a voluntary conservation initiatives that provides an opportunity for grassroots conservation partners to develop related projects to address high priority wildlife needs through habitat restoration,” said Kareus.

 

SAFE project area proposals are being accepted for the purpose of improving habitat for the designated wildlife species in new areas as well as possibly expanding current SAFE project areas by requesting additional acreage. SAFE project sponsors must submit all project proposals as soon as possible as the State Technical Committee is scheduled to complete the proposal review process on May 23, 2012.

 

The Colorado FSA State Committee will complete the final review and submit recommended proposals to the National FSA Office for final evaluation no later than June 1, 2012.

 

Various conservation practices currently offered under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are fine-tuned through the SAFE proposal to improve, connect or create higher-quality wildlife habitats by promoting healthier ecosystems in the project areas identified as essential to the effective management of high priority wildlife species.

 

Kareus added, “Once a project proposal is approved and acreage allocated, the SAFE program is implemented through a continuous CRP signup allowing USDA to accept producer acreage offers year-round.”

 

As with other Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiatives, the land and producer must meet certain eligibility requirements. Once approval of the SAFE project is announced, interested landowners can submit offers to voluntarily enroll qualifying acres in a SAFE project/CRP contract for a term of 10 to 15 years. In exchange, SAFE/CRP program participants receive annual rental payments, project incentives and cost-share assistance to establish habitat-enhancing natural covers on eligible land.

 

According to Kareus, Colorado currently has 18,939 acres across the state enrolled in the SAFE program benefitting targeted wildlife species including [Columbian and Plains sharp-tailed grouse, greater sage-grouse, Gunnison sage-grouse and Lesser prairie chicken (LePC)].

 

Completed SAFE project proposals can be submitted to billy.merritt@co.usda.gov. For additional SAFE project area details or other questions, please contact your local FSA Office or visit the web site at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov; click on “Conservation Programs.”