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Archive for February, 2009
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Despite rain and snow, California is preparing for a drought. The gentle storms did little to improve current conditions.
Water stored in reservoirs stands at only 35 percent of capacity. This has been this low only two other times in history- in 1977 and 1992.
The 600 family farmers in the Westlands Water District have been warned to expect zero surface water deliveries this year. Zero allocation has only occurred one other time- in February 1992. Fortunately unusual heavy storms in March raised it from zero to 25 percent.
At this point weather forecasters do not predict storms of any sort, but many are not giving up hope.
Whether it rains or not, farmers say it is too late to change crop plans. Farmers plan to reduce planted acres, lighten tree crops, and use the little water they have for permanent crops. This water will come from groundwater sources.
If the drought continues there may be trouble for farmers and ranchers in other parts of California.
If you are interested in farm loans please contact Farm Plus. Call : 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information about farm loans.
Tags: california, drought, vineyard
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Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Natural Home, an environmentally concerned publication, selected Earthworks Urban Farm in Detroit, Michigan as one of the top 10 producing urban farms in the country.
Earthworks Urban Farm is known for providing food to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, running an educational youth program and contributing to the health of local residents offering fresh produce.
The farm began in 1970 as a small farm and had quickly grown. Most of the markets are ran by youths ages 11 to 16. Earthworks is park of Project FRESH that brings produce markets to low-income families and provides free produce to participants of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutritional program.
If you are interested in purchasing a farm to give back to the community, contact Farm Plus today. Farm loans are available. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information about farm loans.
Tags: organic farm
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Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
It’s no secret that American farmers provide our country with an abundance of food, but also fuel, fiber and feed. Farmers, and many Americans quite possibly, agree that the government needs to protect the industry especially in our current economic crisis.
The USA Rice Federation along with 10 other national and regional farm groups recently wrote a letter to the Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reassuring their strong support for the 2008 Farm Bill’s safety net. The letter not only showed their support, but explained why it is so important for the public.
“That benefit is due to the hard work of American farmers and the safety net that provides both stability and a small degree of certainty to farmers in an industry where risk is enormous and can be impossible for a producer to control,” the letter said according to the Delta Farm Press.
After the passing of the 2008 Farm Bill, commodity prices have greatly decreased. The fixed direct payment, part of the safety net program, is the only thing “currently helping every farmer with base acres to deal with steep increases in input costs, dramatic commodity market swings, and increasing uncertainty in the credit markets that they rely on to keep their farms running.”
The organizations hope to discuss further safety issues with Vilsack.
Despite current economic woes, farm loans are available and now is as good of time as any to make your farm dreams come true. Farm Plus has many opportunities for farm loans. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information on farm loans.
Tags: Rice Federation, Tom Vislack
Posted in General, Nebraska Farm Loans | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Kathleen Merrigan, President Obama’s choice for the second spot at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has received praise from sustainable and organic farming advocates.
“This amounts to a major win for organic, sustainable and local food advocates, since Merrigan is not only well-versed in these issues, but has been a tireless advocate for them,” Sam Fromartz wrote on the ChewWise blog.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Jean Halloran, director of Food Policy Initiatives at The Consumers Union agreed. “We would expect her to be a strong defender of the USDA’s organic standards, which have been under repeated attack for the last several years.”
Merrigan was a professor and director of the Agriculture, Food and Environmental Program at Tufts University. Previously she was administrator of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Services and assisted in the development of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. This set the national organic standards to receive federal accredidation.
If you are interested in organic farming contact Farm Plus for information regarding farm loans. Farm loans are available regardless of the economic situation. Farm Plus works with many government agencies to help people obtain farm loans. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online to answer any questions regarding farm loans.
Tags: kathleen merrigan, organic, organic farming, usda
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Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Farmers that had crop losses and flooded fields during the 2008 hurricanes may be eligible for up to $200 million from the proposed federal economic stimulus packaged according to the state Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain.
Over 100 farmers gathered at the Southwest Louisiana Farm Day Forum to discuss topics including the coastal protection covered under the 2008 Farm Bill.
The $787 billion stimulus packaged includes $752 million for U.S. farmers affected by the natural disasters of 2008. A big perk of the program is that farmers can qualify even if they did not purchase coverage prior to the storms.
Strain said Louisiana Farmers may receive up to $200 million from the total $752 million. “Those funds should be flowing very, very soon,” Strain said.
According to Strain, Louisiana may also be approved for $54 million in community development block grants to assist farmers affected by the 2008 hurricanes to replant their crops.
The low-interest loans root from funding Congress approved for any states affected by 2008 natural disasters. “What we envision is that you will be able to come by and get a production loan based on what your losses have been,” Strain said.
If you are interested in purchasing agricultural land, loans are available today. Ranch loans and farm loans are available through Farm Plus Financial and rates are at historic lows. Farm Plus works with various government agencies to help people own a farm of their choice across the country. For more information on farm loans please contact a representative today. Contact one via telephone at 866-929-5585 or visit online.
Tags: farm stimulus package, Mike Strain, stimulus
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Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Many people believe professional farmers get most attention, but in Clark County, Washington the ones who seem to count most are the independent amateur farmers.
“This is something I’m doing because I love doing it,” said Jacki Johnson, 64, of Ridgefield told The Seattle Times. A newly retired citizen, Johnson was looking for extra cash and made $4,000 last year for selling plants at shows and farmers markets. With husband Rick, Johnson owns one of 1,943 farm operations that brought in less than $25,000 in 2007 according to the latest census. This number is up by 36 percent compared to the census taken in 2002.
Johnson never planned to go into farming, she just enjoyed to garden as a hobby. Her early sales were a few plants at church fundraisers and at the garden club. She never imagined it would turn into a part-time job for her. Johnson spends eight hours a day in her garden during the summer and eight hours on Saturdays selling them.
Although small farms are booming, many feel larger farms are slowly declining. In Clark County this is happening more than anywhere in Washington. Many large farms are being developed into various projects. 41 of the county’s 94 farms disappeared between 2002 and 2007.
If you are interested in purchasing a large or small farm, farm loans are available today. Contact Farm Plus Financial for more information about farm loans today. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online to answer any questions or concerns about farm loans.
Tags: small farms, washington
Posted in General, Washinton Farm Loans | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
In a time when milk prices seem to worry most farmers, organic farmers in Maine are more prepared for the challenge.
Farms like Spencer Aitel’s Two Loons Farm feel they are not immune to the effects of milk prices, but are part of an organic-farm cooperative that eases the pain. The cooperative puts a set price on milk that allows farmers to have a solid business plan to sketch out the future.
“The reward is that prices remain stable instead of fluctuating with the commodity market,” Aitel told the Kennebec Journal. “Without stable pricing, the business person can’t plan ahead effectively.”
Milk prices are down this winter due to the falling exports of the U.S. dairy industry. Most farmers rely on government subsidies to bridge the gap between prices and production costs, but Maine is considering cutting some of these subsidies.
This is where the cooperative comes in handy. “If the industry as a whole crashes, that puts pressure on the entire dairy infrastructure, such as trucking veterinary services and supplies,” Russell Libby, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association said. “So it’s important to maintain a base of dairy farming wherever we can in the state.”
To save the dairy industry, both organic and conventional dairy farmers have become allies. “I think most organic farmers value their conventional neighbors,” Aitel said.
The biggest impact the farmers have is to continue to maintain a “critical mass” despite conditions.
“Critical mass is one of those numbers you really don’t know what it is until you’ve lost it. Once you’ve lost it, you see the other businesses that support dairy farms go out.”
“You want to maintain enough people using milking machines so there’s a milking-machine repairman,” Aitel said. “What happens if the nearest repairman is Vermont?”
If you’re interested in taking advantage of historically low interest rates now is a good time to do that. Farm Plus Financial can help with financing for purchases, refinances, and expansion loans. Representatives can answer any questions you have about farm loans and assist you in applying and receiving a farm loan of your own. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online.
Tags: dairies, dairy
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Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Minnesota officials are working with Congress to rework the Green Acres act.
The Green Acres act was enacted to help farmers resist development of farmlands. The program was generated four decades ago when Minnesotians noticed the effects of suburbanization.
As of late, farmers want changes because taxes are extremely high. For example, taxes on a 140-acre farm went from $2,300 to $11,000.
Green Acres was looked at last year and breezed past. Many lawmakers took little time to work in changes that met the needs of farmers. The state’s top property tax administrator said, “if we had it to do all over again, we’d certainly like to spend more time on those provisions—we didn’t.”
The goal of the Green Acres program was to keep taxes low enough that farmers were not tempted to give into suburbanization. Government is currently listening to tax payer’s concerns and will be reworking or repealing the act.
If you are interested in purchasing a Minnesota farm please contact Farm Plus today. Farm loans are available for agriculture land and a representative will answer any questions you may have about farm loans, rates are at historic lows, now is a good time. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online.
Tags: green acres act, minnesota
Posted in General, Minnesota Farm Loans | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
At a time when people see no light at the end of the tunnel, for some Missouri farmers there is.
Seven southwest Missouri counties are now eligible for federal farm aid due to the declaration of a federal disaster according to a press release.
Barry County, Howell County, McDonald County, Oregon County, Ozark County, Stone County and Taney County are eligible for farm loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.
Farmers are eligible for physical or production loss farm loan assistance.
More information is available at the FSA.
If you are interested in purchasing a farm of your own, contact Farm Plus Financial. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online to answer any questions about farm loans.
Tags: missouri
Posted in Missouri Farm Loans | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Farm land is quickly decreasing across America. In Greenwich, residents are working hard to prevent this.
Purdy’s Farm in Greenwich, CT. is at risk of commercial development. A group of 20 local residents and advocates are teaming up as the Greenwich Farmland Preservation Coalition to purchase Purdy’s Farm and maintain it as an environmentally friendly nonprofit farm.
Jim Carr, a Greenwich resident told The Advocate, “Greenwich was originally built on farming, and we’ve very rapidly lost our farmland.”
Carr explained the farm would be a community farm ran by volunteers. Fruits and vegetables would be grown on the land as well as volunteers would run educational programs for children.
The land was owned by Del Zanette who was evicted for not paying rent on the land. The land is owned by RKD Ventures LLC as of 2004.
Zanette would love to see the coalition’s plan work because he spent 43 years working on the land.
“It’s very important to keep farmland here. I don’t want to see it turned into anything commercial,” Zanette said. “I would be very happy to assist them on the farm and continue my happy life here.”
Many volunteers believe saving the land is more than just preserving the actual land, but part of Greenwich’s history as well.
If you are interested in making history of your own contact Farm Plus today for information regarding farm loans. Farm loans are available across the country. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online to answer any questions about farm loans.
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