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Archive for April, 2009
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual Prospective Plantings report on March 31. The report indicates that corn acreage will be down 1 percent in comparison to 2008 while soybean acreage will slightly increase.
Minnesota growers are estimated to plant 7.6 million acres of corn in 2009, down from 7.7 million. Iowa growers will plant 13.2 million, down from 13.3 million.
Overall it will be the third largest year of corn acreage across the country. The plan is 85 million acres of corn for all purposes, and only in 1949, 2007 and 2008 did farmers plant more than that.
The decrease comes after the demand for ethanol and livestock industries has lessened and there is less need for corn to export overseas.
The lack of exports is blamed on the falling value of the dollar. The National Corn Growers Association wants to find ways to increase demand through ethanol and the livestock industries.
Although corn production is expected to be down, soybean production will increase. In Iowa 9.85 million acres of soybeans will be planted when only 9.75 million were planted last year. Minnesotan producers will produce less soybeans then last year, only 7.0 million acres in 2009. Overall soybean production is expected to hit 81 million acres, slightly more than last year.
If you’re seeking a farm loan for a purchase, refinance, or expansion, Farm Plus Fiancial offers farm loans with historically low interest rates and fixed terms up to 30 years. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information regarding farm loans.
Tags: corn, usda
Posted in General, Iowa farm loans, Minnesota Farm Loans | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is expected to announce he chose Burnham John (Bud) Philbrook to work as the Agriculture deputy undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural service. He will head foreign affairs.
Philbrook has leadership experience as the CEO of Global Volunteers, an organization that sends volunteers on vacation to American Indian reservations and 21 foreign countries. He has been CEO since 1994.
Philbrook, a Minnesota native, also practiced law, worked in the state House and was an assistant commissioner in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He will be in charge of trade and food aid issues.
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Tags: burnham, vilsack
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
At the Craig Evans family farm Tom Vilsack unveiled federal assistance that may be helpful for young farmers. Near Lathrop, Missouri Vilsack announced that there is $17 million available in grants for beginning farmers or ranchers.
Vilsack said, “Generation, after generation, after generation pass on not just the farm, not just the farmstead, but the value system of hard work, of dedication to family and community,” said Vilsack, surrounded by two young farm families. “That’s what Rural America is all about, and it’s important to preserve it.”
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program is part of the 2008 Farm Bill. The grants are available for farmers and ranchers that have been in the industry for fewer than 10 years. An additional $19 million will be available in 2010.
If you are looking to join the agriculture industry contact Farm Plus today. Low rate farm loans are available and Farm Plus works alongside government agencies to obtain the loans you need. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information about farm loans and ranch loans.
Tags: federal assistance, missouri, vilsack
Posted in General, Missouri Farm Loans | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
The U.S. Treasury is cracking down on farmers who collect farm payment when their income exceeds payment limits.
Any farmer who accepts payment from the federal government must agree to allow U.S. Treasury to provide tax records for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Starting with the 2009 crop year, all farmer programs payment recipients must sign forms allowing the IRS to release this information.
In prior years the USDA has had trouble catching fraudulent claims because the records were not accessible. Last year 2,702 wealthy people collected over $49 million in government subsidies that had revenue over the limit, but the USDA could not see the names because the information was collected by GAO investigators that used private IRS records to find them.
“Once this verification system is fully operational, high-income individuals and entities will be identified by the USDA before farm program payments are actually disbursed to them,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
The 2008 Farm Bill makes any recipient with a gross income of over $500,000 in the last three taxable years. Direct payments cannot be paid to any participant whose average adjusted gross farm income for the three-year period.
If you are interested in farm loans please contact Farm Plus today. Low rate loans are available and Farm Plus works with government agencies to obtain farm loans. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information regarding farm loans.
Tags: IRS, program payments, usda, vilsack
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on April 1 that the dealine for signing up for the farm program this year has been extended. More aid will also be available for dairy farmers.
Despite the extension from June 1 until Aug. 14, payments will not be made under the permanent disaster program in the farm bill until 2010. The extension allows farmers to decide whether or not he or she would like to participate in the crop revenue program, A.C.R.E.
At the same time Vilsack said he would make the Milk Income Loss Contract payments to troubled dairy farmers by the second week of April and the USDA’s Section 32 to purchase walnuts, pork, turkey and lamb. Again, payments will not be made until 2010 because the USDA is “hampered” by computer problems.
Many members of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee want the programs to be implemented faster.
If you are interested in applying for farm loans please contact Farm Plus today. Low rate farms loans are available. Farm Plus even works alongside government agencies to get you the farm loans you need. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information about farm loans.
Tags: A.C.R.E., FSA, usda, vilsack
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
Authorities are currently investigating a suspected avian influenza outbreak on a poultry farm in western Kentucky.
Although there is a possible outbreak, authorities assure there is very little risk for humans. State Veterinarian Robert Stout quarantined Perdue Farms Inc., after signs of the disease appeared. This includes the sudden drop in the number of eggs produced.
Tests were conducted and antibodies for the avian flu were found and the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa confirmed the H7 virus. 20,000 birds were affected. The disease spreads to healthy birds from diseased birds through feces of infected animals.
Currently there is no evidence that contaminated poultry is part of the human food supply.
If you are interested in purchasing farm land now is the time. Low rate farm loans are available through Farm Plus. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online today for more information.
Tags: disease, kentucky, poultry
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Monday, April 6th, 2009
Last week legislation was introduced to Congress that would prevent farmers and livestock producers from giving healthy farm animals antibiotics. Currently it is legal to feed healthy animals antibiotics to increase growth in a quicker time. It also prevents animals from contracting diseases that come from overcrowding in their housing.
The concern may seem insignificant, but the 50-year-old practice is dangerous to the animals, environment and humans. Steve Ells at the Huffington Post pointed out a particular situation with Russ Kremer, president of the Missouri Farmers Union.
“Kremer… who might have died from being gored in the knee cap by the tusk of a boar that had been fed a steady diet of penicillin to ward off strep. The infection that Russ contracted didn’t respond to the penicillin his doctor first prescribed, nor to the tetracycline, amoxicillin, or erythromycin that came after. Russ was lucky that a new generation of antibiotics existed at the time that kept him alive and, in his words, “woke him up to the fact that there’s something wrong with our food system.”
Despite our high demand for meat, the practice is highly dangerous and many are concerned about our well-being after consuming this meat. 17.8 to 24.6 million pounds of meat a year are grown with antibiotics.
If the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment passes this practice may become absolete. It is going to cause a huge stir amongst many livestock producers.
If you are interested in purchasing farmland or a ranch contact Farm Plus today. Low rate farm loans and ranch loans are available now. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information about farm and ranch loans.
Tags: antibiotics, cattle, congress, livestock
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Monday, April 6th, 2009
Grain industry leaders in Oregon, Washington and Idaho wrote a letter to President Obama opposing his proposal to cut payments to farms with revenue over $500,000.
“The purpose of the five-year Farm Bill is to provide stability for producers, agricultural operations and our nation’s food system,” the letter stated. “We believe it’s unwise and unacceptable to dismantle this critical piece of legislation before it has even had a chance to be fully implemented.”
This change would effect over 1,200 Oregon farmers. “The premise is that USDA farm dollars would be going to those who are most in need of money,” Jane Harden, the executive director of the Umatilla County Farm Service Agency told The East Oregonian. “But $500,000 is not much money- it’s actually a very small dollar amount.”
Many expect the proposal to not pass because 50 Congress members already signed a letter opposing it. “Direct payments are necessary to shore up the operating loans needed to make a farm work,” Tammy Dennee of the Oregon Wheat Growers League added.
Denee said the purpose of the letter wasn’t to stop the proposal, but better inform the president of the impact this decision will have. “It’s our opportunity and challenge to help Congress and the new administration understand the interdependence of these programs and how they are viewed in the countryside by growers and their bankers.”
If you are interested in purchasing farm land contact Farm Plus today. Low rate farm loans are available for a variety of needs. Call 866-929-5585d or visit online for more information about farm loans.
Tags: bill, FSA, grain, idaho, obama, oregon, washington
Posted in General, Idaho Farm Loans, Oregon farm loans, Washinton Farm Loans | No Comments »
Monday, April 6th, 2009
In 2007 three Minnesota counties alone had 986 dairy farms. With the 50 percent decrease in dairy prices, farmers are struggling.
A statement released by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said the USDA is planning to step up and assist dairy farmers by purchasing dairy products from the market and make them available to food pantries, school food programs and Indian reservation programs.
The USDA plans to buy 200 million pounds of dry milk. The program is not expecting to fully solve the current economic problem, but the USDA wants to help farmers who are in need. “There’s more to bed one,” Klobuchar said. “I am completely sympathetic to our dairy farms.”
Farmers and agriculture figures are excited about the plan. Bob Lefebvre of the Minnesota Milk Producer Association told the St. Cloud Times he thinks “it certainly is a step in the right direction.”
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) agrees. He said, “This is a win-win situation that will offer relief to our nation’s dairy farmers who are suffering from high input costs and declining milk prices and to low-income American families who are finding it harder to put healthy food on the table during these difficult economic times.”
If you are interested in purchasing farm land now is a great time to do it. Low rate farm loans are available through Farm Plus today. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information regarding farm loans.
Tags: dairy, dairy farms, milk, usda
Posted in General, Minnesota Farm Loans | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 6th, 2009
The pork industry produces more pork than Americans consume. This may seem like an issue to some, but not when demands from Asia and Mexico continue to increase.
Farmers like Greg Kaffenbarger have increased hog herds to over 6,000 to keep up with the demand. “If you take exports out, it’s disastrous,” he told the Associated Press. Almost a quarter of the pork produced in the U.S. is exported which is incredible considering only three percent was exported in 1990.
Since 2007 livestock producers have seen an increase by 25 percent in exports with poulty, table eggs and processed egg products. Numbers are expected to drop 14 percent this year due to the world economic problem and China’s pork production, but that still leaves producers out of the red.
The increase in exports has made a few changes in the industry. The way hogs are bred, prepared and packaged have been tailored to specific countries’ needs. For example pork exported to Japan and China is sliced into smaller pieces so people can eat it with chopsticks. In Japan pork is even sold as a deli meat.
If you are interested in joining the pork industry contact Farm Plus today. Low rate farm loans are available. Call 866-929-5585 or visit online for more information about farm loans.
Tags: hog farm, hog farming, hogs
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