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Archive for the ‘Colorado farm loans’ Category
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Colorado is looking to tighten it’s inspections of certified organic product.
The Colorado House passed a bill (61-0 vote) that adds additional inspectors to the state’s Organic Certification Program. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Randy Fischer (D-Fort Collins) and Sen. Mary Hodge (D-Brighton).
Fischer said in a press release, “Farming and eating organic foods is a lifestyle that’s here to stay. In fact, it’s an industry that continues to grow.” He adds that Colorado must take responsibility for its booming industry to assure consumers are getting the best organic products possible.
Under the bill commissioners can now contract independent inspectors to conduct inspections or organic product handlers.
The bill also added three members to the Organic Certification Advisory Board increasing from nine to twelve members.
Colorado is not the only state making changes. Across the country more and more farmers are seeking organic certification with the ever-growing demand. Interested in becoming certified? Contact your local Farm Service Agency.
Federal Reserve stated interest rates likely to rise. Refinance your farm loan before rates go up. Call a representative by dialing 866-929-5585 or visit us online.
Tags: certification program, colorado, organic
Posted in Colorado farm loans, General | No Comments »
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed five dozen bills last week, five highly important to producers across the state.
Ritter signed the SB 27 which allows officials to fine violators who illegally divert surface water $500. The same system is used for those who illegally divert ground water and caused violations to decrease and violation problems to be resolved quicker. With droughts across the country it is important that water is used as assigned and no one steals water from others.
Agricultural arson was illegal in Colorado until last week. Controlled agricultural burns are now legal under the HB 1123 law. The law states that those who start fires “in a reasonably cautious manner and there was no personal injury as a result,” cannot be fined.
HB 1107 was also signed which states that agricultural land is to be included under the URA for fair market value assessment instead of lower production value to determine the tax money given to the area for such thinks as schools and local governments.
A Farm-to-School Inter-agency Task Force is part of the SB 81 signed by Ritter. This creates a 13-person task force that works to bring local product into school cafeterias. The task force will not only provide students with healthier dining, but more income for producers in the area as well.
Finally legislators in Colorado are awaiting the signature on The Colorado Seed Potato Act. This act is much like the act in Idaho that requires potato seeds to be inspected by a committee before being planted for resale. “If we don’t put something like this through, Idaho is knocking on our back door,” Bob Mattive, a representative of the Colorado Seed Potato Growers Association said. Ritter is expected to sign the bill in the upcoming weeks.
Farm loan rates starting at 2.95%. Lock in before farm loan rates rise. Contact Farm Plus by clicking here or calling toll free 866-929-5585.
Tags: ag bill, ritter
Posted in Colorado farm loans, General | No Comments »
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Weld County (Colorado) will soon be the home of a wind farm boasting 364 turbines.
The large farm is expected to generate 300 megawatts of electricity which can power about 90,000 homes. BP Wind Energy owns the facilities in Weld County which currently has 273 turbines, but the company is planning on adding 127 more. The entire farm will take up over 30,000 acres of land.
Construction, consisting of over 250 workers, will begin by the start of summer and company will be adding 12 to 14 jobs to the current operation.
The expansion was approved at the beginning of March by Weld County’s by the county planning commission, but still needs approval from the County commissioners.
Wind farms are growing in popularity across the country thanks to President Obama’s push for renewable energy. The government offers a number of subsidies to farmers who make the eco-friendly decision to add wind turbines to their farms.
Federal Reserve stated interest rates likely to rise. Refinance your farm loan before rates go up. Call a representative by dialing 866-929-5585 or visit us online.
Tags: colorado, renewable energy, Weld County
Posted in Colorado farm loans, General | No Comments »
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Colorado organic producers contributed to $70.2 million of organic sales in 2008 according to a survey by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA reported that Colorado had 220 organic farms in 2008. 34 percent of these farms have been in operation for less than ten years.
Farms counted in the survey were those with organic certification and those that follow certification production but do not make enough money to be certified (less than $5,000 annually).
A farm is organic if it does not use pesticides, petroleum, sewage sludge-based fertilizers, herbicides, genetic engineering, antibiotics, growth hormones or irradiation.
Animals on organic farms must be fed organic feed and have access to the outdoors.
Looking to refinance your farm loan before inflation hits? Farm Loan interest rates starting at 2.99% and terms up to 25 years. See our rate sheet or call 866-929-5585 to speak with a representative
Tags: colorado, organic farms, usda
Posted in Colorado farm loans | No Comments »
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
On Jan. 7, 2010 Colorado Governor Bill Ritter asked the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to declare several Colorado counties disaster areas.
The requests comes after many farmers were hit by freezing temperature Oct. 7- Oct. 11, 2009. Many farmers experience extensive crop losses.
Chaffee, EI Paso, Pueblo, Saguache, Teller, Custer, Park, Delta, Gunnison, Ouray, San Juan, Garfield and La Plata counties are eligible for low-rate farm loans from the USDA.
Those eligible should apply at their local Farm Service Agency.
It’s been a hard year for farmers in Colorado who have experienced a dry summer, flooding and freezing temperatures.
Inflation fears? Refinance with Farm Plus before farm loan rates rise. Farm loan rates starting at 2.99% with 25 year terms. See our rate sheet here or call, toll free, 866-929-5585.
Tags: colorado, FSA, usda
Posted in Colorado farm loans | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
3 million acres of farmland are being taken out of the federal conservation program and may be tilled. The change has many environmentalists concerned about wildlife habitat, water quality and soil erosion.
39 million acres of farmland across the country are protected by the Conservation Reserve Program, but 3.4 million acres were taken out in September. The removal stems from present owners’ not renewing their contracts.
A change in the 2008 Farm Bill also caused the removal because the bill caps the program at 32 million acres.
Most of these acres are located in Texas, Kansas and Colorado. North and South Dakota, as well as Montana are also effected.
Inflation fears? Refinance with Farm Plus before farm loan rates rise. Farm loan rates starting at 2.99% with 25 year terms. See our rate sheet here or call, toll free, 866-929-5585.
Tags: conservation program
Posted in Colorado farm loans, General, Kansas Farm Loans, North Dakota Farm Loans, South Dakota Farm Loans | No Comments »
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Harris Sherman, a Colorado state official, was appointed by President Barack Obama as agriculture undersecretary for natural resources.
Sherman was the director of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources and is now in charge of the 191 million-acre national forest system and the USDA programs that encourage stewardship of farm and range land.
Although environmental groups oppose his appointment because he had an active role in a state plan that offers logging, oil and gas production in roadless areas, the White House is confident in the appointment. In a statement the White House said that Sherman played an important role in “the largest expansion of the state’s wilderness and parks programs.”
Federal Reserve stated interest rates likely to rise. Refinance your farm loan before rates go up. Call a representative by dialing 866-929-5585 or visit us online.
Tags: colorado, Harris Sherman
Posted in Colorado farm loans | No Comments »
Friday, October 30th, 2009
A federal judge in Colorado overturned the USDA’s approval of genetically engineered sugar beets that cause upset in Boulder County this year.
Judge Jeffrey White said the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service didn’t take a “hard look” into whether the sugar beets, that are engineered to resist weed killer, would share genes with other crops. He feels this violates environmental laws.
90 percent of this year’s crops are considered these “Roundup Ready” beets. Many consumers are concerned for the safety of eating these beets as well as the safety of eating other crops grown within its means.
The Food and Agriculture Policy Council took the concerns into their hands last December and have been researching the issue since. In August the county commissioners decided to wait to vote on the issue and are happy they did so.
“The judge’s ruling “makes me glad we didn’t make a decision on this,” Boulder County Commissioner Will Toor said. “I would think that we want to let the courts and federal government sort through this before we make a decision on sugar beets.”
With new technology emerging genetically modified food is a growing concern for consumers.
Federal Reserve stated interest rates likely to rise. Refinance your farm loan before rates go up. Call a representative by dialing 866-929-5585 or visit us online.
Tags: colorado, round up, sugar beets
Posted in Colorado farm loans | No Comments »
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Montana sugar beet growers are looking forward to a large crop.
Estimates show that prices will be near $50 a ton, the highest it has been in 28 years. This is partially due to the world’s current sugar shortage.
The Western Sugar Cooperative believes farmers will yield an average of 31 tons per acre. Although sugar beet farmers are expected to rise above the average numbers, 60 percent of farmers in Colorado and Nebraska are not expected to fair as well with crops damaged from hail.
In the market for a farm loan? Farm Plus offers low-rate farm loans starting at 2.99%. Call today for more information on our current rates. A representative is available at 866-929-5585 or visit our website for more information.
Tags: colorado, sugar beets
Posted in Colorado farm loans, Montana Farm Loans, Nebraska Farm Loans | No Comments »
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
The American Wind Energy Association released data announcing the top states currently producing wind energy and those that have plans for future wind power projects.
1. Texas. Texas currently has 7,907 megawatts of wind power. 1,102 megawatt are in construction now.
2. Iowa. Iowa has 2,883 megawatts and 210 under construction.
3. California. California has 2,653 megawatts of wind power with 125 under construction.
4. Minnesota. With 1,803 megawatts across the state of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota comes in fourth.
5. Washington. Washington is right behind Minnesota with 1,479 megawatts.
6. Oregon. Oregon currently has 1,363 megawatts of wind power with 126 under construction.
7. New York. New York has 1,262 megawatts today, with 21 under construction.
8. Colorado. As the eighth top state in the United States, Colorado has 1,068 megawatts of wind powered electricity.
Wind power is a growing trend among farms because the government offers great subsidies. For more information on subsidies and farm loans contact Farm Plus today. Farm Plus has many low-rate farm loans for your needs. Call 866-929-5585 for more information on farm loans or visit online.
Tags: renewable energy, wind farm, wind power
Posted in Calfornia Farm Loans, Colorado farm loans, Iowa farm loans, Minnesota Farm Loans, Oregon farm loans, Washinton Farm Loans | No Comments »
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