Author Archives: tanya brown

A new bill introduced in the Senate last week could extend the pay freeze imposed on federal employees and Congress through 2014. Cosponsors of the bill — which also aims to cut the federal workforce by 115,000 workers through attrition … Continue reading →

More and more Americans are leaving the suburban life and headed to the countryside to begin life anew on the farm and the government is in full support of the trend. Aside from backing loans and offering workshops and seminars … Continue reading →

The House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday that would extend the federal civilian pay freeze through 2013. Sponsored by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), the bill also would impose a pay freeze for members of Congress. Supporters of the bill … Continue reading →

Beginning farmers in Missouri now have two programs working on their behalf. USDA has partnered with the Missouri Linked Deposit Program to provide low interest loans to first-time farmers. Those who qualify for the Missouri program could also receive a … Continue reading →

USDA will kick off a general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program beginning March 12. The voluntary program allows agricultural producers the opportunity to plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife … Continue reading →

The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for February 2012. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.125, which is unchanged from January 2012, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year … Continue reading →

The consolidation of 131 FSA offices due to budget constraints won’t leave employees in the cold. According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, employees in the affected offices will be moved to suitable work locations. Read Agriculture Secretary Vilsack's speech on … Continue reading →