Federal retirement benefits and paychecks are almost certain to take a hit with the passage of any deficit reduction deal, according to John Gage, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees. Although the details are sketchy right now, federal employees could possibly expect an increase in paycheck contribution to the pension programs, a change in the way the cost of living is calculated and basing pensions on an employee’s highest five salaries instead of three. Read more (Federal Times).

USDA has named additional states that will participate in the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, designed to expand the availability of non-food crops to be used for liquid biofuels. The projects will create more than 3,400 jobs and produce more than two million gallons of biofuels annually. “The Obama Administration is committed to providing financial opportunities to rural communities, farmers and  ranchers to produce biomass which will be converted to renewable fuels and increase America’s energy independence,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Participating states include California, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington. Learn more.

In Richmond County, N.C., the average age of farmers is 60. Some say its because the young people are lazy and find the work too challenging. Others, like FSA Executive Directory Amy Yaklin say it’s because farming is a difficult career to get into. With land cost high and lenders not eager to loan to young people without experience and little credit history, many soon-to-be-farmers are turning to FSA to jumpstart their career. Read more (Richmond County Daily Journal).

Farmer and ranchers applying for assistance for 2009 crop losses under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program have one week to submit an application.

SURE provides crop disaster assistance to eligible producers that have suffered crop production or quality losses. Producers must have suffered at least a 10 percent loss on a crop of economic significance and obtained a policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.

A limit of $100,000 per person or legal applies to the combination of payments from SURE and the livestock disaster programs administered by FSA that include the Livestock Forage Program, Livestock Indemnity Program and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP). Those whose average nonfarm income exceeds $500,000 are not eligible for SURE payments.

Producers must sign up by July 29 at their local county FSA office.

Certain general schedule employees may be approved for a pay increase in 2012 despite the freeze on federal salaries. In a memo by John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, there will be no increases in special pay rate schedules except under “extraordinary circumstances.” Agencies “must make a compelling case that denial of a special increase would result in exceptionally severe recruitment and/or retention difficulties and would have an extremely negative impact on critical agency operations during the coming year,” according to OPM. Read more (Government Executive).

Farmland is becoming the hottest investment. But beginning farmers or those looking to expand aren’t the one’s buying it up. Rich investors with no ties to agriculture and no knowledge of running a farm are paying top dollar for acres of corn, soybeans and wheat, with hopes of reaping the rewards as food prices continue to rise. Read more (Associated Press).