Corn, Soybeans Expected to Reach Record-High Yields

Posted on November 14, 2014 by tanya brown

Corn production is expected to reach 14.4 billion bushels this year, up 3 percent from 2013, according to the Crop Production report released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows. Soybean production is forecast at 3.96 billion bushels this year, up 18 percent from 2013. Both crops are on target for record-high yields and production. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields for corn are expected to average 173.4 bushels per acre, down 0.8 bushel from the October forecast, but 14.6 bushels above the 2013 average. As for soybeans, yields are expected to average a record high 47.5 bushels per acre, up 0.4 bushel from October and up 3.5 bushels from last year. Read the report.

Posted in News | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Corn, Soybeans Expected to Reach Record-High Yields

Microloan Cap Grows to $50,000 Starting Today, Nov. 7

Posted on November 7, 2014 by tanya brown

The FSA borrowing limit for microloans increased today from $35,000 to $50,000. Microloans offer borrowers simplified lending with less paperwork and makes borrowing from FSA a “first opportunity” to farm or quickly expand an existing operation. The microloan change allows beginning, small and mid-sized farmers to access an additional $15,000 in loans using a simplified application process with up to seven years to repay. Microloans are part of USDA’s continued commitment to small and midsized farming operations. Learn more.

Posted in News | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Agricultural Exports Hit Record Levels in 2014

Posted on November 6, 2014 by tanya brown

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its final total for U.S. agricultural exports in fiscal year 2014, which hit a record high of $152.5 billion, up from $141 billion from last year. “American farmers and ranchers have once again achieved another year of record exports Agricultural exports have climbed 41 percent in value over the past five years. U.S. agricultural exports have increased in volume as well as in monetary value, which demonstrates an increasing global appetite for high-quality, American-grown products,” said Vilsack.

Posted in News | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Proud to be an American…

Posted on November 6, 2014 by tanya brown
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterans Day Celebration – Honoring All Who Served, at the USDA headquarters’ Jefferson Auditorium, in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Keynote speaker (U.S. Army) Lt. General (Retired) Russel L. Honoré. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterans Day Celebration – Honoring All Who Served, at the USDA headquarters’ Jefferson Auditorium, in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014.
Keynote speaker (U.S. Army) Lt. General (Retired) Russel L. Honoré. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

By Latawnya Dia, FSA Public Affairs Specialist

This week, USDA honored its military veterans who have served and are serving in the Armed Forces during a program at the national headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Before I entered the auditorium, I took a minute to speak to the Color Guards — each one looking so proud to serve in the military. Looking at their faces and stature, I had a quick flashback of a United Service Organizations (USO) show I saw while serving in the Army in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO.

In 1986, I saw my one and only USO show, and I will never forget it. At the end of the show, the cast sang Lee Greenwood’s, “God Bless the USA.”  While the cast sang the song, every soldier joined hands. As I listened to the words, I found myself crying with pride. I looked around and noticed that I wasn’t the only one crying. I don’t think there was a dry face in the room and there had to be at least 1,000 or more soldiers at the show. I stood there holding hands with the soldiers to my left and right and I continued to listen to the words…

“Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can’t take that away…Well there’s pride in every American heart, and it’s time we stand and say…  [CHORUS]  I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.  And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.  And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.  ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land God bless the USA.”

Continue reading →

Posted in Features | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Vote in the 2014 County Committee Elections

Posted on November 6, 2014 by tanya brown

Voting for the 2014 County Committee Elections is underway. Ballots were mailed last week. Eligible Producers who have not received a ballot may obtain one in their local county office. County committee members provide an important link between the local agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to county committees help deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on commodity support programs; conservation programs; indemnity and disaster programs; emergency programs and eligibility. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by the Dec. 1, 2014, deadline to ensure their vote is counted. Learn more or find your local county office.

Posted in News | Tagged | Comments Off on Vote in the 2014 County Committee Elections

FSA Encourages Farmers to Work With Decision Tools

Posted on November 6, 2014 by tanya brown

It’s a busy time for Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees across the nation as they assist farmers and ranchers in signing up for new assistance programs, field questions about a farm bill that’s different from any program in recent memory and go through comprehensive training sessions to master those new programs.

“It’s a complex new program,” said Val Dolcini, FSA’s newly appointed administrator. Dolcini was in San Antonio Monday for a National Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) Buy-up farm bill training session. Continue reading →

Posted in Features | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on FSA Encourages Farmers to Work With Decision Tools

Commodity Credit Corporation Releases Lending Rates for November

Posted on November 3, 2014 by tanya brown

The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for October 2014. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.125, which is unchanged from October 2014, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans dispersed during November is 1.125, unchanged from last month. Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans and discount rates for the Tobacco Transition Payment Program also are available. Read more.

Posted in News | Tagged , | Comments Off on Commodity Credit Corporation Releases Lending Rates for November

USDA Extends Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadlines

Posted on October 31, 2014 by tanya brown

Dairy farmers now have more time to make a decision on the dairy Margin Protection Program. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that the deadline for the program has been extended until Dec. 5, 2014. “We want dairy producers to have enough time to make thoughtful and well-studied choices,” said Vilsack. “Markets change and the Margin Protection Program can help protect dairy producers from those changes.” The program provides financial assistance to participating farmers when the margin — the difference between the price of milk and feed costs — falls below the coverage level selected by the farmer. Producers can use the Web resource at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool to calculate the best levels of coverage for their dairy operation. Comments also are being accepted on both the Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Product Donation Program until Dec. 15, 2014. Learn more about the dairy Margin Protection Program or submit a comment.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on USDA Extends Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadlines

Let Your Voice be Heard: County Committee Voting Opens Nov. 3

Posted on October 31, 2014 by tanya brown

Voting for the 2014 County Committee Elections opens Monday, Nov. 3, with the mailing of new ballots to eligible voters. County committee members provide an important link between the local agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to county committees help deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on commodity support programs; conservation programs; indemnity and disaster programs; emergency programs and eligibility. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by the Dec. 1, 2014, deadline to ensure their vote is counted. Learn more.

Posted in News | Tagged , | Comments Off on Let Your Voice be Heard: County Committee Voting Opens Nov. 3

USDA Issues Series of Dates for Several Census of Agriculture Reports

Posted on October 31, 2014 by tanya brown

The Agriculture Statistics Board of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced new dates for several Census of Agriculture Reports. The reports and their new release dates are:

Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey, Nov. 13
Watersheds, November 2014
Race, Ethnicity and Gender County Profiles, December 2014
Congressional District Rankings, January 2015
Typology, January 2015
Specialty Crops, February 2015

Posted in News | Tagged , , | Comments Off on USDA Issues Series of Dates for Several Census of Agriculture Reports