Census Forms Still Being Accepted; Deadline Extended

Posted on February 6, 2013 by tanya brown

The deadline to turn in the 2012 Agricultural Census has been extended to March 15 to ensure that all farms are counted. To date, more than 1.4 million forms have been submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An additional form will be sent to producers who missed the original deadline. Forms can be returned by mail or online by visiting www.agcensus.usda.gov. Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the census and requires USDA to keep all personal information confidential. Learn more.

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Civil Rights Deputy Retires After 41 Years

Posted on February 6, 2013 by tanya brown

Doris Rudolph (right), deputy director of FSA Office of Civil Rights, retired after serving 41 years at USDA. She is pictures with Carl Holmes, retired FSA Office of Civil Rights employee. Photo & article by Latawnya Dia, FSA Public Affairs Specialist.

Doris S. Rudolph, deputy director for FSA Office of Civil Rights retired last week after 41 years of service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Several friends, family members and coworkers celebrated her work with a farewell party at the Legal Sea Foods restaurant in Washington, D.C. Doris plans to spend her retirement days with her family and church members. She will continue helping the homeless and underprivileged, as well as teaching and training children in math and other subjects.

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MN Extension Connects Producers With School Cafeterias

Posted on February 6, 2013 by tanya brown

The University of Minnesota Extension has partnered to bring a series of workshops designed to link local farmers with schools and cafeterias. The Farm to Cafeteria workshops are designed to educate farmers and educational institutions in Minnesota about collaborating to increase local food purchases. Sessions include information on purchasing local on a budget, farmer/buyer relationships, on-farm food safety, marketing local food and nutrition education in the classroom and beyond. Workshops open this month and run through April. Learn more.

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Children Raised on Farms Develop Better Immune Systems

Posted on February 1, 2013 by tanya brown

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Commodity Credit Corporation Releases Lending Rates for February

Posted on February 1, 2013 by tanya brown

The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for February 2013. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.125, which is unchanged from January 2013, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans dispersed during February 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.

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Dairy Farmers Win Millions in Price-Fixing Settlement

Posted on January 31, 2013 by tanya brown

Dairy Farmers of America and other entities have agreed to pay $158.6 million to farmers across 14 states to settle an antitrust suit alleging that the dairy cooperative conspired to fix the price of milk in the Southeast. About 7,000 farmers brought about the lawsuit that claimed that Dean Foods controlled milk prices in the region by allowing the Dairy Farmers of America to manage the milk supply of both its member farmers and independent producers who chose to supply bottlers under separate contracts. Read more (AgWeek).

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Access to Land, Capital Biggest Obstacle for Beginning Farmers

Posted on January 31, 2013 by tanya brown

“Beginning farmers are a key to 21st century agriculture,” says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Clay Blackburn is a 25-year-old Missouri farmer who works several part-time jobs to keep his cow/calf operation growing. He currently leases 200 acres of land until he can build enough capital to buy.

“It’s tough for a young person to get started in farming,” said Blackburn. “Finding land is the most difficult thing, but I’m determined to eventually make this my full-time job.”

Blackburn’s experience mirrors that of many beginning farmers trying to get a foot in the door to owning and operating their own farm. Yet, data on beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States is bleak and shows a steady decline over the past 20 years. Continue reading →

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Dairy Producers to Receive MILC Payments Soon; New AGI Forms Required

Posted on January 30, 2013 by tanya brown

Dairy farmers enrolled in the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program soon will be receiving payments for the September 2012 marketings. Payments will be issued beginning Feb. 5; however, producers must complete a new Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) form for 2013 before payments are released. With the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, MILC contracts for dairy producers were automatically extended through Sept. 30, 2013, with no re-enrollment necessary.  The payment rate for September 2012 is approximately $0.59 per hundredweight. MILC payments are triggered when the Boston Class I milk price falls below $16.94 per hundredweight, after adjustment for the cost of dairy feed rations. Payments are calculated each month using the latest milk price and feed cost. Learn more. Learn more or download the AGI form.

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Japan Lifts Restrictions on U.S. Beef Imports

Posted on January 28, 2013 by tanya brown

Japan is easing restrictions on U.S. beef imports after nearly 10 years. New terms and agreements will allow livestock producers to export beef from cows up to 30 months old, which is up from the current 20-month age limit. Japan banned U.S. beef imports in 2003 due to fears of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or  mad cow disease. Learn more.

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Wyoming Couple Travels 430 Miles to Deliver Hay to Struggling Farmers

Posted on January 24, 2013 by tanya brown

A Wyoming couple has jump-started their big rig and hit the road in an effort to provide hay to farmers affected by the drought. Nearly three to four times a week, the couple travels 430 miles from Rozet, Wyo., to Wild Rose, N.D., to pick up 26 round bales of hay that weigh 1,700-1,800 pounds each. They drive 430 miles back to Wyoming to deliver the bales to producers who are struggling to keep their herds fed due to the drought. While most bales are going for $250 or $300, the couple sells their bales for $165 — just enough to break even and cover transportation costs. Read more (Rapid City Journal).

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