Auto Exec Trades Up for a Ranch

Posted on July 10, 2012 by tanya brown

Gary and Karen Ricley on their Flying 7 Ranch, Platte County, Wyo.

By Kent Politsch, Chief, FSA Public Affairs Branch

Some people have “Heaven on Earth!”

How many times have you heard that said?  Ever wonder who or where they were talking about?  If you were in Wyoming, it might have been Gary and Karen Ricley and their ranch along Slater Flats.

When Gary was offered an early retirement from his executive job in the auto industry in 1998, he was just 52 years old, so the Denver resident and his wife looked for a new adventure.  They learned about a short section of land for sale in southern Platte County, an area known as Slater Flats.  That was all they needed to hear.

They bought 614 acres from a rancher who grew wheat and oats and grazed cattle on 5,000 acres, something the Ricleys wanted to emulate.  They acquired the Flying 7 brand for their livestock and named their piece of Wyoming the Flying 7 Ranch. Continue reading →

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Best Friends Find Niche Through FSA Rural Youth Loan Program

Posted on July 6, 2012 by tanya brown

Caylex Strickland with cow-calf operation started with funds from FSA’s Rural Youth Loan program.

By Pamela Sikes, Coffee County FSA, Alabama

Caylex Strickland and Ivy Bright are two teenagers with an entrepreneurial spirit. Born just one week apart and best friends since grade school, it is no wonder the pair followed similar paths to owning cattle operations.

After seeing Ivy’s success with a calving operation, Caylex decided to go a similar route and apply for a Rural Youth Loan at the Coffee County Farm Service Agency in Alabama and kick start her own business with cow-calf pairs.

“I was already doing a lot of the work around our farm,” said Caylex.  “My dad taught

Ivy Bright with her favorite cow, Oreo

me how to drive at a young age. I’ve been driving a tractor for several years helping my dad bush hog pastures and plant rye and oats. Now with my own cows and calves, I am able to see a really good return for all my hard work.”

The Rural Youth Loan Program provides financial assistance and business planning to help youth get started in agriculture while ensuring the future of family farms.  The program is available to youth ages 9-20, who are active in an agriculture program like  4-H and Future Farmers of America. The maximum loan amount under the program is $5,000.00. Continue reading →

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FSA Programs Available for Beginning, Minority and Youth Farmers

Posted on July 5, 2012 by tanya brown

As the presence of women in agriculture continues to increase, the Farm Service Agency is out in the field promoting programs designed to help them and other underrepresented producers. With women making up about 30 percent of all farm operators in the U.S., Mary Held, FSA loan officer, shared FSA programs designed specifically for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers as well as youth farmers during the third annual Ag Women’s Day event in South Dakota. Read more (Tri-State Neighbor) or find out more about FSA loans.

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Congress Approves Phased Retirement; Federal Pensions Left Alone

Posted on July 5, 2012 by tanya brown

Congress approved a bill that will allow federal employees to ease their way into retirement by working part-time with prorated salaries and annuities. The phased retirement plan allows experienced workers to transfer their skill and knowledge to younger workers. The bill also includes a provision that would freeze student loan interest without having federal workers pay for the freeze by contributing more to their retirement plans, as originally proposed. Read more (Washington Post).

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Crops Could Suffer as Heat Wave Spreads

Posted on July 5, 2012 by tanya brown

As most of the country suffers from an early heat wave, corn and soybean crops in the upper Midwest may be in for a scorching this week. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey said the historic heat that hit the Midwest is creeping into upper Midwest states like Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas, reaching nearly three digit temperatures. With no relief through this Friday and limited rain in sight, the heat may take its toll on crops. Listen to more.

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Reminder: Comments Sought on Microloan Proposal

Posted on July 5, 2012 by tanya brown

Comments are being sought on a proposal to improve the Farm Service Agency operating loan program to better meet the needs of small farmers. The new microloan program would simplify and streamline the application process and cut the paperwork in half for producers who need a loan for less than $35,000. FSA expects the new microloan program to help meet the credit needs of small farm operations. Comments received by July 24 will be considered. Read more about microloans or submit a comment.

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Commodity Credit Corporation Releases Lending Rates for July

Posted on July 3, 2012 by tanya brown

The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for June 2012. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.250, up from 0.125 in June, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans dispersed during July is 1.250, up from 1.125 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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Report: 2012 Brings Largest Corn Crop Planted Since 1937

Posted on July 2, 2012 by tanya brown

Farmers planted more acres of corn this year than in the past 75 years, according to a report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. More than 96 million acres of corn have been planted in 2012, making this the fourth year in a row that corn acreage has increased in the United States. Favorable field conditions in major corn-producing regions helped producers complete their planting by May 20, representing the fastest planting rate on record. But corn doesn’t stand alone — this year’s soybean crop is the third largest acreage on record. Learn more.

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Summer Season Brings Array of Administrative Changes to FSA

Posted on June 29, 2012 by tanya brown

FSA is undergoing several administrative changes that will take effect in July.

Bruce Nelson

As of July 8, FSA Administrator Bruce Nelson will resume his position as state executive director in his home state of Montana after more than a year in the agency’s highest post. “Bruce provided invaluable leadership to FSA during a time when FSA —  like many USDA agencies — was asked to do more work, with a smaller budget and fewer employees,” said Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services Under Secretary Michael Scuse. “Through this challenging period, Bruce has maintained a steady vision for protecting FSA’s core safety-net functions while enhancing its reach among all American farmers and ranchers.”

Juan Garcia

Taking the reins of acting administrator will be Juan Garcia, who currently serves as deputy administrator for Farm Programs. Juan has 34 years of experience working for USDA as a state executive director in Texas, an agricultural program manager, district director and county executive director. Continue reading →

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Indiana FSA Staff Raise Sleeves to Give Life

Posted on June 28, 2012 by tanya brown

Indiana FSA Employees organized and donated blood that will go to several hospitals in the area. Pictured (l to r): Nancy Best, Kathy Neumann, Rhonda Ezekiel, Tony Payne and Tim Golubski.

FSA employees in Indiana raised their sleeves to make a difference and save lives. A blood drive — held Tuesday, June 26 and organized by Nancy Best, FSA administrative officer — brought together FSA, NRCS, RD, RMA, USGS and the Central Indiana Blood Center Mobile, which traveled to the state office for the event. Sixteen federal employees gave blood, including five FSA employees. Cookies were donated by those who could not donate. The Indiana Blood Center supplies blood to more than 60 Indiana hospitals and each donation saves up to three lives.

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