Today is the last day that farmer and ranchers can apply for assistance for 2009 crop losses under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program.

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 today, Friday, July 29, at their local county FSA office.

by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

This week, I led a meeting in the Roosevelt Room at the White House with leaders of a host of rural organizations to discuss the White House Rural Council. The White House Rural Council, which was established by President Obama on June 9, 2011, will build on this Administration’s unprecedented efforts to spur job creation and economic growth in rural America.  Along with Jon Carson, the Director of the Office of Public Engagement and Doug McKalip of the White House Domestic Policy Council, we discussed the Council’s efforts to improve coordination among federal agencies. We focused in on ways to help better leverage existing federal resources in rural America – and on how  to facilitate private-public partnerships that can move the needle in building stronger rural communities. Read more (USDA blog).

More help is on the way for producers.

 In an announcement today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said a high demand for farm ownership and direct farm operating funds has prompted USDA to transfer appropriated funds between programs to meet the urgent credit needs of producers.

“With these funds, we can help thousands of producers establish and maintain their family farming operations and obtain long-term credit assistance through a commercial lender,” said Vilsack. The transfer will make an additional $100 million in loan funds available for the direct operating loan program, which will provide 1,600 small, beginning and minority farmers with resources to establish and maintain their family farming operations. Learn more.

The latest edition of the MIDAS Press newsletter highlights the recent progress made over the past few months. The top story focuses on demo presentations provided by the MIDAS team to provide a better understanding of how FSA data and processes can be integrated within a single system. The sessions, which are happening in various states across the country, provides the team with feedback and input from the field. Other stories include information on the pilot Change Agent Network and a recap of the Northeast area rally. Read the MIDAS Press.

 
Missouri Farm Service Agency State Executive Director donated 772 pounds of food to Feds Feed Families.

Eddie Hamill, Missouri Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, wanted to make a contribution to the Feds Feed Families and to make a difference to hungry families in Mizzou Tiger Country. He headed off to the local grocery store to see how much food he could load up in two carts.  With carts overflowing, the end result was 772 pounds of food. It is estimated this amount of food will provide 580 meals.

Continue reading "Show-Me State SED Makes Sizable Donation to Feds Feed Families" »

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.

 
The 42nd Annual Threshing Show was held this month in Adams, Tenn., highlighting steam-powered sawmills, grist mills and various types of engines, models and pumps.  Antique cars, old gas tractors, engines and other machines were on display. People from 26 states attended along with visitors from Europe and Australia. Pictured: A parade of tractors rallied through Adams as part of the annual show, displaying signs in support of local farmers and crops indigenous to Tennessee.

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.