Hello Again! Recently, producers received some good news concerning enrolling their farms in the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced USDA has extended the sign-up deadline from June 1 to Aug. 14 for both DCP and the forthcoming ACRE Program. This action [...]
Hello Again! The recently approved American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) authorized an additional waiver which allows producers another opportunity to pay a buy-in fee for 2008 eligibility to be eligible for 2008 disaster assistance. The buy-in fee must be paid by May 18. Paying such a buy-in fee does not provide the [...]
Hello again! The Farm Service Agency wants to remind interested applicants FSA offers loans for farmers to purchase farmland and to finance agricultural operations. FSA loan programs are designed to help producers who are temporarily unable to obtain private or commercial credit. In many cases, applicants are beginning farmers who have insufficient net worth to [...]
Hello again! The Farm Service Agency makes loans to rural youth to establish and operate income producing agriculture projects in connection with their participation in 4-H or FFA. Projects must be planned and operated with the help of the organization adviser, produce sufficient income to repay the loan and provide the youth with practical business [...]
Hello Again! This morning brought a big change in the weather as the wind is blowing and the snow is swirling. At least the mud is now frozen again but the realization that winter still holds its grip doesn’t help the spring fever from the recent warm up. But spring is just around the corner [...]
Hello Again! The snow and ice are gone but the recent wind storm brought down a lot of trees in our neck of the woods. I’ve been meaning to take down an old dead oak tree at the corner of the machine shed for some time now. Mother Nature did it for me. The tree [...]
Hello Again! This winter has reminded me of my childhood when snow came and lasted for weeks on end. My youngest daughter has enjoyed sledding with her friends and I have enjoyed sitting by the fire as much as possible. Farming in this kind of weather brings home the reality it’s not all fun and [...]
Hello Again! I take it all of you reading my message have survived all the food and festivities of the holiday season. I am sure we are making the lifestyle changes we have thought about the past several years. You know what I mean — a little less pastries, cut out the Mountain Dew, try [...]
Hello Again! As we celebrate Christmas, I always reflect back, not only on this year, but on those gone by. I am so thankful for my farmers, friends and family. We have been through a lot over the years. I fondly recall those years when I worked as the ASCS director in Harrison County. It [...]
Hello Again! I know I am showing my age, not only in my looks, but by my generations of farm experiences. I read about a hog referendum and I think back to those summer days at home scraping down the finishing barn at Dad’s and those winter mornings checking baby pigs under heat lamps. Those [...]
