georgia counties

USDA to Reopen FSA Offices for Additional Services During Government Shutdown

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that all Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices nationwide will soon reopen to provide additional administrative services to farmers and ranchers during the lapse in federal funding. Certain FSA offices have been providing limited services for existing loans and tax documents since Jan. 17, and will continue to do so through Jan. 23.  Beginning Jan. 24, …

Farm loan

Growth in Operating Loans Boosts Farm Lending

Dan Economy

The volume of non-real estate farm debt continued to increase in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the Federal Reserve’s Agricultural Finance Databook. Total non-real estate farm loans were up nearly eight percent from a year ago, which was the seventh consecutive quarter of annual growth in loan volumes. In a news release, the Federal Reserve said the increase …

fsa

Some FSA Offices Opens Tuesday

Dan Economy

Last week USDA announced they were going to temporarily reopen some Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices across the country to perform certain limited services for farmers. Tyron Spearman reports if you were not able to stop by last Thursday and Friday, they will be open this Tuesday, January 22.

new

Shutdown Costly for USDA

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The record-long partial government shutdown is likely to cost billions and has already hamstrung the nation’s 2-million or so farming operations. Everyone knows how tough it is to get back to work after a long absence. But if you’re USDA, with a huge backlog of farm program and other applications, implementing a farm bill, paying furloughed workers, and more, it’s daunting. …

avma

Vilsack: Shutdown Impacts Could Last Years

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The government shutdown could cause a ripple effect across the federal government for years, according to former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Vilsack recently told Politico that the effects could take years to realize, like the ramifications of pausing some Forest Service efforts to reduce fire hazards. Specifically, Vilsack said, “You may not see the consequences of this until August of …

hurricane michael

Florida Hurricane Michael Relief Fund Reminder

Dan Economy, Florida

Farmers and ranchers in North Florida that suffered losses due to Hurricane Michael are being reminded that applications are still being accepted for help through “The Hurricane Michael Relief Fund for Agriculture”. Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) created the relief fund to help North Florida farm families recovering from agricultural-related losses from the storm. These applications are limited to North …

avma

State Departments of Agriculture Call for an End to Shutdown

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The partial government shutdown is having a profound and cascading impact on American farmers and ranchers. Because of this, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is calling on Congress and the Administration to rapidly get to a settlement and end the shutdown as soon as possible. The organization says in a news release that, “We know that some …