The recent budget legislation authorized a special program to help farmers hit by major disasters last year. Steve Peterson, acting administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency, says the legislation not only created a new farm disaster program, but it also expanded help available from several existing USDA disaster programs. Budget Act Expanded Some Existing USDA …
World Food Prices Rise 1.1 Percent in March
The United Nations food agency says world food prices rose during March, driven by increases in grains and dairy costs. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s food price index measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat, and sugar. The March index was 1.1 percent higher than the February number. When compared to a year ago at …
USDA and SBA Join Forces to Help Rural American Businesses
Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue and Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening small businesses and the agricultural economies in rural America. They signed the MOU during a stop on Perdue’s “Back to Our Roots” tour in Ohio. The collaboration is designed to do several things, including enhancing investment opportunities in rural America. The organizations …
Officials Mulling Possible Help for Farmers during Trade Tensions
There has been a lot of talk this week about the proposed Chinese tariff increase on U.S. ag products. But according to a story from Gary Crawford, the Administration is considering actions that might reduce the possible economic damage to farmers from trade disruptions and possible trade wars. Officials Mulling Possible Help for Farmers during Trade Tensions Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata …
Changes to GATE Good for Georgia Agriculture
Looking back at the 2018 Georgia Legislative Session, there were many positive points that came out of it for agriculture. Georgia Agribusiness Council President Bryan Tolar, says one of those included the changes made to the Georgia Ag Tax Exemption (GATE) program. Changes to GATE Good for Georgia Agriculture Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 15, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly …
Ag Bankers Report Shows Increase in Lending
Agricultural lending from U.S. banks increased nearly six percent in 2017, according to a new report by the American Bankers Association. Ag lending increased $5.9 billion to $106 billion last year from farm banks, which are defined as banks whose ratio of domestic farm loans to total domestic loans is greater than or equal to the industry average. Total farm …
Ag Economy Barometer Results for March
Farmers are expressing concerns regarding agricultural trade, according to the latest Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The barometer slipped to 135 in March, down five points compared to February, but unchanged from January’s results. The decline was attributed to farmers weakening perceptions of current conditions and a decline in their expectations for the future. The index surveys 400 producers each …
Conaway Says Democrats Wrong to Oppose SNAP Changes
House Ag Committee Chair Mike Conaway says Democrats are not accurately portraying the changes he’s proposing to overhaul the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP). Politico quotes Conaway as saying that Democrats on the committee will see the difference between what he’s proposing and “what they’ve been told Republicans are doing,” and will see the value in the idea. Conaway’s proposals include …
SBA Deadline to Apply for Working Capital Loans in Alabama is May 1
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses in Alabama that working capital loans are still available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations affected by Tropical Storm Cindy with tornadoes and flooding on June 21-23, 2017. “Businesses that suffered economic losses as a result of the disaster and want to …
Scott Signs Tax Cuts
Governor Rick Scott signed 74 bills into law last Friday including the tax-cut package, HB 7087, which totals about $171 million in tax and fee cuts. The package authorizes many things, including tax breaks for farmers and ranchers who suffered damage in Hurricane Irma. It offers tax breaks on agricultural fencing materials purchased for repairs after the hurricane and includes …