Ohio Farmers Union

Serving Family Farmers and Consumers Since 1934



United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

Deadline approaches for non-insured crop disaster assistance program (NAP)

By Leave a Comment

USDA’s Farm Service Agency wants farmers to know that November 20 is the deadline for the NAP program.

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to a natural disaster. USDA defines non-insurable crops as commercially produced agricultural commodity crops for which the catastrophic risk protection level of crop insurance is not available. NAP eligible crop examples:

  • Pumpkins
  • Sweet Corn
  • Hay
  • Nursery Crops
  • Other vegetable crops

Eligible producers must apply for coverage of non-insurable crops using Form CCC-471, “Application for Coverage,” and pay the applicable service fee at the FSA office where their farm records are maintained. The application and service fee must be filed by the application closing date as established by the FSA State Committee. The service fee is the lesser of $250 per crop or $750 per producer per administrative county.

Producers must apply by November 20, 2012. For information contact your local FSA office or call 440-437-6330.

 

 

NFU’s Johnson: Congrats for Obama, Beats Drum for Farm Bill By End of 2012

By Leave a Comment

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in reaction to the results of the 2012 presidential election:

“On behalf of NFU’s membership, I congratulate President Obama on his re-election. He has shown his dedication to rural America over the past four years, and we will continue to work with him and the administration to ensure that continues.

“We will also continue to press Congress to pass a new five-year farm bill to be signed into law before the end of the legislative session on Dec. 31, 2012.”

 

Darke County Farmers Union Salute to Farmers Meeting a Success

By Leave a Comment

from Ted Finnarn:

Pictured above, l-r seated, Blake Brandenburg, Swine; Maggie Weiss, Sheep; Ethan Fischer, Sheep; Miranda Bridenbaugh, Swine. Standing l-r, Scott Zumbrink, Darke County Treasurer; Carley Ingram, Candidate for Court of Appeals; Dave Shindollar, OFU Ins. Rep; Duane Shields, President of local Darke Farmers Union; Catey Fischer, Sheep; Thomas Schmitz, Sheep; and Alex Weiss, Champion Milking Shorthorn.

Darke County Farmers Union recently held their Fall Harvest-Salute to Farmers meeting on October 27 at the County Extension Office in Greenville. Over 40 turned out to honor the 4-H Youth that the Farmers Union supported at the recent Darke County Fair by either purchasing their livestock or by sponsoring their trophy.

Members also heard from several candidates and State Issues 1 and 2 were discussed. Farmers Union is supporting a “Yes” vote on State Issue 2.

Featured speaker for the evening was Dave Shindollar, insurance rep from the OFU State Office who discussed health, nursing home insurance, Part D Medicare drugs, and estate planning. A representative from US Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office also spoke at the meeting.

USDA Disaster Assistance – Something else that doesn’t exist without a Farm Bill

By Leave a Comment

Part of what I do in creating content for this blog is use information that comes to me from the USDA in the form of press releases and other notices. I read through all of it and some of it shows up here. Sometimes I add or delete information to make it more Ohio-centric. A recent release came out regarding Hurricane Sandy. The gist was that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was reminding farmers and foresters about all that they should document after a severe weather event or other property-damaging disaster. Then, there was this at the end:

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that the department’s authority to operate the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30, 2011. This includes SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.

Yet another reminder of how Congress has left farmers, ranchers, fishers and foresters in the lurch without a Farm Bill. Secretary Vilsack goes on to promise to keep the pressure on the crop insurance industry to provide more flexibility for producers. That’s commendable, but there’s only so much the Secretary of Agriculture can do without all of his legal authority at hand. He would have that authority if Congress were to finish the job after the election.

OSU Extension – USDA host Licking County Meeting – Make Your Land Work for You

By Leave a Comment

The Ohio State University Extension and the U. S. Department of Agriculture will host a public meeting November 8 at 6pm. The meeting will be held at the Licking County USDA Service Center located at 771 East Main St., Newark, Ohio 43055 to discuss local conservation and agriculture topics.

The discussion will begin with, “What is algae and why is there so much of it?” As OSU Extension experts explain what’s happening with algae in our lakes and what that means for farmers and other citizens.

“Why better soil grows better crops, and better pastures grow more nutritious food for grazing animals” as USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationist explains how to make your land more productive.

Learn how USDA supports agriculture through conservation efforts and disaster relief as the NRCS State Conservationist and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director provide agency updates.

For more information about this meeting, please contact Christina Reed at 614-255-2527 or by email at Christina.Reed@oh.usda.gov

 

NYT: Corn belt farmland prices still climbing

By Leave a Comment

This can’t be good for beginning farmers or families trying to keep their land together. From today’s New York Times:

Across the nation’s Corn Belt, even as the worst drought in more than 50 years has destroyed what was expected to be a record corn crop and reduced yields to their lowest level in 17 years, farmland prices have continued to rise. From Nebraska to Illinois, farmers seeking more land to plant and outside investors looking for a better long-term investment than stocks and bonds continue to buy farmland, taking advantage of low interest rates.

And despite a few warnings from bankers, the farmland boom shows no signs of slowing. Almost every year since 2005, except during the start of the recession in 2008, agriculture land prices have posted double-digit gains. In the same period, the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index has had double-digit gains in only three of those years.

Read the Whole Story

Sen. George McGovern had roots in farming and served family farmers

By Leave a Comment

The National Farmers Union reflected today on the illustrious career of former Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, who died Oct. 21, 2012.

“From his South Dakota farm roots, to the U.S. Senate, and later as ambassador of the United Nation’s Agencies on Food and Agriculture, Senator McGovern spent his life as a tireless champion of agriculture, nutrition and rural America,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.

McGovern served as the honorary co-chair of the NFU Foundation and was recognized with NFU’s Meritorious Service Award for his humanitarian efforts in 2003.

[Read more…]

Secretary Vilsack on Strengthening Homegrown Energy

By Leave a Comment

by Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary

As the drought continues today, USDA and other Federal agencies are doing all we can to help farmers, ranchers and communities who have been impacted.

Unfortunately, our tools are limited. Due to inaction by Congress, many parts of the 2008 Farm Bill expired October 1, and other aspects of the law will expire in the coming months.

This brings tremendous uncertainty for rural families – particularly livestock producers who have lost access to disaster programs, and dairy producers who no longer have access to dairy support programs.

[Read more…]

National Farmers Union Scores Ohio Congressional Delegation on Family Farming Issues

By Leave a Comment

The National Farmers Union 112th Congress Scorecard is out – how did your member of Congress and our U.S. senators do?

The NFU has a special paid subscription bi-monthly newsletter from which our Ohio scorecard was created. Since it’s vital that family farmers know how they are being represented in Washington, NFU has allowed us to provide this PDF of the entire newsletter. Inside you’ll find which votes were scored by NFU and how each member voted on the measures. You should also be advised that if you are represented by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown – and if you live and farm in Ohio you are – Brown was awarded the NFU Golden Triangle Award this year as a friend to family farming. U.S. House members from Ohio receiving the award were: Rep. Marcia Fudge, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Tim Ryan and Rep. Betty Sutton. If you like what you see in the NFU’s newsletter linked above, subscription information is on the last page.

In addition to grading each state’s congressional delegation, presidential candidates President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney were asked to provide open letters to NFU members for inclusion in the newsletter. You can find Obama’s letter when you click the link above. Unfortunately, Gov. Romney chose not to respond.

Now, here is our Ohio Scorecard:

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

Click to Take Action



Contact

Ohio Farmers Union
P.O. Box 363
1011 N. Defiance Street
Ottawa, Ohio 45875
Phone: (419) 523-5300
Toll Free: (800) 321-3671