Ohio Farmers Union

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United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

Agricultural Cooperatives Theme for World Food Day

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NFU’s Augusto recently saw cooperatives working in Senegal firsthand

Rome, Italy – General view. World Food Day Ceremony, FAO headquarters (Plenary Hall). Photo Courtesy FAO News

Agricultural cooperatives, already enriching millions of small-scale farmers, could expand and make an even greater contribution against poverty and hunger, if they were given the right support by governments, civil society and academia.

That is the key message of this year’s World Food Day, observed today in 150 countries. The theme this year focuses on “Agricultural cooperatives – key to feeding the world” and coincides with the International Year of Cooperatives. World Food Day also commemorates the date when FAO was founded in 1945.

The fight against hunger was given new impetus last week with the release of figures showing that, despite there being 132 million fewer hungry people in the world compared to 20 years ago, there are still nearly 870 million people who go without enough food every day,

“With cooperatives serving as an integral part of rural development, both domestically and internationally, it is only fitting that this year’s World Food Day observance highlights the vital importance and benefits of agricultural co-ops,” said National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson. “NFU and its members have a long history of promoting rural economic and cooperative development, which in turn help family farmers and ranchers add value to the food, fiber and energy they produce.”

NFU’s Director of Communications Melisa Augusto recently traveled to Senegal as part of the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) Farmer-to-Farmer Exchange program, which is involved in international cooperative development. In honor of World Food Day, Augusto spoke on a panel that highlighted the role of cooperatives in feeding the world hosted by NCBA.

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Farm Loan Program Fact Sheets Updated

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) makes and guarantees loans to family farmers and ranchers to promote, build and sustain family farms in support of a thriving agricultural economy. The goal of the loan program is to graduate borrowers to commercial credit. The USDA released a revised version of its general fact sheet and program descriptions for these loans in early October. Click the link below to download or view the updated fact sheet.

USDA-FSA Farm Loans FACT SHEET October 2012

USDA-FSA Farm Loans Chart October 2012

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USDA Investing $642K in Ohio Specialty Crop Programs

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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack $101 million in grants to support America’s specialty crops producers, who provide the fruits, vegetables, nuts and other nutritious foods for millions of healthy American meals each day.

Nine Ohio projects were awarded grants totaling nearly $643,000.

Approximately $55 million will be invested in 56 specialty crop block grants to states that fund 748 initiatives across the country to strengthen markets and expand economic opportunities for local and regional producers. An additional $46 million will go to support new and continuing research and extension activities to address challenges and opportunities for growers and businesses that rely on a sustainable, profitable specialty crops industry.

Ohio’s projects include:

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Ohio FSA’s Maurer Reminds Farmers That All Ohio Counties Were Designated as Primary or Contiguous Disaster Areas

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Steve Maurer, the State Executive Director for the USDA Ohio Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers about the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretarial designation on Sept. 5, 2012. All of Ohio’s counties were designated as primary or contiguous agricultural natural disaster areas due to drought and excessive heat that occurred from February 1, 2012 and continuing.

This gives all qualified farm operators in the designated areas the opportunity to file an application for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA’s FSA, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.

USDA FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity. Other programs available to assist farmers include the Emergency Conservation Program, Federal Crop Insurance, and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.

Interested farmers may contact their local FSA county office for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs.

 

USDA Secy Tom Vilsack Statement on Expiration of 2008 Farm Bill

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Roger Johnson, left, NFU President and Tom Vilsack, speaking, USDA Secretary, during National Farmers Union Legislative Fly-In in September.

“Many programs and policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture were authorized under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (“2008 Farm Bill”) through September 30, 2012. These include a great number of critical programs impacting millions of Americans, including programs for farm commodity and price support, conservation, research, nutrition, food safety, and agricultural trade. As of today, USDA’s authority or funding to deliver many of these programs has expired, leaving USDA with far fewer tools to help strengthen American agriculture and grow a rural economy that supports 1 in 12 American jobs. Authority and funding for additional programs is set to expire in the coming months. Without action by the House of Representatives on a multi-year Food, Farm and Jobs bill, rural communities are today being asked to shoulder additional burdens and additional uncertainty in a tough time. As we continue to urge Congress to give USDA more tools to grow the rural economy, USDA will work hard to keep producers and farm families informed regarding those programs which are no longer available to them.”

NFU: Congress Should Pass Farm Bill in Lame Duck Session

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Linda Borton and other Ohio Farmers Union leaders participated in the Farm Bill NOW Rally on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in September. OFU joined the National Farmers Union and Farm Bureau Federation and many other ag groups to demonstrate the need for swift passage of the 2012 Farm Bill.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after the Sept. 30 expiration of the 2008 Farm Bill.

“It is disappointing that House leadership made the decision to not act on a farm bill before yesterday’s expiration of the 2008 Farm Bill, despite indications that there were enough votes to pass the bill. We are hopeful that, with the pressures of the November elections behind them, Congress will commit to making a concerted, proactive effort to pass a comprehensive, five-year farm bill in the lame duck session. We look forward to working with members of Congress and all interested parties during the lame duck session to ensure that a farm bill can be completed by year’s end.

“The lame duck session will feature a plethora of important issues that have also gone unresolved by this Congress, including the sequestration process, numerous tax and spending issues, and U.S. Postal Service reform. Therefore, it is absolutely critical that House Speaker John Boehner brings the farm bill to the floor early in the session to ensure it can be conferenced and finalized before Congress returns to their districts yet another recess in December.

“The longer Congress drags its feet, the harder their inaction will be felt by farmers, ranchers and, ultimately, all Americans.”

 

Milk Income Loss Contract Program Closeout

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The Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program began December 22, 2008 and provides payments to milk producers when prices are below statutory levels set in farm bill legislation. USDA, through the Farm Service Agency, issues payments to milk producers when the Boston Class I milk price falls below $16.94 after an adjustment is made for the cost of dairy feed rations.

Legislation to extend or re-authorize the Farm Bill has not passed and therefore sign up for the MILC program will end on September 30, 2012. Applications received after the September 30th date will not be approved. The Milk Income Loss Contract payment rate for August milk production was $1.47 per hundred pounds of milk sold. To obtain this MILC payment, producers must have submitted a MILC Program application and must submit their actual milk production evidence to the Farm Service Agency on a monthly basis. To receive MILC payments, dairy producers must submit the required milk production evidence by no later than November 1, 2012. Failure to submit milk production evidence by November 1, 2012 will cause the loss of program benefits offered through the MILC Program.

For more information concerning the Milk Income Loss Contract program or other Farm Service Agency programs, contact your local Farm Service Agency office or visit the Farm Service Agency website’s MILC Page.

Help Combat Hunger with NFU & Feeding America

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Once again the National Farmers Union is teaming up with Feeding America and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to help fight hunger in America.

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has pledged a $50,000 challenge grant to Farmers Union members across the U.S. This means that every dollar we raise, up to $50,000, will be matched by the foundation.

“I am asking all Ohio Farmers Union members to do their part in helping NFU raise these needed funds to help the needy,” said Roger Wise, OFU president.

Just follow the link at the end of this story to donate. Your online donation will be tracked by Feeding America as a Farmers Union contribution and matched by the Buffett Foundation.

All member-driven donations go to food banks that serve hungry people in their communities. Feeding America’s more than 200 member food banks serve 61,000 agencies across the United States that addresses hunger through emergency food assistance and programs.

Through Buffet’s challenge, every dollar donated helps provide $17 worth of food and groceries to Americans in need. With the Buffett Foundation’s matching grant, NFU members will see that number double to $34. If Farmers Union members can reach the goal set of $50,000, it will provide $1.7 million worth of food.

“Ensuring all Americans have a safe, reliable, affordable food supply is something that those of us in agriculture are very concerned about,” said Johnson. “Currently, 37 million Americans are facing hunger, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Partnering up with Feeding America gives us an opportunity to lend our part in providing fresh food for families who need it most.”

Please click here to find out how you can help and donate!

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

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Contact

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