Click here for a digital copy of the OFU Convention program.
USDA Announces New Microloan Program
Small, family or socially disadvantaged farmers now have access to a USDA microloan program.
The microloans – identified by USDA as loans under $35,000 were announced by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack today in Memphis, TN. Vilsack also announced recently that he will be staying on as ag secretary into President Barack Obama’s second term.
USDA said the purpose of these smaller loans secured through the agency are to assist start-up farmers in building their business so that they may eventually move into the commercial credit arena.
“I have met several small and beginning farmers, returning veterans and disadvantaged producers interested in careers in farming who too often must rely on credit cards or personal loans with high interest rates to finance their start-up operations,” said Vilsack. “By further expanding access to credit to those just starting to put down roots in farming, USDA continues to help grow a new generation of farmers, while ensuring the strength of an American agriculture sector that drives our economy, creates jobs, and provides the most secure and affordable food supply in the world.”
The National Farmers Union praised the program. “The next generation of family farmers are critical to the continuation of the long tradition of agriculture in our country,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Today’s announcement is a tremendous benefit to those looking to enter into farming.”
“Beginning farmers and ranchers and veterans will greatly benefit from this program, and a streamlined application process is of great value,” said Johnson. “Access to credit is one of the greatest challenges that beginning farmers and ranchers face, and I commend the department for proposing a common-sense way to help alleviate the problem.”
According to USDA’s website, the microloan program features a streamlined application process. Loans may be used for:
- Initial start-up expenses;
- Annual expenses such as seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents;
- Marketing and distribution expenses;
- Family living expenses;
- Purchase of livestock, equipment, and other materials essential to farm operations;
- Minor farm improvements such as wells and coolers.
- Hoop houses to extend the growing season;
- Essential tools;
- Irrigation;
- Delivery vehicles.
Click here for an online fact sheet.
For information on the program or to apply, farmers are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency office.
National Farmers Union Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted
National Farmers Union (NFU) is encouraging students to apply for several scholarships made available through the general farm organization and its affiliated foundations. The amounts vary from $1,000 to $2,000.
“We are thrilled to once again scholastically honor the best and brightest young Farmers Union members and aid them on their path to becoming future leaders of their schools, communities and the Farmers Union family,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.
The National Farmers Union Foundation and Farmers Union Industry (FUI) Foundation present scholarships to college students in memory of Stanley Moore, a long-time leader of North Dakota Farmers Union who later became vice president of National Farmers Union.
The NFU Foundation Moore scholarship is open to Farmers Union members and their children who are seeking funding to attend a two- or four-year accredited college or university, or technical school for any area of study. The foundation presents several scholarships in the value of $1,000 annually.
Honoring Stanley Moore is also the purpose of the separate FUI Foundation scholarships, which are available to Farmers Union members in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The foundation awards several $1,500 scholarships each year.
The Hubert and JoAnn Seymour Scholarship is open to all graduating high school seniors who are continuing their education in an accredited two- or four-year college. Scholarship amounts vary from $1,000 to $2,000. Hubert K. Seymour was a leader in Illinois Farmers Union and subsequently was active at the national level.
Applicants must be Farmers Union members. Selection committees make their determinations after evaluating the applications and essays. For details on deadlines and to download application forms, please visit the NFU Education page, as well as visit NFU’s education Facebook page for updates and further information on NFU’s youth and young adult education programs.
Apply now for 2013 NFU Beginning Farmers Institute
from the National Farmers Union
National Farmers Union (NFU) is now accepting applications for its 2013 Beginning Farmers Institute (BFI) program. The annual program, now accepting its third class of students, is open to individuals who are new to farming, are in the process of transferring an operation from a relative or non-relative to themselves, or are contemplating a career in farming or ranching.
“The Beginning Farmer Institute underscores our commitment to growing a new generation of family agriculture,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “This program will answer the questions new farmers have, and more importantly share our expertise to answer questions that people might not think of asking when they begin farming.”
The BFI program helps students gain insight and practical skills needed by beginning farmers and ranchers, including business plan writing, financial planning, and researching available programs to help starting up and sustaining a successful operation.
Applicants accepted into the 2013 program will attend three separate education sessions, to be held in the spring and fall of 2013, in Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis, Minn., respectively, with a final session culminating at NFU’s annual Convention in March 2014 in Santa Fe, N.M. Program topics at the education sessions will include business planning, U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, tax and record keeping, estate transfer and marketing.
The Beginning Farmers Institute is supported by the NFU Foundation, Farm Credit and the CHS Foundation.
Interested applicants can download the 2013 application on the NFU website, as well as visit NFU’s education Facebook page for updates and further information on NFU’s youth and young adult education programs. Applications must be postmarked on or before Feb. 11, 2013.
Media Reports: Some progress on Farm Bill
With just days left on the 2012 congressional calendar, Politico reports today that some progress is being made among “The Big Four” in the Farm Bill debate on Capitol Hill.
The Big Four are the House and Senate Ag Committees’ chairpersons and ranking members. The four were brought together one week ago by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at the department for a round of meetings to see if a full five-year Farm Bill can be salvaged from what’s been a messy political year in Washington. As it stands now, the Senate has passed a bill and the House Ag Committee has moved a bill out of committee. Ohioan and House Speaker John Boehner has not allowed the House Farm Bill to come to the floor for a vote allowing the process to move forward and a reconciliation of both chambers’ bills. The previous Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30.
NFU working on preserving effective Country of Origin Labeling in wake of WTO Ruling
from The National Farmers Union
WASHINGTON – The World Trade Organization has given the United States until May 23, 2013, to bring its Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) rules into compliance with a WTO ruling.
“NFU will continue to work with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the United States Trade Representative to ensure that new rules for COOL fit with the WTO’s ruling and with consumer demand for more information about the origins of their food,” said National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson.
The labeling law was passed as a part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and amended in 2008, requiring retailers to notify their customers of the source of certain foods. After COOL was implemented, Canada and Mexico filed a complaint against the United States’ law. A WTO ruling in June agreed in part with the complaint, stating that the way by which the law was implemented discriminated against imported meat products, but did not find fault with the law itself.
“NFU has a proud record of supporting COOL. We were instrumental in getting the COOL laws passed in 2002 and again in 2008 and will continue to support its implementation in a way that meets the requirements of the WTO.”
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, food imports have consistently increased since 1990.
“Consumers want and have the right to know from where their meat comes from. We will continue to vigorously defend the COOL law, which was upheld in June. Only the rules that were issued to implement COOL law are in question and can be adjusted.”
OFU Mourns the Loss of Two Former Leaders
The Ohio Farmers Union is sad to report the passing of two former executive committee members of the organization in late October. Orland Edward Miller, 94, of Highland County died Monday, Oct. 29 and Jane Fogle, 79, of Marion County, died Wednesday, Oct. 31. Longtime OFU members remember both as being active leaders in their county chapters. Below we are re-printing their obituaries from their local newspapers, but if you have any memories you would like to share about Orland or Jane, please send them via email to rcs(at)ronsylvester(dot)com. I would be happy to share them through the blog or in the Ohio Country Messenger.
Orland Miller
Orland Edward Miller, 94, died Monday, Oct. 29, 2012.
He was retired from Allis-Chalmers in Norwood, was a member of the Pricetown Church of Christ, retired as a Clay Township Trustee and was on the Board of Governors of Highland District Hospital for over 25 years.
Mr. Miller was born June 3, 1918, the son of the late Chris F. Miller and Clara Back. He was also preceded in death by one son, Merrill Miller.
He is survived by his wife, Mae Fern Cornetet Miller; one daughter, Janice Arlene Williams; two sons and daughters-in-law, Daryl and Becky Miller and Randall and Angel Miller; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.
Jane Fogle
Barbara Jane Fogle, age 79 of LaRue, OH died at her residence at 1:34 p.m. on Wed. Oct. 31, 2012. She was born June 5, 1933 in Marion Co. to the late Lee Ray and Lena Mae (King) Weston. On June 3, 1951 she married David James Fogle and he preceded her in death on Sept. 4, 2006.
Mrs. Fogle is survived by a son R. Kit (Lori) Fogle, LaRue, OH, three daughters Andrea (Craig) Ciola, LaRue, OH, Jandee (Barry) Wible, Ft. Wayne, IN, Tanyce (Frank) Addison, LaRue, OH, brothers Ray W. Weston and James E. Weston, both of Morral, OH, 12 grandchildren Vince (Vicki) Ciola, Ashley (Zach) Varga, Kelli Ciola, Holly Berg, Reggie Berg, Jami (Dustin) Rawlins, Valerie (Matt) Ward, Halie (Aaron) Ross, Lane Addison, Lathan Addison, Abigail & Alexis Fogle and 3 great grandchild Carter & Hillary Rawlins, and Amelia Varga. She is preceded in death by a daughter Lorain Anne Fogle.
In 1951 Mrs. Fogle graduated from Morral High School where she was class Salutatorian and a cheerleader. She was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Marion, OH where she was a former Sunday School Teacher, Bible School Teacher and a member of the Women’s Circle of the Church.
Mrs. Fogle was a former 4-H advisor. She was a member of Tymochtee Grange, Marseilles Mother’s League and past president of Upper Sandusky High School Music Parents. Mrs. Fogle was on the Marion County Election Board and served on Chapel Heights Cemetery Board. She enjoyed reading her bible, traveling to Hawaii, decorating her home, working in her lawn, staying physical fit and fashionable.
Natl Farmers Union President: Kicking Can on Farm Bill Bad Public Policy
Johnson says extension bad idea
from the National Farmers Union:
OFU Executive Director Linda Borton and Mel Borton at the Farm Bill Now! rally in Washington, D.C. this past summer. Photo: National Farmers Union
WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement amid reports that Congress may consider an extension of the 2008 Farm Bill. The 2008 Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30:
“With the current legislative session quickly coming to a close, it is imperative now, more than ever, that Congress act during their lame duck session before substantial harm is done to our farmers, ranchers and all Americans, who depend on a stable farm economy, a healthy environment and access to affordable nutrition programs.
“Merely extending the current law may well be more difficult than passing a new five-year bill. A short-term extension would reveal a litany of problems that will not be easily fixed when a new farm bill eventually is signed into law.
“The drought this past summer left producers unprotected because livestock and crop disaster programs had expired. Extending current law could leave farmers and ranchers in drought-stricken regions without the tools needed to recover.
“Direct payments may well be eliminated in a farm bill extension, in order to provide for deficit reduction which would remove $50 million from the next farm bill in addition to other reductions in baseline funding. This will likely put substantial pressure to cut crop insurance, which is a critical part of the safety net.
“Thirty-seven conservation, energy, research and specialty crop programs do not have baseline funding beyond the duration of the last Farm Bill and have now expired. Among these expired programs are a number of important conservation programs, the entire energy title and other programs of importance to beginning farmers and local and regional food systems. It is almost assured that all of these programs will have reduced or eliminated funding under an extension that would be nearly impossible to recover in a subsequent farm bill.
“Simply put, a comprehensive, five-year bill just makes more sense. A temporary extension would be an inadequate solution that would leave our farmers and ranchers and the nation they feed crippled by uncertainty.”
NFU appreciates amendment to defense bill
Advanced biofuels commercialization continues
National Farmers Union press release:
WASHINGTON (Nov. 28, 2012) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson hailed the passage of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 that will enable the Department of Defense (DOD) to move away from foreign oil reliance and towards commercialization of advanced biofuels produced in the United States. Previous language in the bill blocked DOD’s effort to become more energy independent. The amendment was led by Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo.
Get Your Kids Involved in OFU Poster Contest
Theme this year is “Local Foods / Healthy Foods”
The Ohio Farmers Union will once again hold a poster contest for elementary school-aged children. The theme this year is Local Foods/Healthy Foods and the contest is open to kids in grades one through six.
Submissions will be judged in three divisions:
- Division I for grades 1 and 2
- Division II for grades 3 and 4
- Division III for grades 5 and 6
First and second place prizes will be awarded in each division after judging at the Ohio Farmers Union Annual Convention in January 2013. First place winners will receive a $75 gift certificate and second place will receive a $50 gift certificate.
Art must be completed on the Ohio Farmers Union poster as provided by the OFU state office. Contact the state office at 419.523.5300 for posters. Poster submissions must be postmarked by December 31, 2012 and submitted to either your local Ohio Farmers Union chapter or to the OFU state office at P.O. Box 363, Ottawa, Ohio 45875.
