News Archive

2009

September

Climate Legislation; Ag Economy- Animal Agriculture; Food Security; Trade; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — September 29, 2009
Yesterday's Commodity News For Tomorrow newsletter (provided by the CME Group in partnership with Dow Jones & Company) reported that, "The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to spend less on the federal crop insurance program while at the same time spurring government-subsidized insurers to cover a wider range of farmers, according to USDA officials...

Ag Report: Because there's risk, there's FSA
Tim Ackarman, The Globe Gazette — September 28, 2009
Because there's no sure bets with agriculture, participation in Farm Service Agency programs is good management, says one North Iowa official.

"Agriculture is a risky business," says Michael Larson, executive director of the Hancock County Farm Service Agency (FSA), a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)...

Pa. farmers are urged to get crop insurance
Youngstown Vindicator — September 27, 2009
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania farmers can act now to protect their income against unexpected losses by purchasing crop insurance before Wednesday, said acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.

The Crop Revenue Coverage base fall price for winter wheat is set at $5.29 per bushel for the 2010 growing season...

Free risk management workshops for dairy farmers
WSLS.com — September 21, 2009
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services news release

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and Virginia Cooperative Extension invite Virginia dairy farmers to attend a series of free seminars on managing risk in the dairy business. The six workshops, which feature nationally and internationally-acclaimed speakers, will address issues such as futures and options contracts, trading on the Chicago Board of Exchange, forward pricing, margin protection and other strategies to help producers stay profitable...

Quarantine Crop Insurance Now Available for Citrus, Avocados
Jordan Roach, PR.com — September 19, 2009
Fresno, CA, September 19, 2009 --(PR.com)-- This fall, citrus and avocado growers looking to lessen the impact that a quarantine can have on their operations, can take advantage of a pilot quarantine crop insurance program soon to be offered through Mary Roach Insurance Agency Inc...

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Announces $8.6 Million In Partnership Agreements To Help Small And Underserved Producers
Producers Can Learn New Risk Management Strategies Through 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Initiative
Shirley Pugh, USDA — September 17, 2009
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has awarded $8.6 million in partnership agreements to provide producers with opportunities to learn more about managing risk in their businesses, which provides an important educational opportunity for limited-resource and underserved farmers and ranchers. This announcement comes as part of the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, a USDA-wide collaboration that will connect people more closely with the farmers who supply their food...

FAQ: USDA Announces Disaster Declaration For 22 Counties In Iowa
Farms in those counties will be eligible for SURE payments on 2009 insured crops, to be received in 2010, if they have 10% or higher yield loss on at least one crop.
Wallace's Farmer — September 15, 2009
FAQ: My crops were hit hard by hail in August. USDA has granted a "Secretarial Disaster Declaration" for my county and a number of others in Iowa in 2009. How does that affect the payments for USDA's Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program--SURE?...

Farmer wants quality to count in crop insurance
Federal coverage program takes only yield numbers into account
Matthew Weaver, Capital Press — September 10, 2009
Wheat farmer Richard Grant had sprout damage on his crops last year due to rain. When an insurance adjuster came out to look his fields over, Grant was told he didn't have an issue because he had an average of 96 bushels per acre, above his proven guarantee of 70 bushels...

Climate Legislation; Senate Ag Committee; Doha; EU GMO Issues; Acreage; Nutrition Programs; Food Safety; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — September 9, 2009
A news release issued yesterday by National Crop Insurance Services stated that, "This is the time of year when farmers face multiple deadlines. They are harvesting their spring planted crops and, depending on the yield and revenue potential, they may need to consider the basics of how to report damage to their crop insurance agent. At the same time they are also making their crop insurance decisions for fall planted crops...

North Carolina urging corn aflatoxin tests
Southeast Farm Press — September 9, 2009
Some farmers may need to have corn samples tested for crop insurance purposes. These farmers must work with their insurance adjuster, and samples for insurance purposes will need to be submitted to a grain marketing location certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The tests cost $22.20. Adjusters should send a 5-pound sample of shelled corn by mail, UPS or FedEx to one of the following USDA-certified grain marketing locations...

Crop failure forces Sweet Seasons Orchard to shift gears for fall
Steven Hepker, Jackson Citizen Patriot — September 06, 2009
A farmer's fortunes can turn on one rainfall, a hail storm, a heat wave or a cold spell. Ed Jasinowski can track his 2009 crop failure to a killing frost June 1.

"You get one shot at it with fruit blossoms, and there is no coming back," Jasinowski said of the chilly night that nipped the apple trees at Sweet Seasons Orchard. "The flowers turned brown and dried up. You think you are safe by June 1."...

Climate Legislation; Doha; Pork Sector; Food Safety; and Crop Insurance
Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com — September 4, 2009
A news release issued yesterday by CUNA Mutual Group and Producers Ag Insurance Group stated that, "CUNA Mutual Group has reached agreement with Producers Ag Insurance Group (ProAg) to become sole owner of the multi-peril crop insurer, serving farmers and agricultural producers nationwide...