News Update
May 1, 2017
Spring Clean-up for Pastures
Spring is finally starting in the Northwest. Calving season is winding down, and cows and bulls are looking forward to spending quality time together on greener pastures. Without a doubt, springtime on a ranch is an extremely busy time of year. Calving, branding, breeding, fencing, seeding ... the list goes on and on. It’s also an important time to review or create a vegetation management plan for the ranch.
Doing an initial inventory is best done in the summer months when vegetation is at its peak production. However, taking inventory of noxious weeds can begin in early spring. On rangeland in the West, the spread of noxious weeds has been ongoing for decades.
Currently in Montana, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates that 8 million acres are affected by noxious weeds at a varying cost of up to $40 per acre. The BLM estimates this acreage is currently growing at a rate of 5% per year.
A Washington State Department of Agriculture research group estimates that the direct economic impact of invasive species on the livestock industry is estimated to be $120.1 million annually.
Continue reading this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Farm Bureau Marks National Small Business Week
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is opening online applications for its fourth Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge May 1 to coincide with National Small Business Week (April 30-May 6). Entrepreneurs will compete for $145,000 in startup funds.
The competition provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations that benefit rural regions of the United States. It is the first national rural business competition focused exclusively on innovative entrepreneurs working on food and agriculture businesses.
Competitors are invited to submit for-profit business ideas related to food and agriculture online starting May 1 at www.strongruralamerica.com/challenge.
Businesses related to food and agriculture include farms or ranches, value-added food processing, food hubs, community-supported agriculture programs, farm-to-table restaurants, farmers’ markets and craft beverage startups. Businesses can also support food and agriculture such as crop scouting, agritourism, ag advertising agencies and ag technology companies.
“Rural entrepreneurs typically face hurdles that make it challenging to develop successful businesses, including lack of capital, business networks and business training,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.
View the full Farm Bureau new s release online.
Kansas City is First Stop For New Agricultural Secretary
In his first public appearance outside of Washington D.C., since his Senate confirmation earlier last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was welcomed by more than 450 Missouri and Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusiness men and women at a town hall meeting at the American Royal April 28. The event was hosted by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City.
Perdue said agriculture is the most productive sector of the U.S. economy, and although it is going through a difficult stretch at the moment, he offered an optimistic outlook: “The sun is shining above the clouds.”
As a footnote to his comments about being sworn in as secretary by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Perdue said his oath was also a pledge to do the best job he can.
“What I do reflects on you, and what you do reflects on me,” he told the farmers and ranchers. “Let’s be a family, do things right and feed everyone.”
Describing agriculture as a noble profession, Perdue went on to describe the pride he felt to be part of an occupation responsible “for the actual sustenance of the world.”
For more information, read the news release online.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation
Lending Rates for May 2017
The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation May 1 announced interest rates for May 2017. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for May is 1.000%, unchanged from 1.000% in April.
The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during May is 2.000%, unchanged from 2.000% in April.
Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for May are as follows, 1.500% with three-year loan terms, down from 1.625% in April; 1.875% with five-year loan terms, down from 2.000% in April; 2.125% with seven-year loan terms, down from 2.250% in April; 2.375% with 10-year loan terms, down from 2.500% in April and; 2.375% with 12-year loan terms, down from 2.500% in April. The interest rate for 15-year Sugar Storage Facility Loans for May is 2.500%, down from 2.625% in April.
Further program information is available from USDA Farm Service Agency’s Financial Management Division at 202-772-6041.
Georgia Beef Producers to Vote on
Georgia Beef Commission Check Off
The Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Beef was established at the request of Georgia cattlemen in 2014 by the Georgia Legislature. Georgia beef producers voted to approve a marketing order to establish a $1 per head assessment on all cattle sold in Georgia for beef with a value over $100. It is required that the market order be voted on every three years for continuation.
The voting for the renewal of the assessment will take place from May 1 to May 30. Beef producers should receive a ballot in the mail. If a beef producer does not receive a ballot by May 10; please call 1-855-327-6829. In order for the ballot to be considered eligible, the back of the envelope has to be completely filled out and signed. Ballots must be postmarked by May 30.
Funds from the assessments are used to fund research, education and promotion projects for the Georgia cattle producers. The marketing order includes beef and dairy breeds sold for use of beef. In the three years since the assessment began, more than $1,000,000 was committed to research projects with the University of Georgia and in-state education and promotions that impact producers in Georgia.
Learn more in the full news release online.
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