Farmers need the ability to see what is not yet within view

Written by John Schlageck / Kansas Farm burea. Wednesday, 31 October 2007 12:53

Those who are farmers or dream of being farmers must have a willingness to see it, not as it is, but as it will be. For them, farming is more than a way of life and many consider it to be the Promised Land, which cannot be entered except by those who have a deep, committed faith.

Many Kansans have written about our state and the men and women who till the soil. Some of the more famous authors include William Allen White, Karl Menninger, Milton Eisen­hower and Kenneth Wiggins Porter to name just a few.

One author, not as well known, but every bit as knowledgeable who wrote about agriculture and the people who live in rural Kansas was Myrtle H. Richardson. This native Kansan wrote several books about her home of Edwards County. One of...

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FSA announces it has DCP money for CRP participants

Written by Bill Harmon /Farm Service Agency Wednesday, 31 October 2007 12:47

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency has computed about $4 billion in final 2007 direct payments that can be issued to producers with base acres enrolled in the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program.

USDA also will distribute about $1.8 billion in Conserva­tion Reserve Program rental payments to participants across the country for fiscal year 2008, which began Oct. 1.

To receive direct payments, producers with base acres must be enrolled in the DCP for an eligible commodity for the respective program year.

Direct-type payments are guaranteed and paid to all enrolled DCP contract share producers. Direct payments are tied to historical acreage bases and yields established for a farm, rather than the current...

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4-H club notes

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Wednesday, 31 October 2007 12:45

South Cottonwood Club

This month’s meeting was attended by 12 members, nine parents and guests, and three tag-a-longs. The meeting was at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church for 4-H Sunday.

The club received a check from the Arts & Crafts Fair for trash pickup. There was a junior leader meeting after the club meeting and parents and members signed up for club committees.

Achievement Night is at 6 p.m., Nov. 2 in the Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church.

For new business, one item was deciding on this year’s meetings and time. We voted to have the meetings on the second Sunday of every month at 7 p.m.

The club also will buy a subscription from Hutchinson News for the people of Salem Home.

There was the installation of...

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USDA offers additional aid for past crop disaster losses

Written by Bill Harmon /Farm Service Agency Wednesday, 31 October 2007 12:44

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency is allowing eligible farmers who suffered quantity losses to their crops in the years 2005-07 to enroll in a federal Crop Disaster Program.

A special enrollment to address quality losses under CDP will be conducted at a later date.

CDP provides payment benefits to farmers who suffered losses to 2005-07 crops from natural disasters such as drought, flooding, freezes and related conditions so long as the actual crop lost was planted or prevented from being planted before Feb. 28, 2007.

Producers can choose only one year to receive benefits. Producers may apply for benefits for losses to multiple crops as long as losses occurred in the same crop year.

Only producers who...

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New disaster money available for farmers

Written by Bill Harmon /Farm Service Agency Wednesday, 10 October 2007 10:17

Farm Service Agency

Eligible ranchers and other livestock producers can apply to receive benefits under the new Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

These ad hoc disaster programs provide benefits to farmers and ranchers who suffered losses caused by natural disasters in recent years.

Between 2005 and early 2007, agricultural producers across the country experienced financial difficulties as the result of devastating drought, floods, blizzards, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

The LCP provides benefits to livestock producers for feed losses occurring between Jan.1, 2005, and Feb. 28, 2007, due to a natural disaster—including producers who suffered losses resulting from blizzards that...

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