Business/Farm

Insurance quote for building higher than expected

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Initial estimates for insuring the city-owned Hillsboro Business Development Complex came in higher than hoped, prompting the Hillsboro City Council to ask at its April 3 meeting to see higher deductibles in order to lower the premium.

With council support, Mayor Delores Dalke had asked IMA, the city?s insurance provider, to bring prices to the meeting because the structure has been uninsured since the city purchased it from Dairy Farmers of America about seven years ago.

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Two new floral, plant stores open in Marion

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Tamara Christensen (left photo) of Plantations, and Denise Matz (left in right photo) and Wendy Youk of Aunt Bee?s are enthused about their new ventures. Plantations focuses on floral art while Aunt Bee?s emphasizes landscaping needs. Click to enlarge.

With the arrival of spring, two new horticulture businesses have sprouted in Marion?s retail business district.

Plantations, owned and operated by Tamara Christiansen at 420 E. Main, celebrated its grand opening March 21.

Aunt Bee?s Floral, Garden Center & Gifts, owned and operated by Wendy Youk, is having its grand opening today, April 4, at 1201 E. Main.

DCP signup deadline is Aug. 3

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The signup deadline for producers enrolling in the the 2007 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program has been extended to Aug. 3.

The extension of time is being offered due to issues involving the recent ineffective performance of the Farm Service Agency?s Web-based computer system.

Programs enable FSA to assist Kansas agriculture producers

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The mission of the Farm Service Agency is to help ensure the well being of Amer?ican agriculture. In Kansas, this mission is being fulfilled through the administration of more than 20 various programs and direct benefits that serve the state?s farmers and ranchers.

FSA farm loan programs are an important source of credit to family farmers unable to obtain credit from conventional sources at reasonable rates and terms. Kansas FSA county offices approved 907 farm operating, ownership, and emergency type loans totaling to $89,002,542.

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Rain is critical component for 2007 crops prospects

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You can make the case that things don?t look too bad for crops in Marion County this year, but all questions are overshadowed by the top issue that has dominated local farming throughout this decade?we need rain and we need it badly.

Marion County Extension Agent Rickey Roberts said top soil moisture is close to adequate now, ?But we just don?t have much subsoil moisture yet. A lot of the snow we got ran off, the ground was so frozen. We didn?t get all of that moisture because it couldn?t penetrate, didn?t infiltrate. It helped. A little of it went into ponds, which we really needed.

Farmers wanting CCC loans can seek FSA help

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Commodity Credit Corpora­tion (CCC) loan programs are a tool for producers to acquire grain financing by providing price guarantees with low-cost interest operating capital for their farming operations.

Nine-month term loans can be obtained by eligible producers for grains that are stored on the farm or in warehouse elevator facilities.

Producers interested in obtaining a farm-stored type loan must review and agree to specific Kansas farm-stored loan policies.