Ag News Roundup: February 2015
Read more on the Farm Credit newsroom
By Karen Macdonald
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced multiple financial aid programs to support agriculture and rural America. Among the available funds are $160 million to support food and agriculture research, education and extension, $16 million to support food production and increase food security, and $14 million to support economic growth in rural communities. USDA also announced several programs to support under-served groups, including $18 million in grants to train beginning farmers and ranchers, and $9 million to help socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and farmer veterans.
USDA wasn’t the only organization sharing money with rural communities: the $154.5 million Farm Credit-funded Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners fund, formed through the USDA Rural Business Investment Program, made its first loan to an egg production company in Iowa.
Also in the news in February:
Ag Economy and Land Values
- Agricultural economy expected to sputter – Agri News
- U.S. farmers may see 32% drop in net income – AgriNews
- U.S. Corn Belt farmland values down 3 pct in 2014, first fall since 1986 - Chicago Fed – Yahoo! Finance
- U.S. farmers turn to equipment leases to cope with profit slump – Yahoo! Finance
- Agribusiness ETFs: Commodity Slump Pressures Farmers – Yahoo! Finance
- Securing Your Farm’s Financial Future – Foster Folly News
Technology
- Ag Sec'y, Agribusiness Execs Discuss New Technologies, Opportunities – Agri Marketing
- 13 Fascinating Farming Robots That Will Feed Our Future – Gizmodo
- The Future of Agriculture? Smart Farming – Forbes.com
- Gov’t proposes rules for routine commercial use of drones – The Washington Post
- Farmers disappointed by restrictions in proposed drone rules – Agweek
- New guidelines for handling farm data – Farm Industry News
Policy
- Ag groups rally as cuts eyed to food stamp and insurance programs – Agweek
- Bill promotes profitable agriculture, abundant wildlife – Agweek
- Much needed reform to sugar program reintroduced – Examiner.com
- Obama's crop insurance changes unlikely – Agriculture.com
Farm Credit in the News
- Farm Credit points to ‘soft landing’ for farmland prices – North Platte Bulletin
- AgSouth joins program to help beginning farmers – Statesboro Herald (AP)
- Colonial Farm Credit Honored with Phelps-Martin Award for Community Service – San Antonio Express-News
- FFA Wins the Farm Credit Mid-America Farm Credit's "299 Ways to Say Thanks" Campaign –Agri Marketing
- Omaha's best places to work are... – Omaha.com
- Best Places to Work in Kentucky winners announced – Lane Report
- Bee Research To Receive $100,000 Contribution From CoBank and American AgCredit –CoBank
- Get ready for your first farm loan, part 2 – Examiner.com
