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USDAHomeLoans Posts - Page 1 - 29 Jul 2016 21:16

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[[html]]<img src="https://www.farmloans.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Alabama-Farm-Loans-5.jpg" width="290" /><br><br>Posts relating to USDAHomeLoans (0-5 of 5) ( 0.003 seconds )<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IaDWxL2wxIU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IaDWxL2wxIU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>Usda Home Loans - Big Changes<br><br>By: Steve Jeppesen | Sep 29th 2011 - Two major changes are being made to the USDA home loans program as of October 1st. 1st, mortgage insurance will be required for USDA home loans as of October 1st for the first time. Mortgage insurance was not required in the past. 2nd, USDA eligibility maps that show areas eligible for USDA home loans will be changed.<br><br>Tags: Home Loans, Mortgage Loans, USDA Home Loans, USDA Mortgage, No Money Down Home LoansAre Usda Home Loans Really No Down Payment?<br><br>By: Steve Jeppesen | Aug 27th 2011 - You really want to buy a home, but you don't have the money for a down payment. What can you do? The 20% down and high credit score required by conventional lenders is just too much for you. That's not going to happen for you. Getting that 20% through saving or any other way it just not going to happen.<br><br>Tags: No Money Down Mortgage, No Money Down Home Loan, USDA Home Loans, USDA MortgageCommon Questions About Usda Home Loans<br><br>By: Steve Jeppesen | Aug 3rd 2011 - USDA Homes Loans can be especially attractive to home buyers living in eligible towns and counties. Surprisingly, eligible homes are available outside or agricultural areas. Check with a USDA home loan lender for more information and changes because requirements and rate change regularly.<br><br>Tags: USDA Home Loans, USDA Mortgage, No Money Down Loans, 100 Loans, USDA Loans, 100 MortgageUsda Home Loans - 100% Financing Rural Home Loans For You!<br><br>By: Al Hardy | Aug 11th 2010 - The USDA Home Loan is great for people with average to good credit and good employment history but does not have any savings for a down payment. With the very low interest rates, no down payment, and seller paying the closing costs, USDA Home Loans could be the best deal in the mortgage market and help people like you buy t … <br><br>Tags: USDA home loans, rural home loans, USDA Rural Home Loan Program, USDA Rural Home Loans, USDA Home LoanRural Home Loans Are The No Down Payment Usda Home Loans!<br><br>By: Al Hardy | Jul 30th 2010 - This article only provides a brief description of the USDA Rural Home Loans Program. You need to get more information to see if you qualified and if you live or the area you want to buy a home is in a property eligible area. This is a great way and may also be the only way you can buy your dream home!<br><br>Tags: rural home loans, usda home loans, usda home loan program, usda rural home loans, fha mortgage loans<br><br>[1]&amp;raquo<br><br>Site Navigation:<br><br>ArticleSnatch Authors:<br><br>For Publishers:<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/skeCQ7-e-gQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/skeCQ7-e-gQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>For Everyone:<br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.agricorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Farm-Loans-Pakistan.jpg" width="328" /><br><br><a href='http://www.articlesnatch.com/topic/USDAHomeLoans'>http://www.articlesnatch.com/topic/USDAHomeLoans</a>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Top 20 Agriculture Blogs - 29 Jul 2016 20:28

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[[html]]The following blogs provide useful information and insightful commentary on agricultural issues and topics. We selected them based on their great content and recommendations from other bloggers.<br><br><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-533" title="top-agriculture-blogs" src="http://www.seametrics.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/top-agriculture-blogs.png" alt="top agriculture blogs" width="275" height="184" /><br><br>Small Farm Central Blog<br><br>Small Farm Central has a great weekly blog that includes a number of helpful hints for those that run smaller farms - especially about marketing and e-commerce.<br><br>Soil Doctor's Blog<br><br>Agricultural consultant Brent Rouppet, Ph.D., blogs with a particular interest in soil science, agricultural, and scientific news.<br><br>Agricultural Entrepreneurship<br><br>Great information for Agriculture entrepreneurs about marketing, economics and news in the agriculture industry.<br><br>Machinery Chatter<br><br>Jim Patrico, Progressive Farmer Senior Editor, uses this blog about farming machinery to keep you abreast of new products, recalls, and more.<br><br>AgWired<br><br>AgWired is a very informative site/blog which focuses on what's new in the world of agribusiness and agriculture marketing.<br><br>47 Japanese Farms<br><br>Two Americans living in Japan document their experience working on farms throughout Japan with the goal of working in all 47 Japanese states.<br><br>Agricultural Biodiversity<br><br>Separated by half a world but united by their passion for agricultural biodiversity and the internet, Luigi Guarino and Jeremy Cherfas created this blog to collect and discuss all things related to the notion of agricultural biodiversity.<br><br>Production Blog<br><br>Dan Davidson, DTN Contributing Agronomist, blogs about agronomy and crop production for growers and dispenses timely advice on production practices and decisions.<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tBg59f4KvnA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tBg59f4KvnA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>Alex Tiller's Blog on Agriculture and Farming<br><br>Alex Tiller is a member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and also an agribusiness author/blogger. His excellent blog covers commercial farming, family farms, organic food production, sustainable agriculture, the local food movement, alternative renewable energy, hydroponics, agribusiness, farm entrepreneurship, farm economics and farm policy.<br><br>Farm Policy<br><br>Farmpolicy.com is a comprehensive site that closely follows federal-level farming policies and provides summaries that are helpful for non-lawyers.<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ln35xTALPIQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ln35xTALPIQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>Farmgateblog.com<br><br>Farmgateblog is an excellent place to go to find integrated information across a variety of disciplines, including crop and animal sciences, ag economics, ag engineering and agricultural policy.<br><br>Big Picture Agriculture<br><br>This blog from Kay McDonald, an independent agricultural researcher, aims to be your one-stop agricultural news source with continually updated news about agriculture, sustainability, energy, macroeconomics and weather.<br><br>RealAgriculture<br><br>RealAgriculture is a solid agriculture blog/news feed focused on "getting you the opinions on the issues so that you not only get the news but the insight into what the news means to your business."<br><br>Organic Farming Blog<br><br>This blog was created for people with a passion for farming the organic way and for those wanting to learn.<br><br>National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Blog<br><br>This blog from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition of Sustainable provides agriculture news about advocacy and policies relating to farm, food, and environmental issues, appropriations, and implementation.<br><br>The Social Silo<br><br>This interesting blog seeks to foster communication between farmers and nonfarmers, to share different perspectives, "to make us all think and grow a little".<br><br>Think Forward Blog<br><br>This blog is written by the staff of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy covering sustainability as it intersects with food, rural development, international trade, the environment and public health.<br><br>Ag on the Forefront<br><br>This blog from agricultural advocate Kelsey Pope is about keeping agriculture on the forefront and advocating for those that keep the livestock and grain industry healthy.<br><br>Advocates for Agriculture<br><br>Troy and Stacy Hadrick are fifth generation ranchers who travel the country to spread the positive story of agriculture and blog about the issues and news affecting farmers and ranchers.<br><br>Farmer Bloggers<br><br>Farmer Bloggers brings together several farmers to tell their stories and discuss topics in agriculture and farm life. <br><br>Add the badge to your site:<br><br><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-535" title="top-agriculture-blog" src="http://www.seametrics.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/top-agriculture-blog.png" alt="top agriculture blog" width="150" height="100" /><br><br>Copy and Paste the following code to put the above badge on your site: <img src="http://www.seametrics.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/top-agriculture-blog.png" /><br><br><img src="http://www.farmloans.com/wp-content/uploads/Napa_Valley-1024x349.jpg" width="333" /><br><br>More Recommended Agriculture Blogs<br><br>Blogriculture<br><br>This blog, from the folks at Capital Press, cover all things agriculture on the west coast (California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho).<br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.carolinafarmcredit.com/CarolinaFarmCredit/media/Media/Home/farm-loans.jpg" width="342" /><br><br>The FBlog, from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, contains opinions and perspectives of some of the nation's top producers. It is intended for the public as a whole to learn more about and discuss with producers today's leading agricultural topics.<br><br>Ag Policy Blog<br><br>Chris Clayton, DTN Ag Policy Editor, blogs about a wide variety of agricultural policy related topics.<br><br>Above Capricorn<br><br>This is a great blog from an agricultural scientist ("Peter H") with strong interests in cropping, land, water, wastewater, seed science and technology, and weed ecology.<br><br>If you would like to suggest an agriculture blog for this list, please email moc.scirtemaeS|SselrahC#moc.scirtemaeS|SselrahC.<br><br>See also Top 50 Farm Blogs<br><br><a href='http://www.seametrics.com/blog/top-agriculture-blogs/'>http://www.seametrics.com/blog/top-agriculture-blogs/</a>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Fremont sued over actions taken to aid Costco chicken plant - 29 Jul 2016 20:27

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[[html]]Fremont sued over actions taken to aid Costco chicken plant<br><br>FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — A citizens group has sued the city of Fremont over actions taken to help Costco Wholesale build a chicken processing plant in the eastern Nebraska community.<br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63OCACOR2qs/TW4grEJCNZI/AAAAAAAAAS8/FMupbC8Ao98/s320/farm%2Bloans.jpg" width="313" /><br><br>The lawsuit was filed Monday in Dodge County District Court by Nebraska Communities United on behalf of three Fremont residents. It alleges that the city illegally declared nearly 1,000 acres — including around 400 acres of farmland — to be substandard and blighted so tax-increment financing could be used for property improvements the plant needs.<br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/fsa_resources/images/spotlights/microloans_spot.png" width="283" /><br><br>Tax-increment financing uses the increased property taxes generated by developments to pay off bonds issued to pay for improvements.<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZiZs-r2WlzI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZiZs-r2WlzI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>"The city of Fremont is trying to sidestep state laws and declare perfectly good agricultural land as blighted and substandard, and it needs to be stopped," said John Schauer, a local farmer and member of the citizens group.<br><br>The interim city administrator, Brian Newton, said Tuesday that the city hadn't yet seen the lawsuit.<br><br>"Of course, we'll vigorously defend any action against us," Newton said. City officials and attorneys believe the city correctly followed Nebraska statutes, he said.<br><br>Costco and Georgia-based Lincoln premium Poultry have said the plant would employ up to 1,100 people, and area farmers would grow the chickens in about 400 barns for Costco.<br><br>Opponents have raised concerns about corporate livestock ownership, the potential for diseases such as avian flu and the potential impact on schools, housing and roads. Earlier this year, the Nickerson Village Board voted against the plant being built between Nickerson and Fremont.<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rx8476ApkHo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rx8476ApkHo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>Nebraska Communities United said it was formed to keep area residents aware of developments about Costco's plans.<br><br><a href='http://markets.cbsnews.com/Fremont-sued-over-actions-taken-to-aid-Costco-chicken-plant/691cbad63a98027f/'>http://markets.cbsnews.com/Fremont-sued-over-actions-taken-to-aid-Costco-chicken-plant/691cbad63a98027f/</a>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

"carbon Services Pakistan" - 29 Jul 2016 20:14

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[[html]]Carbon Services is a specialized consulting enterprise which provides finance and consulting services for Pakistani enterprises, in close cooperation with foreign governments and enterprises in Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction field. <br><br>Carbon Services has devoted great efforts in the development and application of CDM projects in the field of energy efficiency in cement, sugar, paper &amp; pulp, iron &amp; steel plant, hydroelectric and wind power, biomass energy, gas leakage reduction, associated gas utilization, coal methane gas utilization, and so on. Carbon Services has already developed more than 15 CDM projects in Pakistan. <br><br>Carbon Services partners with world renowned CDM experts Factor AG from Switzerland and 3C from Germany. Both these international partners are well known in the CDM arena, and have experiences in Carbon Markets and in the field of climate change. We have a worldwide team of elite and professional environmental engineers and carbon finance experts, consisting of highly professional PDD developers, methodology experts, renewable technology experts and senior advisors from the UNFCCC Methodology Panel. <br><br>Carbon Services has acquired significant advantages in PDD developing process and the validation for DOE. Carbon Services is capable of the whole package of CDM services as the selection and identification of CDM projects, assisting Pakistani Enterprises to sign Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) with international buyers, assisting Pakistani enterprises to finish the application for host Country DNA Approval, the validation for DOE and the registration in the Executive Broad of UNFCCC, finally to the issuance of the Certified Emission Reduction.<br><br>Besides CDM projects, Carbon Services is engaged in VER project development also. Carbon Services is capable of providing all the services during the VER trading for both foreign enterprises and Pakistani project owners in a flexible way. <br><br>Sectors targeted by our technology<br><br>o Afforestation and reforestation<br><br>o Agriculture<br><br>o Biogas<br><br>o Biomass energy<br><br>o Cement<br><br>o Coal Bed/Mine Methane<br><br>o Energy distribution<br><br>o energy efficiency - Households<br><br>o energy efficiency - Industry<br><br>o energy efficiency - Own Generation<br><br>o energy efficiency - Service<br><br>o energy efficiency - Supply side<br><br>o Fossil Fuel Switch<br><br>o Fugitive<br><br>o Geothermal<br><br>o HFCs<br><br>o Hydro power<br><br>o Landfill gas<br><br>o N20<br><br>o PFCs<br><br>o solar power<br><br>o Tidal power<br><br>o Transport<br><br>o Wind power<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Purbehp5VR0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Purbehp5VR0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>Services we provide<br><br>o Project identification and screening<br><br>o Feasibility study<br><br>o Business plan development<br><br>o Assistance with preparation of Project Idea Note (PIN)<br><br>o Project risk analysis and management<br><br>o Financial services<br><br>o Due diligence services<br><br>o New methodology development<br><br>o Baseline development<br><br>o Assisting registration and issuance process<br><br>o Training<br><br>o Assistance with preparation of Project Design Document (PDD)<br><br>o Carbon market analysis<br><br>o Carbon credit procurement<br><br>o Carbon credit sales and marketing<br><br>o Commercial advisory<br><br>o Legal advisory<br><br>o Contractual arrangements<br><br>o Emission Reductions Purchase Agreement negotiations<br><br>o Monitoring of project activity<br><br>Contact: Omar Malik<br><br>Carbon Services Pakistan<br><br>Limited, 2nd Floor, Al Maalik, 19 Davis Road, Lahore, Pakistan<br><br><img src="http://c1738802.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/farm-credit-ss.jpg" width="343" /><br><br>By: omar malik<br><br>Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com<br><br><a href='http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Carbon-Services-Pakistan/523153'>http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Carbon-Services-Pakistan/523153</a>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Black Farmers Take Mule, Tractors to D.C. - 29 Jul 2016 16:56

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[[html]]When John Boyd is not tending to his chickens, tobacco, grain and cattle at home in Mecklenberg County, Va., he's often working at his other job — fighting for the survival of the disappearing American black farmer.<br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="https://www.farmloans.com/wp-content/uploads/Minnesota-Farm-Financing-Farm-Loans.jpg" width="293" /><br><br>His crusade might have ended three years ago when a class of black farmers settled with the federal government in what was widely considered a milestone civil rights lawsuit. But the 1999 settlement was not the lifeline many struggling farmers thought it would be.<br><br>Thousands have had their claims rejected, payments are slow in coming, and as black farmers struggle to pay bills and stay in business, their numbers continue to dwindle.<br><br>Boyd, also the head of the National Black Farmers Association, led the charge of 60 other black farmers who came in buses and trucks from as far away as Mississippi — along with two tractors, two goats and a mule — on Thursday to Washington, D.C., where they protested in front of the U.S. Department of Agriculture building. The farmers demanded a moratorium on foreclosures, a speedier payment system under the 1999 settlement, and an end to the discriminatory lending practices they say continue.<br><br>"We are bringing our mules and livestock so people will see the lives they are affecting," Boyd said in an interview before the rally. "We're going to turn them loose in Washington because they're taking our farms. We don't have anywhere to put them."<br><br>For sure, American farmers of all races have decreased in number over the years, but none as dramatically as black farmers, who now comprise only 1 percent of the nation's nearly two million farmers, according to U.S. Census figures.<br><br>Blacks' first occupation in America was farming, Boyd pointed out. "It's going to be the first occupation to become extinct for black people," he added.<br><br>From Victory to Red Tape<br><br>As black farmers see it, the culprit in their struggles has roots as deep as their connection to the land: discrimination. When thousands of farmers joined the class-action lawsuit against the USDA in 1997, they claimed that years of racial bias kept them from getting many of the crucial government loans and subsidies that go primarily to white farmers.<br><br>Two years later, when the USDA agreed to settle the case, the agency under then-President Bill Clinton admitted that discrimination against black farmers spanned decades. Under the terms of the settlement, every black farmer who suffered discrimination would have debts forgiven, receive $50,000 tax-free, and get priority for new loans.<br><br>But the deal was not that simple.<br><br>Black farmers did not automatically qualify for payments, they had to submit claims to independent reviewers outside the USDA. Many have been rejected, thousands missed filing deadlines, and others say their claims are not processed fast enough.<br><br>So far, the government has paid 12,597 farmers more than $629 million in claims and has forgiven at least $17.2 million in outstanding loans, according to USDA statistics.<br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://kwes.images.worldnow.com/images/8019981_G.jpg" width="254" /><br><br>Under a consent decree, there were two tracks for the farmers' claims. Those who choose Track A must prove they tried and failed to borrow money between 1981 and 1996, that they had filed a complaint about their loan denial, and that white farmers in similar situations received loan money. Most of the approximately 22,000 farmers in the class chose this option, believing they could easily satisfy requirements.<br><br>USDA: We're Trying to Help<br><br>As it turned out, thousands more farmers than anticipated filed claims, making their lawyers' work more cumbersome, and records of the USDA and white farmers were difficult to come by. Further, the USDA challenged nearly every claim that came in.<br><br>Complicating matters even further, the black farmers grew disenchanted with their lawyers and are trying to have one removed as their counsel. In a sign of how the class-action suit got off track, the lead plaintiff withdrew from the case.<br><br>Of the farmers who filed Track A claims, 8,490 lost.<br><br>Those farmers who took the slower option, Track B, to prove more grave discrimination, have had an even worse track record. Of 181 farmers, about 50 have settled out of court, but the USDA has won 15 of 25 cases it has tried before an adjudicator and is appealing nine of the 10 it lost.<br><br>More cases are pending, and the USDA says it is working to help expedite the farmers' claims as quickly as possible, although the agency points out that the court-appointed reviewers are not under the USDA's control.<br><br>"We are looking for ways that we can speed up the claims process even more," said USDA press secretary Alisa Harrison.<br><br>Farmers Say Bias Continues<br><br>As if the hassle over the 1999 settlement was not bad enough, black farmers say they still face the kind of discrimination that inspired the lawsuit in the first place. Many local farm agency workers who discriminated against black farmers are still in their jobs, or just shifted to another office, they say.<br><br>Gary Grant, another black farmer-turned-activist in Tillery, N.C., describes a biased system that takes three times as long to process loan applications from black farmers as from whites. The longer a farmer goes without needed loan money, the more time passes before he can plant seeds or do other critical work.<br><br>Of course, a slow loan is better than none at all. When black farmers are consistently rejected for loans, it makes it even more difficult to get loans in the future, he said.<br><br>"If you have not loaned me money in five years, you have notified all creditors that you are foreclosing on me and I have to operate the farm the best way I can to feed my family, why would I have a positive cash flow [to qualify for a loan]?" Grant said. "It's your fault I don't have it."<br><br>When black farmers are approved for loans, it is often for less money to operate the same acreage as whites, Grant said. Further, blacks are often approved for "supervised status" loans, he said, which means the money does not go directly into a checking account.<br><br>Under a supervised loan, each time the farmer needs money he must leave his operation and go to the local farm agency with an estimate of what he needs to request a check. That can take a farmer away from his land all day — an expensive loss of time.<br><br>Young Generation Rejects Farming<br><br>It's no wonder that the average age of the black farmer is 60 years old, Grant said. The next generation is turning away from farming, and Grant can't blame them. "If you had to witness your parents going through what the USDA put their parents through, would you?" he said. "Why would you want everything being done to prevent you from making a living?"<br><br>Grant watched his own parents, Matthew and Florenza, struggle through 44 years of farming their land — first with discrimination, then with the federal government. Both of his parents died before they saw money from their discrimination claim. "We say the USDA killed them," Grant said.<br><br>Grant, the head of the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association, did not attend Thursday's rally, but led his own sit-in with 300 farmers last July in a Brownsville, Tenn., USDA office. Grant hopes to convince Congress to establish a lending agency specifically for black farm borrowers.<br><br>Later that month, Grant and other farmers met with President Bush's Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman in Washington, but said not one of the issues they discussed has been settled yet.<br><br>After the meeting, Veneman said: "Let me assure you of my personal commitment to ensuring dignity, respect and fairness throughout this Department and to all the constituents we serve. If something is wrong, we need to fix it. If our employees need more training, then we intend to give it to them. If we need to help cut the red tape and bureaucracy to better serve our constituents, then we intend to do it."<br><br>Veneman's spokeswoman said the USDA has continued working toward settling outstanding issues with black farmers.<br><br>"We have been meeting regularly with various black farmers organizations over the last 18 months," Harrison said. "Some have been productive, and we're making progress on a lot of issues. The secretary's priority is to find a continued dialogue and find those areas where we can find common ground."<br><br><a href='http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=91349'>http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=91349</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

what is rural development? | Yahoo Answers - 29 Jul 2016 16:49

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[[html]]The Rural Development Service (RDS) is part of the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). RDS was created in 2001, when the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency merged with the then Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food's regional service centres. <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.agricorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Farm-Loans-Pakistan.jpg" width="328" /><br><br>The RDS is charged with the implementation of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), as well as a range of other rural services, placing the agency at the forefront of change in rural areas. The RDS employs 1,500 staff in eight regions, working with rural partners and local people to improve the environment, promote the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity and develop stronger rural economies and communities. <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.bloomberg.com/image/iwlLC9ragZ7w.jpg" width="322" /><br><br>Following a review by Lord Haskins, enacted in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities 2006 in March 2006, parts of the RDS are set to be integrated with English Nature and parts of the Countryside Agency from 1 October 2006 to form Natural England, with the remaining parts becoming the Commission for Rural Communities. <br><br><a href='https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060626022306AA3CT0i'>https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060626022306AA3CT0i</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

U.S. seek options as farm loan funds run out of cash | Reuters - 29 Jul 2016 16:15

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[[html]]CHICAGO The U.S. government's $2.65 billion operating loan program to help farmers keep their businesses going has already run out of cash, as requests for federal financial assistance grow amid the worst agricultural downturn in more than a decade, U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday.<br><br>As a result, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking for other money sources "to help bridge the gap in farm operating loans as much as possible until additional funds are made available, either this year or in the next fiscal year," the agency said.<br><br>The agency declined to say what other funding it was hoping to leverage for assistance. <br><br>Such FSA loan guarantees and direct loans are often considered to be loans of last resort, say banking experts. Without the financial support, some farmers may struggle to survive until the next cash injection in the fall, say rural economy experts.<br><br>Last month, the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) told Reuters it had expected funding for these loans or guarantees to be depleted before the program restarts Oct. 1. <br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rx8476ApkHo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rx8476ApkHo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>As the rural sector struggles with low commodity prices and mounting trade competition, U.S. grain farmers are increasingly relying on the FSA for loan assistance. Agricultural lenders, too, are turning to the agency to help guarantee the loans they are issuing to farmers - whether for operational or real estate needs.<br><br>Even with the operational loan program funding depleted, the applications from farmers and the bankers who back them continue to grow.<br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="https://www.tremontbank.com/images/banners/farmloanbannerad.jpg" width="334" /><br><br>"At this time, there are already tens of millions (of dollars) in backlog in Direct and Guaranteed operating loan accounts, and that number is expected to increase through the end of the fiscal year," the FSA said in an email.<br><br>EMERGENCY FUNDS<br><br>Last month, the FSA said it let Congress know it was tapping into $500 million in emergency funding to bolster a related program: its $2 billion guaranteed farm ownership loan program.<br><br>Such emergency funding options do not exist for the agency's operating loan programs, the agency added.<br><br>Altogether, the FSA's Farm Loan Programs are currently servicing or guaranteeing to cover operating costs and purchase or refinance farm property for more than 113,000 borrowers, totaling nearly $23 billion.<br><br>In the past, such lending typically focused on smaller or new farmers with fewer resources. But as economic erosion continues to squeeze Midwest farmers and pressure farmland values, a growing number of agricultural lenders are turning to the federal government, FSA staff said.<br><br>(Reporting By P.J. Huffstutter)<br><br><a href='http://in.reuters.com/article/us-usda-loans-farmers-idINKCN1052C9'>http://in.reuters.com/article/us-usda-loans-farmers-idINKCN1052C9</a>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Homes: What you can buy for $50,000 or less - 29 Jul 2016 16:10

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[[html]]<img src="http://cbsnews2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2014/11/13/c494b58e-34e1-413a-9744-a5c24fe445d2/resize/620x465/17566070844e93f7082ab56796abba36/what-can-you-buy-50k-tampa-zillow.jpg" alt="" srcset="http://cbsnews2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2014/11/13/c494b58e-34e1-413a-9744-a5c24fe445d2/resize/620x465/17566070844e93f7082ab56796abba36/what-can-you-buy-50k-tampa-zillow.jpg 1x, http://cbsnews3.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2014/11/13/c494b58e-34e1-413a-9744-a5c24fe445d2/resize/1240x930/3adfbf4062ade922114d9f25740d8a6c/what-can-you-buy-50k-tampa-zillow.jpg 2x"/><br><br>Photo courtesy of Zillow<br><br>Fifty-thousand dollars can still buy you a decent fixer-upper, but it's really going to depend on where you look — and how much sweat equity you want to put in.<br><br>Some problems — like broken fixtures, minor water damage or paint chipping — can be fixed with a little extra cash and elbow grease. There are plenty of these homes on the market at low price points that could be great starter homes or investment properties for the right buyer.<br><br>In Indianapolis, $50,000 will get you a three-bedroom ranch house with a deck and an updated kitchen. That same amount will buy a five-bedroom historic Detroit home with a mother-in-law suite. Older adults could head to San Diego's Leisureland community of prefabricated homes where $50,000 (and some pricey homeowners' fees) will buy two-bedrooms, a master bath and access to a swimming pool.<br><br>But other problems are outside any homebuyers' control. A sub-par school district, heavy crime or limited transportation access could sink a property's value even more over time. If it comes down to a choice between making some repairs and taking a gamble on your neighborhood, the old adage "location, location, location" won't steer you wrong.<br><br>Build a team of experts that are familiar with the local market before taking the plunge on a property. A good real estate attorney, agent or broker and especially a good home inspector can help make sure you don't get stuck with a less-than-ideal house, an underwater mortgage or a pile of legal concerns. <br><br>Here are 10 homes you can buy for $50,000 or less.<br><br><img src="http://www.farmloans.com/wp-content/uploads/Napa_Valley-1024x349.jpg" width="333" /><br><br>This is part of a series that looks at what type of house and amenities you can get at particular price points in various locations across the U.S. Be sure to check out a few of the other posts in the series: <br><br><a href='http://www.cbsnews.com/media/homes-what-you-can-buy-for-50000-or-less/'>http://www.cbsnews.com/media/homes-what-you-can-buy-for-50000-or-less/</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Are there grants for starting a farm? - 16 Jul 2016 22:12

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[[html]]There are no grants available to help anyone start a farm, but there are a number of loans you can avail of to help you start a farm. In fact, most of the grants listed at the Catalog of Federal Government Assistance CFDA http://www.cfda.gov — a government site that lists ALL the government grants — are for farm loans. <br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DCcoRqda4cU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DCcoRqda4cU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>Here are the grants available for agriculture — and NONE of them are "free money" for starting farms http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALO… <br><br>10.055 USDA Direct and Counter-cyclical Payments Program <br><br>&#13;<br><br>10.056 USDA Farm Storage Facility Loans <br><br>&#13;<br><br>10.080 USDA Milk Income Loss Contract Program <br><br>&#13;<br><br>10.307 USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative <br><br>&#13;<br><br>10.352 USDA Value-Added Producer Grants <br><br>&#13;<br><br>10.404 USDA Emergency Loans <br><br>&#13;<br><br>10.406 USDA Farm Operating Loans <br><br>&#13;<br><br>10.435 USDA State Mediation Grants <br><br>&#13;<br><br>10.450 USDA Crop Insurance <br><br>&#13;<br><br>10.459 USDA Commodity Partnerships for Small Agricultural Risk Management Education Sessions <br><br>&#13;<br><br>15.034 DOI Agriculture on Indian Lands <br><br>&#13;<br><br>97.003 DHS Agricultural Inspection <br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/skeCQ7-e-gQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/skeCQ7-e-gQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br><img src="http://hobbyfarms.com.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/29140854/farm-loan_Nicholas-A-Tonelli.jpg" width="327" /><br><br>It is hard to find grants to start a business — even for farmers or war veterans or minorities or women. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born. <br><br>Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture. <br><br>Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants — all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business. <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63OCACOR2qs/TW4grEJCNZI/AAAAAAAAAS8/FMupbC8Ao98/s320/farm%2Bloans.jpg" width="313" /><br><br>Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html <br><br>"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments." <br><br><a href='https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061118131713AAjG5aO'>https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061118131713AAjG5aO</a>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Toni Verstandig - 16 Jul 2016 15:05

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[[html]]In order to set effective food and nutrition priorities, as well as strengthen access to nutritious foods and sustainable agriculture, America must view food security as integral to its national security. According to USAID, food security is "having at all times, both physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet dietary needs for a productive and healthy life." When this access is denied, food insecurity can become a catalyst of social unrest. Nowhere is this more evident than in the oscillating political seismograph that is the Middle East.<br><br>In Egypt, as food prices rose 37 percent between 2008 and 2010, protesters in Tahrir Square chanted for "bread, freedom and social justice." Prices remain high, and despite the new government's success in curbing the price of food and goods for Ramadan, it cannot avoid continued calls for bread and social justice.<br><br>The Syrian government's mismanagement of water in the midst of a pressing drought led protesters to scold the regime by saying it took their "loaf of bread." Food and water deprivation have become a weapon in a bloody crisis that is spreading throughout the region, and the situation is only worsening.<br><br>In Iraq, government officials are telling employees at the Haditha Dam that they made need to open the dam's floodgates, as fighters with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria are advancing on the dam. When the Fallujah Dam was opened after ISIS seizure in April, the agricultural results from the flooding were disastrous. We can expect the same for Haditha.<br><br>The combination of conflict and food scarcity in addition to the broadening and deepening of drought due to climate change and resource mismanagement, population displacement, and refugee crises, have all impacted the changing landscape in the region and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.<br><br>The challenge is great. According to the USDA International Food Security Assessment, the number of food insecure people is projected to increase to 868 million by 2023. However, when it comes to sustainable agriculture and global food security, the U.S. can still reap what it sows. Increased global food security will tame social unrest and advance the national security goals of the United States.<br><br><img src="https://www.farmloans.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Colorado-Farm-Picture-5a.png" width="288" /><br><br>This will require sustained and patient thought leadership to incubate a global set of values through which leaders can influence security factors and collaborate across sectors and geographies. In the Middle East and North African region, in particular, we should weigh the costs of investing in wheat fields against the costs of investing in battlefields. The more support for programs that foster sustainable agriculture and nutrition today, the less likely the need for American intervention tomorrow. <br><br>So what is the blueprint to address this immense issue? First, we must recognize that there are many stakeholders — from the Rome-based UN food agencies, multinational corporations, and national governments to the predominantly women smallholder farmers themselves who carry the burden for most of the world's food production.<br><br>Second, we must cultivate not just thought leadership, but actionable ideas here in the US and abroad to advance solutions and bring these stakeholders to the table, whether it is in Alabama or Africa. <br><br>If we are to achieve this goal, we must think outside the box and acknowledge that talking about acting and acting are different. Therefore, we should consider in this new table we've constructed a redesign of the UN food agencies to be more collaborative and more impactful. We should think creatively and create incentives for smallholder farmers, whether it's through greater access to finance, legal rights, or technology.<br><br>Above all, as we consider this new architecture we need to run, not walk, as we are all mindful of the stunning impact that climate change is having on meeting and feeding the next nine billion. It strikes me, as His Holiness Pope Francis has recently reminded us, that we have a moral authority to address this compelling 21st century issue. We must engage, not embrace the globalization of…<br><br><a href='http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toni-verstandig/'>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toni-verstandig/</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

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