USDA Unveils New Improvement to Streamline Crop Reporting

USDA Unveils New Improvement to Streamline Crop Reporting Update Lets Farmers and Ranchers Report Common Acreage Information Once WASHINGTON, May 31, 2016 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that farmers and ranchers filing crop acreage reports with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and participating insurance providers approved by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) now can provide the common information from their acreage reports at one office and the information will be electronically shared with the other location. This new process is part of the USDA Acreage Crop Reporting Streamlining Initiative (ACRSI). This interagency collaboration also includes participating private crop insurance agents and insurance companies, all working to streamline the information collected from farmers and ranchers who participate in USDA programs. “If you file your report at one location, the data that’s important to both FSA and RMA will be securely and electronically shared with the other location,” said FSA Administrator Val Dolcini. “This will avoid redundant and duplicative reporting, and we expect this to save farmers and ranchers time.” “Accuracy in crop reporting is a key component for crop insurance, because an error in this information can affect premiums or claims. This is going to greatly improve efficiencies and reduce mistakes,” said RMA Administrator Brandon Willis. Since 2009, USDA has been working to streamline the crop reporting process for agricultural producers, who have expressed concerns with providing the same basic common information for multiple locations. In 2013, USDA consolidated the deadlines to 15 dates for submitting these reports, down from the previous 54 dates at RMA and 17 dates for FSA. USDA representatives believe farmers and ranchers will experience a notable improvement in the coming weeks as they approach the peak season for crop reporting later this summer. More than 93 percent of all annual reported acres to FSA and RMA now are eligible for the common data reporting, and USDA is exploring adding more crops. Producers must still visit both locations to validate and sign acreage reports, complete maps or provide program-specific information. The common data from the first-filed acreage report will now be available to pre-populate and accelerate completion of the second report. Plans are underway at USDA to continue building upon the framework with additional efficiencies at a future date. Dolcini also reminded farmers and ranchers that they can now access their FSA farm information from the convenience of their home computer. “You can see your field boundaries, images of your farm, conservation status, operator and owner information and much more,” said Dolcini. The new customer self-service portal, known as FSAFarm+, gives farmers and ranchers online access to securely view, print or export their personal farm data. To enroll in the online service, producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office for details. To find a local FSA office in your area, visit http://offices.usda.gov. Since 2009, USDA has worked to strengthen and support American agriculture, an industry that supports one in 11 American jobs, provides American consumers with more than 80 percent of the food we consume, ensures that Americans spend less of their paychecks at the grocery store than most people in other countries, and supports markets for homegrown renewable energy and materials. USDA has also provided $5.6 billion of disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; expanded risk management tools with products like to Whole Farm Revenue Protection; and helped farm businesses grow with $36 billion in farm credit. The Department has engaged its resources to support a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by improving access to land and capital; building new markets and market opportunities; extending new conservation opportunities. USDA has developed new markets for rural-made products, including more than 2,500 biobased products through USDA's BioPreferred program; and invested $64 billion in infrastructure and community facilities to help improve the quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil

USDA Extends Deadline for Recording Farm Structure

USDA Extends Deadline for Recording Farm Structure Gives Non-Family Farming Operations More Time to Restructure in Response to ‘Actively Engaged’ Farm Management Rule WASHINGTON, May 27, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a one-time, 30-day extension to the June 1 deadline for recording farm organization structures related to Actively Engaged in Farming determinations. This date is used to determine the level of interest an individual holds in a legal entity for the applicable program year. Farming operations will now have until July 1 to complete their restructuring or finalize any operational change. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued the extension in response to farmers and ranchers who requested more time to comply, and to assure that everyone has enough time to provide their information under the new rules. “Most farming and ranching organizations have been able to comply with the actively engaged rule,” said Vilsack. “This one-time extension should give producers who may still need to update their farm structure information the additional time to do so.” The 2014 Farm Bill provided the Secretary with the direction and authority to amend the Actively Engaged in Farming rules related to management. The final rule established limits on the number of individuals who can qualify as actively engaged using only management. Only one payment limit for management is allowed under the rule, with the ability to request up to two additional qualifying managers operations for large and complex operations. The rule does not apply to farming operations comprised entirely of family members. The rule also does not change the existing regulations related to contributions of land, capital, equipment or labor, or the existing regulations related to landowners with a risk in the crop or to spouses. Producers that planted fall crops have until the 2017 crop year to comply with the new rules. The payment limit associated with Farm Service Agency farm payments is generally limited annually to $125,000 per individual or entity. Since 2009, USDA has worked to strengthen and support American agriculture, an industry that supports one in 11 American jobs, provides American consumers with more than 80 percent of the food we consume, ensures that Americans spend less of their paychecks at the grocery store than most people in other countries, and supports markets for homegrown renewable energy and materials. USDA has also provided $5.6 billion of disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; expanded risk management tools with products like to Whole Farm Revenue Protection; and helped farm businesses grow with $36 billion in farm credit. The Department has engaged its resources to support a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by improving access to land and capital; building new markets and market opportunities; extending new conservation opportunities. USDA has developed new markets for rural-made products, including more than 2,500 biobased products through USDA's BioPreferred program; and invested $64 billion in infrastructure and community facilities to help improve the quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results. #

Mid Day Cattle Comment

Mid Day Cattle Comment June 1, 2016 Live Cattle: A slightly weaker start to cattle this morning. The ability to overcome a lower start, to close higher, would be viewed as friendly. Due to the short period of time that prices have been higher, it is difficult to suggest "the" bottom is in. However, the promotions being seen on television, coupled with the anticipation of good movement the past weekend, beef demand is anticipated to remain improving. Futures traders are now in a pitch battle with improving fundamentals. As of yet, I don't think the bears have relinquished very many short positions. May the 19th was a significant day down. It was the first day down that held sharply lower to the close, and then prices continued to the May 26th low. The May 19th low has already been exceeded. The high on that day was $123.05 on the June contract. Therefore, it would be just around this price that I would anticipate the bears really beginning to cut lose of shorts. My analysis suggests that there are still significant producers focused on supply. While I do not doubt that supply will continue to be elevated, I perceive the increase in promotions to spur demand to the extent it will curtail the bearishness of supply. Feeder Cattle: Yesterday was a good example of where the strength is. Feeders sold off while fats remained at their high. June remained the strongest as that is where the most pressing issue is. Feeders are anticipated to continue to ride on the coat tails of the fats until the stream of inventory begins to stabilize. Regardless of this though is the issue of whether or not new contract lows will be made from here. Off the cuff, it appears that with the 5 wave move down, the odds are slowly changing towards the lows being in. The extent of the rally from last weeks low isn't much in the way of providing opportunity. At this juncture, I am going to say this is where the rubber meets the road. It will be difficult allowing prices to fluctuate without doing something. Especially if lower trading materializes. However, until a new contract low is made in the feeders, I am going to perceive the wave count complete with anticipation of sluggish higher trading. Corn: Corn bulls jumped right back on the wagon again this morning. Corn is anticipated to continue higher with an upside target to $4.27. Beans are moving higher as well. I anticipate a new high in the November contract. This would lead me to anticipate an upside target to $11.51&3/4 Christopher B. Swift Swift Trading Company 144 Second Avenue North Nashville, TN 37201 877-863-2206

NMSU online programs continue to be recognized for affordability

NMSU online programs continue to be recognized for affordability DATE: 06/01/2016 WRITER: Minerva Baumann, 575-646-7566, mbauma46@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Judy Bosland, 575-646-6131, jbosland@nmsu.edu New Mexico State University was named among the top schools in the country for affordable, high quality online education for 2016. Affordable Colleges Online has ranked NMSU among the top five in the U.S. in 2016 for its online master’s degree in criminal justice. NMSU tied for fourth place with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. “The online master’s in criminal justice program has high quality faculty who genuinely care about students and make themselves accessible to them,” said Francisco J. Alatorre, assistant professor of criminal justice in the College of Arts and Sciences. “We serve students interested in advancing their careers and students interested in pursuing doctoral programs. It is rewarding to see outside agencies recognize our efforts, particularly based on alumni feedback.” Affordable Colleges Online compares schools that are public and non profit based on online degrees available, graduate tuition and fees, academic and career counseling services, job placement for graduates as well as Peer-Based Value, which compares the cost of each program to the cost of similar programs with the same qualitative score. NMSU’s master’s of public health degree is tied for ninth place with Michigan State and two other universities while NMSU’s doctorate in nursing practice is ranked 23rd. “We are very pleased to see two of our academic programs getting recognition about their cost effectiveness,” said Donna Wagner, dean of NMSU’s College of Health and Social Services. “Students who are prepared in the MPH program and the DNP program receive an excellent education for an affordable cost and it is great for our faculty and college that this is being acknowledged by the Affordable Colleges Online.” Affordable Colleges Online ranking of the best online programs for the 2016-2017 school year and a complete look at the methodology can be found here: http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/methodology/

SCOTUS: Landowners can sue Corps over wetlands determinations

SCOTUS: Landowners can sue Corps over wetlands determinations Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. By Stephen Davies In a decision that did not come as a surprise, the Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that landowners can challenge Army Corps of Engineers' wetlands determinations in court (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co.). Three Minnesota peat mining companies that sought to expand their operations were stymied by a Corps jurisdictional determination (JD) that found wetlands on acreage targeted for expansion, even though the land was more than 100 miles from the nearest “navigable water.” More here

EPA shifting from science to 'public perception' model on pesticides? Organizations say adversarial relationship becoming strained May 19, 2016 Forrest Laws | Delta Farm Press

Farmers are losing crop protection chemicals at an alarming rate, often due to what are being called increasingly arbitrary decisions by the Environmental Protection Agency acting outside of FIFRA. But what’s even more disturbing is the chilling effect these actions are having on the development of much-needed new herbicide and insecticide compounds — products which can now cost nearly $300 million each to register with the agency. EPA has had an adversarial relationship with crop protection chemical manufacturers and other groups since it was created during the Nixon administration in 1972. But some industry and related organization observers say their dealings have become much more strained and antagonistic in recent months. The National Cotton Council is one of those saying it sees disturbing trends in the way the agency regulates pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act — or doesn’t. The NCC’s American Cotton Producers segment devoted nearly 90 minutes to discussion of current regulatory issues at its spring meeting in Birmingham, Ala.“You saw at the ACP that we have been providing numerous comments to EPA on multiple products, and we also have some concerns about the procedures EPA is following,” said Dr. Don Parker, the NCC’s manager of integrated pest management. “Within the agricultural community as a whole, there seems to be a growing consensus EPA is deviating from the FIFRA process and moving toward the precautionary principle that you see in Europe. And rather than relying on science they are being driven by political action and lawsuits.” For more of this article go to. http://deltafarmpress.com/cotton/epa-shifting-science-public-perception-model-pesticides?NL=WFP-01&Issue=WFP-01_20160530_WFP-01_489&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_3_b&utm_rid=CPG02000000650003&utm_campaign=9896&utm_medium=email&elq2=498204f0da4741d4b7e840ad77ba319e

USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for June 2016

USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for June 2016 06/01/2016 10:00 AM EDT WASHINGTON, June 1, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for June 2016. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for June is 0.625 percent, unchanged from 0.625 percent in May.