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Whether an agricultural enterprise grows corn, cotton, grain or cattle, the information contained in the six sections listed here covers subjects most important to any modern farm owner. Consider this site a one-stop shop for in-depth industry reports, technical guides, news impacting the field and a variety of resources that can make profitability a probability!
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Agricultural Contact Team The American Farm Bureau Federation's grassroots action network that promotes the interests of the agricultural industry by working with members of Congress. Provides online access to agricultural information and sends e-mail alerts to its members. Membership available by contacting local farm bureaus. www.fb.org/index.php?fuseaction=legislative.fbact Alternative Farming Systems Information Center Concentrates on topics and issues related to sustainable and alternative agricultural systems, crops and livestock, with special focus on library services for many facets of alternative agriculture. Topics include: sustainable and regenerative farming systems, eco-friendly pest management, renewable energy, organic food production and marketing, family farms, women and minority farming issues and crop and livestock diversification. Animal Health Institute Online resource for farmers that provides information on animal health products and their use and benefits. Provides information on vaccines, antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals for livestock. Beef.org Online resource center funded by the Cattlemen's Beef Board and the Federation of State Beef Councils. Provides information on and links to industry conventions and meetings, government affairs and news and updates. Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that funds the research and distribution of information related to agricultural analysis, statistics and higher education. Focuses on promoting healthy agricultural productivity, creating new products, maintaining livestock and crop health and revitalizing rural areas through its national programs. Farm*A*SYST Partnership between government agencies and private business created to help prevent pollution on farms and ranches. Voluntary program that helps determine health and financial risks through evaluation of confidential information. Issues addressed include: water quality, livestock waste storage and hazardous waste and nutrient management. Grants and Loans Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Lender-driven guaranteed business loans given by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Loans can be used for real estate, equipment and working capital. Funding is typically between $1 and $10 million. More information and eligibility requirements: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/b&i_gar.htm Farm Operating Loans Federal loans designed to assist small or family farm owners through credit and administrative assistance. Helps farmers make more efficient use of land, labor and resources, and to run profitable farming and ranching operations. The federal government has budgeted more than $2 billion for the loan program. More information and eligibility requirements: Farm Ownership Loans Federal loans to help farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to become owners of small farms, use land, labor, and resources efficiently, maintain successful farming practices and allow farm families to have a reasonable standard of living. The federal government has budgeted more than $1 billion for the loan program. More information and eligibility requirements: Farm Storage Facility Loans Federal loans designed to support construction of on-site grain storage and to help farmers adapt to genetically enhanced production storage and handling. The federal government has budgeted $175 million for the loan program. More information and eligibility requirements: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program Established by the 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act to fund grants and loan guarantees to help purchase renewable energy implementations and pay for energy-efficient improvements. Agricultural producers and small rural business owners can qualify for a grant, a loan or a combination of both. Requests cannot be more than 25-percent of projected cost. Renewable energy grants range from $2,500 to $500,000; energy efficiency grants range from $1,500 to $250,000. Loan guarantees may be granted for up to half of total estimated project costs. Guarantees range from $5,000 to $10 million per project. More information and eligibility requirements: Rural Business Enterprise Grant U.S. Department of Agriculture grants to assist public entities, nonprofit corporations and federally recognized Indian tribal groups in finance developing small private business enterprises. Grants can be used for land acquisition and development, construction and refinancing. Funding is typically between $25,000 and $100,000. More information and eligibility requirements: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbeg.htm Value-added Ag Product Market Development Grants U.S. Department of Agriculture grants to assist producers in enhancing their products. Grants can be used for working capital, changing a product's physical state, enhancing product value and product segregation. Funding is typically between $50,000 and $300,000. More information and eligibility requirements: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm Insurance Rates and Information American Agricultural Insurance Company (AAIC) Supports Farm Bureau insurance companies in reaching stability and growth through partnerships. Through the mutual relationship, AAIC retains the maximum risk within the Farm Bureau companies, keeps internal expenses below industry norms, provides Farm Bureau companies with opportunities to assume reinsurance exposures, helps collect and distribute information related to Farm Bureau insurance companies and offers financial modeling, underwriting and claim reviews, seminars and workshops. Producers AG Insurance Group Made up of Producers Agriculture Insurance Company, Producers Lloyds Insurance Company, the policy issuing companies and ProAg Management, Inc. Writes federally subsidized crop insurance and crop hail insurance designed to meet the needs of the American farmer. Focuses solely on crop insurance. Rural Finance Learning Centre Online international database of resources and information related to agricultural insurance and rural finance. Wells Fargo Business Crop and Livestock Insurance Offers crop insurance to crop producers in order to minimize risk of damage to products. Also provides livestock risk protection and livestock mortality insurance to protect in the event of price declines or livestock deaths. Legal Issues The National Agricultural Law Center The only independent agricultural law research and information facility. Located at the University of Arkansas School of Law, the center focuses on national and international agricultural issues, including food law. Staff includes law and research professors, lawyers, specialists, and graduate. Conducts legal research into the most critical and current industry issues and publishes research-related articles, notes, case summaries and other publications online. Web site includes reading rooms, Web postings and subscription to bi-monthly newsletters. |
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