News & Events

Draft farm bill aids pork, beef lobbies

Published May. 10, 2013

The Midwest Corn Belt would retain its costly new Agricultural Risk Coverage program—which was the mainstay of the commodity title approved last summer by the Senate in the last Congress. But the ARC payments have been trimmed back modestly and more importantly, the standard index changed from a five-month average market price to the 12-month average.

Extension agent: Farmers need to help curb flooding

Published May. 9, 2013

Hoorman said three things are important when slowing down the rate of water going to the ditches and rivers: water infiltration, soil absorption of water and peak water discharge to the rivers and streams. He said tillage and land management affect them all.

New farm machinery cautioni signs planned

Published May. 9, 2013

Farm machinery caution signs are being installed on Hancock County and township roads. The Hancock County Farm Bureau recently purchased 75 diamond-shaped signs with the message, "Caution-Farm Machinery."

USDA and EPA: Report shows no definitive reason for honey bee colony collapse

Published May. 9, 2013

The USDA and the United States EPA released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health May 2. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure.

Farmers get reprieve on fuel storage regs

Published May. 9, 2013

This amendment states the U.S. EPA may not use any of its funds to enforce the SPCC rule against farms for a period of 180 days, until after Sept. 26, 2013. So while this ruling does not currently exempt farmers from having a SPCC plan, it does give them a few more months to develop a plan.