Lyons, NE -  Justin Doerr, a beginning farmer and military veteran from Plainview, NE, will travel to Washington D.C. on Thursday, May 10, to participate and testify at the House Ag Committee Hearing on the Farm Bill Credit Title.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to testify about the value of federal credit, training and land access programs that are absolutely crucial in helping beginning farmers get started in agriculture," said Doerr.

Doerr, who recently finished planting, commented further on the importance of his testimony,"I believe these credit programs and other efforts targeted specifically at new farmers, are very important investments the farm bill can make in ensuring that young farmers like myself have the tools and resources we need to successfully contribute to our local farm economies, spur rural economic development, preserve our natural resource base, and do our part in ensuring our nation's food security."

When:  May 10, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT)

Who:  Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight and Credit - U.S. House of

Representatives Committee on Agriculture

What:  Subcommittee Hearing on Formulations of the 2012 Farm Bill Credit Programs

Where:  1300 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC

Contact the Center for Rural Affairs to schedule an interview or reach Justin Doerr directly at:

Justin D. Doerr

402-316-4919

jddoerr@gmail.com

profiles.google.com/jddoerr

twitter.com/jddoerr

Doerr grew up on a small farm in Northeast Nebraska where his family raised hogs, cattle, and some hay. After high school he joined the Army. During this time, things got tough on the farm so Justin's father sold the livestock and rented out the farm ground.  When Justin got back from overseas he wanted to move home and farm. "What I found later was I had the desire to farm but did not have the means, as I lacked the capital and resources to begin farming after the folks sold their operation," commented Doerr.

"We face a lot of barriers as beginning farmers as far as access to land and credit and barriers in crop insurance," said Doerr. "As a beginning farmer one way of getting a start is through niche markets and raising non-conventional crops, but it's hard to gain access to crop insurance for that... that problem should be addressed."

Farm payment limit loopholes closed for first time

Lyons, NE - Today, the Center for Rural Affairs praised the Senate Agriculture Committee for closing loopholes in the farm payment limitation.

"We applaud the Senate Ag Committee for passing a Farm Bill that for the first time in a generation closes the gaping loopholes that have made a mockery of the farm program payment limitation," said Chuck Hassebrook of the Center for Rural Affairs. "Most of all, we thank Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for his tireless advocacy for reducing subsidies for mega farms to drive family farms out of business."

According to Hassebrook, closing the loopholes is a critical step. And the next step is to apply those limits to uncapped premium subsidies for federal crop insurance, the most expensive element of the farm program. "If one corporation farmed every acre in America," said Hassebrook. "The federal government would pay 60 percent of its crop insurance premiums on every acre, every year."

"Crop insurance subsidies are highest in times of high prices - when they are needed least. That's because it costs more to insure $6 corn than $4 corn. Crop insurance costs have doubled in the last 5 years and quadrupled in the last 10 years," Hassebrook continued.

The Center for Rural Affairs also praised Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for working to fund rural development programs through the farm bill. "If passed as it now stands," said Hassebrook, "this farm bill will be the first in a generation to include no funding for rural development." Brown and Nelson are pressing to change that before the bill comes before the full Senate.

The Center also praised Senators John Thune (R-SD), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Mike Johanns (R-NE) for winning a sodsaver provision that will reduce federal crop insurance subsidy premiums for breaking out erosion prone native grasslands for crop production.

By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

On Wednesday, April 25th, the Senate Agriculture Committee begins considering amendments to their draft Farm Bill proposal. When they do, they should make investment in creating genuine opportunities for rural Americans and their communities a priority. Unfortunately, their initial proposal does the opposite.

This proposal increases farm program and crop insurance subsidies for the nation's largest farms and wealthiest landowners, but slashes investment in rural small business development and value-added agriculture. In fact, it makes no investment in rural development whatsoever. We can, we must do better than this.

In today's economy, it is more important than ever that Congress make wise choices. Under-investing in our future while over-subsidizing the rich and powerful is not a priority that reflects the common good. Under current and proposed federal farm policy, if one corporation farmed my entire home state of Iowa, the federal government would pay 60 percent of its crop insurance premiums on every acre, every year, even in times of record profits.

The higher crop prices rise, the higher subsidies for crop insurance premiums rise. They have ballooned to one and one half times their cost just two years ago - higher than all other farm programs. And with no effective cap on how much one large operation can reap, these premiums simply become subsidies that mega-farms use to drive smaller family farms out of business.

We face a simple choice, either lavish subsidies on mega-farms, or, invest in rural America's future. The best choice is obvious.

By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

The steady growth of organic farming and ranching across rural America and the economic impacts of organics on rural communities cannot be ignored. In 2012, the USDA is again investing $50 million in funding for the EQIP Organic Initiative, which provides a 75% share of the estimated cost of implementing organic conservation measures to those who qualify - 90% for beginning, limited-resource and socially-disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Farmers and ranchers transitioning to organic as well as established organic producers have another opportunity to apply for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Initiative funding to assist their organic efforts. Friday, June 1st is the third and final 2012 deadline to file an application through your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office.

Fifty million dollars in national funding available this year provides farmers and ranchers a tremendous opportunity to take the leap into organic. Rural cities and towns as well as local food systems will reap rewards as well.

The Center for Rural Affairs' long history of helping family farmers and ranchers access new conservation programs offers opportunities. We've created an Organic Initiative fact sheet available at - http://www.cfra.org/2010-eqip-organic-initiative. We also operate a Farm Bill Helpline where producers can call (402) 687-2100, ask for the helpline and receive assistance in accessing EQIP Organic funding and other related initiatives, such as the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Cooperative Conservation Partnerships Initiative, Value Added Producer Grants and a host of beginning farmer and rancher programs.