Twenty-eight
rural organizations sign letter urging President Obama to remember
rural America tomorrow in his State of the Union Address

Lyons, NE -
Today the Center for Rural Affairs urged President Obama, in his State
of the Union address, to speak to the challenges facing America's rural
communities by publicly
committing to work with Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill in a way
that revitalizes the rural communities that form the backbone of our
heartland.

"We
urge the President to remember the nearly 50 million people who live in
Rural America, not just today but throughout the Farm Bill debate.
America's rural communities need a robust Rural Development Title, not
just a return to the failed farm and rural policies of the past," said John Crabtree with the Center for Rural Affairs.

Last
week, a coalition of 28 rural organizations including the Center for
Rural Affairs, sent a letter to the President urging him to address
these issues in the State of the Union (http://files.cfra.org/pdf/Rural-State-of-the-Union.pdf).

The organizations to sign the letter included:
Rural Community Assistance Partnership  
American Public Works Association
Center for Rural Affairs
Coastal Enterprises Maine
Corporation for Economic Development
Forest Guild
HomeCorps
Homestead Affordable Housing
HomeStretch Nonprofit Housing Corporation
Housing Assistance Council
Illinois Rural Partners
League of Rural Voters
National Association of Counties
National Association of Development Organizations
National Association of Towns and Townships
National League of Cities
National Network of Forest Practitioners
National Rural Development Partnership
National Rural Health Association
National Telecommunications Cooperative Association
NeighborWorks Umpqua
PathStone New York
South Delta Regional Housing Authority
Stand Up for Rural America
The Support Center North Carolina
Watershed Research and Training Center
Wyoming Rural Development Council
YouthBuild USA

For a copy of the letter and complete list of signatories visit: http://files.cfra.org/pdf/Rural-State-of-the-Union.pdf

Des Moines, January 23, 2012 –On February 21, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the item veto case of Homan v. Branstad beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom on the fourth floor of the Judicial Branch Building in Des Moines. The evening session is primarily for the convenience of members of the public and state officials who would like to attend. Oral arguments are always open to the public.

For more information, visit http://www.iowacourts.gov/Supreme_Court

New Law Will Continue Program to Track Pseudoephedrine Purchases

CHICAGO - January 19, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will help law enforcement officials stop meth production. Senate Bill 73 makes permanent a pilot program initially created to electronically track pseudoephedrine purchases that could be used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

"This program is a valuable tool that helps us prevent meth from getting into our communities by stopping production," said Governor Quinn. "Tracking the sales of items commonly used to manufacture meth has enabled us to nip production in the bud, and it is important to continue this program."

The Methamphetamine Precursor Tracking Act took effect in 2009 and required pharmacies to track purchases of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine online through the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx). Under SB 73, initiated by Attorney General Lisa Madigan and sponsored by Sen. William Haine (D-Alton) and Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Sparta), the tracking program becomes permanent. Pharmacies will also block purchases of more than 7.5 grams of pseudoephedrine made within 30 days and purchases of 3.6 grams of pseudoephedrine made in a 24-hour time span.

"Unfortunately, meth production is starting to increase again across the state," Attorney General Madigan said.  "We have found that the PSE tracking system is the best tool law enforcement has to identify criminals who illegally buy cold pills for cooking meth."

Since its implementation, the program has effectively blocked more than 103,319 boxes - or 230,330 grams - of pseudoephedrine from being used for methamphetamine production in communities throughout Illinois. Additionally NPLEx has assisted the Illinois State Police Methamphetamine Response Teams locate and seize 155 methamphetamine laboratories and make 231 methamphetamine arrests.

"The Illinois State Police have dedicated dozens of trained officers to investigate meth-related crimes and clandestine drug lab sites, which has resulted in the reduction of meth labs seized," said Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau. "We are confident that the new statute will continue to help law enforcement track and monitor illegal PSE-based products in Illinois, detect criminal activity and prevent meth labs from forming."

"The production of meth is a serious concern around the state, particularly in our rural communities," said Sen. Haine. "I would like to thank Governor Quinn for signing this law to continue tracking PSE products that can be used to manufacture meth."

"We must do everything we can to keep dangerous drugs like meth out of our communities," Rep. Costello said. "This new law gives us an edge on shutting down meth labs by helping us find the individuals who are making frequent purchases of meth-making products."

The legislation passed the Illinois General Assembly unanimously and goes into effect immediately.

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Center for Rural Affairs Offers Farm Bill Help Line to Assist Producers

Lyons, NE - The Farm Service Agency recently announced that the Land Contract Guarantee Program is now available nationwide.
The Land Contract Guarantee Program provides federal loan guarantees to retiring farmers and landowners who self-finance the sale of their land to beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

"With land values continuing to escalate, beginning farmers and ranchers face ever greater challenges in gaining access to land," said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Director of Rural Policy at the Center for Rural Affairs. "The program is designed to encourage private land contract sales by providing a degree of protection to the retiring farmer whose retirement savings is often in the land and farm.  This protection may be the incentive some need to take that step and self-finance the sale of their land to a beginning farmer and rancher."

In order to be eligible for this program, a farmer needs to self-finance the sale of their land, and sell to either a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer.

The buyer of the farm or ranch must be a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher;  not be larger than a family farm (in which most of the management and labor is provided by family members); have an acceptable credit history demonstrated by satisfactory debt repayment; be the owner or operator of the farm or ranch when the contract is complete; and be unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere without a guarantee to finance actual needs at reasonable rates or terms.

Under this program, the seller of the farmland has two guarantee options:

• A "prompt payment" guarantee that covers three amortized annual installments or an amount equaling three amortized annual installments; or
• A standard asset guarantee that covers an amount equal to 90 percent of the outstanding principle of the loan provided that the seller obtains a servicing agent.

For either option, the loan guarantee stays in effect for 10 years.  The purchase price or appraisal value of the farm or ranch that is the subject of the contract sale cannot be greater than $500,000.  The buyer of the farm and ranch must contribute at least 5 percent as the down payment for the land.

Farmers and ranchers interested in this program should contact their local Farm Service Agency office.

Bruckner also encourages farmers, ranchers and others to call the Center for Rural Affairs' Farm Bill Helpline with questions about the application process as well as other farm and conservation program options that beginning and established farmers and ranchers can access.  Producers can call (402) 687-2100 and ask for the Farm Bill Helpline or send an email to tracib@cfra.org.

Retiring land owners looking to find the right beginning farmer or rancher to sell or transfer their land to can also register for the Land Link Program.

The Center's Land Link program matches beginning farmers looking for land with established landowners, increasing opportunities for new farmers while promoting good stewardship. The process includes retirement planning, new farmer financing, farm business, and environmental assessment in order to ease transitions of family operations from the retiring generation to the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

Parties specifically interested in participating in Land Link should call Virginia Wolking with the Center for Rural Affairs at (402) 687-2103 ext. 1017.