04 Dec 2014

ISU Extension Calendar mid-December 2014

By Joy Venhorst
Dec. 25, 2014 Extension Office Closed for Holiday

Dec. 26, 2014 Extension Office Closed for Holiday

Jan. 1, 2015 Extension Office Closed for Holiday

Jan. 13, 2015 Manure Applicator Certification, Scott County Extension Office, 7 pm

Jan. 26, 2015 Private Pesticide Applicator Training, Scott County Extension Office, 9:30 am and 1:30 pm

Jan. 27, 2015 Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7 pm-9 pm

Visit our events calendar at our web site: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/
04 Dec 2014

USDA Announces Support for Producers of Advanced Biofuel

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is making $5.6 million in grants to 220 producers across the nation to support the production of advanced biofuels, and is awarding more than $4 million in additional grants that will advance the bioeconomy and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

"Producing advanced biofuel is a major component of the drive to take control of America's energy future by developing domestic, renewable energy sources," Vilsack said. "These resources represent the Obama Administration's commitment to support an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy that seeks to build a robust bio-based economy. Investments in biofuels will also help create jobs and further diversify the economy in our rural communities."

The funding for producers announced today is being provided through USDA's Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of advanced biofuel produced from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include but are not limited to: crop residue; animal, food and yard waste; vegetable oil; and animal fat.

Through the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, USDA supports the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a strong biofuel industry that creates jobs and broadens the range of feedstocks used to produce renewable fuel. USDA has made more than $280 million in payments to more than 350 producers (more than 3,100 total payments) in 47 states and territories since the program's inception. These payments have supported the production of more than 5.8 billion gallons of advanced biofuel and the equivalent of more than 58 billion kilowatt hours of electric energy.

Also today, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the award of fiscal year 2014 grants through three other programs supporting bioenergy initiatives.

The National Biodiesel Board and Regents of the University of Idaho received $768,000 and $192,000 respectively, through the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. The program was established to stimulate biodiesel consumption and the development of a biodiesel infrastructure. The funded education and outreach activities will raise awareness of biodiesel fuel use among governmental and private entities that operate vehicle fleets and the public. Funded projects also focus on educational programs supporting advances in infrastructure, technology transfer, fuel quality, fuel safety and increasing feedstock production.

South Dakota State University (SDSU) received $2.3 million through the Sun Grant Program. This program encourages bioenergy and biomass research collaboration between government agencies, land-grant colleges and universities, and the private sector. SDSU will lead a consortium of five regional grant centers and one subcenter that makes competitive grants to projects that contribute to research, education and outreach for the regional production and sustainability of possible biobased feedstocks. The project period will not exceed five years.

Through the Critical Agricultural Materials program, Iowa State University of Science and Technology received $1 million for the development of new paint, coating, and adhesive products that are derived from acrylated glycerol, which is a co-product of the biodiesel industry. The Critical Agricultural Materials program supports the development of products that are manufactured from domestically-produced agricultural materials and are of strategic and industrial importance to benefit the economy, defense, and general well-being of the nation. Many such products replace petroleum-based products and offer opportunities to create new businesses and new markets for agricultural materials.

Examples of producers receiving USDA Advanced Biofuel payments today are Appling County Pellets, in Baxley, Ga. It received $22,475 for its production of more than 358,000 metric tons of wood pellets. Appling sells premium-grade wood pellets for sustainable wood fuel use to markets in the northeastern United States and Europe.

AgPower Jerome of Shoshone, Idaho, is receiving $3,027 for the conversion of nearly 137 million gallons of dairy cattle manure into 25.5 million kWh of electricity that is sold to a local utility.

White Mountain Biodiesel, LLC of North Haverhill, N.H., a producer of biodiesel from waste vegetable oil, received $8,655. The company produced almost 1.8 million gallons of biodiesel from almost 2 million gallons of waste vegetable oil. The biodiesel is distributed throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.

Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy, LLC of Phillipsburg, Kan., produced 6.9 million gallons of ethanol from almost 2.6 million bushels of sorghum and received $18,128.

View the list of producers receiving payments here. (Payments of $500 or less are not listed.)

President Obama's historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

24 Nov 2014

USDA Disaster Assistance to Help Thousands of Honeybee, Livestock and Farm-Raised Fish Producers

By USDA Office of Communications

2014 Farm Bill Program Offers Producers in Over 40 States Relief for 2012 and 2013 Losses

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2014 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA today announced that nearly 2,500 applicants will receive disaster assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses suffered from Oct. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2013.

The program, re-authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides disaster relief to livestock, honeybee, and farm-raised fish producers not covered by other agricultural disaster assistance programs. Eligible losses may include excessive heat or winds, flooding, blizzards, hail, wildfires, lightning strikes, volcanic eruptions, and diseases, or in the case of honeybees, losses due to colony collapse disorder. Beekeepers, most of whom suffered honeybee colony losses, represent more than half of ELAP recipients.

"As promised, we're making sure that thousands of producers who suffered through two and a half difficult years without Farm Bill assistance, are getting some relief," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Once the Farm Bill was restored, not only did we implement the disaster assistance programs in record time, we're issuing payments less than three months after the enrollment deadline. The funds will hopefully help producers with some of the financial losses they sustained during that time."

The Farm Bill caps ELAP disaster funding at $20 million per federal fiscal year. To accommodate the number of requests, which exceeded funds available for each of the affected years, payments will be reduced to ensure that all eligible applicants receive a prorated share of assistance.

ELAP was made possible through the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

To learn more about USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) disaster assistance programs, visit the FSA factsheet page at www.fsa.usda.gov/factsheets or contact your local FSA office at http://go.usa.gov/pYV3.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

20 Nov 2014

Soy Checkoff Farmer-Leader Appointed USFRA Chairperson

By United Soybean Board
Kavazanjian brings passion for communicating with consumers about where food comes from

ST. LOUIS (Nov. 20, 2014) - The United Soybean Board (USB) congratulates soy checkoff farmer-leader Nancy Kavazanjian on her election as chairperson of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA).

Kavazanjian, a soybean farmer from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, is in her fourth year as a USB farmer-director.

"Nancy is a dedicated farmer-director and a great asset to our industry," says USB Chairman Jim Call, a soybean farmer from Madison, Minnesota. "She'll continue to be a leader in telling ag's story."

Previously, Kavazanjian served as vice chairperson of USFRA, which consists of more than 80 farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners representing virtually all aspects of agriculture. The organization works to engage in dialogue with consumers who have questions about how today's food is grown and raised.

"Our goal at USFRA is to build trust in the way American farmers and ranchers produce food, and this helps to maintain our freedom to operate," Kavazanjian says. "This mission is at the heart of both USFRA's and USB's work."

In addition to her leadership roles within the soy checkoff and USFRA, Kavazanjian is also a member of two state-level organizations: the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and Wisconsin Women in Agriculture. She is also a contributor to her family's farming operation, Hammer & Kavazanjian Farms, which grows soybeans, corn and wheat.

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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19 Nov 2014

Iowa biodiesel pros receive national recognition

By Jenna Higgins Rose

(ST. LOUIS, Mo.) - Two Iowa biodiesel professionals have been recognized by the National Biodiesel Board for their roles in moving biodiesel forward. At a ceremony recognizing its national member-leaders last night, NBB presented Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, and Thomas Brooks, general manager of Western Dubuque Biodiesel, with 2014 Most Valuable Player awards.

Kimberley, involved with biodiesel for more than a decade, this year expanded his already full plate within the Iowa Soybean Association to take on leadership of IBB. As executive director, he helped usher in the passage of state legislation extending a biodiesel producer incentive through 2017. He has also actively represented Iowa in the federal Renewable Fuel Standard efforts, including co-hosting two campaign events with both Senatorial candidates this year.

Kimberley also routinely hosts groups important to the biodiesel effort on his family's farm in Iowa, giving tours to environmentalists, trade ambassadors and more, and teaching them about modern agricultural practices.

"It's an honor to receive this recognition from my peers, but even greater is the feeling of accomplishment we share in watching this industry grow from 20 million gallons in 2003 to 1.8 billion gallons last year," Kimberley said. "We know there is much work left to be done, and it will take all of us working together. But we can be proud of bringing biodiesel into the mix, diversifying our nation's energy supply and driving economic growth."

Brooks took home the award in part for looking at the big picture beyond his own interests. Working with IBB, he was instrumental in earning press in Iowa and raising the volume on the RFS effort. This summer, he testified before the Environmental Protection Agency on the RFS volumes. In the last year, Western Dubuque Biodiesel hosted many key elected officials, including state legislators; an NBB sustainability tour; and a tour for U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley. Brooks also regularly hosts tours for colleges and the local high school, even going into the classroom himself to teach students about biodiesel.

"God asks us to always strive to do our best and expect nothing in return; albeit, this recognition means a lot to me," Brooks said of the award. "I appreciate this recognition while there are many others deserving of it."

"The biodiesel industry exemplifies vision, determination and hard work coming together to create real change," said NBB Chairman Steven J. Levy. "Though biodiesel is still a small, growing industry, the success to date has been a collaborative result of stakeholders like Grant Kimberley and Tom Brooks, who stand among the countless outstanding professionals making America's advanced biofuel what it is today."

Past NBB chairmen were also recognized at the event, including Gary Haer of Iowa-based biodiesel producer REG, and Iowa soybean producer Jack Hartman. The ceremony took place in St. Louis during an NBB membership meeting.

IBB is a nonprofit trade association representing the biodiesel industry in Iowa.

18 Nov 2014

Summit to help farmers understand Big Data

By Mike Wilson
Farmer panelists and industry experts will weigh the pros and cons of Big Data analytics and ownership at the 2015 Farm Futures Business Summit, held January 7-8 at the Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel in St. Louis.
ST. CHARLES, ILL., (11/18/2014) - Farm Futures, the leading U.S. ag business information resource for farmers and producers, will feature a special session focusing on the pros and cons of Big Data, one of the hottest topics in agriculture. The Big Data debate is one of 21 sessions that will take place during the 2015 Farm Futures Business Summit, to be held Jan. 7-8 at the Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel in St. Louis.
Big Data promises to help farmers on the profit side, but issues of ownership and control continue to unfold.
"While companies have collected and analyzed agronomic data for some time, the amount of real-time information we can collect now is staggering," says Brian Marshall, a Missouri farmer who will speak at the summit. "It is a big change that is cause for both excitement and concern."
Several agricultural equipment firms have introduced technology whereby the data from combines is uploaded every few seconds to the Cloud. Real-time yield data is available to whoever controls those databases. But more important, who owns and controls the data?
"A farmer's information is valuable, so farmers should have a say in and be compensated when their data is sold," says Marshall. "Farmers need to protect their data and make sure they bargain wisely as they share it with suppliers and interested companies."
Along with Marshall, the panel includes Mary Kay Thatcher, American Farm Bureau Federation; Bruce Erickson, education distance and outreach director, Purdue University; and Jim Krogmeier, Open Ag Data Alliance.
Max Armstrong, co-host of the popular This Week in Agribusiness TV program and Farm Progress America radio programs, will emcee the debate.
Better risk managers
The summit will also focus on risk management in 2015. "We're gearing up to help farmers combat difficult economic challenges by boosting their business and marketing skills," says the magazine's Executive Editor, Mike Wilson.
Sessions will focus on global demand, marketing, estate planning, employee management, business and landlord relationships, crop budgeting, crop insurance choices, the new farm bill, and future technology such as drones used for agriculture.
The summit is held in early January so young people on college break can attend.
"Whether you are a young farmer or a senior manager, this meeting is all about getting better so you are prepared for tighter profit margins in the year ahead," adds Wilson.
Early bird discount
Farm Futures' earlybird registration discount ends Dec. 1, 2014. Participants who register by that date pay $349 per person, a savings of $150 off the regular rate; early bird partners can attend for just $299. The student rate is $199 per person.
For agenda, registration and hotel booking links, go to www.farmfutures.com/summit2015. If you prefer to register by phone, call 1-800-441-1410. The Hilton offers summit attendees a special rate of just $85 along with free parking. To book hotel by phone, call (314) 421-1776.
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17 Nov 2014

USDA Announces Karis Gutter as USDA's First Military Veterans Agriculture Liaison

By USDA Office of Communications
New Position Will Coordinate Ongoing USDA Support for Active Duty Military and Veterans

Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 14, 2014 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced Karis T. Gutter, a Marine Corps Reserve veteran and current USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS), as the first USDA Military Veterans Agricultural (MVA) Liaison. The MVA Liaison will coordinate USDA leadership across the Department to provide information, resources and support for active duty military and veterans interested in agriculture. The MVA Liaison will also have authority to facilitate formal relationships between USDA and other government agencies and non-profit organizations to strengthen USDA support for veterans.

Deputy Secretary Harden made the announcement at the Farmers Veterans Coalition and Drake University Agriculture Law Center's inaugural national conference in Des Moines, Iowa.

"Many of America's veterans come from our rural communities, and are often drawn back to the land upon returning to civilian life," said Deputy Secretary Harden. "Veterans are key to building our future generation of farmers, land stewards and conservationists. USDA already has a number of initiatives to help veterans find meaningful work in agriculture upon returning home, but this new position will help coordinate our efforts and make programs easier to navigate. I look forward to Karis' leadership as we continue to support America's heroes."

Gutter, native of Terry, Mississippi (pop. 1,099), began his career in public service as an enlisted United States Marine Corp Reservist. Gutter served as a Corporal in the Marine Corps as a communications and field radio operator for six years and participated in humanitarian relief in support of September 11 and Hurricane Katrina. Prior to his USDA service, Gutter worked for the Hinds County Board of Supervisors in Mississippi and on Capitol Hill as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02).

"Serving as USDA's first Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison is a great honor," said Gutter, who is also attending the Iowa conference. "As a Marine, I know military veterans have unique skills, training and perspective. My job is to make sure military veterans have full access to USDA's resources and services to help them succeed in civilian life."

The USDA Military Veteran Agriculture Liaison, which reports directly to the Office of the Secretary, is a new position created by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill also authorizes USDA to offer priority preference to veterans in several programs including the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and the Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program.

Since 2009, USDA has invested in housing, job training and financial assistance for veterans including:

  • Providing safe and sound housing through Rural Development's Rural Housing Service by making 9,301 single family guaranteed housing loans, 952 direct home loans, 766 home improvement loans and 1,445 home improvement grants to veterans and their families.
  • Investing over $2 million to training and experience for over 600 veterans through the Veterans Fire Corps, many of which become permanent Forest Service employees. There are over 10,000 veterans employed across USDA.
  • Partnering with the Corporation for National Service (CNCS) and other federal agencies to develop the 21st Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) to create opportunities for veterans to restore and conserve natural resources. Earlier this week, USDA and CNCS announced the project locations of expanded 21CSC opportunities in 11 states. In addition, the Forest Service invested over $21 million in FY14 and leveraged $18 million from partners to engage approximately 11,000 youth and veterans in training and employment opportunities.
  • Closing 689 Farm Service Agency Farm Ownership Loans (totaling $106.8 million), 3,881 traditional Farm Operating Loans, (totaling $236.4 million) and 592 microloans (totaling $11.3 million) to veterans. Recently, the Farm Service Agency announced it would recognize leadership positions in the military as a way to satisfy experience requirements when applying for microloan funds.
  • Investing $5.4 million to veterans through Farm Service Agency Emergency Loans and over $1.1 million in Conservation Loans.
  • Launching a dedicated website for veterans and military families about available federal nutrition programs.
  • Chartering the USDA Veterans, Reservists, and Military Families Task Force (VRMF) to strengthen and coordinate programmatic and outreach efforts across the Department to better serve military and veteran families.
  • Integrating veterans into USDA efforts for new and beginning farmers.

Today's announcement of the Military Veteran Agriculture Liaison was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The 2014 Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life.

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17 Nov 2014

U.S. Soy Exports Hit New Milestones

By United Soybean Board

U.S. farmers export over 2 billion bushels of soy worth $30 billion; China imports over 1 billion bushels ST. LOUIS (Nov. 13, 2014) - U.S. soybean farmers continue to provide their international customers with reliable, quality products, and those customers have once again rewarded them with big purchases. In the 2013/2014 marketing year, the United States exported over 2 billion bushels of U.S. soy, valued at more than $30 billion.

The year got off to a fast start, exceeding the predicted export numbers in early 2014 and finishing strong with record-size crops starting to come out of the fields. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the 2013/2014 export total includes more than 1.6 billion bushels of whole U.S. soybeans, meal from 484 million bushels of U.S. soybeans and oil from 161 million bushels. This total represents 62 percent of U.S. soybean production from last year.

"U.S. soybean farmers are committed to meeting global demand with a quality product," says Dwain Ford, United Soybean Board International Opportunities Target Area Coordinator and soybean farmer from Kinmundy, Illinois. "These export numbers prove that U.S. soy is a highly valued product in the global marketplace and that U.S. soybean farmers are doing our job."

Top buyers of whole U.S. soybeans in 2013/2014 include :
•    China: 1.013 billion bushels
•    Mexico: 124 million bushels
•    Indonesia: 75 million bushels

Top buyers of U.S. soybean meal in 2014 include :
•    Mexico: meal from 68 million bushels of U.S. soybeans
•    Philippines: meal from 59 million bushels
•    Canada: meal from 45 million bushels

Top buyers of U.S. soybean oil in 2014 include :
•    Mexico: oil from 36 million bushels of U.S. soybeans
•    China: oil from 35 million bushels
•    Dominican Republic: oil from 22 million bushels

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard
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17 Nov 2014

Scott County Extension Calendar Nov-Dec 2014

By Amanda Heitz

Nov. 25, 2014 2014 Farm Bill Program Overview, The Golden Leaf Banquet Center, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm

Nov. 27, 2014 Extension Office Closed for Holiday

Nov. 28, 2014 Extension Office Closed for Holiday

Dec. 2, 2014 Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7 pm-9 pm

Dec. 3, 2014 Pest Control Operators, Scott County Extension Office, 9:00 am-11:30 am

Dec. 5, 2014 Pesticide Applicator Testing, Scott County Extension Office, 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Visit our events calendar at our web site: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/

07 Nov 2014

USDA to Launch New Farm Bill Program to Help Provide Relief to Farmers Affected by Severe Weather

By USDA Office of Communications

2014 Farm Bill's APH Yield Exclusion to be Implemented for 2015 Spring Crops

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the implementation of a new Farm Bill initiative that will provide relief to farmers affected by severe weather, including drought. The Actual Production History (APH) Yield Exclusion, available nationwide for farmers of select crops starting next spring, allows eligible producers who have been hit with severe weather to receive a higher approved yield on their insurance policies through the federal crop insurance program.

Spring crops eligible for APH Yield Exclusion include corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, barley, canola, sunflowers, peanuts, and popcorn. Nearly three-fourths of all acres and liability in the federal crop insurance program will be covered under APH Yield Exclusion.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency and Farm Service Agency staff worked hard to implement several 2014 Farm Bill programs ahead of schedule, such as the Agricultural Risk Coverage, the Price Loss Coverage, Supplemental Coverage Option and Stacked Income Protection Plan. USDA is now able to leverage data from the Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage to extract the information needed to implement APH Yield Exclusion earlier than expected.

"Key programs launched or extended as part of the 2014 Farm Bill are essential to USDA's commitment to help rural communities grow. These efforts give farmers, ranchers and their families better security as they work to ensure Americans have safe and affordable food," said Vilsack. "By getting other 2014 Farm Bill programs implemented efficiently, we are now able to offer yield exclusion for Spring 2015 crops, providing relief to farmers impacted by severe weather."

The APH Yield Exclusion allows farmers to exclude yields in exceptionally bad years (such as a year in which a natural disaster or other extreme weather occurs) from their production history when calculating yields used to establish their crop insurance coverage. The level of insurance coverage available to a farmer is based on the farmer's average recent yields. In the past, a year of particularly low yields that occurred due to severe weather beyond the farmer's control would reduce the level of insurance coverage available to the farmer in future years. By excluding unusually bad years, farmers will not have to worry that a natural disaster will reduce their insurance coverage for years to come.

Under the new Farm Bill program, yields can be excluded from farm actual production history when the county average yield for that crop year is at least 50 percent below the 10 previous consecutive crop years' average yield.

RMA will provide additional program details in December 2014.

Federal crop insurance, which is sold through private crop insurance agents, offers a variety of options that may impact coverage and premium costs. Producers are encouraged to work with their crop insurance agent to determine the coverage that best meets their risk management needs. Farmers can find a crop insurance agent in their area at: www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html.

Today's announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The 2014 Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

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