11-15-11 Third quarter Survey of Tenth District Agricultural Credit Conditions released…

 

CLICK HERE to view the survey

Tenth District farmland values surged to a record high in the third quarter, with stronger gains in the northern Plains, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s quarterly Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions. District cropland values rose more than 25 percent over the past year, and ranchland values increased 14 percent. A quarter of the 243 survey respondents felt that cropland values had yet to peak. Nebraska posted the strongest gains with irrigated and nonirrigated land values rising approximately 40 percent above year-ago levels. Record gains in the northern Plains were fueled by another bumper crop this harvest season that raised farm income expectations despite the recent slide in crop prices. In the southern Plains, weaker farm income limited farmland values gains. Severe drought struck Oklahoma and areas of Kansas, Missouri and Colorado, stressing crops and drying out pastures. Reduced yields cut farm incomes and drove an increase in crop insurance claims. In addition, poor grazing prompted livestock operators to relocate herds or liquidate. Despite variable farm income, Tenth District agricultural credit conditions held relatively steady in the third quarter. Loan repayment rates remained strong with fewer requests for loan renewals and extensions. Interest rates for farm operating and real estate loans reached new survey lows. CLICK HERE  to view the entire report

 

 

11-15-11 Fuzion Technologies, Huntsman Petrochemical and Lighthouse Product Services take home Agrow Awards

Fort Collins, Colo. (AgPR), Nov. 15, 2011 – Nominated for three awards at the global Agrow Awards Event held in London, England on November 1, Fuzion Technologies, LLC, www.fuzionag.com, Huntsman Petrochemical and Lighthouse Product Services won two awards based on the development of Veloz Technology. The first award was for the Best Formulation Innovation and the second award was for Best Industry Collaboration. Branded as Veloz Technology, Huntsman Petrochemical developed a technology that when used with certain active ingredients is able to drive the active ingredient into the insect faster resulting in faster more complete control. The first product, Frenzy Veloz was launched just prior to the 2011 growing season and had tremendous results treating just under 1 million acres. Since June, two additional products have been registered and a third is pending. These products expect to be launched under the Frenzy Attack and Frenzy Systemic brtands.The collaborative effort was very effective and efficient. Huntsman Petrochemical optimized the formulations then handed them off to Lighthouse Product Services who was able to work with EPA personnel to get them registered. Fuzion Technologies launched the products into the market with the first production coming off the line in June. “Since our inception, our goal has always been to develop innovative and differentiated products to offer to distributors and retailers. As a new and small company, collaboration is the only way we could pull that off. Huntsman and Lighthouse have been incredibly cooperative and the market clearly liked the product. While Frenzy was quite successful, we really believe that Frenzy Attack and Frenzy Systemic will be even better – so we are very excited about launching those products this winter and further showcasing this Veloz Technology,” states Mike Steffeck, co-founder of Fuzion Technologies, LLC.

11-15-11 SFP Presents Yield Signs 4 Success Winnings to 4-H

Pictured, left to right, at the check presentation are: John Hardy, SFP Executive Vice President; Ina Linville, Trustee, National 4-H Council & Missouri State Program Leader; and Larry Sanders, Ph.D., SFP President & CEO. Photo courtesy of SFP.

To culminate its inaugural Yield Signs 4 Success (YS4S) Program, SFP recently presented an $11,895 check to the National 4-H Council as the grand-prize winner. Website visitors participated in the overall YS4S online contest by visiting FENtour.com to cast their votes for one of four agriculturally based organizations to receive the final 2011 YS4S donation – $1 for every mile SFP’s mobile marketing unit travelled this year to industry tradeshows and field-day events. YS4S funds will be utilized by 4-H to enhance and expand its agricultural outreach among America’s youth. 

11-15-11 *Co Dept of Ag News* Local Products Make Great Gifts…think Colorado Proud this Christmas…

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Whether you are looking for that perfect gift, a special ingredient for your holiday meal or a shapely tree to grace your home, the Colorado Department of Agriculture has online resources to help you find what you need this holiday season. The Colorado Food and Agriculture Gift Guide and the Christmas Tree List help shoppers connect with local producers.

“Look for the Colorado Proud logo and buy local this holiday season,” said Commissioner of Agriculture, John Salazar. “Buying local products helps support Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, processors, restaurants and ultimately the state’s economy.”

The Colorado Food and Agriculture Gift Guide lists companies that sell items ranging from gourmet baskets filled with sweets and snacks to mouth-watering meats and fresh produce. The Christmas Tree List identifies locations where individuals can find the perfect tree for their families. The directory includes u-cut operations and information on cutting trees at national forests.

Visit www.coloradoagriculture.com to find both the Colorado Food and Agriculture Gift Guide and the Christmas Tree List. Find Colorado products year round at www.comarketmaker.com.

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Colorado Proud was created by the Colorado Department of Agriculture in 1999 to promote locally grown, raised or processed products to consumers statewide. Currently, the program has more than 1,500 members that include growers, processors, restaurants, retailers and associations. For more information, visit www.coloradoproud.org.

11-15-11 CACD names BARN Media for the 2011 Communicator Excellence Award…

(l-r) CACD President Harley Ernst with Brian Allmer of the BARN & BARN Media

(The BARN – Loveland, CO) Barn Media was recognized as the 2011 Communicator Excellence receipient for the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts @ the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Loveland on Tuesday, November the 15th during the CACD’s Annual Convention Awards Luncheon. The award was presented to the BARN for outstanding service in fostering communications among conservation partners.

Brian Allmer issued this statement, “I am truly honored and humbled to accept this award on behalf of the work I do OnAir & OnLine in promoting the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts. I would like to thank the CACD Board & its members for recognizing my efforts in helping them achieve their mission ‘to serve as the unified voice for the conservation districts of Colorado, facilitating outreach, education and support of landowners in their stewardship of natural resources’.”

“I encourage all of the conservation districts within the state to continue to look to the BARN in doing so, and I look forward to doing even more in the coming years and advocating the important role conservation and conservation districts play in Colorado’s Agriculture & Forestry industries.”

“Once again…THANKS!”

As soon as an official press release is issued in regards to the the others that were recognized during the ceremony, it will be posted here.

To learn more about the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts…CLICK HERE

11-15-11 Weld County Council Report to the People 2011 3rd Quarter‏

WELD COUNTY COUNCIL

2011 – 3rd Quarter

REPORT TO THE PEOPLE

November 14, 2011

 The Weld County Council is mandated in accordance with the Home Rule Charter of Weld County, Colorado, to report to the people of Weld County on a quarterly basis, those matters related to the council’s review of Weld County government.  This report summarizes the activities of the Weld County Council during the third quarter of the calendar year 2011.

July 18, 2011- Keenesburg Town Hall

Program Review

Weld County Sheriff John Cooke gave an overview of the new organization changes within the Sheriff’s Office.  An organizational chart was distributed to the council.  The organization was previously flattened, but due to growth and time some of the position titles have been changed, an undersheriff position was reinstated, a full-time training officer for the patrol side was added and a new Civil Division was created.  No one lost their position or pay.  The organization will take about six months to complete.

Sheriff Cooke will be in office three more years, but trying to set-up a legacy for after his term.  There will be three new Deputy Bureau Chiefs and five new commanders. There will be a competitive test to hire for these positions.  Five members from community will help with this testing process as well.

11-15-11 US Forest Service Chief Testifies On New Direction For Forest Planning

WASHINGTON,  Nov. 15, 2011 – U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell testified today before Congress on the strengths and efficiencies of the agency’s draft new Planning Rule that, when finalized, will provide a framework for how all of the 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands will be managed in the future.

“We need a planning rule that has less process and costs less, with the same or higher level of protections,” said Tidwell.

In his testimony before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, Tidwell discussed how the new rule will decrease the costs of forest planning while delivering better protections for forests, wildlife and water resources and supporting ecosystem services and multiple uses of the National Forest System. The new rule would update planning procedures for 155 national forests and 20 grasslands that have been in place since 1982.

“What started as a very strong proposed rule will now be even better thanks to the hundreds of thousands of constructive comments we received from people and groups across the country,” Tidwell said. “We firmly believe the final rule will deliver an efficient planning process that will reduce costs, facilitate the restoration and management of our forests and watersheds, safeguard natural resources and help deliver a sustainable flow of benefits to the American people.”

11-15-11 *Public Lands Council News* Ranchers Warn US Forest Policies Threaten Livestock Grazing…

WASHINGTON (Nov. 15, 2011) – On behalf of the Public Lands Council (PLC) and the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), Margaret Soulen Hinson told lawmakers during a hearing of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands if the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service’s proposed forest planning rule goes into effect, thousands of ranching families could be forced off the land. While Soulen Hinson, an Idaho cattle and sheep producer and president of ASI, discussed multiple concerns PLC and ASI have with the proposed planning rule, which could be finalized this winter, she spent the bulk of her testimony detailing the negative effect a provision calling for management for “species viability” would have on federal lands ranching.

“By 2013, my family and I will be forced to remove 60 percent of our sheep from our allotments on the Payette National Forest, which may well mark the end of our family’s 80-year-old sheep operation altogether,” Soulen Hinson said. “This has come to pass because of a very specific wildlife provision of the current planning rule, which calls for management for ‘species viability.’ The term ‘viability’ is a vague, ill-defined term which appears nowhere in statute and has been the source of endless litigation and economic destruction over the years. We recommend the Forest Service remove entirely the term ‘viability’ and leave wildlife management to the states, as required by statute.”

11-15-11 Carl King, Co-Founder of American Corn Growers Association, Passes

TILDEN, Neb. (RuralWire) Nov. 14, 2011 – Keith Dittrich, Chairman of the Board of the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) today updated his fellow board members that Chairman Emeritus of the ACGA, Carl King from Dimmitt, Texas, has passed away at the age of 87 years.

“We wish to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of Mr. King on his passing.  Carl was a tremendous leader and visionary for this organization and numerous others over his many years of political activities.  Carl never forgot his friends and we will never forget him” stated Dittrich.

Mr. King was a strong advocate for ethanol development for over 40 years and started the Texas Corn Producers Board in 1980.  He fought for farm, trade and energy policies that encouraged profitable commodity prices for farmers.  In 1986 he co-founded the American Corn Growers Association to achieve these goals.

11-15-11 *USDA WHEAT OUTLOOK* U.S. Wheat Supplies Slightly Lower This Month…

U.S. wheat supplies for 2011/12 are lowered 9 million bushels based on updated production estimates for the states resurveyed following the September 30 Small Grains report. Adjustments to production in these states, where significant acreage remained unharvested in early September, lowers production estimates for hard red spring (HRS) wheat and durum. An increase in white wheat production is partly offsetting. Projected use for 2011/12 is unchanged for all wheat; however, domestic food use is projected higher for hard red winter (HRW) wheat and lower for HRS wheat. Projected exports are raised for HRS and lowered for HRW. All wheat ending stocks are lowered 9 million bushels in line with the production change. The season-average farm price is projected lower at $7.05 to $7.75 per bushel compared with $7.10 to $7.90 last month, reflecting the latest reported prices.

Increased production reported for Kazakhstan and EU-27 raise this month’s forecasts for 2011/12 world wheat supply, use, and ending stocks. Wheat exports are projected higher for Russia and EU-27.

READ THE FULL REPORT – CLICK HERE

11-15-11 *CO Farm Bureau ALERT* Make Your Comments Heard to the Department of Labor

The United States Department of Labor is currently accepting comments on their rule that will impact how kids work on farms and ranches.  By going to this link, http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=WHD-2011-0001-0001 you can submit your comments.

Please feel free to copy and paste the below comments into the comment box that you will find at the above link.

Comments are in italic…