Beech Tree News Network

Lexington, KY, August 29, 2012 -- As the Obama Administration continues to support farmers and businesses impacted by the drought, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a two-month extension for emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres, freeing up forage and feed for ranchers as they look to recover from this challenging time.

Lexington, KY, August 28, 2012 –John W. McCauley, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director announced that calendar year 2012 brings several changes to the way FSA reports a producer’s farm program payments to the producer and to IRS. In past years, IRS Forms 1099-G would be issued to show all program payments received from the Farm Service Agency, regardless of the amount. "Starting with calendar year 2012, producers whose total reportable payments from FSA are less than $600 will not receive IRS Form 1099-G (Report of Payments to Producers)," said McCauley.

By: Greg Drake II, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

On August 8, 2012, Secretary Vilsack declared Breckinridge and Grayson counties as disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by
drought that occurred on July 31, 2012, and continuing. As a result of the declaration, seven counties were named as contiguous counties where eligible family farmers may qualify for FSA EM loan assistance pursuant to Section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. Those counties are: Butler, Edmonson, Hancock, Hardin, Hart, Meade, and Ohio.

This year’s Butler County Field Day will feature a demonstration on small scale or back yard poultry production.  Interest in food security has been on the rise lately and many people are interested in keeping a few chickens for their own use or perhaps to sell eggs to their neighbors or at farmer’s markets.  A poultry specialist from the University of Kentucky will be in Morgantown, KY on September 6th to discuss the enterprise and answer questions about raising poultry.  The demonstration is part of the Butler County Field Day.  This event is free to attend and will also feature demonstra

Lexington, KY - Foreign investors who buy, sell, or hold a direct or indirect interest in U.S. Agricultural land are required to report their holdings and transactions to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, in accordance with the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) of 1978.

A networking workshop designed to introduce Kentucky producers to wholesale/retail market opportunities!

Bowling Green, Ky. – Farmers and food buyers are invited to talk about how they can work together to get more Kentucky Proud foods into Kentucky stores, restaurants, and schools in a conference Sept. 14 in Bowling Green.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces the opportunity for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants to request authorization to conduct emergency haying or grazing on specific CRP acres. Authorization is based on a U. S. Drought Monitor designation of D0 or higher for Butler County on or after July 19, 2012. Eligible producers who are interested in applying for approval to conduct Emergency Haying or Grazing of CRP land located in Butler County must request and obtain individual written approval from FSA before any haying or grazing starts.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated two counties in Kentucky as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought. The counties are: Breckinridge and Grayson.

LEXINGTON --- On July 12, 2012, Secretary Vilsack declared 17 Missouri counties as disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred on January 1, 2012, and continuing.

As a result of the declaration, four Kentucky counties were named as contiguous counties where eligible family farmers may qualify for FSA EM loan assistance pursuant to Section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. Those counties are Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman.