Washington (Nov. 5, 2007)—Major agricultural groups from across the country today wrote leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee to urge them to “reject any amendments which are designed to further reduce benefits or place additional restrictions on program eligibility” when the farm bill reaches the Senate floor. “The provisions of the 2007 farm legislation, as…
DetailsAny businessperson worth their salt has, at minimum, a 5-year business plan that projects revenue, expenses, and projected profit. In fact, most banks demand such detailed plans before issuing business operating loans. Tommy Hoskyn, a rice and soybean farmer from Stuttgart, Ark., is no stranger to business planning. But proper planning has become almost impossible…
Details“When you feed the world, you are as important as any ambassador or government diplomat,” explained 50-year-old Gene (Pucky) Sandager, a corn, soybean, and cattle producer from Hills, Minnesota. But Gene does a lot more than just feed the world; he is teaching the world how to feed itself. Gene’s family has been very involved…
DetailsRoberts Amendment Allows Farmers to Elect Revenue Option Without Sacrificing Safety Net WASHINGTON (Oct. 31, 2007)—Farm families across the country breathed a collective sigh of relief last week after the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously accepted an amendment offered by Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) that would allow farmers to elect to participate in a countercyclical revenue…
DetailsBeing a fresh college graduate is one of the scariest and thrilling times of one’s lifetime. All of a sudden it is up to you to make your own decisions. But what if your decision entailed entering a risky industry? Patrick Johnson faced this challenging decision when he graduated from the University of Mississippi where…
DetailsWASHINGTON (Oct. 19, 2007)—A letter from 15 organizations sent to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Chambliss “to urge prompt action on 2007 farm legislation” underscores the need to complete the farm bill in 2007. These organizations—representing a wide array of commodities and farmers and ranchers from across the U.S. wrote—urged prompt action…
DetailsIf they spent some time in rural America, witnessing the hard work and risk that farmers and ranchers endure every day, I think we would see fewer editorial pages pontificating about farmers getting rich on taxpayer subsidies. Every year, farmers and ranchers invest thousands of dollars into their crop, buying equipment, fuel, seed, fertilizer, water,…
Details“Little House on the Prairie” Opposes Grassley-Dorgan Pay Limits Amendment Tom and DeVonna Zeug have a lot in common with the famous Charles Ingalls family who, in the late 19th century, settled on a farm just seven miles away from what is today the Zeug family’s fifth generation farm. “Believe it or not, John Zeug,…
DetailsDavid Kragnes sits on the Board of Directors for a major American company. But David is different from your average corporate board member. He doesn’t wear a three-piece suit to work every day or drive a luxury sedan. He drives a Deere and feels more comfortable in jeans. David is a fourth-generation sugarbeet farmer from…
DetailsHe is a cotton farmer, soybean farmer, wheat farmer and corn farmer, and when he’s not farming he is extremely active in his community. He is on the Board of Directors for the Private Christian Academy, President for the County Planning Commission, Deputy Commissioner for the Soil & Water Conservation District, President and Board Member…
DetailsWhen John Thaemert isn’t sporting a suit and sitting behind his desk at the Citizens State Bank & Trust Co. in Ellsworth, Kan., he’s wearing jeans and working on his wheat farm a few miles down the road near Sylvan Grove. John started working with investments and financial services in 1986. “I feel extremely fortunate…
DetailsWASHINGTON (Sept. 28, 2007)—With just two days remaining before the current farm bill expires, organizations of all political stripes today sent a letter to Senate leaders “to support expedited action on the 2007 Farm Bill.” “While our organizations have differences on specific policy recommendations, we believe it is vitally important that the Senate Agriculture Committee…
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