Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 1 comment Add your own | iPod friendly
USDA assisting area farmers
Published Thursday, February 28, 2008
In 2007 Otter Tail County was one of 22 counties in Minnesota designated as eligible for drought assistance. This is an example of how much farmers, each year, are dependent on the whims of Mother Nature.
A person who knows a lot about farm losses is Leon Johnson, executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency, West Otter Tail County, whose offices are located in Fergus Falls. He and five others work directly with farm programs while another two staff members assist people with farm loans.
“We’re currently dealing with the crop disaster program that deals with the years from 2005 to 2007,” Johnson said. “Assistance to farmers is based on insurable crop losses.”
A livestock compensation program also covers the years from 2005 to 2007.
This is the time of year when Johnson and his staff are warning farmers to be aware of crop insurance schemes, most of which are illegal.
“With the spring sales closing date for many federal crop insurance policies right around the corner, crop insurance agents have stepped up their marketing efforts,” Johnson said.
The Risk Management Agency (RMA) of USDA has received reports from producers and agents that some aggressive marketers have been approaching producers with rebating offers.
“These schemes promise lower insurance premiums, refunds, dividends or items of value tied to crop insurance purchases,” Johnson said. “RMA and state regulators are taking appropriate regulatory action against all those who are found to promote or participate in such schemes.”
He said that producers who are found to participate in illegal rebating activities will not only lose their crop insurance coverage, but will also lose eligibility in all USDA programs.
“It’s paramount that farmers heed the aforementioned warnings,” Johnson said. “Producers and agents can report suspicions or illegal rebating to the OIG Hotline at 1-800-424-9121.”
On a lighter note, Johnson said this also is the time of year to work with farmers on a variety of programs. Included is educating farmers about the farm loan program.
“We provide loan assistance to farmers who may lack the ability to obtain commercial credit,” he said. “Their farm cash flow may be working but they lack enough equity. That’s where we can help.”
His office also is involved with commodity programs, price supports, and administering the reserve program, to name a few.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by horseygirl (anonymous) on February 29, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sick and tired of hearing about the poor farmers and how the drought affects them. How about the road construction business? Do you have any idea how hard they were hit by too much rain? My family is a family of construction workers. They don't get any government help when the weather shuts them down for weeks at a time. How about the small businesses in Minnesota that depend on snow to bring the snowmobilers in the winter? I could go on and on. There is a government website that I visited awhile ago listing the names of Minnesota farmers and the windfall
they put in their bank accounts from government programs. It was very interesting. Now I see why most of the farmers in my area drive brand new pickups and have the biggest and best tractors in their fields. Not to mention the HUGE houses they keep remodeling and building onto. My husband's paycheck depends on the weather, where's our help when the weather doesn't cooperate?
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)