Agriculture
Farmers thriving as income, land values grow
Written by Dick Pryor Friday, 13 May 2011 22:15
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says the farm boom is continuing this year as high crop prices and improved livestock prices combine to drive farm income higher. The Fed said Friday that robust farm income in region helped drive cropland values up roughly 20 percent over last year. The 10th Federal Reserve District, based in Kansas City, Mo., covers Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, northern New Mexico and western Missouri.
The Federal Reserve says farmers are using their improved income to invest in land and equipment. Bankers throughout the district reported an increase in the number of farmers using cash as a down payment on land purchases. And demand for loans remained weak in the first quarter because many farmers had enough cash to cover their production expenses.
Ag officials warn Okla farmers of wind erosion
Written by Dick Pryor Friday, 06 May 2011 19:21
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - As extreme drought conditions continue across much of Oklahoma agriculture officials are urging state farmers to consider all options before plowing their fields. The president of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts says dry conditions could result in excessive wind erosion because of the strong winds and dry soils. Many Oklahoma farmers are abandoning their wheat fields due to the drought.
The Oklahoma Climatological Survey began reporting dry conditions in October, and the U.S. Drought Monitor noted in January that central Oklahoma was experiencing a severe drought. The Drought Monitor's latest report calls the drought exceptional in the southwest corner of the state and the western Panhandle, extreme in western Oklahoma and severe in central sections of the state.
Experts: Drought could continue in southern US
Written by Dick Pryor Monday, 25 April 2011 21:47
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Weather experts say an extreme drought that has gripped parts of nine states is expected to drag on for several months or intensify. Portions of Texas and a small part of eastern Louisiana are the only parts of the nation that rank in the National Weather Service's worst drought condition category. They've experienced the driest October through March on record since 1966-67.
The rest of Texas and Louisiana also are very parched, as are parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Florida. Weather experts say May could be the last chance for relief. That's because May typically brings the most rainfall in some of the bone-dry states, including Texas and Oklahoma. The dry conditions have already led to wildfires in Texas, New Mexico and Florida.
Henry announces federal aid for Okla. farmers
Written by Dick Pryor Wednesday, 29 December 2010 22:56
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry says federal aid has been approved for farmers and ranchers in 72 Oklahoma counties who suffered damage because of drought, extreme heat and high windsover the past year. Henry announced the aid package on Wednesday. It means farmers and ranchers in the counties are eligible for low-interest loans to cover their losses.
In a letter to the governor, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says loss assessments indicated there was enough damage to merit a primary disaster declaration in 58 counties. Under federal regulations, another 14 contiguous counties also qualify. Last month, Gov. Henry requested an agricultural disaster declaration for all 77 Oklahoma counties. The only counties that will not receive federal aid are Craig, Kay, Nowata, Ottawa and Washington counties.
Government to offer settlement with Indian farmers
Written by Dick Pryor Wednesday, 20 October 2010 17:25
WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge will consider a government offer to settle with American Indian farmers who say the Agriculture Department discriminated against them for decades. The two sides are meeting in U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan's courtroom Tuesday afternoon to discuss a proposed deal. The government and the plaintiffs both declined to disclose the terms of the would-be settlement ahead of hearing.
The lawsuit filed in 1999 contends Indian farmers and ranchers lost about $500 million because they were denied USDA loans. The government settled a similar lawsuit filed by black farmers more than a decade ago. American Indian farmers have said that local USDA officials tried to squeeze them out of business by denying them loans that instead went to their white neighbors.
