Wisconsin Farmers Union

AUGUST 31, 2022

Neighborhood members work to overcome hurdles to get connected to broadband By Julian Emerson Wisconsin Farmers Union Communications Specialist DODGEVILLE – Tired after years of intermittent-to-nonexistent internet service, Debra and Paul Janssen decided to take matters into their own hands. Completing even the simplest tasks that require the internet had become increasingly challenging during the couple’s five years in their home, part of the 22-house Green Leaf Glen neighborhood amid the sceni

Ruralism 52

Ruralism 52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 30, 2022

The KC Fed released their quarterly agricultural condition report last week. In this post we will review the major trends from the report. Expectations for future farm income remains strong, however, the expected net income over these months are less than the expectations from the last three quarters. Two quarters ago were the peak expectations with the current quarter at about half.

Real Estate 52

Real Estate Farmland Farming Farming 52

SILT

AUGUST 30, 2022

A tiny house, bee hives, a pond full of hungry fish and some goat cheese spreads were highlights of the SILT’s Small Farm Summer at Bee Haven Farm, but the goats stole the show. Blue Collar Goatscaping , an enterprise run by Emery Davis and Adam Ledvina, brought the goats to Bee Haven to illustrate the great work they do clearing brush in a growing woodland.

Farming 52

Farming Farming Marketing Agriculture 52

The Lunatic Farmer

AUGUST 27, 2022

Have you heard about the explosion of growth in the mosquito extermination business? An outfit named Mosquito Joe, only 10 years old, now has 173 franchisees in 39 states. That’s phenomenal growth. And that’s just one company among many others. One of the most common comments from visitors to our farm—the ones who are here after dark especially—is “why don’t you have any mosquitos?

Livestock 52

Livestock Forage Ecology Pasture 52

Caff

AUGUST 23, 2022

On behalf of Community Alliance with Family Farmers, it is our honor and privilege to recognize the enduring commitment of Terry and Carolyn Harrison to our organization’s mission. As we approach CAFF’s 45th anniversary, we’ve been looking back on our legacy and all the people who’ve helped make it possible. From working to give voice to small farms when they go otherwise unheard to persistently urging our leaders to take action in our fight against climate change, Terry and Carolyn’s ongoing pa

Fertilizer 52

Fertilizer Crop Food Farming 52

Sustainable Harvest International

AUGUST 16, 2022

Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) has been selected to participate in the inaugural Reimagining the Future of Global Development moonshot accelerator co-hosted by Day One Project and UnlockAid. The accelerator brings together organizations with scalable solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. The program consists of an online series of workshops and an in-person convention held in Mexico City from August 17-19 where selectees will present ideas and connect with government policymakers

Harvester 52

Harvester Harvest Harvesting Agroecology 52

Wisconsin Farmers Union

AUGUST 30, 2022

Jim Massey Rural Voices Correspondent During the first year of the Wisconsin Producer-Led Watershed Grant Program in 2016, $242,550 was awarded to 14 groups. This year, $1 million was awarded to a program-record 36 groups across the state. MADISON — Hundreds of Wisconsin farmers have gravitated to Producer-led watershed groups for a variety of reasons over the past half dozen years.

Manure 52

Manure Farming Farming Distribution 52

The Gleaning Project of South Central PA

AUGUST 15, 2022

Hey Gleaner’s ! We’re back with more holidays for this Sizzling Summer heat ! GAM UPDATE: August 19th is Potato Day Potatoes are so versatile and this is a day to celebrate all the delicious things you can do with them! They can be anything from a savory side dish, a sweet (hello potato candy !) and a main course if done correctly ( pierogis and pierogi pizza guys!).

Pesticide 52

Pesticide Grain Seeding Harvester 52

The Lunatic Farmer

AUGUST 23, 2022

Pictures of dead livestock in Africa break our hearts. The remedy apparently is grain purchased from Ukraine with American worthless dollars to help feed the starving people who now don’t have livestock to eat because those already starved. As I look at these depressing pictures of skinny farmers crying over their dead cows and sheep, it’s hard to rein in my emotions.

Grain 52

Grain Livestock Fertilizer Farming 52

Caff

AUGUST 22, 2022

Today the USDA halted an Almond Board rule change that would have prohibited direct online sales of raw almonds, which farmers had previously been pursuing as part of the roadside stand and farmers’ market exemption. When these direct-to-consumer exemptions were initially created there was no internet and so farmers hadn’t yet incorporated internet technology into their marketing nor had ecommerce been explicitly included in these exceptions. “CAFF thanks USDA Undersecretary Je

Marketing 52

Marketing Family Farming Farming Farming 52

Sustainable Harvest International

AUGUST 4, 2022

In January 2022, SHI launched Promoter 4 Change, a farmer-to-farmer training program creating rural climate resilience, biodiversity, and new economic opportunities through sustainable farming practices. Sustainable Harvest International’s (SHI) new pilot project in Honduras offers an important and innovative solution to the region’s persistent issues of food insecurity and economic instability, two of the most critical reasons why hundreds of thousands of Central Americans abandon their rural c

Agroecology 52

Agroecology Ruralism Farming Farming 52

SILT

AUGUST 3, 2022

The SILT Farmer Committee and Board are pleased to announce the newest farmers for Luzum Heritage Farm, SILT’s 170-acre span of pasture, prairie, trees and hoop houses located just south of Decorah in Northeast Iowa. Carly McAndrews and Bryant Mann a re two best friends who have been farming together for four years. They have a combined 13 seasons of experience working on small-scale, diversified vegetable farms.

Pasture 52

Pasture Farming Farming Acre 52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 23, 2022

It appears that the FSA is allowing farmers who currently do not meet the more than 75% farm AGI definition to appeal the determination with the local FSA office. Senator Hoeven released a press release on this process last week. We have not determined exactly how this process works. We have heard that you appeal it directly to the County Committee who then either pushes it up to the state level for review and then onto the federal office for further review or it skips the state office level rev

Processing 52

Processing Farming Farming 52

EOS

AUGUST 10, 2022

Used in complex, integrated pest management is the best strategy to protect crops. IMP provides safer and more efficient solutions to address pest infestations.

Agriculture 52

Agriculture Agriculture Crop 52

The Lunatic Farmer

AUGUST 3, 2022

One of our chefs called yesterday asking for information regarding how our farm protects its water from chemical contamination. Any informed person today knows that most farmers dump millions of tons of chemicals on their land. In fact, it often seeps into groundwater and drifts through the air, making even non-using farmers susceptible to detectable levels.

Pasture 52

Pasture Livestock Crop Acre 52

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

This course is designed to prepare farmers, ranchers and rural residents for wildfires. Over the course of seven modules, you will learn how to create an emergency farm plan for your land. This farm plan will provide prevention steps you can take with your equipment and vegetation in order to help mitigate wildfires. You will also cover creating defensible space and fuel breaks in agricultural areas.

Agriculture 52

Agriculture Agriculture Ruralism Farming 52

The Gleaning Project of South Central PA

AUGUST 15, 2022

Hello Again Gleaners! We’re back with another month in the heat of summer to celebrate food, friends and delicious recipes! August is Catfish Month Catfish are fish that are related to carp and minnows and typically have feline-looking whiskers. They can be found in almost all waterways in Pennsylvania so there are a million opportunities if you’re a fisherman to catch one but what do you do with it after?

Food 52

Food 52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 21, 2022

Many farm supply dealers are approaching a common 8/31 year end. They are also approaching some unexpected consequences of high input purchasing costs last fall/winter coupled with the steep decline in summer market pricing. Thanks to Todd Etheridge, Agribusiness Principal in our Central Illinois office, who raised this issue and provided the content of this post.

Farming 52

Farming Farming Marketing Production 52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 21, 2022

In our post from last week we indicated to get the maximum 30% tax credit for qualifying projects that you needed to pay prevailing wages and have a registered apprenticeship program. After reading the Act in even more detail, it appears that these requirements do not apply to any facility with an output less than 1 Megawatt which is a large facility.

Farming 52

Farming Farming 52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 18, 2022

The Employee Retention Credit continues to be a hot topic and potential for large cash refunds for those employers who can demonstrate the required decrease in gross receipts or other Covid related shut-down parameters from Q2 2020 through Q3 2021. I have many clients that have received six figure refunds because of this credit. The requirements are more black and white than the PPP program and are not based on financial hardship.

Farming 52

Farming Farming 52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 17, 2022

We had a feeling when we saw that ERP has already issued at least $6.4 billion of payments that USDA might not give us the result we wanted on equipment gains and that is the reality. USDA just released updated guidance on the definitions of farm adjusted gross income (AGI). The bottom line is that farmers needs to have at least 66.66% of farm AGI to total AGI before they can include equipment gains.

Seeding 52

Seeding Farming Farming Harvester 52

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

Tenga a la mano información actualizada de su rancho como dirección, número de empleados, contactos de emergencia, ubicación de animales y kits de emergencia. The post Plan de Preparación para Desastres appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

52

52

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

Esta guía didáctica de alternativas al uso del fuego en actividades agropecuarias, generada con el apoyo del Programa Nacional para la Gestión Ambientalmente Adecuada de Sustancias Químicas en su Ciclo de Vida (PNGQ) busca ser una herramienta que promueva la aplicación y difusión de dichas alternativas en el sector agrícola para de esta manera proteger la salud de las personas y del ambiente.

52

52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 15, 2022

In our previous post we discussed the funds available for at-risk farmers in the amount of $3.1 billion. We forgot to mention that there is also an additional $2.9 billion available for “underserved” farmers plus any farmers who were subject to discrimination. Underserved farmers include veterans, limited resource farmers, and beginning farmers and ranchers.

Farming 52

Farming Farming 52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 11, 2022

This post will do a little deeper dive into the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) that will likely become law this week. This post deals with the changes related to American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provision to provide assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers. Eliminate Loan Forgiveness for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers The American Rescue Plan passed in 2021 had a provision to provide loan forgiveness for socially disadvantaged farmers plus an extra 20% to help pay for income taxes.

52

52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 7, 2022

For many years the IRS in Publication 225 (The Farmers Tax Guide) had indicated that farmers could not elect to defer crop insurance proceeds to the following year for revenue protection (RP) policies. We had mentioned this in a few other blog posts and in our farm tax update seminars. It appears that the IRS has now gotten the message and updated this publication.

Crop 52

Crop Yield Harvester Harvest 52

Caff

AUGUST 5, 2022

The Community Alliance with Family Farms (CAFF) hosted our fourth Biologically Integrated Orchard System (BIOS) field day, titled “Effective IPM Strategies for Major Walnut Pests,” at Blossom Farms on July 12th. Attendees gathered in the cover cropped orchard to discuss their observations and management strategies for key walnut pests this season. Hanna Kahl, CAFF’s Ecological Pest Management Specialist, kicked off the event by introducing CAFF and the BIOS project, which began in the 1990s and

Farming 52

Farming Farming Orchard Soil Compaction 52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 3, 2022

The mass sale of the farmer’s equipment line has become a hot topic again as of late. As farmers approach retirement their two biggest concerns are generally equipment sales and carryover grain. Related to the equipment, many farmers structure their buyout to a child or neighbor on a payment plan (for example, on a line worth $1 million the buyer will pay $100k per year for ten years).

Carryover 52

Carryover Marketing Farmland Grain 52

Agribusiness Blog

AUGUST 2, 2022

For those attending the AICPA Ag Conference in Denver starting next Monday August 8, I have reserved three tee times starting at 7 am at the Kennedy Golf Course in SE Denver. It is about a 25 minute drive from the hotel to the course. It is a little tough getting tee times in Denver. Many of you have reached out to me to let me know you want to golf but I would appreciate you sending me an email confirming you are golfing who else may be joining you.

Farming 52

Farming Farming 52

The Lunatic Farmer

AUGUST 1, 2022

The homesteading tsunami is real and I’m delighted to see it. Part of that movement is a yearning to learn on one end and numerous teaching platforms on the other end. I’m a book guy for sure, but our modern context is moving more and more toward video content and on-line curricula. Today I’m honored and thrilled to announce an upcoming platform called THE SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL SKILLS.

Pasture 52

Pasture Fertilizer Forestry Forage 52

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

From the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC), three case studies highlighting opportunities for community based nonprofits to build cooperative burning capacity. The post Pathways to Prescribed Fire Report March 2022 appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

Ruralism 40

Ruralism 40

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

The purpose of this Strategic Plan is to guide the expansion of beneficial fire across the state through 2025, as set forth in California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. The post California’s Strategic Plan for Expanding the Use of Beneficial Fire appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

40

40

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

From the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC), this report provides an overview of the current science and need for prescribed fire, describes barriers to the use of prescribed fire on public lands in the western U.S. managed by the Forest Service, and describes policy options to overcome these barriers. The post Fighting Fire with Fire: Policy Options to Increase the Use of Prescribed Fire on National Forests appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

Science 40

Science Ruralism 40

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

For this story, we travel to Glen Ellen, California, to hear from the farmers at Bee-Well Farms who were heavily impacted by the 2017 Nun’s wildfire. Having recovered, they now have sophisticated emergency plans and are prepared for the next wildfire. Here, Melissa will walk you through their emergency response plan as well as share what’s in their Go-Bags (and why)!

Farming 40

Farming Farming 40

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

A reference for employer’s engaged in Oregon OSHA’s Agriculture Activities. The post Fighting farmland and rangeland wildfires appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

Farmland 40

Farmland Agriculture Agriculture 40

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

Farmers Cheetah and Samantha run TurkeyTail Farm in Yankee Hill, California. During the Camp Fire in Butte County, they were evacuated for 28 days and lost everything but their livestock to severe fire damage, In this two-part blog series, the farmers share about their recovery process from after the evacuation order was lifted until today. The post Wildfire Response: Evacuating With TurkeyTail Farm appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

Farming 40

Farming Farming Livestock Processing 40

Caff

AUGUST 17, 2022

Farmers Cheetah and Samantha run TurkeyTail Farm in Yankee Hill, California. During the Camp Fire in Butte County, they were evacuated for 28 days and lost everything but their livestock to severe fire damage, In this two-part blog series, the farmers share about their recovery process from after the evacuation order was lifted until today. The post Wildfire Recovery: The Nuts And Bolts Of Resilience With TurkeyTail Farm appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

Farming 40

Farming Farming Livestock Processing 40