Join ASFMRA for the 79th Annual Meeting scheduled for November 12-14, 2008 in San Antonio, TX. The Program Planning Committee is hard at work creating a schedule packed full of education sessions you won’t want to miss.
Archive for August, 2008
ACRE — Farm Bill Webinar: A closer look at the new ACRE program
Which of the new farm bill provisions represents some of the most far-reaching reforms and also the most complexity? Without a doubt, it’s the new Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program.
The concept behind this new program is simple: pay farmers when revenues drop below normal revenue levels rather than a program like direct payments that dishes out dollars whether or not there has been a yield or price drop. Yet, farmers must give up 20% of their fixed direct payment and accept a 30% decline in loan rates for ACRE – a program that may or may not pay.
Still, it’s the formula for implementing the ACRE program, starting in 2009, that has some farmers excited and deficit hawks nervous—especially if commodity prices slump and farm payments start to go through the roof. Depending on where USDA establishes the price triggers, growers who enroll in ACRE could enjoy a substantial safety net.
Participation is far from being a no-brainer, as many had expected, says Kansas State Extension Ag Economist Art Barnaby. This is an extremely complex program that requires two separate triggers to be met before payment will be issued. The ACRE program will depend on the market, but it is far more likely to generate payments on corn, wheat, soybeans and grain sorghum than the counter-cyclical or marketing loan provisions. Register for this webinar
Emerging Nations Cultivate Agriculture Brands
Farm products are traditionally sold as commodities. Yet, some farmers earn greater profits by branding the geographic regions where their goods are grown – for example, Parma ham in Italy or French products sold under the Appellation d’origine controlee label. But what if the farm products come from less renowned origins – Brazil, for instance? Read More
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