http://www.hpj.com/rss.cfm High Plains Journal: Ag News Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0506LivestockDisasterProgramsdbsr.cfm As a new farm bill continues to take shape, a bill in Congress would ensure that one of its provisions is preserved -- a series of disaster aid programs for livestock producers. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-SD, has reintroduced legislation to grant five-year extensions to the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Livestock Forage Program and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program. The Livestock Indemnity Program helps producers defray the costs of replenishing their herds when animals are killed by a... Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0514NAAJFoodAid_LDsr.cfm The official noted that 3 million to 4 million additional people could be serviced with the change in the emergency food aid and 800,000 more families with the change in how development food aid is administered. Where the turf battles heat up is over the Food for Progress program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. “As you know, Title II of Public Law 480 provides for the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities by the U.S. government to meet ... Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0320DisasterAssistancesr.cfm Gov. John Hickenlooper requested a disaster designation due to losses caused by hail, high winds and flash flooding that occurred June 7 through July 5, 2012. The primary disaster county in this designation is Weld County, and the contiguous disaster counties are Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer, Logan and Morgan counties. This designation makes all family-sized farm operators in primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for low interest emergency loans from Farm Service ... Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0430KSEconomyGrows1Qdbsr.cfm April’s revenue receipt collections, released April 30, showed individual income tax receipts had grown almost 6 percent from the prior fiscal year to date. Overall, the state collected $25 million more in individual income tax receipts in April 2013 versus April 2012. Corporate income tax receipts for April 2013 are about 44 percent more than those for April 2012. Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0510MissKSContestantPromotesAg1PIXdbsr.cfm By mixing her platform “Cultivating Healthy Lifestyles” and the Miss America platform for the Children’s Miracle Network, Hill has created Kernels for Kids. Hill promotes agriculture through a philanthropy she created called Kernels for Kids, a charity that collects bushels of grain from grain elevators across Kansas. All donations raised by Kernels for Kids directly benefit the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Via Christi Hospital in Wichita, and St. Francis Health Center... Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0515Monsanto_DRDBsr.cfm Two executives applauded a decision May 13 by the U.S. Supreme Court’s that said an Indiana farmer violated Monsanto Co.’s patents on soybean seeds resistant to its weed-killer by growing the beans without buying new seeds from the corporation. According to the AP, in the case decided by the court, Bowman bought expensive, patented Monsanto’s “Roundup Ready” seeds for his main crop of soybeans, but decided to look for something cheaper for a risky, late-season soybean planting. “Bowman ... Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0520REAPGrantExtensiondbsr.cfm USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. REAP, authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the nation’s critical energy needs. Visit the USDA Rural Development in Kansas website for additional program information and for application ... Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0514FarmBillsr.cfm The Senate Agriculture Committee has approved its version of a five-year farm bill that would cut spending while also creating new subsidies for farmers. The Senate bill calls for a total of roughly $2.4 billion a year in cuts. The new Adverse Market Payment program under the new Senate farm bill, Roberts said, not only will add target prices to Southern crops, but to corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum crops as well. Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0508UCDavisRankedFirstforAgdbsr.cfm 1 in the world for teaching and research in the area of agriculture and forestry, according to rankings released by QS World University Rankings. The QS World University Rankings by Subject are prepared by Quacquarelli Symonds, a British firm that previously was the data provider for the annual Times Higher Education rankings. This is the third year it has produced its own world university rankings, independent of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT http://www.hpj.com/archives/2013/may13/may20/0508WeKanAwardssr.cfm The 21st annual We Kan! awards were presented May 4 at the Kansas Sampler Festival to 10 people who help preserve and sustain rural culture. The awards are given by the Kansas Sampler Foundation as appreciation for dedicated work to help preserve and sustain rural culture. The 2013 winners are Abby Amick, Alma, Powering Up Agri-women and Kansas; Tammy Britt, Concordia, Good Thinker and Bright Spirit; Community of Liberal, Bringing Kansas Together 2012-2013; Marc and Alice Ferguson, Meade, ... Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 GMT