Hi again,
Apparently I didn’t offend anyone with last week’s article as I didn’t receive a pink slip. Yet!
However, I am not delusional enough to believe that mentioning the disposition of varmints isn’t offensive to some people. Awareness is important.
I received an e-mail the other day showing an ad taken out in a newspaper condemning hunters for shooting poor, innocent animals and they shouldn’t do as such, but should instead go to the grocery store and buy their meat so the wild animals don’t have to suffer.
Now for the opinion.
As farmers, we all have a responsibility to educate the uninformed about such matters.
The recent ban in California of raising chickens in certain confinement situations has had a dramatic effect on prices and producers.
May I suggest that the next time your county has a farm-city day, you might step up and volunteer to have your operation on the tour. I believe that getting the uninformed general public out to farms and explaining the varying aspects of agriculture can go a long way to offsetting negative attitudes that can be created by the uninformed.
I know, move on.
Wheat harvest is wrapping up in our area and yields were pretty decent, but I’m still amazed at the fact that just an hour and half down the road, wheat prices are 70 cents more a bushel.
Producers who happen to bin their wheat can create some cash flow at very cheap interest rates. The commodity loan program will allow producers to utilize their grain as collateral to secure a loan at their local FSA office.
Loans are for a 9-month period and if disbursed in July will carry a 2.5 percent interest rate. Once under loan if you decide you would like to market your wheat, call the office and get a release for the grain before moving it out. Repayment can be scheduled after that.
Speaking about grain, don’t forget to keep your eyes on your stored grain for quality issues. The weather really hasn’t been conducive to creating grain issues, but just when you think all should be OK bad things happen.
DCP sign-up and crop certification has been extended until Aug. 15. Hopefully you have already signed up but in case you haven’t, call in now and get your appointment.
Remember County Committee nominations are still being accepted for the respective LAA in your county through Aug. 3. If you have any questions on these matters, contact your local Farm Service Agency.
