Remains found in cornfield ID’d as missing man
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities have identified human remains found last month in a central Kentucky cornfield.
Taylor County Coroner Terry Dabney told WLKY-TV that the remains were those of 29-year-old James Adam Hogan. He said a cause of death isn’t yet known.

Authorities say Hogan disappeared on Sept. 2. A farmer in Campbellsville called police after finding the remains on Oct. 21.

Eastern Illinois grain elevator forced to close
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has taken over an eastern Illinois grain elevator after the business was forced to close.

Department spokesman Jeff Squibb said Nov. 3 that Mansfield Grain, Inc. turned over its license to operate and shut down two days earlier. Squibb said some grain stored in the facility had deteriorated and the business couldn’t afford to compensate farmers for damage to their crops.

The department took over the elevator and its assets. Squibb said farmers who have not been paid for grain sold to the facility will have to file claims. Claims will be covered by the Illinois Grain Insurance Fund.

The state’s Bureau of Warehouses can be reached either by calling 800-654-0882 or by writing to: IDOA Bureau of Warehouses, State Fairgrounds, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, IL 62794-9281.
The deadline to file claims is Jan. 29, 2011, or seven days from the date notice was mailed to a particular claimant, whichever is later.

ACRE payments go to producers of corn, wheat
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The USDA has started issuing an estimated $420 million in 2009 crop Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) payments to producers enrolled in the program for wheat, corn, barley, dry peas, grain sorghum, lentils, oats, peanuts, soybeans and upland cotton.

In order for producers to receive ACRE payments, revenue triggers for a commodity must be met on both a state and farm basis. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (farm bill) requires 2009 ACRE payments to be made as soon as practicable following the end of the marketing year, but no earlier than Oct. 1, 2010.
Of the $420 million in payments, about 70 percent are expected to be issued to wheat producers and 23 percent to corn. About 80 percent of the payments are expected to be issued to producers in Illinois, Oklahoma, Washington, South Dakota, Idaho and North Dakota.

A list of state payment rates for 2009 is available online at http://go.usa.gov/CCS

FSA urges farmers to vote in committee elections
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Jonathan Coppess announced the 2010 FSA county committee elections have begun, with USDA mailing ballots to eligible voters. The deadline to return the ballots to local FSA offices is Dec. 6.

“County committee members will provide input and make important decisions on the local administration of new disaster and conservation programs under the 2008 farm bill,” Coppess said.
“I particularly encourage minority and women producers to get involved so that county committees fairly represent the producers of a county or multi-county jurisdiction.”

To be eligible, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program. A person who is not of legal voting age but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm also may be eligible to vote.

Eligible voters who do not receive ballots may obtain one from their local USDA Service Center. Dec. 6 is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local centers; ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Dec. 6. Newly elected committee members and their alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2011.

More information on county committees may be found online at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or at a local USDA Service Center.

TDA accepting water quality grant proposals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting grant proposals for projects that will help improve water quality and reduce or eliminate nonpoint source pollution.

The deadline for submitting proposals is Dec. 1. They will be evaluated based on program goals and objectives, performance evaluation criteria and applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency nonpoint source grant guidelines. Local governments, regional agencies, public institutions, private nonprofits and other state agencies are eligible to apply.

Priority is given to projects that seek to make measurable improvements to waters known to be impaired by nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution is soil, urban runoff, fertilizers, chemicals and other contaminants that come from many different sources and degrades surface and groundwater quality.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation assesses water quality and compiles a list of impaired waters. The list can be found online at www.tn.gov/environment/wpc/publications

The FY 2011 Request for Proposals can be found online at www.TN.gov/agriculture/water/nps.html or for more information call 615-837-5306 or e-mail Sam.Marshall@TN.gov