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| News from Around the Farm World - May 4, 2011 |
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Ag chair Stabenow to host farm bill field hearing
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — U.S. Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow said her committee will hold its first field hearing on the 2012 farm bill in East Lansing this month.
The Michigan Democrat’s office announced the hearing is set for May 31 at Michigan State University. It’s entitled “Opportunities for Growth: Michigan and the 2012 Farm Bill.”
Stabenow said the hearing will focus on the upcoming reauthorization of the farm bill and will examine agriculture as well as energy, conservation, rural development, research, forestry and nutrition policies that affect her home state.
Judge approves USDA, Native farmers settlement
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — A federal judge has approved a $680 million settlement between the USDA and American Indian farmers who say they were denied loans because of discrimination.
The two sides agreed on the deal last year subject to court approval. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan approved the terms Thursday. Individuals who can prove discrimination could receive up to $250,000 from the government. The agreement also includes $80 million in farm debt forgiveness for the plaintiffs and a series of initiatives to try and alleviate racism against Native Americans and other minorities in rural farm loan offices.
The lawsuit was filed in 1999 and contends Indian farmers and ranchers lost hundreds of millions of dollars over several decades because they were denied USDA loans that instead went to their white neighbors. The government settled a similar lawsuit filed by black farmers more than a decade ago and has offered to settle other suits brought against the USDA by Hispanic and women farmers.
President Obama said the settlement was “yet another important step forward in addressing an unfortunate chapter in USDA’s civil rights history.” He praised the roles played by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Eric Holder in reaching the settlement.
Because of the terms of the settlement, the American Indian money would not need legislative action to be awarded. Farmers will have until December to file their claims.
Iowa man injured in auger farm accident dies
DOUGHERTY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man injured when an auger fell on him earlier this month has died.
The Globe-Gazette in Mason City is reporting that 82-year-old Edward Noss of Dougherty died April 26 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Officials at the Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonia Chapel in Mason City were handling funeral arrangements and they confirmed his death.
Noss was helping his son load corn on a farm near Dougherty in northern Iowa on April 16 when a truck hit the grain auger, causing the auger to fall on Noss. Friends and neighbors are remembering Noss as a hard-working man who dedicated his life to farming and who was always willing to help out.
Weather service confirms tornado damaged Mich. farm
SALEM TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado was responsible for heavy damage at a turkey farm in Allegan County early last week.
The weather service on April 27 confirmed a tornado was to blame for damage in southwestern Michigan. The weather service said the tornado damage path was more than three miles long and about 50 yards wide. It lasted about seven minutes and packed winds of 85 mph.
The tornado tore apart buildings at DeBoer Turkey Farm, causing an estimated $1 million in damage. Most of the turkeys survived.
Fish kill reported in northeastern Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State officials are investigating a fish kill that happened when some stop logs on a manure storage structure at a dairy farm failed near Calmar in northeastern Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said April 25 the manure flowed into a small stream that runs into the Turkey River. The manure spill happened the day before. The agency said the owner, Gary Elsberend of Calmar, couldn’t stop the manure from reaching the creek because of several factors, including a recent heavy snowfall, runoff from snowmelt and the proximity of the storage area to the stream.
The department said early reports indicate the fish kill extended about three miles to where the stream enters the river. Officials said minnow and chubs have died, but no dead game fish have been found. |
| 5/4/2011 |
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