Friday June 14 Ag News

Storing Hay Outside Takes Extra Management
Steve Tonn, UNL Extension Educator, Washington County

This year is shaping up to be a year that producers will want to pay extra attention to how they store their hay bales. The spring rains have made it difficult to harvest hay and poses a challenge for storing hay.   Plus with hay over $200 a ton it is a valuable commodity.  Now it is even more important to minimize losses and maintain nutrient quality.

The outer 4 inches of a 6 foot diameter round bale is 21% of that bale.  The outer 12 inches is more than half the bale.  The average round bale stored outside in the weather loses about one-fourth of its original nutrients due to weathering between now and feeding next winter.  To minimize these losses, making dense, evenly formed bales and stacks is important. They will shed water better and sag less than a soft core or less dense package. Use net wrap or plastic twine spaced no more than four inches apart on round bales to maintain bale shape and provide a smooth surface that encourages water runoff.  If possible store the hay inside or cover it with a plastic tarp.

If hay is stored outside place your bales on an elevated, well-drained site so it won’t soak up moisture from wet soils or standing water.  Especially avoid terrace valleys, fences and tree lines that cause rain or snow to accumulate and prevent wind and sunshine from drying off wet bales.

Do not stack bales so that water runs off of one bale end and soaks into the adjacent bale.  Never stack round bales during the rainy season unless they are covered or unless they are fed soon.  Also avoid placing bales in a row with the twine ends touching one another. Instead, it is best to place round bales or stacks so there is about one foot of air space on all sides for good ventilation.  Round bales also store well when flat ends are butted end to end in a cigar-like shape.  Place these rows north and south so prevailing winds will not cause snow drifts and so both sides of the row can receive sunlight for drying.

Most important is the bottom of the bales.  Always put bales on higher ground so water drains away from them.  In addition placing the bales on a bed of crushed rock, railroad ties, tires, or on pallets will help to keep the bottoms dry.  This will also reduce problems getting your hay moved due to snow drifts or mud.

Follow these guidelines and you will lower your storage losses, increase feed quality, improve animal performance and save money.



Relaunch of “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” Website

The checkoff’s consumer-facing BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com has a new look and functionality to continue to help educate consumers on how to purchase, prepare and enjoy beef. With a more contemporary appearance through compelling beef imagery and simplified, interactive navigation and content, the website will engage visitors like never before.

There are four main sections of the site: Recipes, Butcher Counter, Cooking and Health. Recipes are the number one most visited pages on the website, which is why the redesign boasts enlarged beef photos and makes recipes the first thing consumers see. In the Recipes section, there are collections to help inspire consumers to cook beef during every season, holiday and mealtime occasion. Recipes provide a list of instructions, nutritional information, videos and give consumers the opportunity to email or print an interactive shopping list. The Butcher Counter educates consumers on how to buy the beef they’re looking for with the Interactive Meat Case and a new infographic on Today’s Beef Choices. The Cooking section helps consumers learn how to have the best beef eating experience with new infographics for each type of beef cooking method. The Health section helps educate consumers on the nutritional benefits of beef including a new infographic on Beef’s 10 Essential Nutrients and what they do for your body as well as information about the Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) study and some lean beef 101 facts.

Recipes, recipe collections, infographics and content are now all shareable online through Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Also, the website has been designed responsively, which means that no matter what device a consumer is using (e.g. laptop, tablet or cell phone) the website will adjust its size and user experience accordingly. This ensures that BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com remains a top online resource for all things beef, wherever the consumer may be!

Six state beef councils were involved in the process to provide input into the site redesign, including Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Florida, Washington and Iowa.



Greater Horizon Scholarships Awarded to Kuester, Kumpf

Cody Kuester of West Point, Neb., and Kyle Kumpf of Hemingford, Neb., were named recipients of the 2013 Greater Horizon Scholarship, sponsored by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.

“Both of these young men showcase strong leadership skills and a passion for agriculture, and we are excited to assist them with their continued education. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used at their selected university,” said Cathy Day, Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture interim executive director.

Kuester will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the fall to major in agronomy. The 2013 graduate of West Point High School is the son of Gary and Linda Kuester who are members of Cuming County Farm Bureau.

Kumpf is a 2013 graduate of Hemingford High School and will attend the University of Wyoming to major in agribusiness this fall. He is the son of Box Butte County Farm Bureau members, Tim and Deb Kumpf.

The Greater Horizon Scholarship is awarded to a student or students ages 18 to 35 who are from a Nebraska Farm Bureau member-family and who plan to study an agriculture-related field full-time at a college or university. Recipients must plan to return to production agriculture. Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential through extracurricular activities and work experience.

Cody Kuester
Kuester, 18, has known his desired career path since early in life – to return to the family farm. After completing college, he plans to start a small cow/calf herd of his own while farming alongside his father. Throughout high school Kuester has worked on various farming operations to gain experience in crop scouting, sales and marketing and livestock production. He hopes to gain additional marketing and technology experience while pursuing his education.

Kuester was an active FFA member serving as chapter president and receiving National Proficiency Gold recognition for forage production. He also has been involved in 4-H, church youth group, National Honor Society, football and track.

Kyle Kumpf
Kumpf, 18, has always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a farmer. After college graduation, he plans to return to the family farming operation to add additional business and technology experience. During high school Kumpf has worked on his family’s farm as well as gaining experience at Box Butte County Seed and Specht Farms.

While attending high school, he was involved in FFA, serving as chapter vice president and participating in the state agronomy competition. Kumpf also played football and basketball, ran track, sang in the choir, participated in three-act and one-act plays, and was a member of student council, National Honor Society and much more.

 “The scholarship is designed to encourage and assist those individuals who have a clear vision of returning to production agriculture after completing their higher education,” said Day.

Nebraska Farm Bureau Services, Inc. is the founding contributor for the Greater Horizon scholarship. Both scholarships will be awarded at the 2014 Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference in Grand Island, Neb., on Jan. 25, 2014.



Interior Extends Niobrara, Ponca Bluffs Conservation Comment Period, Per Johanns, Fischer Request

U.S. Sens. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today announced that the U.S. Department of Interior (DoI) has extended the public comment period for the proposed Niobrara Confluence and Ponca Bluffs Conservation area until September 30, 2013. The DoI proposal under review could result in government management or acquisition of more than 1.4 million acres in Nebraska and South Dakota. The majority of the acreage is in Nebraska.

Johanns said, “Decisions of this magnitude must not be rushed. I’m pleased the Department of Interior listened to this request for an extended comment period. Nebraska landowners – particularly farmers and ranchers – are responsible stewards of our natural resources and are rightly concerned about the impact this land acquisition could have on their livelihoods.”

Fischer said, “The extension of this public comment period will ensure local residents affected by the Department of Interior’s proposal have sufficient time to acquire more information about the project and assess its potential impacts. The hundreds of Nebraskans who have contacted my office on this matter have reasonable cause to be concerned about the federal government seizing or controlling this vast quantity of private land. I am pleased this effort to allow them additional time to voice their legitimate concerns was successful.”



Selective Buyers Vie for High Quality Farmland: Average Values Up 20 Percent

An accelerated farmland sell-off at the end of 2012 has led to continued low supplies of premium quality property, according to Farmers National Company, the largest farmland and ranchland real estate company in the country. Last year’s rush, prompted by economic uncertainty and tax law changes, continues to have an impact into 2013. High quality land is still in demand, and buyers are competing for top acres that are currently in short supply.

Competition for land has kept values strong, averaging 20 percent higher values over comparable land in 2012. Much of the continued rise is due to auction activity driving sales prices as purchasers vie for parcels of land. Mid- to high-quality properties are still seeing such rises in value, while lower quality land values are staying steady.

“Values are still going up, but the pace has slowed overall,” said Derrick Volchoff, ALC, vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Company. “Many transactions for high quality land are being sold via auction, which drives prices through competitive situations.”

Auctions today have turned very competitive with bidding wars becoming the norm for high quality land sales. Areas of the country that normally do not run auctions, such as the Delta region, are now seeing them on a regular basis, according to Volchoff.

“Despite an overall moderation in the number of sales transactions since the end of last year, there has been noticeable growth in the size of parcels being sold per purchase,” said Volchoff.

Moving into the third quarter of 2013, Farmers National Company expects the number of transactions being closed to increase, based on activity seen in the past 60 days.

“During the first two quarters of 2013, there has been a hiccup in activity based on the surge at 2012 year-end,” said Volchoff. “However, the trend seems to be shifting upward again and transaction numbers for the balance of the year should remain relatively steady.”

Investors are sticking with land as a safe, long-term investment while farmers are putting cash from past yearly profits back into operations. Built up cash reserves for farmers are prompting farm operators to buy premium land when it becomes available to add to their inventory and to accommodate the return of younger family members to farms. For both groups, economic uncertainty is still driving purchase decisions. Farmers are looking for premium land on which to expand, while investors may purchase properties based on price and projected return on investments.

“Even with recent drops in crop size for farmers, profits are still at a level higher than in 2010,” said Volchoff. “Farm debt is still low in relative historical terms.”

According to Volchoff, several issues in the U.S., such as healthcare and interest rates are likely to impact economic trends and thus land inventory levels and sales activity once they are resolved. The direction of market and political issues will likely shape the rest of 2013. As the housing market improves, developers will likely begin to buy land for development. This could trigger more 1031 tax deferred exchanges pushing new money into the market.



UNMC study finds unauthorized immigrants account for only 1.4 percent of U.S. medical spending

A study by a University of Nebraska Medical Center researcher revealed that unauthorized immigrants have lower health care expenditures compared to legal residents, naturalized citizens and U.S. natives.

The study, which analyzed health expenditure data from the medical expenditure panel survey taken between 2000 and 2009, was conducted by Jim Stimpson, Ph.D., director of the Center for Health Policy at UNMC. Results were published in the June issue of the health policy journal, Health Affairs.

It was found that U.S. natives spent $1 trillion on health care. By contrast all immigrants – unauthorized, legal and illegal – spent one-tenth that amount or $96.7 billion. Unauthorized immigrants accounted for $15.4 billion of that total, or 15.9 percent.

It also was found that an estimated 5.9 percent of unauthorized immigrants received care that providers are not reimbursed for, compared to 2.8 percent of U.S. natives in the same category. Dr. Stimpson speculated that this may be because unauthorized immigrants are much more likely to lack health insurance when compared to U.S. natives.

These findings reflect a history of policies that block access to health care for unauthorized immigrants, he said.

"Today, undocumented immigrants and persons who immigrated less than five years ago have few options for health care access through public programs, leaving only the option to pay out of pocket or to secure private insurance,” Dr. Stimpson said.

The safety net, he said, available for immigrant populations includes hospital emergency rooms and federally qualified health centers.

Such limited access is not optimal for accessing quality care and finding a medical home, Dr. Stimpson said.

“These policies have merely shifted the financial burden of paying for the care of immigrants, and have potentially put the public’s health at risk, when those who have infectious diseases defer treatment for illness," he said. 

One way to remedy the problem, Dr. Stimpson said would be to give unauthorized immigrants access to preventive and treatment services for infectious diseases and to the insurance marketplace.



NRCS Works with Landowners to Boost Pollinator Populations

When it comes to pollinators, Nebraska farmers and ranchers are creating habitat to boost their populations and harness these critters’ value. With National Pollinator Week beginning today, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is using the opportunity to promote pollinators, like bees and butterflies.

Pollinators provide crucial assistance to fruit, vegetable and seed crops, but many species are seeing their numbers fall.

Agricultural producers across the nation work with NRCS to create ideal habitat for pollinators and increase populations in simple and significant ways. NRCS has 37 conservation activities, or practices available through the Farm Bill to help producers create the perfect places for pollinators to forage and take shelter.

“Making room for pollinators on your farm or ranch isn’t too difficult or expensive, and NRCS wants to help you make those improvements that will not only benefit pollinators – but help your land as well,” Acting Nebraska State Conservationist Kasey Taylor said.

More than three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants rely on pollinators to reproduce, equating to one of every three bites of food people eat. Many plants would be unable to reproduce without the help of pollinators.

“Bees and other pollinators provide a tremendous ecological service,” NRCS biologist Ritch Nelson said. “Creating habitat for pollinators attracts beneficial insects, produces wildlife habitat, reduces soil erosion and improves water quality. Pollinators help keep the whole ecosystem healthy.”

Scientists attribute a number of factors, including habitat loss, disease, parasites and overuse of pesticides for pollinators’ peril. Agencies and partners across the country are working on science-based solutions to support pollinators. Each June, NRCS and conservation partners salute pollinators during “National Pollinator Week,” set for June 17-23. Learn more: www.nrcs.usda.gov/pollinators.



Deadline Extended for Iowa Environmental Leader Awards

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds Thursday announced that deadline for nominations for the 2013 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards has been pushed back to July 1. The previous deadline was June 15.

Iowa has experienced the wettest spring on record, which has significantly delayed planting. Just 92 percent of Iowa corn and 60 percent of Iowa soybean crops have been planted as of June 9th.

"The record-setting wet weather this spring has significantly delayed planting and as a result farmers have understandably been focused on their fields, not award nominations," said Branstad. "Recognizing and encouraging farmers who have taken the lead in incorporating conservation practices into their operations is important to help reinforce their conservation ethic and encourage others to follow their lead."

The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award recognizes the efforts of Iowa's farmers as environmental leaders committed to healthy soils and improved water quality. Farmers that are nominated should have made environmental stewardship a priority on their farm and adopted best management practices throughout their farming operation.

"Iowa farmers take their role seriously in preserving our precious natural resources, and we look forward to hearing these stories," said Reynolds. "We are proud to hold up these farmers as examples of environmental stewardship and highlight their practices for others to follow."

Nomination forms can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under "Hot Topics."

The award is a joint effort between the Governor, Lt. Governor, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources and it seeks to recognize the exemplary voluntary actions of farmers that improve or protect the environment and natural resources of our state while also encouraging other farmers to follow in their footsteps by building success upon success.

An appointed committee of representatives from both conservation and agricultural groups will review the nominations and select the winners.

The recipients will be recognized at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 15 at the Penningroth Center. A lunch for award winners sponsored by Hagie will follow at the Farm Bureau shelter house on the fairgrounds.

The award was created in 2012 and 67 Iowa farm families were recognized during the inaugural award ceremony at the Iowa State Fair. Winners receive a certificate as well as a yard sign donated by Monsanto.



Iowa State Grad New FEEL Program Coordinator

Stuart McCulloh became the program coordinator at the Field Extension Education Laboratory, a few days after receiving a bachelor's degree in agricultural communications from Iowa State University. The Camanche native grew up on a row crop and livestock farm and used his vegetable production enterprise to support his Iowa State studies. McCulloh focused on economics and studied a variety of agricultural topics to develop and hone his interest in agricultural entrepreneurship.

As FEEL program coordinator, he will work with extension faculty and researchers who have demonstration plots and conduct educational programs at the research facility. He also will coordinate educational opportunities for agri-business clients.

"I'm anxious to meet the people with projects at FEEL and establish a network with them," said McCulloh. "It will be important for me to know the right people for the right job, so I can promote the farm and connect people with research on issues important to them -- whether they are farmers, extension staff, students or agri-business professionals."

In addition to addressing the training and demonstration needs of traditional FEEL audiences, he is interested in being more entrepreneurial in his efforts -- not content with just doing things as they have always been done, but exploring new opportunities.

"Being a very recent college student, I see where FEEL has a lot to offer 300- and 400-level students, especially those learning about agronomics," McCulloh said. "It is great place for students, as well as those working full-time in agriculture production, to learn from faculty research."

McCulloh plans to apply his communication skills, general agriculture knowledge and inquisitive nature as he coordinates this summer's scheduled events and directs FEEL staff finalizing plot establishment. He can be reached at smac@iastate.edu or 515-432-9548.

Upcoming events at FEEL
-- Field Diagnostic Clinic -- July 9 -- 10; A two-day clinic where attendees learn about crop growth and development of corn, soybeans and alfalfa, including herbicide injury and weed, insect and crop disease identification
-- Crop Management Training -- July 15 -- 16; A two-day clinic covering more than 20 topics with regard to crop management troubleshooting, and highlighting some research developments industry- and university-wide
-- Late Disease Clinic -- Aug. 21 -- 22; Looking at early season disease relevant to the growth of both corn and soybeans and their effect on the plants, as well as current disease issues.



Soybean, Corn, Sunflower and Canola Growers Press House on Farm Bill

In a letter to lawmakers Thursday, the American Soybean Association (ASA), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), National Sunflower Association and the U.S. Canola Association urged the House of Representatives to quickly consider and pass H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (“FARRM”) Act.

 “Our organizations support many of the programs included in H.R. 1947, as reported by the Committee on Agriculture. The bill would consolidate conservation programs, reauthorize and fund agricultural research, energy, and export promotion programs, and make improvements in federal crop insurance. We strongly support these provisions, and ask that you oppose any amendments which would eliminate or weaken them,” said the groups in the letter.

“We are very encouraged by the momentum that the farm bill has going into the House, and we urge Representatives to act quickly to provide farmers with the certainty we need moving forward,” said ASA President Danny Murphy, a soybean grower from Canton, Miss. “We are convinced that lawmakers can work together to pass a bill that both supports agriculture and confronts our budgetary obligations responsibly.”

"We were pleased to see the 2013 farm bill pass with such strong support in the Senate last week and urge the House to swiftly follow suit," NCGA President Pam Johnson, a corn farmer from Floyd, Iowa said. "Passing a comprehensive, market oriented farm bill is critically important to not only agriculture but to every American. We encourage the House to adopt policy that will be both responsive to taxpayers and effective in helping farms remain viable and productive."

The groups noted, however, their concern with the bill’s Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program option, which they argued would set high, fixed reference prices for program crops which, in some cases, exceed their historical prices and cost of production; and tie payments to producers to crops they grow in the current year, which could distort planting decisions and production if market prices fall below their support levels.

“Since the 1996 Farm Bill … farm policy has provided planting flexibility, encouraging producers to respond to market signals in making their planting decisions rather than to the prospect of receiving government payments,” wrote the groups. “We do not want to see policies return to the era of high supports tied to current-year plantings, which distorted crop production in the 1980’s. The PLC program in the Committee bill should be modified to make it responsive to the market rather than the government.”

The groups spoke to a potential amendment from Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) that would address their concerns by setting reference prices at a percentage of recent average market prices, which do not exceed production costs. The Gibbs amendment would also provide for payments on historical crop acreage bases rather than on current-year plantings. “These changes would make the PLC program more market-oriented and significantly reduce the risk of distorting planting decisions and production,” argued the groups. “They would also reduce the likelihood of the program violating U.S. commitments under the WTO. Moreover, they would achieve an estimated $10 billion in savings in addition to the Committee bill.”



NCBA Comments on Japan’s Intent to Join Trans-Pacific Partnership

After the March announcement by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Japan will seek to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) submitted comments regarding the participation of Japan in TPP trade negotiations. Currently there are 10 countries in addition to the United States engaged in the TPP including Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall said NCBA welcomes the opportunity to strengthen the economies in both countries.

“In 2011 and 2012, Japan continued to be a top three market for U.S. beef export sales. In 2012 alone, U.S. beef exports to Japan topped $1 billion,” said Woodall. “As U.S. beef producers, we are encouraged by such a strong growth in demand for our product, and we want to be able to sell more U.S. beef to our customers in Japan without tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.”

Woodall added that though U.S. beef sales have been strong in Japan,there have been multiple protectionist barriers in place that have restricted U.S. beef producers from reaching their potential in the Japanese market.

Recently Japan implemented a new protocol that changed the age restriction on U.S. beef from 20 months and under to 30 months and under, a decision that NCBA is encouraged by, and will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in additional exports of U.S. beef, said Woodall.

“The change in Japan’s age restrictions on U.S. beef is a significant milestone in our trading relationship,” he stated. “Japan’s intent to join TPP is an important step forward in paving the way toward better trade relations with Japan. TPP is a good opportunity to reinforce the significance of science-based standards and to mark the beginning of a new era in global trade where tariff and non-tariff barriers are eliminated and standards are based on sound, objective science in order to expand economic opportunities for U.S. beef producers.” 



NOPA May Soy Crush 117.6 MB

Soybean crush rates for May in the National Oilseed Processors Association's monthly soybean crush report are expected to drop from the previous month to about 117.6 million bushels amid limited soybean supplies for processing, according to a survey of industry analysts.

The uncertainty of processors' ability to secure enough available soybean supplies to take advantage of favorable processing margins produced wide ranges in analysts' estimates. The estimates ranged from 114 million bushels to 124 million bushels.

NOPA's report, which includes only data from members, is scheduled to be released Monday at noon EDT (1600 GMT).

Meanwhile, the average estimate from analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires is that the NOPA report will show soyoil stocks declining from the prior month. The average of analysts' estimates was 2.522 billion pounds, compared with April soyoil stocks of 2.638 billion. Estimates ranged from 2.471 billion pounds to 2.680 billion pounds.  Soyoil stocks are seen declining in relation to lower daily processing rates.



Sorghum Checkoff, Chromatin Inc. Partner to Develop Grain Sorghum Breeding Program

The Sorghum Checkoff and Chromatin Inc. will work collaboratively on a project to develop new higher yielding and more advanced grain sorghum hybrids for farmers.  The jointly-funded partnership will total $200,000 per year for five years and leverages Chromatin’s sorghum-based expertise and technology.

“The Sorghum Checkoff is committed to increasing producer profitability, and we are excited to partner with a company like Chromatin that is also completely focused on sorghum and committed to enhancing the quality and yield of grain sorghum,” said Stewart Weaver, Sorghum Checkoff chairman and grower from Edmondson, Ark. “This type of program exemplifies the role a national checkoff can play in utilizing producer dollars to make a difference in the sorghum industry.”



A Food Farm and Jobs Bill to Grow Local and Regional Markets
Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary

This week, the U.S. Senate acted in bipartisan spirit to approve the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act – a balanced, comprehensive bill that will drive continued growth in rural America.  The House of Representatives now has another important opportunity to stand with rural America and pass their version of a bill.

People often call this the Farm Bill – but it’s much more than that. This is a conservation bill. It’s a trade promotion bill. It’s an innovation bill. It’s a jobs bill.

And it’s a bill that will help continue a tremendous increase in markets for locally-grown foods. This includes creating more farmers markets, building additional regional food hubs and strengthening farm-to-institution programs.

In recent years, USDA has carried out a very successful Farmers Market Promotion Program that has increased the number of farmers markets by 67% since 2008.  The Senate bill expands these efforts through its Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program.

This would continue to help producers sell their product directly to consumers through farmers markets, but it would also help farmers who are ready to scale up and sell to local grocery stores or other institutions. Regional food hubs, which connect farmers to these larger-volume markets, would have a new tool to expand and grow.

Passage of a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would help farmers develop new value-added products for local or regional sale, creating new income opportunities in rural America. In recent years, the Value-Added Producer Grant Program has already helped more than 285 projects directly related to local markets for agriculture.

It would continue efforts to provide healthy, locally-grown food in schools – building on our work to serve 3,200 schools and 2 million students through USDA Farm-to-School projects across the country.

And it would provide investments in the infrastructure that locally-oriented producers can use to grow a better crop. This includes support for new cold storage facilities, hoop houses to extend the growing season, and access to credit to start or expand an operation.

The Food, Farm and Jobs Bill isn’t just needed by America’s farmers and ranchers – it’s important for all of us who enjoy fresh, local foods at a farmers market. It’s important to ensure our nation’s youngsters have access to healthy, fresh foods. It’s important to help create new economic opportunity in rural America. These are all good reasons why Congress must get a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill passed as swiftly as possible.