The Trump administration has announced businesses such as farm operations will not face any penalties or fines for not filing Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) with the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Treasury officials released details on Sunday stating they will waive enforcement penalties and will not enforce the beneficial ownership information rule against U.S. citizens or domestic companies going forward. A new rule will be forthcoming. Treasury will further be issuing a proposed rulemaking that will narrow the scope of the rule to foreign reporting companies only, the department stated.

"This is a victory for common sense," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "Today's action is part of President Trump's bold agenda to unleash American prosperity by reining in burdensome regulations, in particular for small businesses that are the backbone of the American economy."

The BOI rule was expected to impact more than 32 million businesses and roughly 230,000 farm operations. The deadlines for filing business ownership information had been delayed multiple times in recent months because of court decisions.

The BOI rule stemmed from the 2021 Corporate Transparency Act, which requires businesses to provide their business information from state incorporation reports to FinCEN. The law was passed as a way to curb financial crimes such as money laundering and fraud.

“The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers loans to help farmers and ranchers get the financing they need to start, expand or maintain a family farm. In this Ask the Expert, Robert White answers questions about the FSA farm loan application process. Robert is the deputy director for FSA’s loan-making division. He and his colleagues address regulatory and policy initiatives and develop creative IT modernization processes to assist loan applicants and farm loan staff nationwide. He grew up on a family farm in Kansas and continues to maintain close ties to production agriculture.

What do you recommend as the first steps for someone interested in an FSA farm loan?

WHITE: FSA recently rolled out two new products, which should be of interest to loan applicants. The "loan assistance tool" offers a series of online questions, which help the applicant explore FSA direct and guaranteed loan programs, decide what loans may best suit their needs, determine eligibility and documentation requirements and quickly access loan forms. Any interested applicant is encouraged to begin their search with the loan assistance tool.

After visiting the loan assistance tool site, applicants can apply by completing FSA's new online loan application. To apply online, they must first sign up for a farmers.gov account. Once an account is established and linked to their profile, direct loan applicants will answer a series of questions and are provided the option to upload required documentation, saving the applicant time and a trip to their local service center.

Attention Morgan County

Join the Visioning Workshop to share your input on Morgan County's Comprehensive Plan

🗓️ Date: Feb 27, 2025

🕒 Time: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

📍 Location: 231 Ensign St, Fort Morgan, CO

Details here: https://morgancounty.colorado.gov/morgan-county-comprehensive-plan-update

#CommunityInput #VisionWorkshop #MorganCounty #Planning #AGPROfessionals

Free Tax Webinar presented by USDA and Farmers.gov

Join Bob Rhea from the University of Illinois Tax School for a discussion on how to properly report sales, trade-ins, and purchases of farm equipment and machinery on your tax return. Bob will provide an overview on identifying the information needed, tax forms to use, impact on tax liability, and tax management strategies to optimize after tax cash flow.

Event - Reporting Sales & Purchases of Farm Assets

Date – February 13, 2025

Time - 1:00 – 2:30pm Eastern

Presenter – Bob Rhea, University of Illinois Tax School

Link to register: HERE

Article excerpts:

“The electricity demands of new data centers are so great that electricity supply and demand "is one of the biggest issues" facing agriculture and rural America, Thomas Halverson, the president and CEO of Colorado-based CoBank, said here last week.

In a speech to the International Dairy Food Association's Dairy Forum, Halverson told dairy processors they should "pay attention" to the electricity issue.

Showing a map, Halverson said one area with the largest mismatch between electricity supply and demand is the Midwest. The map is part of CoBank and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reports on the subject.

"A large section of the Midwest will start to see capacity shortfalls as early as 2025. Other regions have a longer runway, but are still at risk through 2034," Halverson pointed out in a LinkedIn post.

Until recently, electricity has operated on flat demand for decades, Halverson said. "2024 wasn't much different than 2010, even though population and economy have grown."

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Feeding supplemental forage to cattle can be quite expensive. While the cost of hay has been down significantly from a year ago, hay costs still make up a large portion of cattle producers' input costs.

Reducing hay waste is one method cattle producers can use to limit their cost associated with feeding forages. There are many different hay feeder designs to select from and choosing the right one can help reduce hay waste.

FEEDER DESIGNS MEANT TO SAVE HAY

Kansas State University Beef Production Systems Scientist Emma Briggs wrote in a recent news release that finding the right hay feeder will save hay and improve an operation's efficiency and profitability.

"Everyone has different needs," she wrote. "But how you feed your hay can significantly impact how much forage you feed during the winter, as well as how much can get wasted due to trampling or other environmental factors."

Link to article: HERE

Recent farmland sales statistics and links in Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma compiled by DTN Progressive Farmer Magazine.

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“President-elect Donald Trump has announced a slate of undersecretary nominees for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Trump announced through his Transition Team and Truth Social that he will nominate Richard Fordyce as Agriculture undersecretary for farm production and conservation, Dudley Hoskins as undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, Luke Lindberg as undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, and Michael Boren as undersecretary for natural resources and environment.

Richard Fordyce will be the next United States undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation at the Department of Agriculture…”

“…Luke Lindberg will serve as the next undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs at the Department of Agriculture…”

“…Michael Boren will serve as the United States Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the Department of Agriculture….”

“…Dudley Hoskins will be the undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the Department of Agriculture”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“The expansion of renewable energy projects led to a growth in foreign ownership of agricultural land in the U.S. from 2022 to 2023, while at the same time the amount of ag land owned by Chinese investors dropped, according to a new analysis of U.S. data by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

In addition, AFBF said as foreign ownership continued to grow, the USDA in 2024 imposed a record $1.2 million in penalties on foreign entities that failed to report purchases, sales and interests in U.S. ag land via Form 153 submitted to the Farm Service Agency.

Overall, the new analysis found a 1.58-million-acre increase in foreign-owned agriculture land in the U.S. from 2022 to 2023.

"There has been significant interest in U.S. agricultural land owned by Chinese investors," the AFBF said in its analysis.

"In 2023, 277,336 acres were linked to Chinese investors - 0.02% of all privately held U.S. agricultural land. This marks a 106,599-acre (27%) decline from the 2021 peak of 383,935 acres."

Link: HERE

17th Annual Marshall Frasier Beef Symposium Presented by Colorado Livestock Association

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM) (MST)

Join the Colorado Livestock Association in Hugo for the upcoming producer education symposium featuring experts on cattle markets, nutrition, long-range weather forecasts and an update from the State Veterinarian's office!

Attendance is free. Please register for lunch.

Link to register: HERE

Article excerpts:

“As many farmers know, there isn’t always a next generation to pass the farm down to.

Your kids may live out of state, happily pursuing careers as doctors, lawyers and professors. They have fond memories from their childhood on the farm fondly but won’t be taking over ownership, and you’re ready to slow down and retire. So, you collectively decide selling the farm is the best option for everyone.

The problem here is that in most cases, the sale will generate a significant amount of capital gains tax, which is where Farmers First Trust can help. The company’s principal, Mike Gustafson, recently joined the Top Producer podcast with Farm CPA Paul Neiffer to explain the process.

“What we tell the farm family is to go ahead and get a farm sale in place, but what you need to have in the purchase contract is an approval that a Section 453 transaction can be done at the request of the buyer and seller,” Gustafson says.”

Link to article: https://www.agweb.com/news/business/taxes-and-finance/one-companys-unique-way-defer-capital-gains-tax

Legal Battle Over Beneficial Ownership Rule Intensifies as GOP States Defend Injunction

Article excerpts:

“The attorneys general for 25 Republican-led states have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court defending a court injunction against enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act and the law's requirements that businesses, including farms, file Beneficial Ownership Information reports with the Department of Treasury.

The states' filing comes after the Biden administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the injunction and allow reporting requirements to go into effect.

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), passed by Congress in 2021, would require businesses nationally to provide their Business Ownership Information (BOI) to the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN") by Jan. 1, 2025. The law was created to curb financial crimes such as money laundering.”

Link to article: HERE

10 Things to Think About if You Are Considering Investing in Real Estate

Select A Prime Location:

There’s a reason when people talk about real estate; you hear the old adage, “location, location, location.” Take a good, hard look at the location of the property you are considering as an investment. Prime location is what makes a property valuable and ensures resale ability. Consider factors such as access to main roadways and thoroughfares, access to water for future development, and potential zoning opportunities or hindrances. For rentals or flipped properties, consider factors such as rental potential, safety, and access to amenities.

Know the Job Market:

Research the local job market and opportunities for future growth. A thriving job market is key for rental properties as it attracts potential renters and positively impacts property values.

Look for Appreciation Potential:

Assess the potential for property appreciation. Take into consideration factors such as the property's location, future growth in the area, and the possibility of making updates.

Check Listings and Vacancies:

Analyze local rental listings and vacancy rates to determine seasonal cycles or declining areas that may affect rental income.

Court Ordered Whiplash: Farmers Granted Reprieve – Again – From Legal Filing

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the ping pong of court orders that ended with a court-ordered reprieve from Treasury Department reporting requirements for many small businesses.

Earlier this month, a federal court halted the (BOI) reporting requirement from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. On Monday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reinstated the Jan. 1, 2025, deadline. In a third about-face, late last night, the court reversed that order until arguments can be heard, delaying the reporting requirement indefinitely.

“Farm Bureau appreciates the court’s recognition that a last-minute reinstatement of reporting requirements caused an unwelcome scramble for small businesses, including more than 230,000 farmers. The latest court decision to postpone the filing requirement is the right thing to do, but the legal back and forth created a stressful holiday season for many farm families. Lack of guidance and poor public outreach from the government have left many farmers in the dark about whether they’re expected to file.”

The Colorado Beef Council has published its 2023-2024 annual report.

The report covers:

• Audience reach
• Information about campaigns promoting beef
• STEM programs – teaching the next generation about beef and other school programs
• BQA programs
• Consumer survey results

Link to printable report HERE

Article excerpts:

“Transitions are hard. It doesn’t matter what the transition involves, the nature of moving from one thing to the next is complicated. Farmland may be one of the toughest, says Steve Bohr of Farm Financial Strategies in Lisbon, Iowa.

“Farmers often believe that what differentiates him or her is their ability to own the land,” Bohr explains. “And by God, you’re not taking it away from them. A lot of times, land ownership doesn’t transfer until death, and I’m okay with that. But we’ve got to drill down and figure out how that land is going to transition from one generation to the next.”

“He shares five options to consider for the transition of land assets.

1. Give the land to the farmer.

2. Divide the land equally.

3. Deed land into a family trust.

4. Create a family land entity.

5. Develop a hybrid plan.”

Link to article: https://pb.farm-journal.production.k1.m1.brightspot.cloud/news/industry/5-options-consider-during-farmland-transitions

Article excerpts:

“Since 1984, an agricultural research center in Northeast Arkansas has been at the center of developing seeds and other farm products for agribusiness giant Syngenta. From looking into climate-resilient crops to testing soil health, the site has supported company efforts to expand the business and help Southern farmers grow yields.

But in late October, Syngenta received a surprising ultimatum from Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders: sell the site, or face legal action…”

“Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland has emerged as a flash point in ongoing tensions between the two countries, and a flurry of states this year have moved to pass laws to restrict land access. Sanders’ order marks a significant escalation in the debate, representing the first time a state enforced foreign ownership laws…”

“…China owns less than 1% of the total amount of land owned by foreign interests, though its share has been on the rise…”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Farmer sentiment jumped again in November, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbing 30 points to a reading of 145. This marked the highest level of farmer optimism since May 2021.”

“The November sentiment boost reflects growing optimism about a more favorable regulatory and tax environment for agriculture following the U.S. election.”

“The percentage of producers expecting their farm’s financial performance to improve over the next year climbed to 33%, up from 19% in October. Optimism about the U.S. agricultural sector also surged, with 34% of farmers anticipating good times financially in the next 12 months, more than double October’s 15%.”

“Farmers’ improved sentiment also carried over to their investment outlook, as the Farm Capital Investment Index rose 13 points in November to a reading of 55 — the highest level since May 2021.”

Link to article: HERE

Recent farmland sales statistics and links in Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Wisconsin compiled by DTN Progressive Farmer magazine.

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“More than 100 years ago they represented life itself on a farm. Dotting the landscape of the Plains, the windmill carried water from deep underground to the surface.

Today, it’s serenity in rhythm as fan blades spin in the wind. The sounds of yesterday’s progress echo across the acreage at the Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendallville, Ind. Each of the roughly 50 windmills dotting the grounds, tells a story from generations past.

“The design hasn’t changed much,” says Mike Fitzgibbon, the museum’s president of the board of directors. “You have your fan blade, and you have the gearbox that transforms the wind into mechanical power or force and that pumps the water…”

“…Most kids don’t grow up on farms anymore, so it’s real enlightening to see these kids understand how this all works and where the water actually comes from,” Skinner says.”

“…A lot of people who grew up with windmills back in the day recognize all the sounds,” explains Skinner, who handles most of the maintenance at the museum… “

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“As drone service providers spring up across rural America, offering aerial application for a per-acre fee, many farmers are taking it upon themselves to purchase drones and complete the application work themselves.

And while busting farmers who apply products without the proper certifications and documentation might not be high on FAA’s enforcement radar, that doesn’t mean field inspectors aren’t going to make sure you’re operating legally.

In April, an FAA inspector visited a farmer training event and canceled a service provider’s license for a handful of paperwork and operational violations. The foremost violation cited by the inspector was flying the drone closer than 100' from a non-participating farmer. The pilot-in-charge also was unable to provide proof of FAA registration (the drone wasn’t properly marked). That service provider is now grounded, pending legal appeal…”

“…Luckily, the FAA recently streamlined its processes to make obtaining proper certification and the exemptions to apply product via drone easier.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“People have been using virtual dog fencing for years, but now virtual fencing for livestock is becoming a management tool for producers across the country.

At the R.A. Brown Ranch near Throckmorton, Texas, virtual fencing was implemented in 2023 after a wildfire destroyed fencing on the range where the ranch run cows.

"Like many management changing plans, we needed to add this out of necessity," said Tucker Brown. "We had a fire come through our ranch that left parts of our main pastures and its fences destroyed, and we needed to figure out how to keep cows off those areas so the grass could recover."

The Browns looked at several options, including building new permanent fences or hot wire fencing in the areas where it was needed to allow for rest and recovery of the range. They had seen virtual fencing at a cattle trade show, and when they researched this option, they decided it would be the best monetarily and management-wise.

Now, nearly a year and a half later, they have been so pleased with how the virtual fencing works, they plan to continue using it.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Stabenow unveiled 1,397-page details of her long-awaited farm bill Monday morning. This comes as early Sunday evening Pro Farmer broke the news that Senate Ag Chairwoman (D-Mich.) had briefed Democrats but not Republicans on her coming farm bill text, which was expected to be released Monday.

Stabenow said in a news release and summary of the bill, “The foundation of every successful farm bill is built on holding together the broad, bipartisan farm bill coalition. This is a strong bill that invests in all of agriculture, helps families put food on the table, supports rural prosperity, and holds that coalition together…”

“… “Though America’s pork producers appreciate Chairwoman Stabenow’s efforts to publish Farm Bill text, this is simply not a viable bill, as it fails to provide a solution to California Prop. 12,” said NPPC President Lori Stevermer, … “Pork producers have continually spoken up about the negative impacts of this issue, and it is a shame these conversations were disregarded.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“One of the biggest anticipated changes that could impact farms across the U.S. is the possible change to the tax policy under a second Trump administration.”

“While anticipated changes continued to be weighed by political analysts, one agricultural tax expert thinks farmers can count on one major thing.

“I think we’re definitely going to see no tax increases. That’s for sure,” says Paul Neiffer, Farm CPA and contributor to AgWeb.”

“According to Neiffer, 100% bonus depreciation could also make a comeback under Trump.

“We think, perhaps, 100% bonus depreciation might be coming back for farmers,” says Neiffer. “When they buy equipment or buildings, farm buildings, etc., they’ll be able to deduct 100% of that in the year of purchase.”

Neiffer points out farmers need to be careful and make sure they optimize their depreciation related to their debt, but the idea of 100% bonus depreciation would be a welcome change for farmers.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Integrating livestock into crop production is a must on the Taylor Farm in central Iowa near Bouton. By adding cover crops, they have increased cow numbers and seen multiple benefits, including nearly year-round grazing and soil health enhancements.

"We are using livestock to add income to our crop ground, and when Noah wanted to return to the farm, we knew the cover crops was a big part of why we could have another family here," pointed out Dan Taylor, Noah's father. He said cover crops boosted income -- without much added expense -- because they were able to add more cattle thanks to a longer grazing period.

A CAUTIOUS START

The Taylors began using cover crops in 2016. They started cautiously, aerial seeding rye into corn and hoping it would grow and provide some feed for cows. Through the years, they have learned better practices -- such as switching to a drill for planting cover crops -- to ensure greater success.

Link to full article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Charles and Heather Maude, indicted separately with felony criminal charges of theft of federal property will attend their first court hearing Nov. 19, 2024, in federal court in Rapid City, S.D.

Criminal proceedings are public unless otherwise ordered by the court.

The official wording on the grand jury indictment against the Caputa, S.D., farm and ranch couple, said that the couple both “did knowingly steal, purloin and convert to their own use, National Grasslands managed by the United States Department of Agriculture… approximately 25 acres of National Grasslands for cultivation and approximately 25 acres of National Grasslands for grazing cattle, having a value in excess of $1,000, and did aid and abet each other, all in violation of U.S.C. §§ 641 and 2.”

Cheyenne, Wyo., attorney and former Department of the Interior Deputy Solicitor for Parks and Wildlife Karen Budd-Falen said the Maude situation could have easily been handled as a civil matter rather than in criminal court.

“They could have handled this under the Color of Title Act or the Small Tracts Act,” Budd-Falen said.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Total acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is now the highest level in a decade as the program evolves and focuses more on grazing acres than at any time in its history.

Checks for CRP should have been issued over the first two weeks of October at roughly $1.8 billion total in payments.

CRP acreage under the Biden administration has grown 5.36 million acres since early 2021 to hit 25.86 million acres, a 26% increase in enrollment. The Farm Service Agency is getting close to its 27-million-acre cap from the 2018 farm bill.

This year's enrollment programs added 199,214 acres in the general signup -- the traditional program -- while the Grasslands CRP contracts added another 1.44 million acres.

Rolling back the number just a bit, landowners had 481,092 acres of contracts expire Sept. 30, 2024, and leave the program.”

Link to full article: HERE

AFBF: 230,000 Farms Affected by Beneficial Ownership Reporting Rules

Article excerpts:

“The American Farm Bureau Federation is warning farmers and other rural businesses about the approaching Jan. 1, 2025, deadline to provide business ownership information to the U.S. Treasury Department.

AFBF estimates more than 230,000 farmers are affected by the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).

Passed in 2021, the CTA requires business ownership interests to file a report with Treasury. The law was created through a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act to reduce financial crimes such as tax fraud and money laundering. It was also passed coming out of the pandemic when there was a great deal of fraud -- more than $200 billion -- tied to problems such as Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ real estate arm is acquiring more than 41,000 acres of land with the intention of leasing it to farmers.

Farmland Reserve, a nonprofit arm of the Mormon Church, is buying 46 farms from real estate investor Farmland Partners. The farms encompass 41,500 acres of land and include sites in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and the Carolinas.

The Mormon Church has for decades gobbled up farmland across the United States, quickly becoming a major landowner in areas like Florida and Nebraska.

The LDS Church owns approximately 1.7 million acres of land primarily used for agriculture, according to Landgate, a commercial real estate advisory service, making it one of the largest institutional landholders in the U.S.”

Link to full article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“How much private land can the federal government access without probable cause, search warrant, or consent? Almost all of it, as in 1.2 billion acres, or at least 96% of all private holdings in the United States.

The staggering numbers, tabulated in research by Institute for Justice (IJ), highlight the scope of the Open Fields doctrine—the power of federal officials to enter and surveil private land with no limitations on frequency or duration.

Additionally, the report, ‘Good Fences, Good Luck’, puts a spotlight on an alarming acreage correlation for property owners: the more rural the land, the more accessible to government’s reach.”

Link to full article: HERE

Appeals court rules on environmental groups’ challenge to CAFO regulations

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit elected to toss a lawsuit filed by several activist groups aiming to force changes to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) regulations.

The court sided with the EPA’s current approach to regulating livestock production, which includes studying water quality through its Animal Agriculture Water Quality Subcommittee, with pork industry involvement.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), which presented oral arguments before the court last month, praised the decision. The court emphasized that the EPA’s decision to gather information before enacting new regulations was “reasonable” and aligned with the Clean Water Act, refuting claims by the group Food & Water Watch.

NPPC noted that the pork industry has long cooperated with regulators to ensure environmental sustainability on farms, arguing that major legal changes should come from Congress, not the courts. The rejected lawsuit, NPPC said, could have severely disrupted livestock production across the country by misinterpreting regulations and threatening due process.

Article excerpts:

“Denver voters will decide on Nov. 5 if current and future slaughterhouses should be banned in the city.

Currently, there is only one slaughterhouse in Denver, employee-owned Superior Farms, which has slaughtered, processed and packaged lambs and lamb meat at its location near the Platte River and Western Stock Show complex since the 1950s. About 300,000 lambs are slaughtered each year at the site, which would be forced to close if the ordinance passes.

Here’s what you need to know about Ordinance 309…

“…Who is spending money to support and oppose Ordinance 309?

Pro-Animal Future Denver had raised almost $244,276 through Sept. 30. The largest donors are listed on Pro-Animal Future’s website and include the Craigslist Charitable Fund, Animal Charity Evaluators, and the Phauna Foundation founded by animal rights activist Owen Gunden, according to his bio on woodstockfruitfestival.com.

Stop the Ban, Protect Jobs — a group opposing the measure — had raised nearly $957,592 through the Sept. 30, much of it from contributions from Superior Farms. The group has also received money from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Colorado Livestock Association and the United Food & Commercial Workers International.”

Article excerpts:

“A private landowner, CTM LCC, which owns just over 1,075 acres in northeast Iowa, sued USDA officials last April. With the help of the Pacific Legal Foundation and the Liberty Justice Legal, CTM LLC's case in the U.S. District Court of Northern Iowa argues that a 9-acre USDA wetland determination on a 71.85-acre tract amounts to an unconstitutional taking of land.

The 1985 farm bill created the swampbuster and sodbuster provisions that combine to create "conservation compliance" for farm bill programs. The swampbuster provision requires farmers to not drain identified wetlands for agricultural production. The sodbuster requires farmers to agree not to farm highly-erodible land…”

“…MOTION FILED TO INTERVENE

The Iowa Farmers Union, Dakota Rural Action, Food & Water Watch and Iowa Environmental Council, collectively calling themselves "Sustainable Agriculture Groups," filed a motion Oct. 2 in court asking a judge to grant them status in the case to intervene…

"…The loss of these long-standing conservation programs would cause significant environmental damage including increased flooding, degraded water quality, and widespread habitat loss," the groups stated in their motion.”

Article excerpts:

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, an initiative designed to provide personalized support to financially distressed farmers and ranchers across the nation. Through a series of Cooperative Agreements, this national network will connect distressed borrowers with individualized assistance to help them stabilize and regain financial footing…

“…I started my off-ranch career as a Farm Advocate, working hand-in-hand with other tireless farmer advocates. Having someone with experiences in ag finance help producers work through financial difficulties can be the difference between them losing the farm or prospering,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “The Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network underscores our dedication to farmers and ranchers receiving the tailored support they need...”

Link to full article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash…”

The vote was 269 to 149 on HR 9456 with 214 Republicans and 55 Democrats backing the bill.

The bill adds the Agriculture secretary to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for transactions, including land, biotechnology, transportation, storage, and processing. It also requires the secretary to report any transaction that can be considered a threat to national security.

"Today, the United States took a stand against one of our greatest foreign adversaries, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," Newhouse said in a news release. "The CCP has been quietly purchasing American agricultural land at an alarming rate, and this bill is a crucial step towards reversing that trend. We know that USDA's foreign purchase tracking is wildly flawed, and by adding the secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS, we can begin to correct course. Food security is national security, and it is incumbent upon us to keep our adversaries far away from the lands that feed our country and the world."

Congressional Hearing Exposes Lack of Clarity on WOTUS Rules

Demonstrating to members of Congress how hard it is to get to know the new federal rules for enforcing Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation's government affairs team on Wednesday showed lawmakers 1,128 pages of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that was largely blacked out.

Courtney Briggs, a senior director of government affairs with AFBF and chair of the Waters Advocacy Coalition -- a collection of industry groups -- said agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are largely trying to ignore the 2023 Supreme Court case, Sackett v. EPA. The Sackett case curtailed federal agencies from regulating wetlands as waters of the U.S. unless the wetland is adjacent to a continuous body of water.

Farm Bureau and other business groups have been trying to get clear guidance from EPA and the Corps about how those agencies are implementing the new WOTUS standards set by the Supreme Court.

Link to full article: HERE

Recent farmland sales statistics and links in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, South Dakota compiled by DTN Progressive Farmer magazine.

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plan to protect endangered species from the effects of weedkillers could require farms near vulnerable habitats to take additional conservational steps.

The EPA last week revealed its finalized strategy to safeguard over 900 federally endangered and threatened species from herbicides, a result of nearly two dozen lawsuits against the agency over its failure to meet Endangered Species Act obligations when approving pesticides. The new framework will be used to help determine which on-the-ground conservation measures farmers should take — and when — in order to offset any herbicide impacts…”

“…Farm groups have remained wary of the plan, saying it creates a confusing patchwork of rules that will likely raise costs for producers. Josh Gackle, president of the American Soybean Association, said the EPA’s plan “is likely to cost U.S. farmers billions of dollars to implement and could result in significant new hurdles to farmers accessing and using herbicides in the future.”

Link to article: HERE

Landowners Win in SD Supreme Court in Summit Carbon Pipeline Challenge

Article excerpts:

“Lower courts in South Dakota erred in ruling Summit Carbon Solutions is a common carrier able to exercise eminent domain to acquire and inspect land for a planned 2,000-mile carbon pipeline, the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

In a 42-page ruling handed down in an ongoing legal fight mounted by more than 50 landowners in the state, the state's highest court said the company had not presented enough evidence to show it was a common carrier.

Under state law, a common carrier holds itself out to the general public as transporting a commodity for hire.”

Link to full article: HERE

Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) offers “Biosecure” signs to serve as a visual aid to those entering businesses where agriculture production takes place and that there are certain risks associated with entering your private place of business. CLA recommends that employers post signs at all driveways and other entrances to the property stating that all visitors must check-in at the farm or ranch office.

CLA has signs in English and Spanish available for members and additional signs available for purchase. “No Trespassing” signs are strongly encouraged, as well, as they too, still hold limited legal defensibility in court.

To request a set, contact the office at (970) 378-0500 or email office@coloradolivestock.org

“The dairy industry has entered one of the most unique market moments in a generation, according to Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist for CoBank.

“Feed prices are shifting to a five-year low, and beef-on-dairy calves are fetching top-of-the-market prices,” Geiger explains. “Those record values on calves are placing a lid on dairy replacement numbers, and that, in turn, has capped milk production.”

Link to article: HERE

Utah officials filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, asking the U.S. Supreme Court whether the federal government can indefinitely control public lands within the state’s borders.

Article excerpts:

Utah officials filed a lawsuit Tuesday asking the U.S. Supreme Court to answer a question: Can the federal government control public lands within the state indefinitely?

“It is obvious to all of us that the federal government has increasingly failed to keep our lands accessible and properly managed,” Gov. Spencer Cox said at a Tuesday morning news conference.

“Utah deserves priority when it comes to managing this land,” he continued. “Utah is in the best position to understand and respond to the unique needs of our environment and communities.”

Link: HERE

From 2017 to 2022, the average value per acre of all American farmland grew from $4,368 to $5,354, an increase of nearly 23%, according to USDA data on the market value of farmland and its buildings.

Article excerpts:

“As Jess Bray pulled up to a 21-acre farm nestled in an eastern Oklahoma valley, she instantly got a warm feeling. “This is the place,” she thought.

After attempting to buy two other properties before being outbid by cash buyers, Bray and her husband Jon began to wonder whether their dream of owning and operating their own farm would become a reality.

“We always wanted to farm, but we aren’t trust fund kids, we didn’t grow up in agriculture … we didn’t have a farm handed down to us, so it wasn’t something that was very accessible to us,” Bray said. “This was a dream come true … but it wasn’t without challenges.”

Link to full article: HERE

4 Management Practices to Help Your Pasture Recover From Drought Damage

Article excerpts:

“Decent rainfall across the Midwest this growing season has helped improve pasture conditions. But one season of good rains will not be enough to undo the damage to drought-stressed pastures after multiple years of dry conditions, according to forage experts.

University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Carson Roberts and forage agronomist Valerie Tate said in a recent news release that mismanaged pastures may continue to see a drag in production despite the return of ample moisture.

Weakened plants and poor infiltration are two key factors in the continued decline in grass production. Weakened plants are a product of both overgrazing and drought, according to Roberts and Tate.”

Link to full article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“After notifying a northwest Wisconsin town in October 2023 of their intent to challenge a local ordinance that regulates livestock farming, two residents made good on their promise last week.

Ben and Jenny Binversie, represented by the legal arm of the state’s largest business and manufacturing lobby, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, are asking a circuit court judge to strike down the rules in the Polk County town of Eureka.

A ruling in their favor could set a precedent for all Wisconsin municipalities seeking to regulate agriculture, a $105 billion state industry.

“This ordinance is quite simply another case of government overreach,” the Binversies’ attorney Scott Rosenow, executive director of WMC Litigation Center, said in a news release.”

Link to full article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Charles and Heather Maude, a farming couple from western South Dakota, have been indicted on theft of federal property, with charges brought against them in June 2024. But their case has sparked outrage from agricultural organizations nationwide and has earned the support of a U.S. senator.

The indictment accuses the Maudes of unlawfully taking and converting approximately 50 acres of national grasslands managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their own use. The land in question was used for cultivation and grazing, and the property’s value exceeds $1,000. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, under a federal statute that addresses use of government land without permission.

The legal dispute centers around a longstanding boundary between Maude’s property and land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The contested fence line, which the USFS claims represents theft, has existed for generations.

A neighbor, Scott Edoff, told Tri-State Livestock News that the Maudes have been ranching adjacent to the disputed land since 1910, with a grazing allotment in good standing since the U.S. Forest Service’s establishment.”

The contraction in the U.S. beef herd has opened opportunities for dairy producers to capitalize by delivering beef-on-dairy crossbred calves, according to a report from Purina Animal Health.

The firm’s recently released Beef-on-Dairy Industry Report cites Purina survey data showing that most dairy farmers are realizing a premium approaching $200 a head, with some netting double or triple that advantage.

The current market has about 3 million beef-on-dairy cattle according to the report, which includes chapters written by Purina staff as well as beef industry experts from academia and extension programs.

Kansas State University Professor Robert Weaber, department head for the Eastern Kansas Research and Extension Center, writes that adding beef genetics to breeding programs can help dairy producers “enhance their operations and maximize the value of their surplus calf stream.” Raising cattle with a different genetic profile requires focus attention on “other factors like nutrition and management” to achieve the “full genetic potential and value,” he said in the report’s section on selecting sires.

For example, Olivia Genther-Schroeder, senior technical innovation manager for Purina Animal Nutrition emphasizes nutrition management in the first two to three months after beef-on-dairy calves are born. “By feeding them right starting at birth, we’re helping them pack on muscle and develop the desired marbling producers strive for and consumers seek when they are making their beef purchasing decisions,” she writes.

Cropland Values Average $5,570 Per Acre, USDA Land Summary Report Says

Article Excerpts:

“USDA said the value of all farm real estate increased 5% from 2023, averaging $4,170 per acre. This estimate includes buildings and other facilities.

Cropland values increased to $5,570 per acre from the previous year. That's $250 per acre more, up 4.7%.

The average pasture value was $1,830 per acre, a $90 per acre increase from 2023. That's a 5.2% change.

Farmers paid an average of $160 per acre to rent cropland, but rents on irrigated ground averaged $245 per acre while dryland rents averaged $146 per acre.

To compile its annual Land Values Summary, USDA uses a sample of 9,000 segments of land, each about a square mile in size. The agency's enumerators contact all producers in that segment to record cropland and pastureland values. They also collect an estimate of all land and buildings in the farmer's entire operation as well as percentage change from the prior year.

Data is summarized by Regional Field Offices and those estimates and supporting data are sent to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB). The ASB reviews the material and compiles the national estimate.”

Article excerpts:

WASHINGTON (July 12, 2024) – Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) filed a lawsuit against the misguided Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) “Conservation and Landscape Health” rule. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming and seeks to overturn the rule which threatens generations of family ranching operations in the U.S. by undermining the long-held balance of multiple-use management.

“NCBA is suing the BLM to stand up for America’s western ranchers and push back on this harmful rule that only serves as a steppingstone to removing livestock grazing from our nation’s public lands,” said NCBA President Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher. “Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the BLM is supposed to balance the multiple uses of public lands, including livestock grazing, energy, mining, timber, and recreation. The BLM’s rule upends this multiple use system by creating a brand-new use for federal lands without Congressional approval and in conflict with existing federal law. NCBA will continue working to hold the BLM accountable in federal court.”

Representative John Curtis (R-UT) has introduced the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act, aimed at providing ranchers with greater flexibility to respond to environmental and market conditions affecting federal lands. Following a successful 2018 pilot program, this legislation seeks to alleviate bureaucratic roadblocks and enhance adaptive management for grazing permittees - including those who aren't participants in the BLM's Outcome Based Grazing program, but still need flexibility in grazing permit administration.

The bill expands and codifies the 2018 BLM Pilot Program, increasing flexibility for approved grazing permittees to respond to shifting environmental conditions and emergencies like drought and wildfire. For example, the bill allows BLM and permittees to work together to create a more flexible permit administration that allows permittees universal access to a 14-day variance on on/off dates, flexibility in range improvement work, and other necessary changes. Like so many of the efforts PLC supports, the bill also emphasizes the need for robust cooperative monitoring. For bill text, click here.

From an article in AGDAILY written by AGDAILY Contributors

Article Excerpts:

“Foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land is a hot topic, largely spurred by media reports raising concerns about bad actors from adversarial nations purchasing land for potentially hostile purposes.

For most, understanding of the formal processes for reviewing foreign investments and tracking existing ownership dynamics is limited. Under the authorities granted to it by the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978, USDA is required to track information pertaining to foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land. Succ essful monitoring of investments and enforcement of the law by USDA, however, has been challenging, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released recommendations outlining how USDA can improve its data collection and processes.”

Link to full article: HERE

From an article in MeatingPlace By Peter Thomas Ricci on 6/20/2024

A lack of state funds from the Missouri state government is holding back local meat processors.

According to statements that Missouri Agriculture Director Chris Chinn made to Brownfield, seven processors are currently seeking state inspection, while “at least” eight have filed requests for Cooperative Interstate Shipping approval; however, four new state inspectors are needed for the additional workflow, and state lawmakers denied the funding for the inspectors.

USDA reimbursements also play a role. Chinn explained that USDA has historically reimbursed state inspection costs by 50%, but since fiscal year 2022, that reimbursement has fallen, and the state has needed to cover an additional $500,000 in expenses.

Currently, Missouri’s agriculture department has spending authority, but not the necessary funds for the inspectors.

Chinn added that Missouri’s meat production in 2023 was 3.2 million pounds of red meat and 850,000 pounds of poultry, and without the additional inspectors, production in 2024 will be flat.

Investing in undeveloped land can be an exciting venture, offering a blank canvas for various possibilities; however, like any investment, buying undeveloped land has advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

Flexibility and Creativity:

One of the primary advantages of buying undeveloped land is the freedom it provides for creativity and flexibility, whether you are purchasing commercial, residential, rural, or agricultural land. Our consulting group at AGPROfessionals is made up of civil, agricultural, and environmental engineers, as well as land planners and surveyors. We have the expertise to help you turn your vision and creativity into a reality.

Potential for Appreciation:

Undeveloped land has the potential for significant appreciation in value over time. As the demand for land increases in a particular area, mainly due to urban expansion or development trends, the value of undeveloped land can rise, offering an opportunity to realize a profitable return on investment.

Lower Initial Cost:

Undeveloped land often comes with a lower initial cost than developed properties. This can be advantageous for investors looking to enter the real estate market or individuals seeking a more affordable option for a future home or other real estate development project.

Here’s some information from the Colorado Livestock Association

After a whirlwind 120 days, the 2024 Colorado Legislative Session officially ended in early May. The Colorado Livestock Association tracked many bills this session, ranging from water and wildlife to veterinary care and environmental practices. ⁠Join them next Friday, June 14, at 1:00 pm for a wrap-up session with CLA lobbyist Wes Skiles. He will discuss key legislation, the session's theme, and the potential impact on agricultural producers in the state.⁠

CLA Legislative Wrap-Up Webinar

Friday, June 14, 2024

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Link to Register: HERE

@coloradolivestockassociation

MEATINGPLACE WEBINAR

THU, JUNE 20, 2024, 10 AM CDT

We’ll explore the USDA grant program’s status: Successes and shortcomings

On July 9, 2021, the USDA grabbed headlines when it announced more than $650 million in grants and assistance to U.S. meat processors. Described as part of a “historic commitment to fight monopolization and promote competition across the economy,” the funds were intended to expand capacity in small and very small plants, and to address consolidation in the meat industry.

Three years later, more than $300 million of those funds have been distributed to more than 300 processing facilities across the country, and in an exclusive webinar, Meatingplace will explore the program’s status and success. Peter Thomas Ricci, Managing Editor, Meatingplace, will moderate. Our expert guests will be Dave Carter, Director of Regional Technical Assistance Coordination for the Flower Hill Institute and Dr. Sarah Low, professor and head, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics in the College of ACES at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

North Carolina State University on Friday announced the foundation of the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein at North Carolina State University, a center of excellence and bio-manufacturing hub.

Established through a $30 million award from the Bezos Earth Fund, the center will unite academia, industry, chefs and policymakers to develop and commercialize alt-proteins, including cultivated, fermentation-enabled and plant-based products.

Meanwhile, cultivated meat maker Believer Meats on Friday announced it will partner with the newly established Center for Sustainable protein, which will form part of an international network of alternative protein centers supported through the Bezos Earth Fund’s Future of Food program.

“Innovation alone cannot solve our global nutrition needs in the future. We need to ensure that innovation reaches the market,” Andy Jarvis, director of the Future of Food at The Bezos Earth Fund, said in a statement e-mailed to Alt-Meat. “With NC State and their industry partners like Believer Meats, we see a path to take great products from discovery to commercialization.”

The investment strengthens North Carolina’s position as an emerging leader for the alternative protein industry, anchored by Believer Meats’ commercial-scale production facility in Wilson, N.C., scheduled to open this year.

Article excerpts:

“We have reached the time of year when most our pastures have settled into adequate production enabling us to graze cattle on a more frequent basis. Recently, while discussing pasture/grazing conditions with producers, I’ve noticed three terms being used interchangeably: stocking rate, carrying capacity and stocking density. These terms are very similar in name but very different in meaning. Most producers have a general understanding and experience with some form of grazing management, and generally speaking, try to make the best management decisions they can to maximize the productivity of their pastures. Understanding the differences between stocking rate and stocking density will help producers make better, more informed management decisions.”

Link to full article HERE

Unlocking Agricultural Success: How Your Local Extension Agent Can Support You

Did you know you have a valuable resource in your community, and their services are free?

All universities engage in research and teaching, but the nation's more than one hundred land-grant colleges and universities have a third, critical mission — extension. Through extension, land-grant colleges and universities bring vital, practical information to agricultural producers, small business owners, consumers, families, and young people.

The Cooperative Extension System works in conjunction with the USDA, Land Grant Universities, and local, regional, or county extension offices. The CES system is wide-ranging, with an office in almost every county across the United States.

Local extension agents are vital in bridging the gap between research-based knowledge and practical applications for farmers, ranchers, and community members. Your local extension agent can assist and support you in achieving your agricultural goals in numerous ways.

Access to Research-Based Information:

One of the primary roles of extension agents is to disseminate research-based information. They have access to the latest findings in agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information to make informed decisions.

Ryan Hostetler, ALC Recognized as the 2023 RLI APEX Region 6 Broker of the Year in Ag Land Crop Sales

4/22/2024 (Greeley, CO) – Ryan Hostetler, ALC, with AGPROfessionals in Greeley, CO, has been recognized as the APEX 2023 Region 6 (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY) Broker of the Year in Ag Land Crop Sales by the REALTORS® Land Institute as a part of the RLI APEX Production Awards Program, sponsored by The Land Report.

“We are incredibly proud of Ryan for his accomplishments in 2023. The Regional Broker of the Year is a new category for the APEX Awards this year. We are proud to honor land professionals like him across RLI’s ten regions who are dedicated to both the industry and their clients. Ryan is truly among the most accomplished professionals in land real estate.”

A Colorado native, Ryan obtained his Colorado real estate license in 1999 and is an active member of the Realtors Land Institute, having earned the esteemed Accredited Land Consultant designation. He is currently licensed in CO, KS, MT, NE, ID, NV, SD, and WY. Ryan has been recognized as one of the “Top 20 Land Brokers” in the nation for 2017, 2019, and 2020 and as a member of the “Top Producers Club” annually from 2017 through 2023.

Ranching in the West - Yesterday and Today

Learning about grazing and water rights on federally managed public lands is essential to understanding some key factors impacting livestock production and the purchase of ranch land in the West. This is particularly essential information if you are considering a property with grazing and water rights as additional assets.

In the early days of the American West, land was settled through various government acts. Along with settlement, the land's natural resources, like grass, water, and minerals, were claimed. Over time, those same rights were sold or passed down through the generations, and the rights remain in place to this day.

Split Estates

These claimed resources are not “public” even though the Federal Government administers them. Instead, they are considered a “split estate.” Split estates were proposed by President Theodore Roosevelt. Split estates occur when separate parties own the rights to the land above ground and minerals rights below the ground.

Acts To Settle the West

Throughout the 1800s and 1900s, several key acts were passed to promote the settlement and well-being of the American West, and many are still in effect. Without these acts, the West would not be what it is today.

Call to Action by Colorado Farm Bureau:

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR TODAY -

APPOINTMENTS GO TO SENATE FLOOR ON FRIDAY, MARCH 8-

CFB Message:

"Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) appointments go to the Senate Floor on Friday, March 8.

Tell them to oppose these appointments due to concerns about their qualifications, backgrounds, potential biases, and the public's trust in CPW's ability to manage shared resources today and for future generations.

WHAT THE MESSAGE TO LEGISLATORS SAYS:

Please oppose Colorado Parks and Wildlife's (CPW) appointments due to concerns about their qualifications, backgrounds, potential biases, and the public's trust in CPW's ability to manage shared resources today and for future generations.

Partnerships with CPW and local agricultural communities are a testament to the importance of maintaining the delicate equilibrium between economic growth and environmental conservation.

Our objections to the current nominees for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission (CPW) arise from a critical examination of their collective qualifications and perceived biases, which may hinder their ability to effectively fulfill the commission's diverse responsibilities and serve as equitable trustees of CPW. The underlying issue is not just the individual backgrounds of these nominees, which, while impressive in certain areas, lack the comprehensive experience necessary for appropriate management of parks, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. The nominees' lack of broad recreational management experience, demonstrated objections towards holistic science-based wildlife management and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, and limited engagement and experience with the relationship between private land management.

Picturesque landscapes and vibrant ecosystems have long drawn those seeking a connection with nature and a piece of the American West. When it comes to owning land, the true key to prosperity often lies in the ownership of water rights. In the West, where water is a precious resource, having the rights to this liquid gold can significantly enhance the value and potential uses of your property.

A State Defined by Water Scarcity

The West is no stranger to water scarcity challenges. With a semi-arid climate and increasing demands for water across various sectors, having secure and reliable access to water is a game-changer. Land with water rights becomes not just a parcel of earth but a source of sustenance for agricultural endeavors and a foundation for various land uses.

Agricultural Advantages

For those considering agricultural pursuits, owning land with water rights is essential. Water rights provide the lifeblood for crops, ensuring consistent and reliable irrigation. Whether you're cultivating fields of crops, managing orchards, or raising livestock, water rights empower you to optimize your agricultural output and, in turn, the financial returns on your investment.

Welcome to our site! We are in the process of building our blog page and will have many interesting articles to share in the coming months. Please stay tuned to this page for information to come. And if you have any questions about our business or want to reach out to us, we would love for you to stop by our contact page.

Thank you!