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Articles written by Traci Bruckner


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  • Actively engaged in farming?

    Traci Bruckner|Updated Dec 30, 2015

    Center for Rural Affairs On December 17, 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued their final rule defining what it means to be actively engaged in farming and thereby eligible to receive federal farm payments. The final rule serves only to ensure access to unlimited farm program payments for the vast majority of the nation’s largest and wealthiest farms and writes loopholes directly into regulation. USDA is more interested in allowing the nation’s largest farms to avoid meaningful payment limits than in making far...

  • Time running out for CSP sign-up

    TRACI BRUCKNER|Updated Feb 24, 2015

    Time is running out for farmers and ranchers that want to participate in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) this year. February 27 is the deadline for the 2015 round. Producers should visit the local NRCS office before that date to initiate the application process. The CSP rewards farmers, ranchers, and foresters for maintaining existing conservation practices and for adopting additional practices on cropland, grassland, non-industrial private forestland and tribal lands. The program pays producers for fostering clean...

  • Improvements to USDA Beginning Farmer Loans

    TRACI BRUCKNER|Updated Oct 29, 2014

    By TRACI BRUCKNER Center for Rural Affairs USDA recently announced several changes to Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs, changes designed to help more beginning farmers and ranchers. The new “interim final rule” will increase the Microloan limit from $35,000 to $50,000. This program provides a simplified application process and a seven year payback. Microloans can be used for approved operating expenses, such as seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents, marketing, distribution, living expenses, livestock, equipment, hoo...

  • Guest Editorial

    TRACI BRUCKNER|Updated May 7, 2014

    In April, small grass-fed beef producers received some great news. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced the creation of a new certification option for smaller, grass-fed beef producers. The Grass-Fed Program for Small and Very Small Producers arose out of the Grass-Fed Marketing Claim Standard within USDA’s Process Verified Program. Under the new certification process, small farm and ranch operations marketing fewer than 50 head of cattle each year will have the opportunity to label their product as consistent wit...