Tioga County to Receive Grant for Bioenergy Marketing Initiative

News from the USDA:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday announced projects in 17 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico -- including one project in New York -- that will receive loan and grant assistance to create jobs and boost economic development in rural areas.

Tuesday's announcement involves funding provided through three USDA economic development programs: the Intermediary Relending Program, the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program and the Rural Business Opportunity Grant Program.

In New York state, the Tioga County Rural Economic Area Partnership will receive $98,860 through the Rural Business Opportunity Grant Program. The money will be used to support the county's Bioenergy Marketing Initiative.

The total grant money provided by the three USDA programs for these 28 projects is nearly $13 million.

USDA Works to Rebuild US Economy

Here is this week's column by Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack:

This past week, President Obama laid out a vision for America’s economic future.

Since day one, the Obama Administration has been focused on our nation’s economic recovery, and over recent years we’ve seen positive signs of growth.

Businesses have created more than 7 million new jobs during the past 40 months. The housing market is coming back. Led by the tremendous productivity of America’s farmers and ranchers, our nation’s exports are growing.

But we also know that much remains to be done, and there’s no excuse for letting up. The President is squarely focused on building a strong middle class. He is committed to ensuring that every American has the opportunity to secure a good job, a quality education, a dependable place to call home, a secure path to retirement and affordable health care with decent benefits.

Those opportunities are just as important for folks who call rural America home. At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we have laid out a vision to rebuild the rural economy and create a strong middle class in rural America. In recent years we’ve expanded markets for agriculture and rural business, while laying the groundwork for new growth in the coming generation.

With Washington suffering from too much gridlock today, President Obama pledged that he’ll do everything within his executive power to keep making progress. At USDA we’ll continue our own efforts, building on the record results we’ve achieved in recent years.

Meanwhile we will continue to work with Congress to break the gridlock and accomplish big things. For rural America, Congress must act as soon as possible to pass a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill, which is crucial for USDA’s efforts to grow the rural economy and provide new income in rural communities.

Additionally, by fixing America’s broken immigration system, Congress can strengthen American agriculture, grow the rural economy, and create a common-sense system that works for farmers and farm workers alike.

Over the coming months, President Obama will continue to discuss his vision for a strong middle class. He’ll outline steps that can be taken by the administration, by Congress and by other partners to help grow the economy. Folks in our small towns and rural communities can help lead the way on that effort, and USDA will stand with rural America every step of the way.

Want a Job? Agriculture Industry is the Place to Be

Go to http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/07/14/farm-industry-struggles-to-attract-workers/2512685/ to see the story from USA Today.

June is Dairy Month -- Dairy Farming Huge Boost to the State's Economy

With the dairy industry, New York state would be hurting financially.

A Cornell University study on the economic impact of dairy states direct cash receipts on New York milk alone were $2.2 billion -- Yes that's BILLION with a B -- in 2010. Another 81 cents for each dollar goes out into the local community. That computes to $1.782 billion in the state economy just for milk sales.

The Cornell study states more money is made for the state through dairy processing plants and manufacturers. Another $2.26 for each dollar generated by milk cash receipts pumps another $4.972 into the state's economy.

Dairy farming and processing combined impacts the state economy to the tune of $8.9 billion. Not shabby.

Also, the Cornell study states 1.24 jobs are created for every one job on a dairy farm.

In addition to the money pumped into the economy, dairy also generates money in other ways. Steve Ammerman, public affairs director for New York Farm Bureau, said dairy farmers are creating more economic opportunities by agri-tourism, selling their own dairy products made on the farm and simply adding to the beauty of the state's open land that tourists and others love to see.

"Dairy farms are a great economic driver in their communities because it has been shown time and time again that the money earned mainly stays local," Ammerman said. "Not only in terms of wages they pay their employees, but also in spinoff spending. Farmers rely on local suppliers for seed, equipment, repair work, fertilizer and other services and products they need on the farm."

"We are also seeing farms selling valued-added products like cheese and ice cream with milk that originates from their farms," Ammerman said. "This can bring in additional tourism for people who come from the outside of the community to purchase products at farm markets and local stores."

Ammerman added farmers also pay taxes, which support local schools, roads and services. "For every dollar they pay in local taxes, they receive only a quarter of that back in services," he said. "While homeowners get back more than a dollar in services. Without the productive farms in rural areas, taxes would be higher for the rest of the residents."

Ammeriman also said "dairy farms help preserve open space and prevent it from being developed. Once it is lost to a parking lot or housing development, that farm land is gone forever along with the land's ability to produce local food. ... That is something worth investing in."


Nationally, about 97 percent of all dairy farms are family owned with an average herd size of 115 cows. According to Dairy Management Inc. and the National Milk Producers Federation, a dollar's worth of milk generates $3 in economic activity and every $1 million of U.S. milk sales generates 17 jobs.

The U.S. dairy industry is estimated at $140 billion in economic output, $29 billion in household earnings and more than 900,000 jobs.

USDA: Growing Rural Economies, Creating Jobs

Go to http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/06/19/white-house-rural-council-growing-rural-economies-creating-jobs/ to check out the USDA blog entry.

Study: Economic Impact of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry Huge

Go to https://www.farmcrediteast.com/en/News-and-Events/News/20130528AgEconomicImpact.aspx to see the story.

Report: Farmers Have Too Much Debt

Here's a report http://www.cnbc.com/id/100739419 about farm debt from CNBC.

USDA Report Shows Strong Ag Growth Through 2022

Go to http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/1013562/oce131.pdf to read the report.

State Money Would be Better Spent to Revitalize Smaller Dairy Farms

Go to http://madisoncountycourier.com/?p=45500 to see a letter to the editor of the Madison County Courier concerning the economic stimulus provided by dairy farms.

When Eating is an Economic Act

Interesting story in Business Week.

See it at http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-29/when-eating-is-an-economic-act