1. H 2414, 2009-2010 Regular Session

May 14, 2009      United States Congress

Treatment of aliens granted blue card status.Sec. 103. In such cases, the employer will make efforts to transfer the United States worker to other comparable employment acceptable to the worker. Worker protections and labor standards enforcement.`Sec. 218D. more...

2. Common Crop Insurance Regulations: Florida Avocado Crop Insurance Provisions 23660-23664 [E9-11693]

May 20, 2009      Federal Register

The evaluation found the Florida Avocado pilot crop insurance program to be a valuable risk management tool for avocado producers. The evaluation recommended converting the Florida Avocado pilot crop insurance program to a permanent program. These provisions will replace and supersede the current unpublished provisions that provide insurance coverage for Florida avocados under a pilot program status. more...

3. 2 Studies Tie Disaster Risk to Urban Growth

May 17, 2009      New York Times

The mortality rate has been declining in many areas. Maskrey said. "Some time before 2050, the urban population of India will rise by 500 million people. Mumbai and Calcutta are already very poor about providing land and housing. more...

4. Peak through glass of a huge California greenhouse to see the future of farming

May 17, 2009      Omaha World Herald

Casey Houweling, president of Houweling Nurseries, stands above a tomato crop in one of his new greenhouses. But the California facility is no ordinary hothouse. Houweling's greenhouses are at the leading edge of the type of facilities farmers will increasingly rely on for production, Giacomelli said. more...

5. Emerging economies face acute disaster risks: U.N.

May 17, 2009      Boston Globe

Bangladesh was listed as facing the highest mortality risk from cyclones, along with China, India, the Philippines, Myanmar and Madagascar, while Ethiopia, Indonesia and India are most vulnerable to deadly landslides. Sub-Saharan African countries were cited as having the most people and crops exposed to risks from drought. The poorest communities in developing countries are at highest risk from disasters and are rarely covered by insurance. more...

6. Federal Reserve: Agricultural credit tightened

May 18, 2009      Associated Press Online

Livestock producers also were struggling with low cattle and hog prices amid waning global demand for meat. New equipment sales slowed dramatically. more...

7. Federal Reserve says Agricultural credit market tightened in Midwest during 1st quarter

May 18, 2009      Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - More lenders are tightening their restrictions for agricultural loans in the Midwest at the same time that repayments on loans have dropped, The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says. Survey respondents reported farm income had slipped from the record highs of last year, especially in Oklahoma and Kansas. The Federal Reserve's quarterly report was compiled from 255 lenders surveyed. more...

8. Federal Reserve: Farm credit tightens

May 15, 2009      Omaha World Herald

Turbulent agricultural conditions contributed to the tightened farm credit, the agency said. The increase in bank referrals to nonbank credit agencies or government lending programs across the region was also driven by Oklahoma, where bankers were concerned about drought stress on the winter wheat crop. The Federal Reserve's quarterly report was compiled from 255 lenders surveyed. more...

9. Indiana farmers receive crop insurance payments

May 18, 2009      Terre Haute Star Tribune

For their part, the private insurance companies have contributed substantially from the funds they set aside as loss reserves. more...

10. USDA appeals officer denies Huber arguments

May 20, 2009      Agweek

Subsequent forms were filed in 1997, 1998 and 1999, and Steven Huber received program payments for each of those years, according to the NAD report. He had "enlisted" the others "to falsely list themselves as farm operators with FSA, to circumvent USDA payment limitations, and hired his own operator for the various farms. The party who signed the FOP received all farm income, program payments and crop insurance proceeds, putting those monies into a farm account. more...

11. Deere 2Q profit tumbles 38 percent

May 20, 2009      Associated Press Online

The sharpest sales declines occurred outside the United States and Canada, where Deere has expanded quickly in recent years. more...

12. SB 1016, 2009 Regular Session

May 15, 2009      Texas State Legislature

The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 58, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. AGRICULTURAL [YOUNG FARMER] LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM SECTION 1.11. The source of funds for the young farmer grant program is the Texas agricultural fund. All references in law or rule to the young farmer loan guarantee account mean the Texas agricultural fund. more...

13. SB 1016, 2009 Regular Session

May 15, 2009      Texas State Legislature

The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 58, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. AGRICULTURAL [YOUNG FARMER] LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM SECTION 1.11. The source of funds for the young farmer grant program is the Texas agricultural fund. All references in law or rule to the young farmer loan guarantee account mean the Texas agricultural fund. more...

14. SB 1016, 2009 Regular Session

May 15, 2009      Texas State Legislature

The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 58, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. AGRICULTURAL [YOUNG FARMER] LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM SECTION 1.11. The source of funds for the young farmer grant program is the Texas agricultural fund. All references in law or rule to the young farmer loan guarantee account mean the Texas agricultural fund. more...