Organizations from the commodity, dairy, livestock and specialty crop industries are urging the House and Senate to provide permanent and meaningful estate tax relief before the end of the year. The American Soybean Association is one of those groups. ASA supports making the current five-million dollar per person exemption and top rate of 35-percent permanent. The group also believes it’s important that permanent estate tax law index the exemption to inflation, provide for spousal transfers and include the stepped-up basis.

If no action is taken by Congress before the end of 2012 – the exemption will drop to one-million dollars and the top tax rate above the exclusion amount will increase to 55-percent. If that happens – ag groups believe the negative impact on the industry will be significant. They say the 2013 change does a disservice to agriculture because it is a land-based, capital-intensive industry with few options for paying estate taxes when they come due. ASA is encouraging Congress to show support for the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act introduced by Texas Congressman Kevin Brady in the House and South Dakota’s John Thune in the Senate.

Courtesy: NAFB News

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Missouri House has endorsed legislation seeking to make it a crime for undercover activists to produce videos portraying poor conditions at agricultural facilities.

The legislation given first-round approval Tuesday would create the crime of “agriculture production facility interference.”

The crime would apply to people who produce or distribute photos, videos or audio recordings of the activities at an agricultural facility without the consent of the owner. The bill also would make it a crime for people to gain

employment or access at agricultural facilities under false pretenses.

Supporters said the measure is needed to stop undercover activists who produce propaganda against agriculture, particularly where livestock are being raised or slaughtered.

Opponents of the bill said some of those undercover investigations have helped improve conditions at agricultural facilities.

According to The Hagstrom Report – House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson says there’s a fifty-fifty chance Congress will pass a farm bill this year. If both houses don’t approve a measure by August – he says Congress will need to extend some authorities and then wait for the lame duck session. Peterson notes some are talking about an extension – but says others won’t go along with that if there are cuts.

On the issue of crop insurance – Peterson is opposed to more cuts until the effects of the 2008 farm bill cuts, the renegotiation of the standard reinsurance agreement and the rerating of certain policies are fully understood.

On the Senate side – Peterson says a recent conversation with Chair Debbie Stabenow shows she’s having a difficult time sorting out the various commodity proposals. She has also joined Republican Pat Roberts in opposing increases in target prices. Peterson says those are two battles House Committee members cannot help with. If the Senate can work things out on the commodity side, on crop insurance and on conservation – Peterson says it will put a lot of pressure on the House to do something. If the Senate passes a measure with a 23-billion dollar cut over 10 years and the House gets a bill with a 33-billion dollar cut – Peterson says it would be “conferenceable.

Courtesy: NAFB News

A Bethany, Missouri man will serve 16 years in federal prison for his role in a string of armed robberies at grocery stores.

U.S. District Judge Gary Fenner sentenced 32-year-old Jeremiah Kraushaar on Monday.

Kraushaar pleaded guilty last October to participating in a conspiracy to commit the robberies.

He was arrested largely due to a tip via the TIPS Hotline.

 

Kraushaar admitted that he and co-conspirators robbed five grocery stores, including Thriftway Store, 1616 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 13, 2010; Cosentino’s Apple Market, 7506 Raytown Rd., Raytown, Mo., on Oct. 3, 2010; Hy-Vee Store, 1104 S. 25th St., Bethany, Mo., on Oct. 14, 2010; Patricia’s Food Store, 1212 W. 40 Hwy., Odessa, Mo., on Oct. 22, 2010; and Apple Market Grocery Store, 1215 E. Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 2, 2010.

During each robbery, grocery store employees were held at gunpoint and their hands were bound with plastic zip-tie restraints. Kraushaar also pleaded guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Co-defendant Finis Richardson, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Sept. 7, 2011, to five years and three months in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Javon Turner, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty on Feb. 14, 2012, and awaits sentencing.

According to court documents, multiple law enforcement agencies were investigating a series of grocery store robberies across northwest Missouri. Certain common characteristics of the robberies were captured by surveillance cameras.

The robbers entered each store in the early morning when employees were opening the business, forcibly restraining employees with zip-ties, and using walkie-talkies and cellular phones during the robberies.

After law enforcement released footage from the surveillance video, an anonymous tip was made to the TIPS hot line. The defendants were arrested following a high-speed pursuit on Dec. 19, 2010.

By National Corn Growers.

Corn stocks and demand in the United States remain stable according to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week.  While potential for change in the May report was noted, the agency found that, at present, the previous estimates require no revision.

This news follows reports issued by USDA last Wednesday  indicating that seven percent of the U.S. corn crop had already been planted as of Sunday.  This indicates progress significantly ahead of the five-year average as only two percent of the crop would normally be planted at that time.

Much of the early planting is occurring in the south and central Corn Belt with Tennessee and Kentucky leading the push with planting 31 and 25 points over the average respectively.  Missouri and Illinois also have planted earlier than normal to a large degree.  While all major corn production states with only the exceptions of North Dakota and Wisconsin have documented planting already, the data clearly suggests that most farmers are waiting to plant until their crop insurance dates, which will occur later this week for much of the Corn Belt.

The next edition of the reports, scheduled for release on May 10, will be the USDA’s first projection of the 2012/2013 crop.

The University of Missouri Extension office will hold a spring marketing conference tomorrow in Maryville.

The conference will feature a live web seminar of fundamental analysis of livestock and crop markets, current ag policy issues and a weather outlook.

The event is free to attend.

It will be at the University of Missouri Extension office in Nodaway County.  That’s on the third floor of the county administration building on the northeast corner of the Maryville town square.

The event starts at noon.

For more information, contact Randa Doty of the Extension Office, 660-582-8101.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture launched the 3rd annual Focus on Missouri Agriculture contest, asking Missourians to help capture the unique stories and images of agriculture through photographs and videos. The contest, which will run through June 15, asks amateur photographers and videographers from all over the state to submit their best images of a beautiful Missouri farm, a snapshot of a farm tractor that has been in the family for years or the fun and excitement of a child at agritourism operation.

“This contest will allow Missourians to share their favorite moments on their farms with others who share a love for agriculture and those that want to learn more about life on the farm,” said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler. “Every farm in our state has a story to tell and this is a great way to capture those stories and to share them with others.”

For a complete list of rules and guidelines, visit http://mda.mo.gov/focus/. Photos and videos submitted to the contest will be placed on the contest website and available on the Department’s Flickr group and YouTube page. Photos must be submitted by June 15.

More information about the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs is available online at http://www.mda.mo.gov.