Disaster designations open emergency loans up to area farmers
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Drought Monitor as of July 24
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Jim Stute
JANESVILLE — A federal edict declaring Rock, Walworth and 21 other counties natural disaster areas will make low-interest emergency loans available for farmers with cash-flow problems.
The loans will help farmers purchase feed or whatever else they need to make it through to next year, said Jim Stute, UW Extension crops and soils agent.
“It’s going to help some people, I’m sure,” he said.
To be eligible, farmers must have suffered at least a 30 percent loss in a major crop and be unable to continue with an existing lender, said Judy Schambow, executive director with the Rock County Farm Service Agency.
The emergency loans carry a 2.25 percent interest rate.
“I’m thinking most people are going to have a loss on their corn crops,” Schambow said. “Those loans are out there so people can maintain their cash flow and stay in business.”
Despite 3.1 inches of rain so far in July, Rock County remains in an “extreme drought” condition, according to the National Climatic Data Center.
“The reality is, we need rain, and we need it to continue,” Schambow said. “And the other thing that would be nice to get is out of the hot weather pattern.”
With the disaster declaration, farmers can file paperwork for an OK to graze their animals on areas set aside in the conservation reserve program, Schambow said.
Gov. Scott Walker on Wednesday said Wisconsin would begin accepting applications for its Drought Relief Guarantee Program. The program, which is administered through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, would provide a 90 percent guarantee on agricultural loans up to $15,000 for three years.
What the future holds depends on rainfall and the federal government, Schambow said.
No federal disaster legislation is in place, yet, but could be in the future, especially because of the widespread nature of the drought, she said.
Janesville, for example, had a deficit of more than 5 inches of rain in May and June. In July, however, the city so far has received a bit over the average of 3 inches, according to Gazette weather records.
“I’ve had people come through the door, and they really think, if we keep this rain pattern going, we’ll have an average crop,” Schambow said.
The soybeans, for example, look “way, way better” now that the county has received some rain.
It is too early to tell what condition crops will be in this year, Stute said.
“The crops have responded, but for some crops it was too late, in particular, corn,” he said.
Rain came too late for corn already brown and dead, but corn that was green has rehydrated and has resumed growing.
Farmers soon will know whether pollination is successful, he said.
“If we do have successful pollination and timely rain, we could still get a reasonable yield,” Stute said.
Soybeans are all right and are flowering. Canning crops look variable, he said.
“I can really see the difference in the hay fields,” Stute said. “The ones that went dormant and brown are greening up, and the ones that hadn’t gone dormant are putting on new growth. That’s a good thing.”
The county must rely on rain because no moisture is left in the soil.
“An inch a week would do it,” Stute said. “It just depends on what the rest of the season looks like.”
Residents compare this year to 1988, but Schambow said the longtime farmers who come into her office think this year is worse.
Schambow said farmers are stressed just like their crops. It’s also hard on those who raise livestock because they must buy feed. Some might reduce the size of their herds to manage the cost, she said.
But that’s the way farming has always been, she added.
“If you grew up (farming), it’s part of the business,” Schambow said. “You have your ups and downs.”
The 21 other counties declared natural disaster areas are Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Sauk, Washington and Waukesha.
Jul 30, 2012 at 11:42 a.m.
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And tracy and dwight, I don't care that they "put food on my table"-- that's what they get paid to do, it is not a charity. The stupid state workers run by union bosses put the "registered" tag on my vehicle, but I don't think they are entitled to so much my money in the form of health benefits etc that I don't get just because somehow I "benefit" from their work; they get paid and they can change jobs any time if they don't like the terms and conditions that go with getting my tax dollars in their greedy little hands. And farmers won't be providing the "food on my table" at any kind of discount just because they are sucking on the teat of the public trough. I pay the cost of the market that neither the farmer nor I control. PLUS, last year was one of the most profitable years EVER for farmers--- so when it's going good, it's all them-- but one bad year and they are howling for me to pay for the turn of bad luck after a run of great luck. Farmers are no different than anyone else-- keep your hands out of my pocket. If I want you to have it I will give it to you via charity or when I buy food at the store. How hypocritical to think they are any different from anyone else. I work hard, too; I produce things people need too; and I don't get any handouts when things are tough. Suck it up, farmers, like everyone else. I am not your keeper or your sugar daddy.
Jul 30, 2012 at 11:33 a.m.
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A a FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED loan is applying my tax dollars to fix someone else's economic problem. I am sick of federally subsidized student loans, small business loans, development loans (Solyndra etc). Don't pretend these loans are there to help ME the consumer-- they won't magically make the crops grow tall and strong. It is intended to use my tax dollars to alleviate someone else's financial pain. They will NOT keep food prices from going up due to shortage and crop failure-- so it doesn't help me at all to give someone free money. If there's one thing we've finally gotten right in Wisconsin, after all these years, it's that someone else's financial problem is not my concern-- what ever happened to personal responsibility for one's choices including occupation? I have my own problems and no one is touting the benefits of throwing tax dollars at my bottom line! I don't care one whit for unions that want my money so they don't have to share the pain of a bad economy, and I don't care one whit for anyone else taking MY hard -earned tax dollars for their own pockets. Farmers, of all people, ought to know that the weather is unpredictable. It's not my fault if they don't know this-- and they should have gone into some other line of work if they don't like it. SICK AND TIRED of the handouts of MY MONEY.
Jul 28, 2012 at 7:19 p.m.
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Wow! I work with farmers and none of them are asking for a handout! Do you understand that the farmer has no control over the weather, the cost of their inputs or what the markets are paying?! They deal with the parameters they have and they farm because they love it. I know- some people may say this is a "hobby" but really, these are the people putting food on your plate. And let's not mention that when their crops are doing poorly or dying, they get the pleasure of driving by those crops everyday. Nothing like a daily, painful reminder of all your hard work going south bcause of things out of your control.
I've heard more farmers say they'd rather have a half way decent crop than have to collect on their insurance.
Jul 28, 2012 at 10:23 a.m.
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Do the farmers actually pay these loans back or are they forgiven.
Jul 27, 2012 at 8:10 p.m.
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hardworker, your lawn is a hobby. But farms are our food supply.
Jul 27, 2012 at 6:31 p.m.
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hardworker - Do you understand what a LOAN is? A loan must be paid back - with interest. No one is getting anything for free. Oh, and your lawn doesn't feed your family nor provide income. Get a clue.
Jul 27, 2012 at 5:43 p.m.
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See how we're all in this thing together? People like Romney & Walker will rail against President Obama's sentiments until they need money for things like the Olympics or drought relief from the taxpayers. All of a sudden, they realize that it really does take a village.
Jul 27, 2012 at 5:07 p.m.
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So, these farmers want a handout from the government. Big surprise! Everybody wants something free and they want my tax dollars! If they didn't want to deal with Mother nature's whims they shouldn't have gone into farming! MY yard is brown and I don't ask government for free money.
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