Are Farms Small Businesses? Do They Qualify For Assistance?

IABRN — COVID-19 has affected us all in one way or another. Farmers are experiencing a collapse of market prices not seen in some time. This is not just in one commodity or another, it is across the board. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is supposed to make funds available to help small businesses and people through this challenging economic time. However, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is saying that farm operations are not small businesses and have no access to the money made available. Read more


AgriSync: Helping Connect Farmers To Local Trusted Advisors

(IARN) — The agriculture industry faces growing uncertainty, but there are two things we know for certain, shares Casey Niemann, president and founder of AgriSync.

“We know farmers are going to put seed in the ground,” Niemann said. “We also know they are going to need the help of their service provider.”

AgriSync looks forward to supporting farmers as they enter fields this spring. Read more


Psychological Effects Of Planting Intentions Report

(IARN) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Prospective Planting report suggests agricultural producers will plant 97 million acres of corn this spring. A commodities broker anticipates this survey-based number to psychologically affect futures prices. Read more


Ernst Calls For USDA To Provide Assistance To Iowa’s Cattle Producers

(IARN) — U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide immediate assistance to cattle producers in Iowa and across the country through the resources passed in the Phase 3 relief package. Ernst spoke with members of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association earlier this week. Read more


Lawmakers Ask Health Department To Send Aid To Rural Hospitals

(IARN) — A coalition of lawmakers is asking the Health and Human Services Department to provide immediate assistance to rural hospitals and clinics. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, 122 lawmakers asked the Trump administration to provide financial aid included in the CARES Act to help rural hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak. The legislation includes new funding to provide financial relief for hospitals. The lawmakers point out that many rural hospitals have ceased performing elective procedures and seeing non-urgent patients. Read more