Here's the latest headlines from the most respected and acknowledged farm broadcast team in Kansas.
JOHANNS RESIGNS
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is the latest member of President Bush's Cabinet to step down.
He's expected, in the next few days, to announce he's running for the Nebraska Senate seat being vacated at the end of next year by Republican Chuck Hagel.
President Bush announced Johanns' departure today in a Rose Garden ceremony. He said Deputy Agriculture Secretary Charles Conner will take over as acting secretary.
Bush said Johanns ``brought focus and energy to the department'' and will be ``possibly serving the nation in a different capacity.''
Bush says he has no doubt that Johanns ``would make an outstanding member of the United States Senate.''
Bush called him ``a decent person, an honest person'' and ``a person who gets things done.''
HELP FOR TORNADO VICTIMS IN GREENSBURG
The Kansas Farm Service Agency announced today that FSA is making emergency loans available to help qualified producers recover from production and physical losses due to the tornados, strong storms and flooding on May 4 and continuing in Edwards, Kiowa, Pratt, and Stafford counties. Contiguous counties also eligible are: Barber, Barton, Clark, Comanche, Ford, Hodgeman, Kingman, Pawnee, Reno, and Rice.
Eligible loan funds may be used to restore or replace essential property and pay production costs associated with the disaster year. Applicants can borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses not to exceed $500,000. The current rate for these low interest loans is 3.75 percent.
Producers must meet eligibility requirements and not be able to obtain credit from a commercial lender. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
Producers in Barber, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ford, Kiowa, and Pratt counties have until January 7, 2008 to apply for an emergency loan.
Producers in Barton, Hodgeman, Kingman, Pawnee, Reno, Rice, and Stafford counties have until January 11, 2008 to apply for an emergency loan.
Contact the FSA office at your local USDA Service Center, or phone a FSA Farm Loan Team nearest you at:
* 620-227-3731 in Dodge City
* 785-798-3614 in Ness City
* 620-672-7449 in Pratt
* 620-669-8161 in S. Hutchison
* 785-483-5618 in Russell
* 620-326-2269 in Wellington.
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Kansas Farm Bureau has established a farmer/rancher weather recovery fund designed to assist farmers and ranchers who have suffered loss or sustained damage due to the severe weather in Kansas. County Farm Bureau organizations, Farm Bureau members and others interested in assisting are urged to send donations to:
Kansas Farm Bureau Weather Recovery Fund
ATT?N: Accounting Department
2627 KFB Plaza
Manhattan, KS 66503
or you may donate conveniently and securely online at www.kfb.org/kfbweatherfund
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