USDA: Missouri Farmers Now Eligible for Financial Assistance

Jan 11, 2013

U.S Department of Agriculture Declares 31 Counties in Missouri under Natural Disaster

The U.S Department of Agriculture has officially acknowledged that 31 Missouri state counties are under a natural disaster declaration. The declaration comes as the much of the state suffered devastating drought conditions in 2012, leaving farmers with little hope of a decent crop.

According to state Governor Jay Nixon, this official declaration means that farmers can now get emergency loans and other forms of assistance through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Again, this disaster aid is only available to farmers in the 31 affected counties.

The following list provides some guidance on what the emergency loan funding will cover:

•    Restore or replace essential property
•    Pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year
•    Pay essential family living expenses
•    Reorganize the farming operation
•    Refinance certain debts, excluding real estate

Emergency loans issued by the USDA are set at a maximum of $500,000. For more information on the USDA disaster assistance program, please visit the Farm Service Agency website.

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.