[email protected] RESS PAGE 5 Will It Be A...
1
BY DR. MIKE ROSMANN This morning (October 14, 2013) as I listened to the grain markets I heard an ana- lyst predict that corn prices would drop to $3.25 per bushel for December delivery. Soybean prices are expected to be around $13.00 per bushel for March 2014 de- livery and milling wheat is expected to remain below $7.00 per bushel for much of the re- mainder of 2013. These were good crop prices a few years back but well below the recent prices that encouraged the opti- mistic rise in farmland pur- chases over the past several years. It appears land and commodity prices are headed into a downturn and we could face a recession in the farm economy. The smallest number of cattle on feed for 60 years and concerns about reducing ethanol and biodiesel fuel production are contributing to the lower grain and oilseed markets. Uncertain sales of grains to foreign countries and the slow re- covery of the U.S. economy also are factors. Are we headed for an- other farm crisis? There are significant differences from the Farm Crisis of the 1980s. Interest rates are lower and most recent purchasers of farm land and capital im- provements either paid off a substantial portion of their investment at the time of purchase or have locked in favorable loan rates for sev- eral years. Those in the safest posi- tions financially tend to be diversified producers of live- stock and a variety of crops and to live outside the Mid- west where land prices haven’t risen as much as in the heartland. Organic food producers and those who have substantial income from other activities also ap- pear to be somewhat more insulated from economic dif- ficulties than farmers who produce corn, wheat and soybeans. Some farmers took a plunge and purchased so much land and equipment they put themselves into marginalized positions if they have substantial annual payment requirements and reduced prospects for enough income solely from grain and soybean crops. It is highly likely we will see some of these farmers face foreclosure. Is it the government’s fault? The U.S. Congress has had a role in contributing to the economic squeeze be- cause Congress created some of the conditions that encouraged ever larger pro- duction of the major grains and oilseeds. The current crop insur- ance provisions appear to make profits easy to obtain even if growing conditions are unfavorable in a bad year. This traces mostly to the 2008 farm bill, but the trend toward reliance on gov- ernment programs goes back further. Congress also encouraged production of ethanol and biodiesel fuels, mostly in re- sponse to pressures from commodity producer groups and farmer organizations. The U.S. Congress and most Midwestern state govern- ments also allowed for re- laxed standards on genetically modified crops and insecticides that have been both a boon to produc- tion but a deterrent in many foreign markets, some of which have been our best customers in bygone eras. Both the merchants of the high technology and some farm groups have been pro- ponents of these endeavors and deserve the bulk of responsibility. The Federal Reserve, which is actually not an arm of the federal government, set interest rates so low on borrowed money that farm- land purchases and capital improvements seemed op- portune. On the other hand, low interest rates could help marginalized producers make their loan payments easier. What does the future hold? No one knows for sure. As a farmer and behavioral health specialist who went through the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, I learned hard les- sons that might have mean- ing for the next few years. Adjustment to that crisis had defined stages that are worth considering now. We will face the immedi- ate future with apprehen- sion. Apprehension is the first stage of adjustment for marginalized farmers and an important stage, for it means they recognize impending fi- nancial difficulty. This stage is often fairly long--usually two or more years. The second stage in- volves growing concerns that restructuring the farm operation could be neces- sary. Like the first stage it can be as lengthy, but during this stage distressed farmers bargain with themselves about what they can do to salvage their businesses as well as to strategize about options with lenders and others affected by their farm- ing enterprises. Anxiety mounts. The third stage involves the actual restructuring or foreclosure and is the most dangerous psychologically, because of long-term stress preceding the decision about what to do and compromised judgment as its emotional toll. Often the final decision is not the farmer’s choice. Emotional fatigue can occur. The fourth stage, involv- ing steps toward recovery or whatever changed lifestyle follows the restructuring or foreclosure, is a long hard road, but usually in the end is happier than constantly facing uncertainty and pressures. The fifth and final stage entails “moving on.” Like my grandparents who survived the Great Depression, and like many who made it through the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, we are changed forever. We became frugal, more careful and hardy. Please tell me what you think. Dr. Rosmann no longer raises cattle.Dr. Rosmann is a Harlan, Iowa, farmer and psy- chologist, available at: www.agbehavioralhealth.co m. Sponsored By Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health Wednesday, 10.23.13 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net NEWSROOM: [email protected] PRESS DAKOTAN PAGE 5 life Dr. Mike ROSMANN You’ve Been Spotted! at the Riverfront Event Center on October 31 3:00-5:00pm and have your picture taken for spotted.yankton.net It may also be the featured photo in Friday’s printed edition. Rempp-Vazquez Laurie Ann Rempp and Jose Angel Vazquez III, both of Bronx, New York, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage. Parents of the couple are Wayne and Maret Rempp of Yankton, SD, and Jose and Elsie Vazquez of Bronx, New York. The bride-elect obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Adelphi University in 2006 and her Juris Doctorate from New York Law School in 2010. She is currently employed at Snitow Kanfer & Holtzer, LLP. The groom-elect obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in 2004 and Master’s Degree in 2006 from Adelphi University. He is currently employed at Taboola, Inc. The couple is planning a December 7, 2013, wedding at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New York City, with reception to follow at Battery Gardens in New York City. 40th Anniversary Celebration Mr. & Mrs. John Swensen Mr. and Mrs. John and Vicki Swensen of Yankton, will cele- brate their 40th wedding anni- versary on October 26, 2013. Vicki Holec and John Swensen were married October 20, 1973, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton, SD. They have two children; Sarah Swensen of Gayville, SD; and Willie Swensen of Sioux Falls, SD. They also have three grandchildren: Blake, Kalie, and Taylor. Friends and family are invited to an open house on October 26, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Capitol Replica Building, Riverside Park,Yankton, SD. The couple requests no gifts. Will It Be A Rough Time For Farmers? Are Bladder Control Issues Treatable? BY SANDY COPE Physical Therapist, Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Urinary incontinence, or involun- tary loss of bladder control, is experi- enced by fifty to sixty percent of individuals at some point in their lives. This condition affects men and women alike and is most prevalent in women who are three to six months postpar- tum, individuals who are experiencing back pain or have had back, pelvic or abdominal surgeries, and men and women over the age of 50. Urinary incontinence is a debilitat- ing condition that can leave individu- als feeling socially isolated. Many people wrongly assume that urinary in- continence is normal for their condi- tion. Even if an individual has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, organ prolapsed, stroke, Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s dis- ease, urinary incontinence is often treatable. The most common types of urinary incontinence include: Stress incontinence — the loss of urine when you exert pressure on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, laugh- ing, exercising or lifting something heavy. Stress incontinence occurs when the sphincter muscle of the blad- der is weakened. Urge incontinence — a sudden, in- tense urge to urinate, followed by an involuntary loss of urine. With urge in- continence, you may need to urinate frequently, including throughout the night. If there is no known cause, urge incontinence is also called overactive bladder. Mixed incontinence — a combina- tion of stress and urge incontinence symptoms. Conservative treatment options are available for the treatment of urinary incontinence. According to the Ameri- can Physical Therapy Association (APTA), proper preventive measures and treatment by a physical therapist can help patients manage, if not allevi- ate, this condition. A trained physical therapist is able to develop an individualized treatment program for each patient. Treatment may include exercises to strengthen and re—educate pelvic muscles as well as nutrition and lifestyle education to optimize bladder health. For more information on physical therapy treatments available for uri- nary incontinence call (605) 668-8268. Sandy Cope, physical therapist at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, has com- pleted coursework and training in the rehabilitation of pelvic muscle dys- function, including treatment and man- agement of urinary incontinence and bowel control, pregnancy and postpar- tum therapy, and neurological disor- ders affecting body movement and function. ——— Sources include: American Physical Therapy Associ- ation (www.apta.org) Phoenix Core Solutions (www.phoenixcore.com) Mayo Clinic Online (www.may- oclinic.com) RBD Scouts Donation SUBMITTED PHOTO The Riverboat Days Board of Directors recently made a $1,000 donation to Boy Scout Troup #102 for their work handling garbage and recycling during this year’s festival. Senior Patrol Leader, Dylan Klimisch and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Thomas Hill accepted the donation from Riverboat Days repre- sentatives John Kraft and Mike Gullikson. AAA Launching Contest SIOUX FALLS — To en- courage parents to share their wisdom with younger drivers, AAA is launching a national contest soliciting the best driving advice that parents can give teen driv- ers. Contest entries can be submitted at Contest.Teen- Driving.AAA.com from Oct. 21 through Dec. 11. Parents who make sure their teen drivers get prac- tice behind the wheel in a variety of traffic situations are helping their teens be- come safer drivers, accord- ing to research studies from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety While on the contest website, parents also have a chance to challenge their own driving smarts by tak- ing the “Are You Smarter than Your Teen Driver?” quiz. “Teens continue to have the highest crash rate of any age group,” said Mari- lyn Buskohl, spokeswoman for AAA South Dakota. “It’s critical that parents stay in- volved in their teens’ driv- ing lives and effectively increase their level of safety on the road.” Contest rules: 1. Entry must answer and complete all posted questions including both a best and worst driving ad- vice to be entered into the contest for judging. 2. The following prizes will be awarded for the best received submissions of the following question: What’s the best advice you can give to a teen driver? • First Prize: iPad mini (estimated value: $329) • Second Prize: a $100 Visa gift card • Third Prize: a $50 Visa gift card 3. The winners will be announced and contacted by Dec. 16, 2013. For more information, call (605) 221-1624. Transition & Bond Financing Offered PIERRE — The Beginning Farmer Bond program through the South Dakota De- partment of Agriculture (SDDA) is available for eligi- ble beginning farmers to pur- chase agricultural land at lower interest rates. “The Beginning Farmer Bond program is a great way for a beginning farmer to buy land, but it’s also advanta- geous for a retiring farmer that would be willing to enter into a contract for deed with that beginning farmer,” says Terri LaBrie, finance adminis- trator with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. Typically, the Beginning Farmer Bond program works through a local lender; how- ever, if retiring farmers are interested in passing on their land to a beginner farmer, the interest off that contract sale is federally tax exempt, pro- viding substantial savings to the seller. “Regulations prohibit this type of transaction with closely related parties such as parents or grandparents,” says LaBrie. The SDDA administers the Beginning Farmer Bond program through the Value Added Finance Authority board. The board meets monthly and reviews the ap- plications for the program and issues the bonds for ap- proved projects. To be eligible for the pro- gram, an applicant must be at least 18 years old and a resident of South Dakota, have a net worth of under $400,000 and cannot own or previously have owned more than 30 percent of the county median acres. The maximum amount of a beginning farmer bond is $501,100 for calendar year 2013. This limit is set annu- ally by the federal govern- ment. There is no upper age limit and there is no limit on off-farm income. “With rising land costs and a $501,100 limit on the bond, this is only one piece of the puzzle,” says LaBrie. “But it’s an important piece of that puzzle that may pro- vide the tax incentive to that contract seller; as well as better terms for that begin- ning farmer to have the op- portunity to start their own farm.” SDDA does not finance operating expenses or refi- nance prior debt. However, other programs are available for the purchase of livestock, dairy financing, feedlot fi- nancing, grain storage and value-added businesses. Program information can be found at sdda.sd.gov or by calling SDDA, Division of Agricultural Development at 605-773-5436. It’s Nat. Radon Action Week Oct. 21-27 is National Radon Action Week (the third full week in October) according to the EPA. Health agencies throughout the United States have joined forces to promote awareness of the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. The American Lung Association, Centers for Disease Control, and Na- tional Cancer Institute all agree that radon is a Na- tional health problem and encourage radon testing during the October aware- ness drive. Radon is a naturally-oc- curring, invisible and odor- less radioactive gas. One in 15 American homes con- tains high levels of radon. Millions of Americans are unknowingly exposed to this dangerous gas. In fact, a recent study by Harvard University ranks radon as America’s No. 1 in-home hazard. By taking simple steps to test your home for radon and fix if necessary, this health hazard can be avoided. Radon gas is not isolated to certain geographical areas or home types. Radon problems have been de- tected in homes in every county of the U.S. It caused more American fatalities last year than carbon monoxide, fires, and hand- guns combined! If a home hasn’t been tested for radon in the past two years, EPA and the Surgeon Gen- eral urge you to take action. Contact your state radon of- fice for information on lo- cating qualified test kits or qualified radon testers. The federal commitment made by EPA, the General Services Administration, and the departments of Agriculture, Defense, En- ergy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Inte- rior, and Veterans Affairs will focus efforts on radon reduction and mitigation in homes, especially those of low-income families, many of whom do not have the re- sources to make the simple fixes necessary to protect their homes and loved ones. Learn more about the Federal Radon Action Plan at www.RadonPlan.org. MMC Halloween Carnival Set For Oct. 31 For more than 20 years, Mount Marty College stu- dents have been hosting an annual Halloween Carnival for Yankton area children. This year, with the renova- tions being made for the Sci- ence Center Complex, a Halloween in the Halls event will be held in its place. The public is invited to partici- pate on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6-8 p.m. in Corbey Hall on the Yankton campus. A variety of games, activities and treats for all are planned. This event is free and open to the public with pub- lic parking available to the west of the Scholastica Learning Center (SLC) build- ing. For more information on the event, contact Mount Marty College Director of Residence Life and Campus Safety, Sonja Olson, at [email protected] or 605-668-1619. Nursing Career Open House Oct. 28 The Mount Marty College department of nursing will be hosting a nursing careers open house at 7 p.m. Mon- day, Oct. 28, in the Roncalli Welcome Center on the Yank- ton campus. The open house will high- light careers that may be ob- tained through an array of degree options: LPN, BSN, MSN, and beyond. Anyone interested in nursing careers is encouraged to attend. For more information on the nursing department at Mount Marty College, visit www.mtmc.edu/nursing or contact Carol Stewart for in- formation specific to the open house at carol.stew- [email protected] or 605-668- 1511.
Transcript of [email protected] RESS PAGE 5 Will It Be A...
BY DR. MIKE ROSMANN
This morning (October14, 2013) as I listened to thegrain markets I heard an ana-lyst predict that corn priceswould drop to $3.25 perbushel forDecemberdelivery.Soybeanprices areexpectedto bearound$13.00 perbushel forMarch2014 de-livery andmillingwheat isexpectedto remain below $7.00 perbushel for much of the re-mainder of 2013.
These were good cropprices a few years back butwell below the recent pricesthat encouraged the opti-mistic rise in farmland pur-chases over the past severalyears. It appears land andcommodity prices areheaded into a downturn andwe could face a recession inthe farm economy.
The smallest number ofcattle on feed for 60 yearsand concerns about reducingethanol and biodiesel fuelproduction are contributingto the lower grain andoilseed markets. Uncertainsales of grains to foreigncountries and the slow re-covery of the U.S. economyalso are factors.
Are we headed for an-other farm crisis? There aresignificant differences fromthe Farm Crisis of the 1980s.Interest rates are lower andmost recent purchasers offarm land and capital im-provements either paid off asubstantial portion of theirinvestment at the time ofpurchase or have locked infavorable loan rates for sev-eral years.
Those in the safest posi-tions financially tend to bediversified producers of live-stock and a variety of cropsand to live outside the Mid-west where land priceshaven’t risen as much as inthe heartland. Organic foodproducers and those whohave substantial incomefrom other activities also ap-pear to be somewhat moreinsulated from economic dif-ficulties than farmers whoproduce corn, wheat andsoybeans.
Some farmers took aplunge and purchased somuch land and equipmentthey put themselves intomarginalized positions ifthey have substantial annualpayment requirements andreduced prospects forenough income solely fromgrain and soybean crops. It ishighly likely we will see someof these farmers faceforeclosure.
Is it the government’sfault? The U.S. Congress hashad a role in contributing tothe economic squeeze be-cause Congress createdsome of the conditions thatencouraged ever larger pro-duction of the major grainsand oilseeds.
The current crop insur-ance provisions appear tomake profits easy to obtaineven if growing conditionsare unfavorable in a badyear. This traces mostly tothe 2008 farm bill, but thetrend toward reliance on gov-ernment programs goes backfurther.
Congress also encouraged
production of ethanol andbiodiesel fuels, mostly in re-sponse to pressures fromcommodity producer groupsand farmer organizations.The U.S. Congress and mostMidwestern state govern-ments also allowed for re-laxed standards ongenetically modified cropsand insecticides that havebeen both a boon to produc-tion but a deterrent in manyforeign markets, some ofwhich have been our bestcustomers in bygone eras.Both the merchants of thehigh technology and somefarm groups have been pro-ponents of these endeavorsand deserve the bulk ofresponsibility.
The Federal Reserve,which is actually not an armof the federal government,set interest rates so low onborrowed money that farm-land purchases and capitalimprovements seemed op-portune. On the other hand,low interest rates could helpmarginalized producersmake their loan paymentseasier.
What does the futurehold? No one knows for sure.As a farmer and behavioralhealth specialist who wentthrough the Farm Crisis ofthe 1980s, I learned hard les-sons that might have mean-ing for the next few years.Adjustment to that crisis haddefined stages that are worthconsidering now.
We will face the immedi-ate future with apprehen-sion. Apprehension is thefirst stage of adjustment formarginalized farmers and animportant stage, for it meansthey recognize impending fi-nancial difficulty. This stageis often fairly long--usuallytwo or more years.
The second stage in-volves growing concernsthat restructuring the farmoperation could be neces-sary. Like the first stage itcan be as lengthy, but duringthis stage distressed farmersbargain with themselvesabout what they can do tosalvage their businesses aswell as to strategize aboutoptions with lenders andothers affected by their farm-ing enterprises. Anxietymounts.
The third stage involvesthe actual restructuring orforeclosure and is the mostdangerous psychologically,because of long-term stresspreceding the decision aboutwhat to do and compromisedjudgment as its emotionaltoll. Often the final decisionis not the farmer’s choice.Emotional fatigue can occur.
The fourth stage, involv-ing steps toward recovery orwhatever changed lifestylefollows the restructuring orforeclosure, is a long hardroad, but usually in the endis happier than constantlyfacing uncertainty andpressures.
The fifth and final stageentails “moving on.” Like mygrandparents who survivedthe Great Depression, andlike many who made itthrough the Farm Crisis ofthe 1980s, we are changedforever. We became frugal,more careful and hardy.
Please tell me what youthink.
Dr. Rosmann no longerraises cattle.Dr. Rosmann is aHarlan, Iowa, farmer and psy-chologist, available at:www.agbehavioralhealth.com.
Sponsored By Lewis & ClarkBehavioral Health
Wednesday, 10.23.13ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net
NEWSROOM: [email protected] PRESS DAKOTAN P A G E 5
life
Dr. Mike
ROSMANN
You’ve Been Spotted!
at the Riverfront Event Center
on October 31 3:00-5:00pm
and have your picture taken for
spotted.yankton.net
It may also be the featured photo in Friday’s printed edition.
Rempp-Vazquez Laurie Ann Rempp and Jose
Angel Vazquez III, both of
Bronx, New York, announce
their engagement and
upcoming marriage.
Parents of the couple are
Wayne and Maret Rempp of
Yankton, SD, and Jose and Elsie
Vazquez of Bronx, New York.
The bride-elect obtained
her Bachelor’s Degree from
Adelphi University in 2006
and her Juris Doctorate from
New York Law School in 2010.
She is currently employed at
Snitow Kanfer & Holtzer, LLP.
The groom-elect obtained
his Bachelor’s Degree in 2004
and Master’s Degree in 2006
from Adelphi University. He is
currently employed at Taboola,
Inc.
The couple is planning a
December 7, 2013, wedding at
Most Precious Blood Catholic
Church in New York City, with
reception to follow at Battery
Gardens in New York City.
40th Anniversary Celebration
Mr. & Mrs. John Swensen Mr. and Mrs. John and Vicki
Swensen of Yankton, will cele - brate their 40th wedding anni - versary on October 26, 2013.
Vicki Holec and John Swensen were married October 20, 1973, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yankton, SD.
They have two children; Sarah Swensen of Gayville, SD; and Willie Swensen of Sioux Falls, SD. They also have three grandchildren: Blake, Kalie, and Taylor.
Friends and family are invited to an open house on October 26, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Capitol Replica Building, Riverside Park, Yankton, SD.
The couple requests no gifts.
Will It Be A RoughTime For Farmers?
Are Bladder Control Issues Treatable?BY SANDY COPE Physical Therapist, Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
Urinary incontinence, or involun-tary loss of bladder control, is experi-enced by fifty to sixty percent ofindividuals at some point in their lives.This condition affects men and womenalike and is most prevalent in womenwho are three to six months postpar-tum, individuals who are experiencingback pain or have had back, pelvic orabdominal surgeries, and men andwomen over the age of 50.
Urinary incontinence is a debilitat-ing condition that can leave individu-als feeling socially isolated. Manypeople wrongly assume that urinary in-continence is normal for their condi-tion. Even if an individual has beendiagnosed with fibromyalgia, multiplesclerosis, organ prolapsed, stroke,Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s dis-ease, urinary incontinence is oftentreatable.
The most common types of urinaryincontinence include:
Stress incontinence — the loss ofurine when you exert pressure on yourbladder by coughing, sneezing, laugh-ing, exercising or lifting somethingheavy. Stress incontinence occurswhen the sphincter muscle of the blad-der is weakened.
Urge incontinence — a sudden, in-tense urge to urinate, followed by aninvoluntary loss of urine. With urge in-continence, you may need to urinatefrequently, including throughout thenight. If there is no known cause, urgeincontinence is also called overactivebladder.
Mixed incontinence — a combina-tion of stress and urge incontinencesymptoms.
Conservative treatment options areavailable for the treatment of urinaryincontinence. According to the Ameri-can Physical Therapy Association(APTA), proper preventive measuresand treatment by a physical therapistcan help patients manage, if not allevi-ate, this condition.
A trained physical therapist is able
to develop an individualized treatmentprogram for each patient. Treatmentmay include exercises to strengthenand re—educate pelvic muscles as wellas nutrition and lifestyle education tooptimize bladder health.
For more information on physicaltherapy treatments available for uri-nary incontinence call (605) 668-8268.
Sandy Cope, physical therapist atAvera Sacred Heart Hospital, has com-pleted coursework and training in therehabilitation of pelvic muscle dys-function, including treatment and man-agement of urinary incontinence andbowel control, pregnancy and postpar-tum therapy, and neurological disor-ders affecting body movement andfunction.
———Sources include:American Physical Therapy Associ-
ation (www.apta.org)Phoenix Core Solutions
(www.phoenixcore.com)Mayo Clinic Online (www.may-
oclinic.com)
RBD Scouts Donation
SUBMITTED PHOTOThe Riverboat Days Board of Directors recently made a $1,000donation to Boy Scout Troup #102 for their work handlinggarbage and recycling during this year’s festival. Senior PatrolLeader, Dylan Klimisch and Assistant Senior Patrol LeaderThomas Hill accepted the donation from Riverboat Days repre-sentatives John Kraft and Mike Gullikson.
AAA Launching ContestSIOUX FALLS — To en-
courage parents to sharetheir wisdom with youngerdrivers, AAA is launching anational contest solicitingthe best driving advice thatparents can give teen driv-ers. Contest entries can besubmitted at Contest.Teen-Driving.AAA.com from Oct.21 through Dec. 11.
Parents who make suretheir teen drivers get prac-tice behind the wheel in avariety of traffic situationsare helping their teens be-come safer drivers, accord-ing to research studies fromthe AAA Foundation forTraffic Safety
While on the contestwebsite, parents also havea chance to challenge theirown driving smarts by tak-ing the “Are You Smarterthan Your Teen Driver?”quiz.
“Teens continue to havethe highest crash rate ofany age group,” said Mari-lyn Buskohl, spokeswoman
for AAA South Dakota. “It’scritical that parents stay in-volved in their teens’ driv-ing lives and effectivelyincrease their level of safetyon the road.”
Contest rules:1. Entry must answer
and complete all postedquestions including both abest and worst driving ad-vice to be entered into thecontest for judging.
2. The following prizeswill be awarded for the bestreceived submissions of thefollowing question: What’sthe best advice you cangive to a teen driver?
• First Prize: iPad mini(estimated value: $329)
• Second Prize: a $100Visa gift card
• Third Prize: a $50 Visagift card
3. The winners will beannounced and contactedby Dec. 16, 2013.
For more information,call (605) 221-1624.
Transition & BondFinancing Offered
PIERRE — The BeginningFarmer Bond programthrough the South Dakota De-partment of Agriculture(SDDA) is available for eligi-ble beginning farmers to pur-chase agricultural land atlower interest rates.
“The Beginning FarmerBond program is a great wayfor a beginning farmer to buyland, but it’s also advanta-geous for a retiring farmerthat would be willing to enterinto a contract for deed withthat beginning farmer,” saysTerri LaBrie, finance adminis-trator with the South DakotaDepartment of Agriculture.
Typically, the BeginningFarmer Bond program worksthrough a local lender; how-ever, if retiring farmers areinterested in passing on theirland to a beginner farmer, theinterest off that contract saleis federally tax exempt, pro-viding substantial savings tothe seller.
“Regulations prohibit thistype of transaction withclosely related parties suchas parents or grandparents,”says LaBrie.
The SDDA administersthe Beginning Farmer Bondprogram through the ValueAdded Finance Authorityboard. The board meetsmonthly and reviews the ap-plications for the programand issues the bonds for ap-proved projects.
To be eligible for the pro-gram, an applicant must beat least 18 years old and aresident of South Dakota,have a net worth of under$400,000 and cannot own orpreviously have owned morethan 30 percent of the countymedian acres.
The maximum amount ofa beginning farmer bond is$501,100 for calendar year2013. This limit is set annu-ally by the federal govern-ment. There is no upper agelimit and there is no limit onoff-farm income.
“With rising land costsand a $501,100 limit on thebond, this is only one pieceof the puzzle,” says LaBrie.“But it’s an important pieceof that puzzle that may pro-vide the tax incentive to thatcontract seller; as well asbetter terms for that begin-ning farmer to have the op-portunity to start their ownfarm.”
SDDA does not financeoperating expenses or refi-nance prior debt. However,other programs are availablefor the purchase of livestock,dairy financing, feedlot fi-nancing, grain storage andvalue-added businesses.
Program information canbe found at sdda.sd.gov orby calling SDDA, Division ofAgricultural Development at605-773-5436.
It’s Nat. Radon Action WeekOct. 21-27 is National
Radon Action Week (thethird full week in October)according to the EPA.Health agencies throughoutthe United States havejoined forces to promoteawareness of the leadingcause of lung cancer fornon-smokers. The AmericanLung Association, Centersfor Disease Control, and Na-tional Cancer Institute allagree that radon is a Na-tional health problem andencourage radon testingduring the October aware-ness drive.
Radon is a naturally-oc-curring, invisible and odor-less radioactive gas. One in15 American homes con-tains high levels of radon.Millions of Americans areunknowingly exposed tothis dangerous gas. In fact,a recent study by HarvardUniversity ranks radon asAmerica’s No. 1 in-homehazard. By taking simplesteps to test your home forradon and fix if necessary,this health hazard can beavoided.
Radon gas is not isolatedto certain geographicalareas or home types. Radon
problems have been de-tected in homes in everycounty of the U.S. It causedmore American fatalitieslast year than carbonmonoxide, fires, and hand-guns combined! If a homehasn’t been tested forradon in the past two years,EPA and the Surgeon Gen-eral urge you to take action.Contact your state radon of-fice for information on lo-cating qualified test kits orqualified radon testers.
The federal commitmentmade by EPA, the GeneralServices Administration,and the departments ofAgriculture, Defense, En-ergy, Health and HumanServices, Housing andUrban Development, Inte-rior, and Veterans Affairswill focus efforts on radonreduction and mitigation inhomes, especially those oflow-income families, manyof whom do not have the re-sources to make the simplefixes necessary to protecttheir homes and lovedones.
Learn more about theFederal Radon Action Planat www.RadonPlan.org.
MMC HalloweenCarnival Set For Oct. 31
For more than 20 years,Mount Marty College stu-dents have been hosting anannual Halloween Carnivalfor Yankton area children.This year, with the renova-tions being made for the Sci-ence Center Complex, aHalloween in the Halls eventwill be held in its place. Thepublic is invited to partici-pate on Thursday, Oct. 31,from 6-8 p.m. in Corbey Hallon the Yankton campus.
A variety of games,
activities and treats for allare planned.
This event is free andopen to the public with pub-lic parking available to thewest of the ScholasticaLearning Center (SLC) build-ing.
For more information onthe event, contact MountMarty College Director ofResidence Life and CampusSafety, Sonja Olson, [email protected] or605-668-1619.
Nursing Career Open House Oct. 28The Mount Marty College
department of nursing willbe hosting a nursing careersopen house at 7 p.m. Mon-day, Oct. 28, in the RoncalliWelcome Center on the Yank-ton campus.
The open house will high-light careers that may be ob-tained through an array ofdegree options: LPN, BSN,MSN, and beyond. Anyone
interested in nursing careersis encouraged to attend.
For more information onthe nursing department atMount Marty College, visitwww.mtmc.edu/nursing orcontact Carol Stewart for in-formation specific to theopen house at [email protected] or 605-668-1511.
