“They forgot I had one leg,” the 45-year-old said, laughing. The trainer at a center for amputee farmers picked himself up and added: “We fall and we rise.”

The phrase encapsulates his journey since the civil war in Sierra Leone. From 1991 to 2002, conflict in the West African country created some 28,000 amputees like him. Amputation by machete was one terror tactic by rebels.

But even now, amputation rates remain high in Sierra Leone due to motorbike accidents, poor medical care and delayed treatment by traditional healers, according to medical researchers. The government doesn’t collect data on amputees, but the United Nations estimates there are about 500,000 disabled people in the country.

Makieu’s left leg was amputated as a child after rebels shot him and he received no medical attention for a week.

More than 20 years later, in a nation ranked near the bottom of the U.N. development index, amputees still face discrimination, often regarded as a shameful reminder of the civil war. Many resort to begging and live in the streets.

“No one cares about you as an amputee in Sierra Leone,” Makieu said.

The Farming on Crutches initiative where Makieu works near the capital, Freetown, offers a rare refuge. It aims to restore amputees’ confidence and independence by teaching them skills to start a farm business. They’ve trained 100 amputees and want to expand their work.

The training has transformed Makieu’s life. After his amputation in 2002, he lived in a small room with a friend in Freetown, dependent on him for food, money and shelter.

At a displacement camp for 270 amputees in Freetown, he met Mambud Samai, the founder of Farming on Crutches and a pastor.

“Many (amputees) are being rejected by their families and communities. They don’t believe they have love,” the 51-year-old Samai said. He felt moved to help after being a refugee himself in Guinea during the civil war.

First, Samai organized beach football matches for amputees in Freetown, boosting their confidence. During a visit to Sierra Leone, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon saw the project and funded a site for an amputee football club outside the capital.

But Samai decided football was not enough. As a farmer, he saw agriculture as a path to self-sufficiency. In 2020, he set up a demonstration farm to teach amputees how to farm and become rural leaders.

His project’s name reflects amputees’ widespread use of crutches instead of prosthetic legs in Sierra Leone. Foreign donors distributed them after the civil war but many people say they don’t fit well and cause sores. And the country’s only prosthetic clinic is too expensive for many.

Makieu was one of the first Farming on Crutches trainees in 2022. He learned how to use farm waste for organic fertilizer and bamboo sticks for fences. He set up a small farm operation this year with his wife, Zanib, also an amputee. They met during the training and now have a child.

Makieu wants to inspire future farmers.

“It’s my dream to teach people about life. It’s about changing your mindset,” he said.

Morning mist rolled over the nearby mountains as the camp rose for exercises ahead of a strenuous day. They gathered in a circle, harmonizing on local songs before Samai spoke.

“We are created for fellowship, not isolation,” he said. “When we return, we are not as we came. We go home to serve our community as rural leaders.”

Makieu interjected: “I sustain my life through farming, I met my wife here. This training can be a big package for you.”

But the vast majority of amputees in Sierra Leone have no such support.

Alimany Kani, 30, lives in a camp built by the Norwegian Refugee Council for amputees on the outskirts of Freetown. He lost his leg when he was a baby, to the same bullet that killed his father in the civil war. Despite holding a master’s degree in social work, he cannot find a job.

“Even if you have qualifications, an able-bodied with less education will always get the job,” Kani said.

Sierra Leone’s National Commission for Persons with Disability told AP that discrimination towards amputees has improved in the last decade since the Disability Act in 2011 aimed to provide equal opportunities and punish discrimination.

Kani firmly disagreed and called on the government to deliver reparations to victims of the civil war. Sierra Leone’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2009 recommended that amputees receive pensions, access to healthcare, accommodation and education.

But many of those pledges remain unfulfilled, including for Kani. Only 1,300 out of 32,000 have received a full reparations package due to lack of resources, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration.

“The government don’t keep their promises. It’s inhumane,” Kani said.

There currently is no specific support for amputees from the government, the National Commission for Persons with Disability said.

Sierra Leone’s health ministry, the president’s office and the National Commission for Social Action office that manages the reparations program did not respond to questions.

A farming charity in Britain, Pasture for Life, is financing Farming on Crutches in full, but Samai said they need support from Sierra Leone’s government to expand.

Meanwhile, the government is investing over $600 million in agriculture but some believe this will largely benefit large-scale agriculture over small-scale farmers, such as Farming on Crutches’ trainees, who form 70% of the population.

Two such smallholders are cousins and Farming on Crutches trainees, Amara and Moustapha Jalloh, aged 19 and 21, in central Sierra Leone.

Both recently harvested rice and cassava. Moustapha, who was born without a leg, said his harvest surplus allowed him to pay for computer science training. He dreams of being an agricultural engineer.

“Any successful story, there must be painful experiences,” he said.

For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

— Jack Thompson, Associated Press

The post ‘We Fall and We Rise’: Some Amputees in Sierra Leone Turn to Farming to Combat Discrimination appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

This program is funded through President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It also reflects the goals of the President’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild the economy from the bottom up and middle out, and to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure.

“Rural America is the backbone of our country, providing the everyday essentials we all depend on,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development is partnering with the Forest Service to support timber industry innovations that improve forest health and reduce wildfire threats while creating good-paying jobs for people in rural, forest-dependent communities.”

Through TPEP, USDA Rural Development and the Forest Service will make $220 million available in loan guarantees for borrowers to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve wood processing facilities, sawmills and paper mills, that use trees harvested from federal or Tribal lands. The program is designed to manage up to 20 million acres of national forests managed by USDA Forest Service and complement the Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

USDA Rural Development will begin accepting TPEP applications on December 26, 2024, with a maximum loan amount of $25 million. USDA encourages applicants to use the TPEP Dashboard to find areas the Forest Service has identified as high or very high priority areas to address the risk of wildfires and insect infestations or disease, which have caused or have the potential to cause significant damage.

Applicants may learn more through the upcoming TPEP webinar, scheduled for January 6, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

USDA encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:

• Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities;
• Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to USDA Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development-funded projects; and
• Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.

Applications must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov and will be accepted until funds are expended.

Additional information will be available in the Dec. 26, 2024, Federal Register. To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, visit www.rd.usda.gov or contact the nearest USDA Rural Development state office.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.

— USDA

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While protecting Texas cattle from disease is always our number one priority, we need to carefully consider the ripple effects of drastic measures like closing the border to livestock and animal products. It’s a surefire way to create a crisis where there isn’t one—and consumers will feel it every time they visit the meat aisle.

Look, I know a thing or two about screwworms. I was about eleven years old when the United States eradicated the New World Screwworm. Before then, screwworms were a devastating problem for ranchers. Cattle infected with screwworms showed unmistakable and crass signs—open, festering wounds teeming with larvae. You’d see animals in obvious distress, licking at the wounds and losing weight rapidly. Believe me, if you’ve got a screwworm outbreak, it’s not a question of “if”; there’s no mistaking it. You can smell them from 100 feet away.

For starters, let’s not forget the facts. We’ve come a long way since those dark days. The sterile fly eradication program, developed decades ago, was a game-changer. By releasing sterile male screwworm flies into the environment, we broke the reproduction cycle and wiped out the problem in the United States.

Recently, only one cow of thousands that were crossing into Mexico was found just north of the Guatemalan border—1,100 miles away from Texas—with a screwworm infection. That’s proof that the system is functioning as it should. So, before we panic and shut down border crossings, let’s make sure we’re not creating a bigger problem than the one we’re trying to solve.

Instead of recognizing this as a victory, the federal government is talking about throwing $165 million worth of taxpayer dollars at a “solution” for a problem that hasn’t been fully identified. Listen, dollars don’t kill screwworms. Sterile flies do. Detection systems do. We already have the tools to manage this issue because we’ve been doing it successfully for decades.

Winter gives us an edge in fighting screwworm outbreaks because cooler temperatures slow down fly activity and reproduction. With fewer flies, there’s less risk of infestations, giving ranchers and agencies more time to contain the problem and protect our livestock.

We already take precautions at the border. Every head of livestock crossing the U.S.-Mexico border is subject to strict quarantine and inspection protocols to protect our agriculture and food supply. Cattle are required to have health certificates, vaccinations, and testing to prevent diseases like foot-and-mouth and bovine tuberculosis from entering the U.S. In some cases, livestock are placed in quarantine for further monitoring to ensure they meet our rigorous health and safety standards.

Closing the border to livestock or animal products—even temporarily—could send shockwaves through the beef market. Mexico is one of our largest trading partners for cattle and beef, with significant imports of feeder cattle that help keep supply steady here in the U.S. Cutting off that supply could lead to a bottleneck, reducing the number of cattle available to feedlots, processors, and grocery stores. Fewer cattle mean higher beef prices, increasing inflation at the checkout line.

And let’s not forget about our hardworking ranchers. Many Texas cattle producers rely on cross-border trade to keep their operations running smoothly. Shutting down the border could disrupt their business, leading to financial strain and fewer options for consumers.

As a rancher who’s seen the damage screwworms can do, I know the stakes are high. But I also know we’ve already won this battle once, and if need be, we’re equipped to win it again. The real threat here isn’t the screwworm itself—it’s the federal government that all too often overreacts and wastes taxpayer resources.

Protecting Texas cattle from screwworms is important, but so is keeping beef prices affordable for families and securing the livelihood of our ranchers. Closing the border might sound like a quick fix, but it’s a cure that could end up being worse than the disease.

The cattle industry in Texas remains strong, and with the right approach, we’ll keep it that way.

The post Opinion: Dollars Don’t Kill Screwworms appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

“The Corporate Transparency Act requires millions of family farmers and ranchers to file complex paperwork and disclose beneficial ownership information with the federal government under penalty of severe fines and jailtime,” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus. “FinCEN should do the right thing and provide a realistic delay to the Corporate Transparency Act until Congress has an opportunity to provide a permanent fix that protects family farmers and ranchers.”

On Monday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a nationwide preliminary injunction on the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act, holding that the government is likely to prevail in a constitutional challenge. This decision places many small businesses in jeopardy that have not yet filed Beneficial Ownership Information with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

In light of the Fifth Circuit’s decision, FinCEN announced it will delay enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act until January 13, 2025—just three weeks from now. This delay does not allow enough time for millions of small businesses to comply with the law, and it is deeply concerning that FinCEN will proceed with enforcing this law when it has failed to give adequate notice and instructions to law abiding family business owners.

NCBA will continue fighting for a permanent solution that protects cattle farmers and ranchers from this overreaching mandate. In the meantime, cattle producers are advised to consult their attorney and/or tax professional regarding this new development.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has represented America’s cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy.  As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef.  Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.

–National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

The post NCBA Warns Cattle Producers That Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements Will Return appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

A federal district court ruled earlier in December to halt the requirement, but today the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit lifted the injunction, meaning a Jan. 1, 2025 deadline is back in effect. Analysis from AFBF economists shows more than 230,000 farms are required to file, but as of October, less than 11% of all eligible businesses nationwide had done so.

“Farm Bureau is very disappointed in the court of appeals decision to reinstate the Jan. 1 filing deadline,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “It’s clear than many farmers aren’t aware of the filing requirement because of lack of guidance and the government’s poor public outreach.

“Farmers were given a reprieve from the filing deadline, but now, just two days before the holidays, when many families take a much-needed break from work responsibilities, the courts have reinstated the requirement. Unfortunately, thousands of farmers may unknowingly miss the deadline, putting their businesses at risk. We urge the government to grant an extension so more family businesses can comply with the rule.”

Businesses that fail to file, or do not update records when needed, could face criminal fines up to $10,000 and additional civil penalties of up to $591 per day. Failure to file could also lead to felony charges and up to two years in prison.

Farmers are encouraged to contact an accountant or attorney if they are unsure whether they are required to file their business’s BOI with FinCEN.

Read a Market Intel on the Beneficial Ownership Information requirement here.

–American Farm Bureau Federation

The post AFBF: Last Minute Court Ruling Puts Farmers at Legal Risk appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

“We encourage hunters to take those opportunities,” said Andrew Vermeesch, legislative counsel for Michigan Farm Bureau. “Some of those opportunities include this additional pilot firearm season for the southern Lower Peninsula, which includes a discounted fee of $5 per license.”

Until Jan. 1, 2025, hunters can participate in late-antlerless firearm season on public and private lands in the Lower Peninsula. (See page 9 of the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary for a map of open deer management units.) During this season, a hunter may harvest an antlerless deer with an unused single deer license (including the license issued through the Mentored Hunting Program), deer combo license (regular and/or restricted tags), universal antlerless license or deer management assistance permit if issued for the area/land where hunting.

Michigan hunters can also participate in late-segment archery season through Jan. 1 on public and private land. Changes to antlerless harvest have occurred in the Upper Peninsula. Antlerless hunting with archery equipment on the single deer license and deer combo license is prohibited after Dec. 10 for units 027, 036, 152, 252, 021, 349, 249, 017, 117 and 149. Antlered hunting with archery equipment can continue through Jan. 1 in these units. (See page 14 of the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary for the Upper Peninsula antler point restrictions chart.)

The extended antlerless season starts Jan. 2 and ends Jan. 12 for Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, and Ottawa counties.

“Managing the deer population is crucial, and hunting remains the primary tool we must have to keep numbers in check,” Vermeesch said. “Antlerless seasons are another tool to combat deer overpopulation and rampant crop damage experienced by farmers.”

Harvest reporting

Deer hunters are required to report a successful harvest within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer (to another person, a processer or taxidermist). Reporting your harvest takes about three minutes and provides critical information for managing Michigan’s deer herd.

Find the Deer Hunting Regulations Summary and report your harvest at Michigan.gov/Deer.

For more information on firearm deer season, hunting safety, lands open to hunting, and hunting regulations, visit Michigan.gov/Hunting.

For those interested in a hunting lease, visit Michigan Farm Bureau’s website.

— Michigan Farm Bureau

The post Don't Miss Deer Hunting Opportunities in December, January appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

As of Dec. 23, 2024, that nationwide injunction is no longer enforceable, and the BOI reporting requirements of the CTA have been reinstated. The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a temporary stay on the nationwide injunction. The Fifth Circuit found that the government made a strong showing that it is likely to succeed in proving that the CTA is constitutional. The court explained that Congress exercised its broad authority under the Commerce Clause to pass the CTA, aiming to regulate the anonymous ownership and operation of businesses that constitute an “economic class of activities” significantly affecting interstate commerce. Consequently, the court determined that the reporting requirement for such businesses is within the scope of the Commerce Clause.

The court further concluded that “a last-minute injunction of a statute proposed and passed by the people’s representatives inevitably causes irreparable harm.” Additionally, the court determined that the burden on businesses required to report is minimal. When weighed against the “public’s urgent interest in combatting financial crime and safeguarding national security,” the court found that a stay of the injunction was justified.

Following the Fifth Circuit’s ruling, the Department of the Treasury issued an alert on the FinCEN website acknowledging that reporting companies may require additional time to comply with the CTA due to the period when the preliminary injunction was in place. As a result, the reporting deadlines have been extended as follows:

• Reporting companies established or registered before January 1, 2024, now have until January 13, 2025, to submit their initial BOI reports to FinCEN. (Previously, these companies were required to report by January 1, 2025).
• Reporting companies formed or registered in the United States on or after September 4, 2024, and before December 3, 2024, have until January 13, 2025, to submit their initial BOI reports to FinCEN.
• Reporting companies formed or registered in the United States between December 3, 2024, and December 23, 2024, have an additional 21 days beyond their original filing deadline to submit their initial BOI reports to FinCEN.
• All reporting companies created or registered in the United States on or after January 1, 2025, have 30 days to file their initial BOI reports with FinCEN.

So, what does it all mean? 

If your farm business is registered in Ohio, compliance with the CTA’s reporting requirements is once again mandatory. While farm businesses now have a slight extension to meet the BOI reporting requirements, it is probably best practice not to delay too long.

This situation is unfolding quickly. This case may still undergo further review by the Fifth Circuit or potentially reach the Supreme Court of the United States. Additionally, several other federal courts are currently evaluating challenges to the CTA. We will make every effort to keep you informed promptly as the situation develops.

— Jeffrey K. Lewis, Esq., Program Coordinator, Income Tax Schools
Ohio State University CFAES

The post Federal Appeals Court Reinstates Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

“As Chairs of the Legislature’s Agriculture Committees, our top priority is closing this loophole in the Farm Overtime Tax Credit as soon as possible to provide direct financial relief to more farms and help them continue to support their employees. While unfortunately, that day is not today, we are heartened to see the Governor pledge her support for getting this done in her veto message, with a retroactive solution in the state budget. Keeping New York’s farms in business is essential to securing our food supply and sustaining a critical pillar of our state’s economy, which is why this bill passed the State Legislature with unanimous support. We expect that same level of support to carry through as we work to resolve this issue in the budget process.”

–The Office of New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey

The post Hinchey, Lupardo Respond to Governor’s Veto of Farm Employer Overtime Tax Credit Bill Expansion appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

The victory is a direct result of the advocacy efforts of Texas Corn Producers Association, which joined the National Corn Growers Association and other state corn grower organizations in calling on the Biden administration to file a dispute settlement under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2023 after Mexico banned genetically modified white corn imports that year.

The organization’s leaders argued that the ban would significantly harm growers and rural communities, especially because Mexico is the number one export destination for U.S. corn. Mexico is an obvious integral player in Texas‘ corn market – playing a crucial role in market prices for farmers in the state.

“This outcome is a tremendous victory for our farmers and is a direct outcome of our advocacy efforts that have been underway for years since the initial Mexican decree of this nature in 2020,” TCPA President Jim Sugarek said. “It illustrates what we can accomplish when we work together.”

Since the enactment of USMCA, the formation of dispute panels has been uncommon and must meet a high threshold of requirements. National corn grower leaders noted the outcome is a big accomplishment.

“This is an incredible development for the nation’s corn growers and rural communities,” Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. said. “This outcome is a direct result of the advocacy efforts of corn grower leaders from across the country. We want to thank the nation’s growers for speaking out and U.S. officials for listening and acting.”

Now that a decision has been made, TCPA will continue its efforts alongside NCGA to work with USTR and the incoming administration to ensure the ruling is enforced.

— Texas Corn Producers Association

The post Texas Corn Association Celebrates Win in Mexico Dispute appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

The state veterinarian has the responsibility of regulating the movement of animals into the Commonwealth of Virginia, while DWR is charged with the management of the state’s wildlife resources. Ruminants must bear identification and have their identification number noted on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Animal identification, like an ear tag issued by a state or federal entity, helps the state veterinarian to trace animals in the event of a significant animal disease outbreak. The importation of deer into the Commonwealth is typically prohibited, with a DWR permit required to possess any member of the deer family within Virginia.

Every year, VDACS and DWR work together to ensure Santa has the correct permits and procedures to allow his reindeer to enter the Commonwealth.

“Santa’s visit to Virginia may be brief each year, but it’s still vitally important to our state agricultural industry that his reindeer are healthy,” VDACS State Veterinarian Dr. Charlie Broaddus said. “It’s a privilege to issue permits for entry for Santa, and I hope he enjoys some fresh local Virginia milk and that the reindeer get plenty of Virginia grown carrots during their visit.”

“In order to protect Virginia’s wild white-tailed deer and elk herds, a DWR permit is required to possess any member of the deer family within Virginia and the importation of deer into the Commonwealth is typically prohibited,” said DWR State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. John Tracey. “But this time of year, VDACS and DWR work together to ensure the correct permits and procedures to allow Santa and his reindeer to enter the Commonwealth. Santa has always been an excellent partner and his attention to the health of his reindeer team cannot be overstated. We look forward to his yearly visit.”

–Michael Wallace, VDACS

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