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DAVIS, Calif. – The deadline to submit applications for assistance for 2008 crop year losses under the USDA Farm Service Agency 2008 Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) program payment is Sept. 30.
“Farmers and ranchers in California have to cope with all types of natural disasters,” said Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Val Dolcini. “The 2008 Farm Bill created the SURE program to assist growers when these weather-related disasters cause crop losses.”
SURE provides crop disaster assistance payments to eligible producers on farms that have incurred crop production or crop quality losses.
The program takes into consideration crop losses on all crops grown by a producer nationwide. SURE provides assistance in an amount equal to 60 percent of the difference between the SURE farm guarantee and total farm revenue.
The farm guarantee is based on the amount of crop insurance and Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage on the farm. Total farm revenue takes into account the actual value of production on the farm as well as insurance indemnities and certain farm program payments.
To be eligible for SURE, producers must have suffered at least a 10 percent production loss on a crop of economic significance.
In addition, producers must meet the risk management purchase requirement by either obtaining a policy or plan of insurance, under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or NAP coverage, for all economically significant crops.
For 2008 crops, producers had the opportunity to obtain a waiver of the risk management purchase requirement through a buy-in provision.
Producers considered socially disadvantaged, a beginning farmer or rancher or a limited resource farmer may be eligible for SURE without a policy or plan of insurance or NAP coverage.
Additional information about SURE is available at county FSA offices or on line at www.fsa.usda.gov.
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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Drivers across Northern California are seeing gas prices bounce up and down like a ball in a school yard.
That bounce has gotten slightly higher over the past few weeks, as prices have generally trended upwards, according to the latest report from AAA Northern California.
In a month-to-month comparison, every metro area tracked by AAA saw an increase at the pump.
“Even though there has been a slight rise in the pump price over the past month, the overall up and down nature of prices across Northern California reflects the mixed signals that exist when it comes to the economy and the demand for gasoline,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja.
“Uncertainly about the economy and forecasts for a highly active storm season continue to influence how investors look at oil as a commodity to invest in. These factors have helped to keep the price for a barrel of oil around the $80 mark,” Skryja added.
California’s average gas price is the third highest among all 50 states, according to the latest report from AAA, which tracks gasoline prices as a service to consumers.
The Golden State’s average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.18, up four cents since last month’s report on July 13. For perspective, that’s 13 cents higher than California’s average price on this date last year, when it was $3.05.
Northern California gas prices are now averaging $3.20, up five cents from last month. In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $3.27, which is a 5-cent increase.
The national average price of $2.78 is up by seven cents, which is 13 cents more than the national price on this date last year, when it was $2.65.
According to the Federal Highway Administration’s vehicle miles traveled (VMT) data, July and August are historically the months in which Americans drive the most miles. Fuel demand during these two months generally provides the support for higher fuel prices in the summer.
Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) report showed mixed energy demand data. Gasoline demand topped 9.6 million barrels a day, the highest weekly figure of 2010 and the highest number since August 2007. The DOE report defied many analysts’ predictions, as crude oil supplies continue to rise amid the reported increase in demand.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Chico and Marysville where regular is $3.11.
Of all the metro areas in Northern California where gas prices are tracked by AAA, South Lake Tahoe’s average price of $3.41 is the highest. It’s also the highest price reported by AAA in the lower 48 states.
The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in Greenville, South Carolina, and Springfield Missouri, where the average price of gas is $2.54. Wailuku, Hawaii, holds the dubious crown for the highest average price in the nation, at $3.81 per gallon.
One way consumers can reduce the amount of money they spend on fuel is to shop aggressively for the lowest price. Now, AAA offers text alerts via mobile phone for low gas prices in your area. Sign up today at www.aaa.com/gas.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed everyday nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.
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SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang on Tuesday released his monthly report covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in July.
The month’s revenues were below the Governor’s May Revision estimates by $91 million, or 1.9 percent.
“While July’s numbers do not radically change our cash position, the failure to pass a timely budget remains the biggest threat to California’s finances,” said Chiang. “I urge the governor and Legislature to show leadership by immediately addressing the potential cash crisis.”
The Legislature passed and the governor signed a series of scheduled payment deferrals earlier this year.
That legislation calls for an October education deferral to be accelerated into September if necessary to maintain the state’s cash flow.
When that payment is deferred in September, the state is projected to maintain safe cash levels into October.
Yet without a balanced budget that allows the state to begin its regular cash-flow borrowing, the state may still have to take extreme measures to manage cash, including IOUs, by late August or early September.
Personal income tax revenues were $210 million below (-6.6%) estimates. Corporate taxes were up $86 million (37.4%) and sales taxes came in $69 million above (6.6%) estimates.
Expenditures were running $963 million ahead of estimates through July 31. The state’s $13.7 billion cash deficit is being covered entirely by internal borrowing.
July's financial statement and the summary analysis can be found on the controller's Web site at www.sco.ca.gov.
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CLEARLAKE – The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce is looking for Lake County-loving volunteers to serve in the chamber's information center in Clearlake at the community/senior center.
Volunteers will greet guests, answer phones, do light clerical and projects, assist with events and learn more about the community while serving it.
If interested, please contact Executive Director Lori Peters, Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, 3245 Bowers Ave., Clearlake, telephone 707-994-3600.
Visit the chamber online at www.clearlakechamber.com.