Funding farms
A recent Bangor Daily News editorial and story indicated that Farm Credit typically works with traditional farmers and not diversified small farms. Farm Credit East serves all Northeast farm types and sizes. Farm Credit East understands that the future of agriculture in Maine, and the entire Northeast, is dependent on talented individuals entering the industry. That’s why we’re committed to serving young, beginning and small farmers.
Farm Credit East also recognizes that the demands for capital and farm and financial management skills make it difficult for new farmers to become established. That’s why we offer programs to assist new farmers entering agriculture, such as FarmStart, LLP. This program provides start-up farms a $50,000 non-secured investment to help new farmers get their business off the ground. (For more information: FarmCreditEast.com/Startup.)
In addition to helping start-up farms, Farm Credit East offers special incentives to help young, beginning, small and veteran farmers. Incentives include discounts on services such as farm accounting software, tax preparation, consulting and appraisal for up to five years, as well as discounts on FSA guaranteed loan fees and interest rate assistance.
The future of Northeast agriculture is strong for many reasons, including the diversity of its farm operations along with its wide array of farm products and Farm Credit East remains committed to helping new farmers get started in agriculture to continue the Northeast’s legacy of a vibrant, entrepreneurial agricultural community.
Frederick Morton
Auburn
Wrong on Cuba
The BDN does a disservice to its readers when they reprint a scurrilous and non-historical editorial from The Washington Post (Dec. 18) regarding Cuba. Americans have short memories, but we really should not forget the horrors of the dictator we supported and that a popular revolution overthrew, that of Fulgencio Batista.
And we would do well to remember the name of the terrorist responsible for blowing up a Cuban airliner, killing all 73 people on board, Luis Posada Carriles. And we should never forget that Posada Carriles is under threat of arrest in various countries, having been found guilty of terrorism and imprisoned. He escaped from prison and found safe refuge in the U.S. He is now living comfortably in Florida.
It would also be well to remember that for many years the U.S. single handedly, by using its veto power, prevented United Nations recognition of the Cuban regime.
The concluding statement of the reprinted Washington Post editorial is wrong. While Obama has indeed dismantled a failed — and reprehensible — policy, surely not even The Washington Post can want a Batista back. Better to send Posada Carriles home to the welcome he so richly deserves.
Karen Saum
Belfast
Federal budget fixes
I worked for the federal government for over 40 years and during that time attended hundreds of meetings to discuss funding. I cannot recall one time where the discussion centered on “saving” money.
Therefore, I suggest a change to the mindset on the government budgeting process as follows:
Each agency or department would be required to “save” and “return” 5 percent of its annual budget at the end of the fiscal year and before the next year’s budget is submitted and approved. For example (and keeping it really simple): Suppose the budget for the Department of Defense was $100 for FY 15. At the end of the year DOD would be expected to return $5 to the federal government.
If the Defense Department returned 5 percent, its request for an increase over the approved budget of the prior year (limited to 2 percent) for the next year would be submitted, justified, reviewed and approved (either in total or as deemed necessary but could not be increased the 2 percent limit) by the legislative and executive branches. However, if the department did not return the required 5 percent then the Defense Department’s budget would remain at the same level as for the prior year.
Fire those thousands of extra IRS agents. And speaking of the IRS: No more negotiating over taxes owed. You owe, you pay: Full Stop.
Fire all czars. Reduce our military footprint around the world and use those units to secure/protect our borders. Deactivate AFRICOM and close all military operations on the continent of Africa. Reduce foreign aid by 50 percent.
Reduce the federal budget to 10 percent less than the projected income. Use the 10 percent difference to pay off America’s debt. Pass a balanced budget amendment.
Joe Schell
Dover