Gay Bowlin, Manager
Harvest season is one of the busiest times of year for farmers – carrying with it long days and tight deadlines. It can be tempting to bypass basic safety procedures.
Gay Bowlin
- Each year, failure to follow these recommendations leads to thousands of injuries – in addition to deaths – for farmers and employees. Even though it may add a few minutes to your day, taking extra steps to ensure safety can help save both farmers and their employees’ lives.
It’s also important for motorists to “share the road” with farmers. Drivers should reduce speed when encountering farm equipment or when an SMV emblem is visible, keep a safe distance, be prepared to yield, and pass wide, large farm equipment only if conditions are safe.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has recommended to Congress that the Section 179 tax deduction level in the Internal Revenue Service code remain consistent with the 2010-2013 limit for small businesses.
Currently under Section 179 of the tax code, a business taxpayer can currently deduct, or “expense,” qualified assets placed in service during the year, up to a specified amount. After a series of extensions (with some modifications), a maximum deduction of $500,000 was allowed for 2013, subject to a phaseout for assets costing more than $2 million. However, when this provision expired after 2013, the limit for 2014 reverted to a paltry $25,000 with just a $200,000 phaseout threshold.
The Stone Seed Group is offering a $1,000 scholarship to Illinois High School Seniors. Write a 250-word essay and telling “Why agriculture is so important to Illinois and your life”. Submit your application and essay to www.StoneSeed.com/EssayContest beginning October 1. The deadline for submission is November 30 and winners will be announced on or about January 1, 2015.
I would like to encourage farmers right now to on line to www.growcommunities.com “America’s Farmers Grow Communities – Monsanto Fund” and enter the Franklin County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Foundation for a chance to be awarded $2,500. This will help to ensure the agricultural education of our Franklin County children.
Entrants must live or farm in Franklin County, be 21 years or older and actively engaged in farming a minimum of 250 acres of corn, soybeans and/or cucumbers. One entry per qualified person. Actively engaged means he or she performs the work, or hires and actively manages others who do so.
Franklin County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Foundation is a 501©(3) and falls in the guidelines of qualifying to receive this grant.
Entries must be received by November 30, 2014 to qualify. We could use your help – our Ag in the Classroom program is completely funded by grants and donations and is well respected in the community. If you have any questions please call the office at 435-3616.
Visit us at www/fcfbil.org.
Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.
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