June 2011 Features

  • Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Warns of Interest-Rate Risk

    June 29, 2011

    Interest rates remain at historically low levels due to the extraordinary bond-buying efforts undertaken by the Federal Reserve to address the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession.  In June with the end of the second round of quantitative easing, the Fed’s bond-buying program, the potential for rising interest rates has increased. “The prime rate has fallen to 3.25 percent, but the long-term average is 7 to 8 percent so the potential for interest rate risk is currently high,” said Richard Monson, president of Southwest Georgia Farm Credit.

  • Expect Steel Prices to Remain High

    June 27, 2011

    As demand from industrial goods manufacturers and other steel-consuming industries increased in early 2010, steel producers took prices up.  Since then prices have remained steady as manufacturers continue to rebuild inventories in a variety of industries. “We’re a small fish in a big pond in terms of steel use so we buy where the market is at,” said Jody Tyson, owner of Tyson Steel.

  • Georgia 4-H rooted in academics

    June 24, 2011

    For many Georgians, the words “4-H” bring to mind club meetings and trips to Rock Eagle, the mountains or the beach for camp. But it’s about much more, says a Georgia 4-H program expert.