What's up at the FSA Office?
by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director
Reminders
• May 14 - August 2 – Nesting season. Food plots or mid contract management actives are not allowed during this time.
• May 25 – Memorial Day. Office Closed.
• May 31 – Last day to receive a corn and/or soybean loan for 2014 crop.
• July 4 – Office closed.
• July 15 – Deadline to certify all crops and CRP acres.
Attention CRP Producers
CRP producers who have a mid-contract management (MCM) practice or a wildlife food plot to complete in 2015 will need to have it completed by May 14. May 14 through August 2 is the nesting season. MCM practices and wildlife food plots cannot be completed during this time. For more information contact the Allamakee County FSA Office.
CRP producers who have no MCM practice or wildlife food plot to complete and rent the remaining cropland to another producer can stop into the Allamakee County FSA to certify their 2015 CRP acres as required per CRP regulations.
CRP producers who have a MCM practice or wildlife food plot will need to have the practice completed and bills submitted before they can certify their CRP acres.
CRP producers who have CRP acres and plant other crops will need to certify their acres when everything is planted or by July 15.
Haying, grazing or planting of an agriculture commodity on CRP acres is not allowed. This is considered in violation of the CRP contract and is subject to penalty or termination.
Wildlife food plots cannot be harvested.
If the CRP is being used for a roadway, hunting shacks or storing equipment it will considered in violation and subject to penalty or termination.
CRP grazing and haying which was released per office visit after August 2 will be randomly spot-checked.
Producers cannot cosmically clip or spray CRP acres during the nesting season from May 14 through August 2. If there are noxious weeds on the CRP, producers must come in and show the FSA office on a map where the noxious weeds are located and request permission to clip or spray. If a CRP producer does not have permission to clip or spray on file at the FSA office, this is a CRP violation.
All CRP producers need to certify their CRP acres every year in order to receive CRP payments in the fall.
Contact the Allamakee County FSA Office at 563- 568-2148 for more information.
CRP Wildlife Food Plots
A change in Wildlife Food Plot policy: Grain plots cannot be left for two years. In the past, if the food plot was adequate, CRP producers could leave them for another year. This is a big change.
2015 Allamakee County Committee Elections
Producers elect farmers and ranchers to County Committees. The following are some of the requirements for being a candidate to serve on a County Committee:
1. Be of legal voting age.
2. Live in the LAA holding an election.
3. Participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA.
The LAA #3 is up for elections. The townships are Iowa, Lansing, Center, La Fayette, Paint Creek and Taylor.
The nomination period begins June 15 and ends August 3. Request nomination forms from the Allamakee County FSA Office or online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
