What's up at the FSA Office?

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

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:
• Be of legal voting age.
• Live in the LAA holding an election.
• 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.

FSFL Loans – Change in Procedure
Before the County Committee approval of the CCC-185 loan agreement, there are specific actions that cannot occur before the AD850 environmental determination has been made. The following cannot be done:
• acceptance of equipment and/or materials in previously undisturbed areas (no disturbance below plow zone)
• site preparation or foundation construction in previously undisturbed areas (no disturbance below plow zone)
• any alterations to any structures that are 50 years old or older, or within a historic district
• Do not to do any earthmoving activities or building demolition on the proposed site or even in close proximity to the proposed building site before being notified the environmental review has been completed. In addition, vendors cannot even be delivering materials to the site.  The reasoning behind the preceding is that premature construction, demolition, or delivery of product may cover up a potential endangered species, or block the exploration of a cultural resource site.
File AD-1026 by June 1
RMA customers must have an AD-1026 on file by June 1 to be eligible for crop insurance subsidies for reinsurance year 2016. If you are not sure if you have an AD-1026 on file, contact the Allamakee County FSA Office at 563-568-2148.

Reminder to Dairy Producers
This reminder is for dairy producers who are signed up for the Marginal Protection Program for dairy. Letters were sent out to dairy producers to remind them of the final premium due by June 1. If this premium isn’t received by June 1, this would put the dairy producer back to the $4.00 coverage. Check to see if you received the letter for the premium amount due and if not contact the county office in regards to this matter.

Certification of crop year
This is a reminder to all farmers that July 15 is the deadline to certify all the cropland acres, (including CRP) and pasture ground used for grazing. This is a requirement for future payments.  
Example:
1. In order to receive a CRP payment the CRP acres need to be certified.
2. If there is a payment due you for the ARC/PLC programs the acres need to be certified.
Contact the county office for more infomration.  

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.
• June 1: Deadline to sign an AD-1026 for Federal Crop Insurance.
• July 4: Office Closed.
• July 15: Deadline to certify all crops and CRP acres.