Producers reminded to file sodbust plans before breaking new ground

Producers bringing land into production that has not been previously cropped need to complete a sodbust plan at the Farm Service Agency (FSA) before doing any ground-breaking activity.  Producers should also check with FSA before removing any trees or shrubs from fence lines to ensure that those areas are considered part of existing fields or a sodbust form will need to be filled out. Failure to complete a sodbust plan could jeopardize farm program payments. Producers will also need to revise their NRCS conservation plan to ensure that the planned tillage and rotation will meet the soil loss requirements.  
The Allamakee County District Commissioners have decided that they will not approve sodbust plans for the following reasons:
• If sodbust paperwork is not filed at the FSA office before breaking ground;
• If the ground has a class 6 or higher;
• If the ground is predominantly an E slope or greater;
• If the ground has a corn suitability rating of 30 or less.
The Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)wants to ensure that people think about the ground they want to bring into production and understand the erodibility of the soils.  In order for producers to receive farm program benefits, they must be actively applying an approved conservation plan or maintaining a fully applied conservation system.  
If the SWCD denies a sodbust plan and the producer chooses to go through with the sodbust, there are appeal rights. Producers may write a letter to the Area NRCS office requesting that they review the conservation plan for the sodbust acres. Producers who  are considering sodbusting an area to crop next year are asked to stop by the offices soon to get the planning process started.