What's Up at the FSA Office?
by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• May 15 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season. No MCM Activities on CRP Acres
• May 31: Marketing Assistance Loans for Prior Year Harvested Corn and Soybeans
• June 1: Margin Protection Program (MPP) Signup
• July 15: 2018 Crop Reports
• August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up
May Facility Loan Interest Rates
The interest rates for May are as follows:
• 2.500% for 3 years
• 2.625% for 5 years
• 2.750% for 7 years
• 2.875% for 10 years
• 2.875% for 12 years
• 2.875% for 15 years
The interest rate for crop year commodity loans disbursed during May is 3.125%.
CRP Reminders
The primary nesting season runs from May 15 - August 1. Contact the FSA office if you need to perform spot maintenance activities on your CRP acres during this time. Cosmetic mowing of your CRP acres is prohibited, but you can spot treat areas that are threatened by undesirable vegetation throughout the year. A written request must be made before the County Committee grants approval to conduct maintenance during the nesting season.
As a reminder, volunteer trees and woody vegetation must be controlled and removed from CRP acres. Failure to control undesirable vegetation on CRP can result in financial penalties.
Crop Reporting
With spring planting right around the corner, Allamakee county farmers are reminded to report all spring planted crops to the FSA office by July 15 to remain eligible for FSA and other USDA programs. Remember to bring planting dates with you. It is the producer’s responsibility to accurately report acres and producer’s shares in individual crops. Discrepancies found later may affect eligibility for all FSA-administered programs.
The last day to report is July 15. Any crop report filed or revised after July 15 will be assessed a measurement service fee (per farm). Additionally, FSA may be required to visit the farm to verify crop planting.
Late filed crop reports can be accepted through the next seasons reporting deadline. So this year’s crops can be reported through July 15, 2019. However, if you decide to wait, remember the measurement service fee will be charged for all dates between July 16, 2018 and July 15, 2019.
County Office Committees
County committees play a vital role in the administration of federal farm programs. They make decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs, emergency/disaster programs, employing County Executive Directors and other significant agricultural issues with the USDA.
Members come from one of three pre-determined local administrative areas (LAAs). These areas are determined by many factors but include population, fair representation, and types of farming. Elections are held each year on a rotational basis. This year the election will occur in LAA3 which includes iowa, Lansing, Center, LaFayette, Paint Creek, and Taylor townships. To be eligible to serve you must participate or cooperate in a FSA program, be eligible to vote, and live in the LAA where you are nominated.
The nomination period will start June 15 and producers can nominate themselves or others. If you would like to run, or are nominated and agree to run, you will need to complete form FSA-669A, which you can pick up at our office or online at fsa.usda.gov/elections. All nominations must be postmarked or received in our office by August 1.
Election ballots are then mailed to eligible voters in the electing LAA beginning November 5 and are due back no later than December 3. All newly elected members take office January 1, and serve for three years, with a maximum of three terms. So if you reside in LAA-3, and would like to run, stop in after June 15 to pick up the nomination form and return it to us by August 1.
