What's Up at the FSA Office?
by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director 563-568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 28: ARCPLC signup deadline; MPP-Dairy premiums due
• September 30: Last day to remove bales for those who requested managed haying on CRP grounds; End of fiscal year for FSA
Market Facilitation Program
USDA announced the trade mitigation program (Market Facilitation Program, MFP) earlier this month. This program will aid farmers who were impacted from trade retaliation. The Farm Service Agency will administer this program and provide payments to corn, dairy, hog, soybean, wheat, cotton, and sorghum producers.
The signup period will run through January 15, 2019, and you are encouraged to apply after harvest is 100% complete. We recommend you bring production evidence with you when you apply. Payments will be issued on 50% of the production multiplied by the MFP rate for the specific commodity. A second payment period, if warranted, will be determined by the USDA.
Payment rates:
• Corn: $0.01 a bushel
• Soybeans: $1.65 a bushel
• Dairy: $0.12 cwt
• Hogs: $8 a head as of August 1, 2018.
Payments have been issued for some dairy producers as their production evidence has come from the MPP program. Payments for hog producers have also begun being issued as their payments are based on August 1 inventory. So if you have hogs or a dairy operation and not signed your application, stop in soon to do so.
Visit www.farmers.gov for more information on the Market Facilitation Program.
CRP Mid-Contract Management
Some CRP contract holders will receive a packet of information detailing the activities that need to be completed in FY18. You can begin those activities as early as October 1, 2018. However, all activities need to be completed by May 14, 2019 unless otherwise indicated on your forms. Please stop in or call if you have any questions.
Power of Attorney
For those who find it difficult to visit the county office personally because of work schedules, distance, health, etc., FSA has a power of attorney form available that enables you to designate another person to conduct your business at the office. If you are interested, please contact our office or any Farm Service Agency office near you for more information. Power of Attorney provisions do not apply to farm loan programs.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Payments
We will soon be issuing payments for the Conservation Reserve Program. CRP payments begin with those contracted prior to 2008. Barring no computer delays, those payments will begin being issued October 2. For CRP contracts that began after the 2008 Farm Bill, payments will be issued starting October 11.
Remember that these take a few days to be deposited into your account.
