What's Up at the FSA Office?
by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director 563-568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• December 25: Office closed for Christmas
• January 1: Office closed for New Years Day
• January 15: Last day to apply for the Market Facilitation Program
December Farm-Stored Facility Loans
New rates were issued just last week for the month of October and are as follows:
• 2.875% for 3 years
• 3.000% for 5 years
• 3.125% for 7 years
• 3.125% for 10 years
• 3.125% for 12 years
• 3.250% for 15 years
Marketing Assistance Loans
As harvest wraps up on the 2018 crop, the FSA office would like to remind producers that marketing assistance loans are available through our office. The 2018 loan rates are $1.87 for corn, and $4.98 for beans. If you do take out a marketing assistance loan with us, we will need a copy of your driver’s license, as well as your spouse’s.
Unauthorized Disposition of Grain
If loan (sealed) grain has been disposed of through feeding, selling or any other form of disposal without prior written authorization from the county office staff, it is considered unauthorized disposition. The financial penalties for unauthorized dispositions are severe and a producer’s name will be placed on a loan violation list for a two-year period. Always call before you haul any grain under loan.
USDA Market Facilitation Program
USDA launched the trade mitigation package aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. Producers of certain commodities can now sign up for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP).
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will administer MFP to provide payments to corn (fresh and processed), cotton, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean (fresh and processed), wheat, shelled almond, and fresh sweet cherry producers. An announcement about further payments will be made in the coming months, if warranted.
The sign-up period for MFP runs through January 15, 2019, with information and instructions provided at www.farmers.gov/mfp. MFP provides payments to producers of eligible commodities who have been significantly impacted by actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of traditional exports.
Eligible producers should apply after harvest is complete, as payments will only be issued once production is reported.
A payment will be issued on 50 percent of the producer’s total production, multiplied by the MFP rate for a specific commodity. A second payment period, if warranted, will be determined by the USDA.
Applicants must also have an average adjusted gross income for tax years 2014, 2015, and 2016 of less than $900,000. Applicants must also comply with the provisions of the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation regulations.
