What's Up at the USDA Office?
Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 15 – August 1: Primary Nesting Season – No MCM work on CRP acres
June 30: 2020 ARCPLC Election
July 15: Crop Certification
September 30: PLC Yield Update
2020 Crop Certification
The on-going COVID-19 situation has changed the way we operate at the office. We are conducting much more business through phone and email. Unfortunately, at this time, it appears we will not be able to certify crops face-to-face at the office. Our office has mailed out farm maps to the operator for them to mark the crops planted, date planted, and shares.
If there is more than one operator on the farm, we would ask the operators who receive the maps to visit with other tenants on that farm to make sure all fields are accurately labeled, and all relevant information included (shares, planting dates, etc.). Then return them to us via mail, email or the drop-box outside the office. We will then load them and get your FSA-578 form ready for you to review and sign.
Those 578s can be mailed to you, emailed, or placed in our drop box for you to pick up. Please review those thoroughly, yet promptly, and return to us via mail, email, or the drop box.
We ask that you get them marked-up and returned to us as soon as possible, but no later June 8. We’ll need time to review, address any questions with you, and get the information loaded. We will then mail the certification for your review and signature, have you mail it back to us (or drop it off), then us validate it in the system. All this needs to be completed by July 15.
Sign Up for the 2020 ARCPLC Program by June 30
We have mailed out the remaining ARCPLC contracts for farms that still need to be enrolled for the 2020 program year. We were able to complete many 2020 contracts at the time of 2019 signup, but not all. If you receive one, please review the letter to ensure everything is completed correctly. If you have any questions, or need the contract modified, call our office.
The deadline to get these approved is June 30 of this year, so please don’t delay in getting these back to us.
CRP Reminders
The primary nesting season runs from May 15 – August 1. Please 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 always 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.
Livestock Inventory Records
Producers are reminded to keep updated livestock inventory records. These records are necessary in the event of a natural disaster.
When disasters strike, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) can assist producers who suffered excessive livestock death losses and grazing or feed losses due to eligible natural disasters.
To participate in livestock disaster assistance programs, producers will be required to provide verifiable documentation of death losses resulting from an eligible adverse weather event and must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss of livestock is apparent. For grazing or feed losses, producers must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent and should also maintain documentation and receipts.
Producers should record all pertinent information regarding livestock inventory records including:
• Documentation of the number, kind, type and weight range of livestock
• Beginning inventory supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts
For more information on documentation requirements, contact your local FSA office.
Farm Safety
Flowing grain in a storage bin or gravity-flow wagon is like quicksand - it can kill quickly. It takes less than five seconds for a person caught in flowing grain to be trapped.
The mechanical operation of grain handling equipment also presents a real danger. Augers, power take offs, and other moving parts can grab people or clothing.
These hazards, along with pinch points and missing shields, are dangerous enough for adults; not to mention children. It is always advisable to keep children a safe distance from operating farm equipment. Always use extra caution when backing or maneuvering farm machinery. Ensure everyone is visibly clear and accounted for before machinery is engaged.
FSA wants all farmers to have a productive crop year and that begins with putting safety first.
