What's up at the FSA Office?
by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director
The Allamakee County Committee meeting will be Thursday, February 12 at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County FSA Office.
Reminders
January 30, 2015 – Deadline for 2012 Livestock Feed Program (LFP) and 2012 Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).
January 30, 2015 – Deadline for the “Early Out” on CRP (Certain criteria must be met to qualify).
On January 29, 2015 both the ISU extension and our FSA Office will be hosting an ARC/PLC program meeting at the Farmer’s and Merchant’s Savings Bank at 1 p.m. Call the extension office to reserve a spot at 563-568-6345
ARC/PLC Program
The Yield updates and/or Base reallocations have a deadline of February 27, 2015. After this date the current base and yield on the farm will kept.
The PLC, ARC-County and the ARC-Individual elections have to be selected by March 31, 2015. After this deadline the farm will default to the PLC program for 2015-2018 and the 2014 will not be paid if it triggers a payment.
If the PLC program is selected by the March 31, 2015 deadline, and if the 2014 payment triggers, then the farm will be paid for 2014 year. Any questions call 563-568-2148.
2014 MAL and LDP Requests
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting requests for marketing assistance loans (MALs) and loan deficiency payments (LDPs) for eligible 2014 commodities.
MALs and LDPs for the 2014 crop year become available to eligible producers beginning with harvest/shearing season and extending through a specific commodity’s final loan availability date.
MALs and LDPs provide financing and marketing assistance for wheat, feed grains, soybeans, and other oilseeds, pulse crops, wool, mohair and honey. MALs provide producers interim financing after harvest to help them meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows. A producer who is eligible to obtain a loan, but agrees to forgo the loan, may obtain an LDP if such a payment is available.
Before MAL repayments and LDP disbursements can be made, producers must meet the requirements of actively engaged in farming, cash rent tenant and member contribution.
Additionally, form CCC-902 and CCC-901 must be submitted for the 2014 crop year, if applicable, with a county committee determination and updated subsidiary files.
To be considered eligible for an LDP, producers must have form CCC-633EZ, Page 1 on file at the Allamakee FSA Office before losing beneficial interest in the crop. Pages 2, 3 or 4 of the form must be submitted when payment is requested.
Beginning Farmer Loans
FSA assists beginning farmers to finance agricultural enterprises. Under these designated farm loan programs, FSA can provide financing to eligible applicants through either direct or guaranteed loans.
FSA defines a beginning farmer as a person who:
• Has operated a farm for not more than 10 years
• Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm
• Agrees to participate in a loan assessment, borrower training and financial management program sponsored by FSA
• Does not own a farm in excess of 30 percent of the county’s average size farm.
Additional program information, loan applications and other materials are available at the Allamakee County USDA Service Center. You may also visit www.fsa.usda.gov.
Special Funding for Underserved Farmers
FSA has a number of loan programs available to assist applicants to begin or continue in agriculture production. Loans are available for operating needs and to purchase or improve farms or ranches.
While all qualified producers are eligible to apply for these loan programs, the FSA has provided special funding for farmers who identify as women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
FSA loans are only available to applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements and are unable to obtain the needed credit elsewhere.
