What's up at the FSA Office?
by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director
Reminders
May 14, 2015 – Deadline to mid-contract management (MCM) practice or a wildlife foodlot to be completed.
May 14, 2015 - August 2, 2015 – Nesting season for CRP acres. No mowing or spraying during this time. Contact the FSA office if there is a noxious weed issue during this time frame.
July 15, 2015 - Deadline for certifying crops planted. After this date there will be a late file fee.
Update Records
The Allamakee County FSA office would like to remind sellers and buyers of land to contact the office when the recorded deed has been filed. NOTE: If all or part of the land has a CRP contact active there will need to be a succession to the CRP contract. If the buyer does not want to succeed to the CRP contract, the seller will need to refund all payments received, plus interest. Inquire at the FSA office on the policies of buying/selling CRP land.
Farm Storage Facility Loans
The U.S. Department of agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) provides low-interest financing for producers to build or upgrade farm storage and handling facilities. FSA is authorized to implement the program through the USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Contact the Allamakee County FSA Office at 563-568-2148 for details.
Microloan Cap Grows
Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers that the FSA borrowing limit for microloans increased from $35,000 to $50,000. Microloans offer borrowers simplified lending with less paperwork.
The microloan change allows beginning, small and mid-sized farmers to access an additional $15,000 in loans using a simplified application process with up to seven years to repay. Microloans are part of USDA’s continued commitment to small and midsized farming operations.
For more information about this program, contact Vicky Hinsenbrock, Farm Loan Manager, at 563-382-8777.
Margin Protection Program for Dairy Producers
The January and February 2015 payment trigger was announced. The National average Margin between the price of milk and cost of feed was $7.99554/cwt., resulting in a MPP payment rate of $0.004456/cwt. for dairy operations who selected an $8.00 margin trigger coverage level for 2015. These payments will be processed sometime in April.
Attention CRP Producers
CRP producers who have a mid-contract management (MCM) practice or a wildlife food plot to complete in 2015 will need to have it completed by May 14, 2015.
May 14, 2015 through August 2, 2015 is the nesting season. MCM practices and wildlife food plots cannot be done during this time.
CRP producers who have a MCM practice or wildlife food plot will need to have the practice completed and bills submitted before you certifying CRP acres.
Contact the Allamakee County FSA Office if you have any CRP maintenance before the May 14, 2015 deadline.
USDA Reminds Farmers to Certify Conservation Compliance by June 1
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers that the 2014 Farm Bill requires producers to file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form (AD-1026) with their local USDA service center by June 1, 2015, in order to become or remain eligible for crop insurance premium support.
Most farmers already have a certification form on file since it’s required for participation in most USDA programs such as marketing assistance loans, farm storage facility loans and disaster assistance. However farmers, such as specialty crop growers who receive federal crop insurance premium support, but may not participate in other USDA programs, also must now file a certification form to maintain their crop insurance premium support.
“USDA employees are working very hard to get the word out about this new Farm Bill provision,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “While many producers will not need to take action, we want to help make sure that those who are required to act do so by the June 1 deadline. We want all eligible producers to be able to maintain their ability to protect their operations with affordable insurance.”
Producers should visit their local USDA service center and talk with their crop insurance agent before the June 1, 2015, deadline to ask questions, get additional information or learn more about conservation compliance procedures. Producers that file their form by the deadline will be eligible for federal crop insurance premium support during the 2016 reinsurance year, which begins July, 1, 2015. USDA will publish a rule outlining the linkage of conservation compliance with federal crop insurance premium support. Go to http://go.usa.gov/3Wy5J to view a copy of the rule.
The Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form is available at local USDA service center or online at www.fsa.usda.gov/AD1026form. When a farmer completes this form, USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service staff will outline any additional actions that may be required for compliance with highly erodible land and wetland provisions. USDA’s Risk Management Agency, through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, manages the federal crop insurance program that provides the modern farm safety net for America’s farmers and ranchers.
This announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has implemented many provisions of this critical legislation, providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.
