What's Up at the FSA Office?
by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director
Meeting
The next Allamakee County Committee meeting will be February 11 at 9 a.m. at the Allamakee County FSA Office conference room.
Reminder
February 15, 2016 - Office closed for Presidents Day
February 26, 2016 - Deadline for General CRP program
New General CRP Sign-Up
December 1, 2015 through February 26, 2016 is the new general CRP sign-up. Land that is not currently enrolled in CRP may be offered for enrollment during CRP Sign-Up 49. In addition, CRP participants with contracts expiring September 30, 2016 may submit offers at this time. Accepted contracts for CRP Sign-Up 49 will become effective October 1, 2016.
NOTE: Please do not wait until the February 26, 2016 deadline, due to determining eligibility per crop history and other steps in the CRP sign-up process.
CRP Reminder
CRP producers who have buffer strips, waterways, etc. in fields where the rest of the land can be cropped, you should review the CRP acres to make sure the size requirement is the same or if there is some encroaching happening.
If you rent the cropland out, sit down with your renter to make sure they understand the CRP regulations, number of acres under contract, and if there were to be a violation the penalty will be assessed to the participants who signed the CRP contract. As the landowner on the CRP contract, it is your responsibility to make sure the CRP acres are in compliance.
If you have any questions on this reminder, please contact the Allamakee County FSA Office at 563-568-2148.
NEW: General Eligibility Requirements for FSFL Commodities
The Secretary of Agriculture has recently determined there is a need for on-farm storage, drying and handling equipment for additional commodities. Therefore, using authority provided in the 2008 Act, the following new storable commodities are added as eligible for FSFL loans:
• aquaculture
• floriculture
• hops
• maple sap
• meat and poultry
• milk (bulk tanks)
• rye
• butter, eggs, cheese, and yogurt.
Approval Requirements
FSFL approval requirements for new eligible commodities are the same as for all other FSFLs. Applicants requesting FSFLs are required to submit the following with the loan application:
• $100 loan application fee per applicant or borrower
• balance sheet prepared within the last 90 calendar days
• income and expense projections for the borrower’s farm operation
• cost estimates and building plans
• proof of crop insurance, NAP coverage, MPP-Dairy participation, or LGM participation
• exact location and size of the structure for the environmental evaluation
• planting and crop history records if not already available in the County Office.
FSFL Requirements for Milk Bulk Tanks Storage and Handling
The following are eligible species for a milk FSFL:
• cow
• goat
• sheep
• buffalo.
Determining the Milk
Bulk Tank Storage Need
Applicants must show a need for the milk bulk tank capacity as determined by the following formula. Producers may be required to provide verifiable records for COC to determine milk production for the requested storage.
Types of Structures and Equipment Eligible for Milk Bulk Tank Storage
A) Eligible Structures
FSFL-financed milk bulk tanks must be used for the purpose for which the milk bulk tank was constructed, assembled, or installed for the entire term of the loan. This requirement is applicable to all FSFL storage structures.
Milk bulk tank facilities, with a useful life of at least 15 years, may be approved for financing, including new facilities, or additions and/or modifications to an existing storage facility, if CCC determines there is a need for the capacity of the structure.
FSFL eligible bulk tanks for milk must be:
• new and built:
- of such quality that the structure can be insured
- to protect the milk from contaminants
- to support local climate conditions for the area
- properly drained.
Milk bulk tanks must be built according to acceptable design guidelines from the manufacturer, NIFA, or land-grant universities. The applicant shall provide this information to the County Office, if requested.
B) Eligible Components
The following are eligible permanently-affixed bulk milk tank components:
• bulk tanks
• plate coolers
• compressor
• washing equipment
• automation equipment
• water lines
• affixed tank washers
• hot water tanks necessary for milk house use
• hot air recovery systems
• vats for storage of milk for further processing
• milk house structure
• condenser
• safety equipment meeting OSHA requirements
• equipment to maintain and monitor the quality of stored milk
• electrical equipment
• concrete aprons and floors essential to proper facility operation
• flooring:
- suitable for the region where the facility is located
- designed according to acceptable guidelines from NIFA or land-grant universities
- made to avert water and drainage so the floor does not retain moisture.
The following FSFL information will be forthcoming in the columns ahead.
2. FSFL Requirements for Maple Sap Bulk Tank Storage and Handling
3. FSFL Requirements for Meat and Poultry Cold Storage and Handling
4. FSFL Requirements for Hops Storage and Handling
5. FSFL Requirements for Floriculture Storage and Handling
6. FSFL Requirements for Butter, Cheese, Eggs, and Yogurt Storage and Handling
7. FSFL Requirements for Aquaculture Storage and Handling.
If there are any questions on the new FSFL loans for commodities, please give the Allamakee County FSA Office a call at 563-568-2148.
