What's Up at the FSA Office?

by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director

The next Allamakee County Committee meeting will be Thursday, April 7 at 9 a.m. in the Allamakee County Conference Room.

Reminders
May 15-August 2, 2016 - Nesting season on CRP ground. Please contact the county office before you do anything in regards to noxious weeds etc.
May 31, 2016 - Last day to receive a commodity loan for corn, soybeans etc.

2016 ARC/PLC program sign-up
The county office is conducting the 2016 ARC/PLC applications at this time. If you happen to be in Waukon stop in and sign up. If you have any questions, please contact the office at 563-568-2148.
    
NEW: General Eligibility Requirements for New 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 FSFL’s 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.
If you have any questions in regards to these new commodity loans contact the Allamakee County FSA Office at 563-568-2148.

Changing Bank Accounts
All FSA payments should be electronically transferred into your bank account. In order to make timely payments, you need to notify the office if you close your account or if your bank is purchased by another financial institution. Payments can be delayed if we are not aware of changes to account and routing numbers.

Power of Attorney
For those who find it difficult to visit the county office personally because of work schedules, distance, health, etc., FSA has a power of attorney form available that enables you to designate another person to conduct your business at the office. If you are interested, please contact the Allamakee County FSA Office or an office near you.

Reconstitutions
To be effective for the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, farm combinations and farm divisions must be requested by August 1, 2016 for farms subject to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program. If you have any questions contact the Allamakee County FSA Office.