What's up at the FSA Office?

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• May 15 - August 1: Primary Nesting Season
• July 3 - Dec. 15: Sign up for the 2018 MPP Dairy Program
• July 15: 2017 Crop Reports   
• August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up
• August 1: Final date to request a farm/tract reconstitution

Enrollment Period for 2017 Safety Net Coverage Continues Through Aug. 1
Producers on farms with base acres under the safety net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, can visit their local FSA office to sign contracts and enroll for the 2017 crop year. The enrollment period will continue until Aug. 1, 2017.
If a farm is not enrolled during the 2017 enrollment period, the producers on that farm will not be eligible for financial assistance from the ARC or PLC programs for the 2017 crop should crop prices or farm revenues fall below the historical price or revenue benchmarks established by the program.
 
Upcoming County Office Committee Election in LAA-2
The COC nomination period started June 15, and producers can nominate themselves or others.  If you would like to run, or are nominated and agree to run, you will need to complete form FSA-669A, which you can pick up at our office or online at fsa.usda.gov/elections.  All nominations must be postmarked or received in our office by August 1.
Election ballots are then mailed to eligible voters in the electing LAA beginning November 6 and are due back no later than December 4.  All newly elected members take office January 1, and serve for three years, with a maximum of three terms.  So if you reside in LAA-2, and would like to run, stop in to pick up the nomination form and return it by August 1.

USDA Farm Service Agency Offers Text Alerts to Allamakee County Producers
Producers in Allamakee County can now receive notifications from their county office through text messages on their cell phone.  Whether producers are in the field, on a tractor or even on horseback, this service enables FSA customers and stakeholders to receive notifications while on the go. Producers will receive text messages regarding important program deadlines, reporting requirements, outreach events and updates.
Producers can text IAAllamakee to FSANOW (372-669) to subscribe to text message alerts from Allamakee County. Standard text messaging rates apply. Contact your wireless carrier for details associated with your particular data plan. Participants may unsubscribe at any time.

Crop Reporting by July 15
The Allamakee County FSA office welcomes all county farmers to come in and report their 2017 crops.  Certifying your crops is a requirement for many FSA programs.  This includes all spring planted crops and land uses.  Forages and pastures were to be reported last fall, and if you missed that deadline, we will be asking for that report now and collecting a late fee.  100% of the farm must be reported to be eligible for programs.  Please report what is planted on your farm by the deadline of July 15.