What's up at the FSA Office?
by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• January 15: Office closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January Facility Loan Interest Rates
The interest rates for January are as follows:
• 1.875% for 3 years
• 2.125% for 5 years
• 2.250% for 7 years
• 2.375% for 10 years
• 2.500% for 15 years
Marketing Assistance Loans
The FSA office would like to remind producers that marketing assistance loans are available through our office. The January interest rate is 2.625%, and the loan rates are $1.87 for corn, and $4.99 for beans. If you do take out a marketing assistance loan with us, we will need a copy of your driver’s license, as well as your spouse’s. Producers are responsible for maintaining the quality of all grain under loan. Additionally, you should contact our office before you move or feed any grain. Not doing so can result in financial penalties and being placed on a loan-violation list for two years.
Environmental Review Required Before Project Implementation
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal agencies to consider all potential environmental impacts for federally-funded projects before the project is approved.
For all Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs, an environmental review must be completed before actions are approved, such as site preparation or ground disturbance. These programs include, but are not limited to, the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program and farm loans. If project implementation begins before FSA has completed an environmental review, this will result in a denial of the request. There are exceptions regarding the Stafford Act and emergencies. It is important to wait until you receive written approval of your project proposal before starting any actions, including, but not limited to, vegetation clearing, site preparation or ground disturbance.
Remember to contact your local FSA office early in your planning process to determine what level of environmental review is required for your program application so that it can be completed timely. Applications cannot be approved contingent upon the completion of an environmental review. FSA must have copies of all permits and plans before an application can be approved.
2018 ACR-Co Program Sign-up
Sign up for the 2018 farm program, Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC-Co) has begun. Farmers who have a risk in what is planted on the farm are eligible to sign contracts for their commensurate share. These shares should match what you present to crop insurance agents when buying coverage for your 2018 crops. Stop in and get yours completed soon!
2017 USDA Census of Agriculture
In December farmers and ranchers across the nation received the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Producers can mail in their completed census form, or respond online via the improved web questionnaire. The online questionnaire has been revised extensively to make it more convenient for producers.
Conducted once every five years, the census of agriculture is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches, and those who operate them; it is the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every state and county in the nation.
Farmers and ranchers, trade associations, government, extension educators, researchers, and many others rely on census of agriculture data when making decisions that shape American agriculture – from creating and funding farm programs to boosting services for communities and the industry. The census of agriculture is a producer’s voice, future, and opportunity.
For more information about the 2017 Census of Agriculture, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call (800) 727-9540.
USDA Farm Service Agency Offers Text Alerts to Allamakee County Producers
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.
