What's Up at the USDA Office?
Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
August 2- 31: Non-Emergency Haying of CRP
August 2 - September 30: Non-Emergency Grazing of CRP
Current – October 31: Organic Certified Cost Share Program (OCCSP)
December 2: Deadline to return COC ballots to FSA Office
Meet Local Administrative Area (LAA) 3’s County Committee Nominees!
LAA 3 covers the townships of Iowa, Lansing, Center, Lafayette, Paint Creek, and Taylor. This year the nomination period ended as of August 1, 2024, and we are fortunate to have four great nominees running to serve on our Allamakee County FSA Committee board (COC). The following is a short synopsis of each nominee and their background in Allamakee County.
Our first nominee is Kim Welsh. Kim is currently serving in the last year of her original 3-year term as a member of the Allamakee COC and seeking re-election. Kim and her husband Gary Welsh have been actively involved in agriculture since 1983 in Center Township. They have been an organic farm since its inception and take deep pride in the agricultural products they produce. The family farm they’ve created is diversified with raising beef cattle, custom raising pullets and laying hens, finishing out hogs, and having row crops. Kim retired from being a Farm Loan Program Technician for FSA after 30 years of service in 2020. Along with her farming background Kim is an active volunteer for the local food shelf and VITA.
Our next nominee is Lynn Reburn. Lynn and her husband Tom have been farming in Iowa Township in Allamakee County for the last 40+ years on their heritage farm that dates back over 150 years to 1866. Currently Lynn and Tom raise beef cattle and have a row crop operation. Lynn works at Murphy Roverud Law office working with taxes and probate. When she isn’t at work or farming, she serves as the Clerk for the Upper Iowa River Drainage District and has served on the Iowa State Extension Council in the past.
Up next is Terry Oesterle. Terry and his wife Diane operated a dairy farm in Paint Creek Township for years along with a row crop operation until they retired. During their time farming they milked 40 cows and raised all their own replacements while operating about 350 acres of row crops. Since retirement they’ve put some ground into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) along with renting the balance out. Terry has been a Farm Bureau member for 45 years, served as a trustee for Paint Creek Twp in the past and also currently, along with sitting on the board of Directors for Acentek Communications for 21 years, which he has just retired from.
Finally our last nominee is Shane Gavin. Shane and his wife Beth, along with their three children, Weston, Wyatt, and Wrenley, farm in Lafayette Township in Allamakee County. Shane and his family have been running a beef cattle operation and row crops since 2012. Shane is a 2010 graduate from Lansing High School and a 2014 Iowa State University graduate with a major in Ag Systems Technology and a minor in Agronomy. Currently Shane is serving as the Allamakee County Cattleman Association’s president.
All of our nominees are wanting and willing to serve Allamakee County’s agricultural producers to the best of their ability. Ballots will be mailed to this voting district starting in November and are due by December 2nd. We wish each nominee the best of luck!
USDA Offers Assistance and Resources for Recovery from and Prevention of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in Dairy Herds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1, in dairy cattle in 12 states including Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. To protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by HPAI H5N1 USDA is taking a number of actions with our federal partners.
On April 24, APHIS announced a federal order that includes mandatory testing for interstate movement of dairy cattle and mandatory reporting of influenza A detections in livestock. In addition to the Federal Order mandates, USDA provides several voluntary testing and monitoring options, including the HPAI Dairy Herd Status Program announced on May 31, 2024. APHIS has released a list of requirements and recommendations that apply to interstate moving of lactating dairy cattle, testing guidance for livestock, and answers to frequently asked questions. Producers are encouraged to visit the APHIS HPAI Livestock Detection website for information about these programs and requirements, as well as the most comprehensive and timely updates about this rapidly evolving situation.
Assistance for Milk Loss Confirmed H5N1 Positive Test Results Required for Recovery Assistance
Producers who incur milk losses in their dairy herds due to HPAI H5N1 can now apply for financial assistance through the USDA’s updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP policy through the rule-making process to assist with financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds having a confirmed positive H5N1 test. Positive tests must be confirmed through the USDA’s APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).
To apply, producers need to submit the following to FSA:
• Proof of herd infection through a confirmed positive H5N1 test (based on USDA’s APHIS H5N1 case definition) on individual animal or bulk tank samples confirmed by APHIS’ NVSL;
• A notice of loss indicating the date when the loss is apparent, which is the sample collection date for the positive H5N1 test; and
• An application for payment certifying the number of eligible adult dairy cows removed from production, the month the cows were removed from production, and the producer’s share in the milk production.
The final date to file a notice of loss and application for payment for eligible losses is 30 days after the end of the prior calendar year, which is January 30.
Note: To determine livestock and producer eligibility for ELAP H5N1 assistance, to submit an application or if you’ve not previously conducted business with FSA, contact your local FSA county office for details. Find your local office. Other online resources include frequently asked questions and a fact sheet.
Loans for Biosecurity Implementation
FSA also provides direct and guaranteed loans for farmers and ranchers that can assist with implementation of biosecurity measures for their operations. Loans can assist with:
• Installing physical barriers to facilitate quarantine, to prevent livestock interaction with wildlife, and to prevent unauthorized access by visitors
• Purchase of disinfectant, footbaths, and disposable footwear and clothing;
• Veterinary costs related to vaccination and general animal health;
• Testing of feed and water sources for toxins and other disease;
• Costs associated with responsible manure disposal and management;
• Costs associated with cleaning and disinfecting livestock transportation equipment; and
• Other biosecurity measures recommended by USDA or other applicable agencies.
To learn more about loans, producers can use the:
• Loan Assistance Tool – helps producers better navigate the farm loan process. The online Loan Assistance Tool provides producers needing agricultural financing with an interactive, step-by-step guide.
• Farm Loans Overview Factsheet – provides an overview of all FSA direct and guaranteed loans, and eligibility requirements.
• Farm Loans Homepage – gives in-depth farm loan information, including fact sheets, for those who don’t want to use the online Loan Assistance Tool.
To learn more about ELAP or farm loans, producers should contact the FSA at the local USDA Service Center.
To learn more about APHIS requirements and resources, visit APHIS’ Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Livestock webpage.
Annual Review of Payment Eligibility for New Crop Year
FSA and NRCS program applicants for benefits are required to submit a completed CCC-902 Farming Operation Plan and CCC-941 Average Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information for FSA to determine the applicant’s payment eligibility and establish the maximum payment limitation applicable to the program applicant.
Participants are not required to annually submit new CCC-902s for payment eligibility and payment limitation purposes unless a change in the farming operation occurs that may affect the previous determination of record. A valid CCC-902 filed by the participant is considered to be a continuous certification used for all payment eligibility and payment limitation determinations applicable for the program benefits requested.
Participants are responsible for ensuring that all CCC-902 and CCC-941 and related forms on file in the county office are updated, current, and correct. Participants are required to timely notify the county office of any changes in the farming operation that may affect the previous determination of record by filing a new or updated CCC-902 as applicable.
Changes that may require a new determination include, but are not limited to, a change of:
• Shares of a contract, which may reflect:
• A land lease from cash rent to share rent
• A land lease from share rent to cash rent (subject to the cash rent tenant rule
• A modification of a variable/fixed bushel-rent arrangement
• The size of the producer’s farming operation by the addition or reduction of cropland that may affect the application of a cropland factor
• The structure of the farming operation, including any change to a member’s share
• The contribution of farm inputs of capital, land, equipment, active personal labor, and/or active personal management
• Farming interests not previously disclosed on CCC-902 including the farming interests of a spouse or minor child
• Certifications of average AGI are required to be filed annually for participation in an annual USDA program. For multi-year conservation contracts and NRCS easements, a certification of AGI must be filed prior to approval of the contract or easement and is applicable for the duration of the contract period.
Participants are encouraged to file or review these forms within the deadlines established for each applicable program for which program benefits are being requested.
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, the request will be denied. Although there are exceptions regarding the Stafford Act and emergencies, it’s important to wait until you receive written approval of your project proposal before starting any actions.
Applications cannot be approved until FSA has copies of all permits and plans. 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.
