What's up at the FSA Office?
by Joyce Davidshofer, Allamakee County Executive Director
Reminders
June 15- August 3: Nominations can be received for the COC elections.
July 3: Office Closed for the Independence Day.
July 15: Deadline to certify all crops and CRP acres.
August 1: Last day to request a reconstitution for 2015.
Farm Loan Officer Trainee
Effective May 17, Kim Welsh, former farm loan program technician, entered into the Farm Loan Officer Trainee (FLOT) program. She will be stationed at the Winneshiek County FSA Office and will be traveling with Vicky Hinsenbrock, farm loan manager (FLM), and Gina Hanson, farm loan officer (FLO), this summer. Kim will be working with FSA loan programs – youth loans, beginning farmer loans, operating loans, emergency loans, etc. The program will last approximately two years and, pending successful completion of the course, Kim will be hired as a farm loan officer or farm loan manager.
Acreage Reporting
Filing an accurate acreage report at your local FSA office can prevent the loss of benefits for a variety of programs. Failed acreage is acreage that was timely planted with the intent to harvest, but because of disaster related conditions, the crop failed before it could be brought to harvest. Prevented planting must be reported no later than 15 days after the final planting date. Annual acreage reports are required for most Farm Service Agency programs. Annual crop report deadlines vary based on region, crop, permanent vs. annual crop type, NAP or non-NAP crop and fall or winter seeding.
July 15 is the deadline to certify all crops and CRP acres.
Filing a Notice of Loss
The CCC-576, Notice of Loss, is used to report failed acreage and prevented planting and may be completed by any producer with an interest in the crop. Timely filing a Notice of Loss is required for all crops including grasses. For losses on crops covered by the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crop insurance, you must file a CCC-576, Notice of Loss, in the FSA County Office within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent.
If filing for prevented planting, an acreage report and CCC-576 must be filed within 15 calendar days of the final planting date for the crop.
2015 Allamakee County Committee Elections
Producers elect farmers and ranchers to County Committees. The following are some of the requirements for being a candidate to serve on a County Committee:
• Be of legal voting age.
• Live in the LAA holding an election.
• Participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA.
The LAA #3 is up for elections. The townships are Iowa, Lansing, Center, La Fayette, Paint Creek and Taylor.
The nomination period began June 15 and ends August 3. Request nomination forms from the Allamakee County FSA Office or online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
