What's up at the FSA Office?
by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Dates to Remember:
July 1-September 30: Sign-up for the 2017 MPP-Dairy program
July 4: Office closed for Independence Day Holiday
July 5: County Committee meeting at 9 a.m. at Waukon USDA Service Center
July 15: Deadline to certify a 2016 crop report (FSA-578)
August 1: Deadline to sign-up for the 2016 ARC-Co Program (sign a CCC-861)
August 1: Last day to request a farm or tract reconstitution for 2016 crop year
September 1: Premiums are due for 2016 MPP buy-up coverage.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Allamakee County FSA recently received an allotment of acres for a type of CRP called “Highly Erodible Land Initiative”, which we commonly call HELI. To be eligible for the HELI program, the land must meet a wind or water erodibility index (EI) of 20 or greater, which basically expresses the “highly erodible” concept for these acres.
As with most CRP eligibility, cropping history will be checked for the years 2008 through 2013 to confirm a rotation of row crops and small grains in four out of the six years. Alfalfa may be part of the rotation of crops in some cases. Fields considered for any CRP practice must have a resource concern under Continuous CRP rules, so land that is currently in grass or forage may not be eligible, as that cover is already protecting the resource need.
One other notable condition for HELI contracts is that no wildlife food plots are allowed on the enrolled acres. Soil rental rates for Continuous CRP are based on the top three predominant soils found in the area delineated for inclusion in the HELI CRP contract. These types of CRP contracts are typically for ten years, with cost-share available to help with seeding establishment.
Clayton County received an allotment of only 650 acres for this HELI opportunity. The deadline to contract those acres is July 20. If you are interested in pursuing a CRP contract under this HELI opportunity, contact the FSA office as soon as possible.
Crop Reporting
Area farmers should make sure their cropland and pastureland is certified at the Allamakee County FSA Office. Report your 2016 crops and land uses to ensure eligibility for nearly all FSA programs. The deadline to report spring planted crops is July 15.
ARC-CO Sign-Up for 2016
While you are in the office, be sure to sign up for the 2016 Agricultural Risk Coverage program as well. This program began in 2014 and runs through 2018. Every year we need you to come back to the office and tell us who is operating the land and sign contract form CCC-861 so that the correct farmers may be paid any earned program benefits. The deadline for ARC-County sign-up is August 1.
Photo Contest
Allamakee residents of all ages are invited to participate in our FSA Photo Contest. Please submit photos that illustrate the agricultural community in Allamakee County. Selected photos will be displayed in the local FSA office and one photo will be chosen to be displayed at the Iowa State FSA Office in Des Moines.
It is recommended that the photo be taken with a 5-pixel camera or better quality. The contest ends July 31. Please submit one photo per person by e-mailing it to Rachel.bjerke@ia.usda.gov or dropping it off at the Allamakee FSA Office located at 635 Ninth Street NW, Waukon, Iowa. Office hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Please include a label on the back of the photo with the participant’s name and the location where the picture was taken.
