What's Up at the FSA Office?
by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
December 6: Market Facilitation Program
December 11: ARC/PLC Decision Meeting
December 13: Dairy Margin Coverage Program for 2020
We Have Moved!
We have now moved into our new building located at 770 11th Ave SW, across from Fareway. We’re still getting settled in but are open normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We do plan to host an open house once our new furniture arrives, hopefully later this month. Our phone number (563-568-2148) has remained the same. Stop in and say hi.
Upcoming Public Meeting for the 2019/2020 Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs
The Allamakee and Winneshiek FSA offices are partnering with Iowa State Extension to hold a Farm Bill Decision meeting December 11. The meeting will take place at the Danan Lansing Building, Winneshiek County Fairgrounds, and begins at 1 p.m. Topics will include program rules and regulations, the ARC or PLC decision, farm stress management and related resources. There is no registration fee to attend, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged to allow planning for materials and seating. Pre-register by calling your local ISU County Extension office hosting the meeting. Dates and nearby locations are listed below. Allamakee County FSA also plans to hold one or two other meetings (with just FSA) around the county including in Waukon and Lansing-area. Those dates have not been set yet. We’d encourage you to attend at least one of the meetings before signing up for the program.
Signup for the 2019 crop year closes March 15, 2020 while signup for the 2020 crop year closes June 30, 2020. Producers can enroll for both 2019 and 2020 during the same visit to an FSA county office.
Winneshiek County & Allamakee County
563-382-2949
Wednesday, December 11, 1 p.m., Danan Lansing Building, Winneshiek County Fairgrounds, 900 E. Main St., Decorah
Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC)
Sign up for 2020 coverage runs from Oct. 7 – Dec. 13, 2019. Every operation that will participate in 2020 needs to stop in and sign a new application that certifies you are still marketing milk, including those producers who locked in for 5 years (even though you can’t change your coverage levels). Every participating operation will have to pay the $100 Admin Fee (unless waived) at the time of application and pay the 2020 premium by September 1, 2020. If you did not lock in you can make the same elections, new elections, or choose not to participate in 2020. If you decide not to participate in 2020, you can still participate in later years.
FSA Can Help with On-Farm Propane Storage
Winter months in Iowa can be long and cold. For several years, farmers have faced propane storage shortages. FSA’s Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program provides funding for on-farm liquified petroleum tanks.
FSFL low-interest financing can be used to build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment, storage and handling trucks. Liquified petroleum tanks are covered for eligible commodities for the use of fuel for grain dryer equipment.
Loans up to $50,000 can be secured by a promissory note/security agreement. Loans exceeding $100,000 require additional security.
Producers do not need to demonstrate the lack of commercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including conventional operations, small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products, and underserved producers.
USDA Issues Second Tranche of Market Facilitation Program Payments
MFP Enrollment Closes December 6, 2019
USDA announced the second tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. Producers of MFP-eligible commodities will now be eligible to receive 25 percent of the total payment expected, in addition to the 50 percent they have already received from the 2019 MFP. Second round payments started being issued November 18 for producers who received payments in the first round.
