What's up at the FSA Office?


Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director

Hello!  I am currently the Acting County Executive Director (CED) for the Allamakee Co FSA office.  I live in Elkader and am also serving Clayton County farmers as their FSA CED since 2001.  I started working for ASCS back in 1985 in the Delaware County office and have kept moving north ever since.  I firmly believe that “service” is the mission of FSA, in fact it is our middle name.  I plan on being in the Waukon office two days each week, so please stop in and introduce yourself the next time you visit FSA. 

REMINDERS:
July 4 - Office closed for Independence Day Holiday
July 5 - County Committee meeting at 9:00 am at Waukon USDA Service Center
July 15 - Deadline to certify a 2016 crop report (FSA-578)
Aug 1 - Deadline to sign-up for the 2016 ARC-Co Program (sign a CCC-861)

Highly Erodible Land Compliance/Wetland Compliance
To remain eligible for USDA payments, all program participants are asked to file an AD-1026 certification.  This form is your agreement to follow a conservation plan for all highly erodible land and covers wetland conservation provisions as well.  Signatures on the AD-1026 permit USDA representatives to enter and perform reviews of compliance on your land.  A number of tracts of land are reviewed by NRCS staff every year.  FSA has received many good reports this spring, but every year there are farms found out of compliance.  Please check on your conservation plan and become informed on the best ways to save your soil and stay compliant.  Penalties may be severe—up to $10,000 for HELC violations and could jeopardize all government payments on all of your farms.  FSA encourages you to be proactive and follow good land stewardship practices.
Crop Reporting for 2016

Certifying your crops is required for many FSA programs.  This includes all spring planted crops and land uses. Forages and pasture areas were to be reported last fall, and if you missed that deadline, we will be asking for that report now and collecting a late fee.  Remember to stop by the Waukon FSA office and bring your planting dates along.  Please report what is planted on your farm prior to the deadline of July 15th. 

ARC-CO Agricultural Risk Coverage Program
ARC-CO is the farm bill program that requires an annual contract to be signed by all farmers who have a share in producing 2016 crops.  The deadline to file form CCC-861 is August 1, 2016.

We are now nine months into the marketing year for 2015 ARC-CO calculations of revenue for corn and soybeans.  Current estimates are predicting a Marketing Year Average (MYA) for corn of $3.60 and for soybeans of $8.85.  FSA collects both NASS and RMA data for county yields.  USDA continues to gather both yield and price information and will calculate earned payments for the 2015 ARC-CO program in September.  Payments are expected if the actual revenues are less than the revenue guarantees for each crop.  Stop in the office and we will show you the current estimated payments that will potentially be paid out in October 2016.

Allamakee County FSA Committee
We are seeking nominations for a farmer to represent the townships of Waterloo, Union City, Hanover, French Creek, Union Prairie & Makee.  Nominations will be accepted from June 1 through August 1.  Voting will take place in November.  All farmers are encouraged to participate and FSA also reaches out to all women, minorities and beginning farmers to let them know they are also included in this opportunity.