What's up at the FSA Office?
by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 – December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
• September 30: End of fiscal year for FSA
Fall-Seeded Crops
For producers who have any fall seeded crops, such as hay and pasture, you have until December 15, 2017 to get those acres certified for the 2018 crop year. Failure to do so will result in a late file fee for each farm with hay or pasture.
Managed Haying Requests
For those who have stopped in to request managed haying on your CRP ground, make sure the bales are off that ground by September 30.
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
Nap is a risk-management tool designed to reduce financial losses that occur when natural disasters cause a loss of production or prevented planting of non-insurable crops or commodities. NAP provides coverage for non-insurable crops such as apples, honey, strawberries, mixed forages, and aronia berries. FSA offers NAP coverage to landowners, landlords, and tenants who share in the risk of producing a crop or agricultural commodity, and are entitled to a share in the commodity available for marketing.
Producers must apply for NAP coverage by the application closing date for each particular crop in the county. Upcoming deadlines for applying for NAP coverage include:
• September 30, 2017: mixed forages, clover, strawberries
• November 20, 2017: apples, aronioa berries, grapes
• December 1, 2017: honey
NAP provides basic coverage equivalent to the catastrophic risk protection level of crop insurance. Basic coverage is equal to 50% of the yield at 55% of the average market price established by FSA. NAP also offers additional levels of coverage, which requires payment of a premium in addition to a basic service fee. A certified report of planted acreage, notice of loss and application for payment must be timely filed by deadlines established by FSA. To qualify for assistance under NAP, production losses must have occurred as a result of an eligible natural disaster such as drought, freeze, hail, excessive moisture, excessive winds, or flood.
For more information on NAP coverage or any questions related to FSA programs, please contact the Allamakee County FSA office.
Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC)
Many farms in Allamakee County have highly erodible land. These fields must be following conservation plans that are established by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Some plans were developed in the 1980s.
If you are not following your soil saving plan, you may be in violation of the HELC provisions. Violations can result in significant fines and prevent you from receiving all government payments. We encourage you to be cautious when developing your tillage plans for crop year 2017.
If you haven’t reviewed your conservation plan in a while, it time to do so. Stop at the USDA Service Center to review plans on all the land you operate.
