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
• October 9:  Office closed in observance of Columbus Day
• December 15: Acreages intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2018 need to be reported

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Payments
We will soon be issuing payments for the Conservation Reserve Program. CRP payments begin with those contracted prior to 2008. Barring no computer delays, those payments will begin being issued October 2. For CRP contracts that began after the 2008 Farm Bill, payments will be issued starting October 12. Remember that these take a few days to be deposited into your account.

ARC-CO and PLC Payments (Farm Program)
If Allamakee County receives ARC-CO or PLC payments for the 2016 crop year, those payments will begin processing October 4. However, it is not known at this time if Allamakee County will be receiving payments for corn or soybeans.

CRP Establishment
Some CRP contract holders will soon be receiving a packet in the mail from our office. For those contracts that need to establish their practice, you will be receiving a packet of information that details the establishment date of no later than September 30, 2018, and includes information on mid-contact management. This information will be included on a green page inside the packet.  Please refer to it, and keep it somewhere you can easily locate it for the life of the contract.

CRP Mid-Contract Management
Other CRP contract holders will receive a packet of information detailing the activities that need to be completed in FY18.  You can begin those activities as early as October 1, 2017.  However, all activities need to be completed by May 14, 2018.  Please stop in or call if you have any questions. 

Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
Dairy producers can begin signing up for the 2018 Margin Protection Program.  Sign-up runs through December 15. However, new this year, and for this year only, producers have the choice to opt-out of the program. If you choose to opt out, you will not need to pay the $100 fee. However, we ask that you stop in and write us a note indicating you are opting out.  Please do that by December 15. 

Marketing Assistance Loans
As harvest begins on the 2017 crop, the FSA office would like to remind producers that marketing assistance loans are available through our office. The 2017 loan rates are $1.87 for corn, and $4.99 for beans. If you do take out a marketing assistance loan with us, we will need a copy of your driver’s license, as well as your spouse’s.