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 13: Dairy Margin Coverage Program for 2020
2019 Crop Commodity Loan Program Information
• Corn: $2.12
• Soybeans: $6.18
• Crop year commodity loan rate for October is 2.750%
October 2019 CCC and FSFL Interest Rates
New rates were issued for the month of October and are as follows:
• 1.500% for 3 years
• 1.500% for 5 years
• 1.625% for 7 years
• 1.625% for 10 years
• 1.750% for 12 years
• 1.750% for 15 years
Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC)
Sign up for 2020 coverage runs from Oct. 7 – Dec. 13, 2019. Every operation that wishes to 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) and eventually pay the 2020 premium. 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 2021. You have the flexibility to participate or not each year.
ACR/PLC Payments
Allamakee did not receive a corn or bean payment for those producers who elected ARC-Co back at the start of the 2014 Farm Bill. Most producers elected this option, and this election did pay out initially. Only six counties had an ARC-Co payment for corn and 20 had a payment for beans. These counties were primarily in southern and western Iowa. Allamakee had payments issued for producers with base acres of wheat (ARC-Co), and barley and corn payed those producers who selected the PLC option.
We plan on holding multiple meetings around the area regarding 2019/2020 ARCPLC signup in December. Dates and locations have not been finalized, but we are planning one joint meeting with Winneshiek County and the local Extension offices in Decorah sometime in early December.
We are also planning two more meetings with just Allamakee County in December. We’d like to do one in Waukon, and another near the Lansing area. Once dates, times, and locations are known we will get those posted.
CRP Mid-Contract Management
Some CRP contract holders will receive a packet of information detailing the activities that need to be completed in FY20. You can begin those activities as early as October 1, 2019.
However, all activities need to be completed by May 14, 2020 unless otherwise indicated on your forms. Now is a great time to line up contractors, if needed. Their schedules fill up quickly. Please stop in or call if you have any questions.
