What's Up at the USDA Office?
Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 16: 2019 ARCPLC Election
June 30: 2020 ARCPLC Election
July 15: Crop Certification
September 30: PLC Yield Update
Deadline Just Days Away to Sign Up for the 2019 and 2020 ARCPLC Program
Producers now can enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2019 and 2020 crop year. ARC provides income support payments on historical base acres when actual crop revenue declines below a specified guaranteed level. PLC provides income support payments on historical base acres when the effective price for a covered commodity falls below its reference price. The 2018 Farm Bill reauthorized and updated both programs.
Signup for the 2019 crop year closes March 16, 2020, while signup for the 2020 crop year closes June 30, 2020. Producers who have not yet enrolled for 2019 can enroll for both 2019 and 2020 during the same visit to an FSA county office.
March 2020 CCC and FSFL Interest Rates
New rates were issued for the month of March and are as follows:
• 1.375% for 3 years
• 1.375% for 5 years
• 1.500% for 7 years
• 1.625% for 10 years
• 1.625% for 12 years
• 1.750% for 15 years
Crop year commodity loan rate for January is 2.500%
Mid-Contract Management (MCM) on CRP Acres
Even though we still have some snow on the ground, now is a good time to start thinking about your MCM, if you are scheduled for this year. Those that are scheduled for this year would have received a packet from our office this past fall detailing what needs to be done. Most have until May 14, 2020 to complete the work, but now is a good time to start lining up contractors if you haven’t already done so, buy seed if needed, and get equipment ready. If you have technical questions, need a seeding plan, or contractor list please contact the NRCS office. Any other questions can be directed to FSA.
Once you complete your MCM, please notify the FSA office, sign the FSA-848B form, and provide acceptable evidence of practice completion to determine proper cost share payment.
Sign Up to Receive Text Messages from Your Local FSA Office
One of the easiest and quickest ways we can announce program signups, deadlines, etc. is via text message. We encourage everyone to sign up for this service with us. It’s quick and easy. We will send no more than two texts per month, and they will include information on program reminders, signup deadlines, and other critical information. To sign up to receive messages from the Allamakee Co FSA office, text IAAllamakee to 372669 (FSANOW). Standard text message and data rates apply.
Breaking New Ground
Agricultural producers are reminded to consult with FSA and NRCS before breaking out new ground for production purposes as doing so without prior authorization may put a producer’s federal farm program benefits in jeopardy. This is especially true for land that must meet Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions.
Producers with HEL determined soils are required to apply tillage, crop residue and rotational requirements as specified in their conservation plan.
Producers should notify FSA as a first point of contact prior to conducting land clearing or drainage type projects to ensure the proposed actions meet compliance criteria such as clearing any trees to create new cropland, then these areas will need to be reviewed to ensure such work will not risk your eligibility for benefits.
Landowners and operators complete the form AD-1026 - Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification to identify the proposed action and allow FSA to determine whether a referral to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for further review is necessary.
