September 2012


 

Logan County FSA

USDA Lincoln Service Center

1650 5th Street

Lincoln, Illinois, 62656

 

Hours:

Monday - Friday

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

 

Phone: 217-735-5508 ext. 2

 

County Committee:

Chair: Rodney Conklen

Vice-Chair: Edwin Dahmm

Member: Tim Southerlan

Advisor: Dorothy Gleason

 

Program Technicians:

Ann Curry

Tammy Edwards

Dianne Fout

Mari Anne Komnick

Cindy Mayfield

Kristi Olson

 

Farm Loan Manager:

Tony Schmillen

 

County Executive Director:

John Peters

 

 

RMA CROP INSURANCE REMINDERS FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY AFLATOXIN

If you think your corn has aflatoxin, notify your crop insurance agent before you harvest the grain, put the grain in storage; or deliver it for sale.  Your insurance provider will take samples for testing and submit them to an approved testing facility.  Depending on the aflatoxin level present, the corn price may be discounted or, in rare cases, the grain will need to be destroyed.

 

Aflatoxin levels can increase in storage.  Therefore, losses are only insurable if the grain is tested at an approved testing facility before being moved into commercial or on-farm storage.   A producer may also make arrangements with their insurance provider to leave representative sample areas of the unharvested crop.  The adjuster will take samples from these areas for aflatoxin testing.   Producers cannot collect their own samples.  Samples must be collected by their insurance provider or the disinterested third party, such as an approved elevator.

 

A list of approved testing facilities can be found on our website:  http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/fields/il_rso/.

 

Frieden urges all producers to contact their insurance agent with any questions concerning aflatoxin.  Your crop insurance agent can provide you with additional information specific to your needs.


LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS AFFECTED BY DISASTER URGED TO KEEP GOOD RECORDS

FSA urges livestock producers affected by natural disasters to keep thorough records of their livestock and feed losses, including additional expenses for such things as feed purchases because of lost supplies.

 

FSA recommends that owners and producers record all pertinent information of natural disaster consequences, including:

-          Documentation of the number and kind of livestock that have died, supplemented if possible by         

-          photographs or video records of ownership and losses;

-          Dates of death supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts;

-          Costs of transporting livestock to safer grounds or to move animals to new pastures; and

-          Feed purchases if supplies or grazing pastures are destroyed.

 

The department’s authority to operate the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2011. This includes SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after September 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.


CHANGES TO IRS FORMS 1099-G AND 1099-MISC FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2012

In past years, IRS Forms 1099-G were issued to show all program payments received from the Farm Service Agency, regardless of the amount.  For calendar year 2012, the 1099-G reporting will change.

 

IRS Form 1099-G (Report of Payments to Producers) will only be issued to producers whose reportable payments total $600 or more for the calendar year.  Additionally, if the producer has at least $600 in reportable payments received from multiple FSA offices, only one Form 1099-G will be issued. Producers subject to voluntary withholding or backup (involuntary) withholding will receive the appropriate IRS form, even if combined payments are less than $600. 

 

The same changes will apply to producers and vendors who normally receive IRS Form 1099-MISC from FSA.  Any producer who receives less than $600 in combined payments should consult a tax advisor to determine if these payments must be reported on their tax return.

 

For more information regarding IRS reporting changes, please contact your local County FSA Office.


UNAUTHORIZED DISPOSITION OF GRAIN

If loan grain has been disposed of through feeding, selling or any other form of disposal without prior written authorization from the County Office staff, it is considered unauthorized disposition.  The financial penalties for unauthorized dispositions are severe and a producer’s name will be placed on a loan violation list for a two-year period.  Always call before you haul any grain under loan. 


USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9450, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).