January 2016 Farm Service Agency Bulletin

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[January 21, 2016]    Kenton Stoll - Re-Elected to Logan FSA County Committee - Ballots were mailed to eligible producers starting November 9, 2015 for the election of a COC member in LAA 2 (Eminence, Atlanta, East Lincoln, Oran, Chester, Aetna).  Current COC Chairman, Kenton Stoll, was up for re-election.  Ballots were counted during the monthly COC meeting on December 9, 2015.  We are pleased to announce that Kenton Stoll won his re-election and we thank him for his continued service to the Logan County FSA office.

2016 ARC & PLC Contract Signup Underway

Signup is currently underway for producers who chose coverage from the safety net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. Please stop by the Logan Co FSA Office to enroll your farms for 2016.

The choice between ARC and PLC is completed and remains in effect through 2018, but producers must still enroll their farm by signing a contract each year to receive coverage.

If a farm is not enrolled during the 2016 enrollment period, producers on that farm will not be eligible for financial assistance from the ARC or PLC programs should crop prices or farm revenues fall below the historical price or revenue benchmarks established by the program.

The two programs were authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and offer a safety net to agricultural producers when there is a substantial drop in prices or revenues for covered commodities. For more details regarding these programs, go to www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.

Livestock Disaster Assistance Programs

With the recent severe weather and flooding in the area, the Logan County Farm Service Agency wants to remind livestock producers of disaster relief programs that may be available to them. The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) is available to producers who suffered livestock deaths due to the severe weather, and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish (ELAP) is also available if storms have damaged grazed fields.

Remember applicants must provide adequate proof that losses occurred as a direct result of the adverse weather events.

For more details, go to www.usda.gov/disaster or www.usda.gov/documents/fact-sheet-usda-programs-assist-individuals-small-businesses.pdf 

Guaranteed Loan Program

FSA guaranteed loans allow lenders to provide agricultural credit to farmers who do not meet the lender's normal underwriting criteria. Farmers and ranchers apply for a guaranteed loan through a lender, and the lender arranges for the guarantee. FSA can guarantee up to 95 percent of the loss of principal and interest on a loan. Guaranteed loans can be used for both farm ownership and operating purposes.

Guaranteed farm ownership loans can be used to purchase farmland, construct or repair buildings, develop farmland to promote soil and water conservation or to refinance debt.

Guaranteed operating loans can be used to purchase livestock, farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel, farm chemicals, insurance and other operating expenses.

FSA can guarantee farm ownership and operating loans up to $1,399,000. Repayment terms vary depending on the type of loan, collateral and the producer's ability to repay the loan. Operating loans are normally repaid within seven years and farm ownership loans are not to exceed 40 years.

Please contact your lender or local FSA farm loan office for more information on guaranteed loans. 

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Report Changes in Farm Operation and Ownership

Producers are reminded to notify their local Farm Service Agency when there is a change in operation or ownership of a Farm.  Producers who have bought or sold land, or added or dropped rented land from their operation must report these changes to their local FSA office as soon as possible. To ensure FSA’s records are accurate, a copy of the deed, sales document, or recorded land contract for the purchase of property must be submitted to your local FSA office. Failure to do so can lead to possible program ineligibility. Updating record changes now will save time during contract sign-up.  Please contact the Logan County Farm Service Agency at 217-735-5508 if you have changes you need to report.

Questions? 
Please contact, John Peters, County Executive Director, at 217-735-5508 ext 2, john.peters@il.usda.gov or for Farm Loans, please contact Tony Schmillen, Farm Loan Manager, at 217-735-5508 ext 2,
tony.schmillen@il.usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

 

Logan County USDA
1650 5th Street
Lincoln, IL, 62656
Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Phone: 217-735-5508 ext. 2
Fax: 855-693-7125

County Committee:
Kenton Stoll - Chairman
Dennis Ramlow - Vice Chairman
Tim Southerlan - Member
Dorothy Gleason - Advisor

County Executive Director:
John Peters

Program Technicians:
Ann Curry
Tammy Edwards
Mari Anne Komnick
Cindy Mayfield
Chelsie Peddicord

Farm Loan Manager:
Tony Schmillen

Next COC Meeting : Jan. 29th

 

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