May-June Logan County FSA Farm Program Updates

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[May 31, 2016]    USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Results - USDA announced the enrollment of more than 800,000 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Through CRP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) helps farmers offset the costs of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees that improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and strengthen wildlife habitat. Farmers’ and ranchers’ participation in CRP continues to provide numerous benefits to our nation, including helping reduce emissions of harmful greenhouse gases and providing resiliency to future weather changes.

A nationwide acreage limit was established for this program in the 2014 Farm Bill, capping the total number of acres that may be enrolled at 24 million for fiscal years 2017 and 2018. At the same time, USDA has experienced a record demand from farmers and ranchers interested in participating in the voluntary program. As of March 2016, 23.8 million acres were enrolled in CRP, with 1.7 million acres set to expire this fall.

Over three million acres have been offered for enrollment this year across the three main categories within CRP, with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) receiving over 26,000 offers to enroll more than 1.8 million acres during the general enrollment period, and over 4,600 offers to enroll more than one million acres in the new CRP Grasslands program. Coming off a record-setting 2015 continuous enrollment of over 860,000 acres, more than 364,000 acres already have been accepted for 2016 in the CRP continuous enrollment, triple the pace of last year.

FSA will accept 411,000 acres in general enrollment, the most competitive selection in the history of the program, with the acreage providing record high conservation benefits. USDA selected offers by weighing environmental factors plus cost, including wildlife enhancement, water quality, soil erosion, enduring benefits, and air quality.

The results of the first-ever enrollment period for CRP Grasslands, FSA will also accept 101,000 acres in the program, providing participants with financial assistance for establishing approved grasses, trees and shrubs on pasture and rangeland that can continue to be grazed. More than 70 percent of these acres are diverse native grasslands under threat of conversion, and more than 97 percent of the acres have a new, veteran or underserved farmer or rancher as a primary producer.

Participants in CRP establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as “covers”) to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat on marginally productive agricultural lands. In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years.

To learn more about FSA’s conservation programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation or contact the Logan County FSA office.

Failed & Prevented Planting Reporting

Please report your spring planted acreages as soon as you are finished planting. No appointment is necessary. Please remember to have your planting dates and crop shares ready to report.

Failed Acreage: Reports of failed acreage must be filed BEFORE disposition of the crop so that a field visit can be completed.

Prevented Acreage: Reports of prevented acreage must be reported no later than 15 days after the final planting date of the specific crop that is being prevented.

CRP Certification
Does your farm have CRP on it? Annual crop acreage certification on a FSA-578 also includes Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage certification. By certifying CRP acreage on a FSA-578 you are certifying that the CRP acres are in compliance and eligible to receive your annual CRP payment. Make sure your CRP is in compliance prior to crop certification to avoid noncompliance situations. Noncompliance could result in the termination of the contract and repayment of all monies received plus interest and liquidated damages.

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Important Dates to Remember

  • May 30                 Memorial Day - Office Closed
  • May 31                 Final Date to Apply for Marketing Assistance Loan for 2015 fall harvested crops
    -
  • June 5                  Final Crop Insurance planting date for corn
  • June 15                Nomination Period for County Committee election in LAA 1 begins
  • June 20                Final date to file a notice of loss for prevent plant corn
  • June 20                Final Crop Insurance planting date for soybeans
    -
  • July 4                    Independence Day - Office Closed
  • July 5                    Final date to file a notice of loss for prevent plant soybeans
  • July 15                  Final date to report spring seeded crops and CRP
    -
  • August 1               Final date to submit County Committee Election Nomination Form
  • August 1               Primary Nesting Season ends (CRP Maintenance and Management may resume) 
  • August 1               Final date to request a reconstitution or farm transfer for 2016
  • August 1               Final date to submit signatures on 2016 ARCPLC program contracts 
    -
  • Continuous           Farm Storage Facility Loan Applications
  • Continuous           Farm Record Changes
  • Continuous           Continuous CRP Signup  (waterways, filter strips, field borders, pollinator habitat)

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:
Dennis Ramlow - Chairman
Tim Southerlan - Vice Chairman
Kenton Stoll - 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 : May 25th (tentative)

 

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