Logan County Farm Service Agency June Bulletin

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[June 14, 2017]    2017 Important Deadlines - All producers must file an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses by July 17, 2017.

This is an annual report that is required from all owners and operators who participate in the USDA programs and receive benefits from:

  • Agricultural Risk Coverage Program (ARC)

  • Price Loss Coverage Program (PLC)

  • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

  • Noninsured Assistance Program (NAP)

  • Marketing Assistance Loans and/or Loan Deficiency Payments (MAL/LDP)

Be prepared to provide your planting dates when completing your acreage report. All reports filed after the deadline will be subject to a late-filing fee of $46.00 per farm, which covers the cost of the required spot check. Failure to file an acreage report will result in a loss of program benefits.

Prevented Planting:

Any producer who intended to plant a crop but was unable to do so due to weather-related conditions must report the prevented acreage no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date for the applicable crop. Producers must demonstrate and provide evidence of their intent to plant to the Logan County Office Committee.

Final Planting Dates:
Corn - June 5th
Soybeans - June 20th

Nominations Open June 15 for the 2017 County Committee Elections

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages all farmers, ranchers, and FSA program participants to take part in the Logan County Committee election nomination process which opens Thursday, June 15, 2017.

FSA’s county committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA and allow grassroots input and local administration of federal farm programs.

Committee are comprised of locally elected agricultural producers responsible for the fair and equitable administration of FSA farm programs in their counties. Committee members are accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. If elected, members become part of a local decision making and farm program delivery process.

A county committee is composed of three elected members from local administrative areas (LAA). Each member serves a three-year term. One-third of the seats on these committees are open for election each year. County committees may have one or more appointed advisors to further represent the local interests of underserved farmers and ranchers. Underserved producers are beginning, women and other minority farmers and ranchers and land owners and/or operators who have limited resources. Other minority groups including Native American and Alaska Natives; persons under the poverty level, and persons that have disabilities are also considered underserved.

All nomination forms for the 2017 election must be postmarked or received in the Logan County USDA service center by Aug. 1, 2017. For more information on FSA county committee elections and appointments, refer to the FSA fact sheet: Eligibility to Vote and Hold Office as a COC Member available online at: www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

USDA Microloans Help Farmers Purchase Farmland & Improve Property

Producers, Including Beginning and Underserved Farmers, Have a New Option to Gain Access to Land

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering farm ownership microloans, creating a new financing avenue for farmers to buy and improve property. These microloans are especially helpful to beginning or underserved farmers, U.S. veterans looking for a career in farming, and those who have small and mid-sized farming operations.

The microloan program has been hugely successful, providing more than 16,800 low-interest loans, totaling over $373 million to producers across the country. Microloans have helped farmers and ranchers with operating costs, such as feed, fertilizer, tools, fencing, equipment, and living expenses since 2013. Seventy percent of loans have gone to new farmers.

Now, microloans will be available to also help with farm land and building purchases, and soil and water conservation improvements. FSA designed the expanded program to simplify the application process, expand eligibility requirements and expedite smaller real estate loans to help farmers strengthen their operations. Microloans provide up to $50,000 to qualified producers, and can be issued to the applicant directly from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).

To learn more about the FSA microloan program visit www.fsa.usda.gov/ microloans, or contact your local FSA office.

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.

Logan County FSA Office
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 - Member
Tim Southerlan - Chairman
Kenton Stoll - Vice Chairman
Dorothy Gleason - Advisor

County Executive Director:
John Peters

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

Farm Loan Manager:
Tony Schmillen

County Operations Trainee:
Miranda Belcher

Next COC Meeting :
TBA

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