Farm Service Agency Bulletin
Illinois - Important USDA Approaching Deadlines

[February 13, 2019]    Market Facilitation Program - Illinois producers, who have not signed a CCC-910 to participate in the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), are urged to visit their local county FSA offices by COB Thursday, February 14, 2019.

USDA launched the trade mitigation package aimed to assist producers directly impacted due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations.

MFP provides payments to corn, cotton, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean, wheat, shelled almonds and fresh sweet cherry producers.

More information and instructions are provided at www.farmers.gov/mfp.

Deadlines for Acreage Reporting

Each producer who expects to receive benefits under an FSA program is responsible for filing accurate and timely acreage reports and production evidence when required. Acreage reporting dates vary by crop and deadlines could have occurred between the December 31, 2018, and January 23, 2019, shutdown period.

In Illinois, Apples, Asparagus, Blueberries, Caneberries, Cherries, Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Strawberries, and Other Perennial Crops have a crop acreage reporting date of January 15, 2019.

• Due to the federal lapse in funding, an acreage report for the above-mentioned crops will be considered timely filed, without fee, if it is submitted and filed with FSA by COBThursday, February 14, 2019.

Deadline for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

Application for Coverage – a producer must file an application for coverage by the application closing date for the crop, and it must be filed in the administrative county.

• Due to the federal lapse in funding, if an application closing date for the crop occurred between December 31, 2018, and January 23, 2019, the application closing date for that crop has been extended until COB Thursday, February 14, 2019.

72-hour Loss Notification – for hand harvested crops, at least 1 producer having a share in the crop unit must notify FSA of damage of loss for the crop within 72 hours of the date damage or loss first becomes apparent.

• Due to the federal lapse in funding, if a 72-hour loss notification would have been due from a NAP participant to FSA between December 31, 2018, and January 23, 2019, that loss notification will be considered timely filed if submitted and filed with FSA by COBThursday, February 14, 2019.

Application for Payment – NAP covered producers must file an application for payment, to apply for NAP payments, within 60 calendar days of the last day of coverage for the crop year for any NAP covered crop in the unit.

• Due to the federal lapse in funding, if an application for payment would have been due from a NAP participant to FSA between December 31, 2018, and January 23, 2019, that application for payment will be considered timely filed if submitted and filed with FSA byCOB Thursday, February 14, 2019.

Notice of Loss – A notice of loss must be provided for prevented planting claims within 15 calendar days after the final planting date. A notice of loss must be provided for low yield claims and allowable value loss, the earlier of 15 calendar days after the disaster occurrence or date of loss of damage to the crop first becomes apparent; or 15 calendar days after the normal harvest date.

• Due to the federal lapse in funding, if a notice of loss would have been due from a NAP participant to FSA between December 31, 2018, and January 23, 2019, that notice of loss will be considered timely filed if submitted and filed to FSA by COB Thursday, February 14, 2019.

Questions?
Please contact your local County FSA Office.

[Illinois Farm Service Agency]