Logan County FSA Updates

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[December 29, 2018]    USDA Launches Second Round of Trade Mitigation Payments - USDA launched the second and final round of trade mitigation payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations.

Producers of certain commodities will now be eligible to receive Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments for the second half of their 2018 production.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has been administering MFP to provide the first payments to producers since Sept. 2018 for the first 50 percent of their 2018 production. MFP provides payments to almond, cotton, corn, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean, fresh sweet cherry, and wheat producers.

Producers need only sign-up once for the MFP to be eligible for the first and second payments. The MFP sign-up period runs through Jan. 15, 2019, with information and instructions provided at www.farmers.gov/mfp. Producers must complete an application by Jan. 15, 2019, but have until May 1, 2019, to certify their 2018 production.

Eligible producers should apply after harvest is complete, as payments will only be issued once production is reported.



For farmers who have already applied, completed harvest, and certified their 2018 production, a second payment will be issued on the remaining 50 percent of the producer’s total production, multiplied by the MFP rate for the specific commodity.

Market Facilitation Program

Commodity

First and Second Payment Rate

Est. Total Payment**

(in $1,000s)

Almonds (shelled)

$0.03 / lb.

$63,300

Cotton

$0.06 / lb.

$553,800

Corn

$0.01 / bu.

$192,000

Dairy (milk)

$0.12 / cwt.

$254,800

Pork (hogs)

$8.00 / head

$580,600

Soybeans

$1.65 / bu.

$7,259,400

Sorghum

$0.86 / bu.

$313,600

Sweet Cherries (fresh)

$0.16 / lb.

$111,500

Wheat

$0.14 / bu.

$238,400

Total

 

$9,567,400

** Total payment rate on 100% of production

MFP payments are limited to a combined $125,000 for corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat capped per person or legal entity.  MFP payments are also limited to a combined $125,000 for dairy and hog producers, and a combined $125,000 for fresh sweet cherry and almond producers. Applicants must also have an average adjusted gross income for tax years 2014, 2015, and 2016 of less than $900,000. Applicants must also comply with the provisions of the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation regulations.

For detailed information, read the full USDA press release.

For more further information or to locate and contact local FSA offices, interested producers can visit www.farmers.gov.

Logan County Committee Election Results & New Logan Co. FSA Employee

Logan County U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that County Committee elections are over and the ballots have been counted.

Kenton Stoll of Chestnut, was re-elected to represent local administrative area (LAA) #2.

County committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. They help deliver programs at the county level and work to serve the needs of local producers. All recently elected county committee members will take office in January 2019 and will be joining the existing committee. Every FSA office is required to have a county committee, and they are made up of local farmers, ranchers and foresters who are elected by local producers.

Nearly 7,800 FSA county committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. County committee members impact the administration of FSA within a community by applying their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, emergency programs and eligibility.

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County committee members impact producers through their decision making and help shape the culture of a local FSA office. They also ensure the fair and equitable administration of FSA farm programs in their counties and are accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. Members conduct hearings and reviews as requested by the state committee, ensure underserved farmers, ranchers and foresters are fairly represented, make recommendations to the state committee on existing programs, monitor changes in farm programs and inform farmers of the purpose and provisions of FSA programs. They also assist with outreach and inform underserved producers such as beginning farmers, ranchers and foresters, about FSA opportunities.

For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or contact the Logan County FSA office at 217-735-5508.

Logan County also has a new Program Technician in the office. Emily Tomlin started her career with FSA in October and will be taking care of the CRP program and the Farm Loan program. She is from the small town of Cantrall, Illinois. She grew up heavily involved in the FFA and 4-H and has a passion for agriculture. She attended Lincoln Land Community College to earn an A.S. in Agriculture and continued on to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for her B.S. in Animal Science. While in college, she worked for the Illinois State Fair Competitive Events Office. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and planning her upcoming wedding set for November 2019.

USDA Microloans Help Farmers Purchase Farmland and Improve Property

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

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.

Logan County FSA Office
1650 5th Street
Lincoln, IL, 62656

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Phone: 217-735-5508
Fax:855-693-7125

County Executive Director:
John Peters

Farm Loan Manager:
Tony Schmillen

Program Technicians:
Ann Curry
Tammy Edwards
Chelsie Peddicord
Emily Tomlin

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

Next County Committee Meeting: TBD

 

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