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 Has operated a farm for not more than 10 years
Will materially and substantially participate in the operation
of the farm
Agrees to participate in a loan assessment, borrower training
and financial management
program sponsored by FSA
Does not own a farm in excess of 30 percent of the county’s
average size farm
Additional program information, loan applications, and other
materials are available at your local USDA Service Center. You
may also visit
www.fsa.usda.gov.
ARC, PLC and CTAP Acreage Maintenance
Producers enrolled in Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), Price
Loss Coverage (PLC) or the Cotton Transition Assistance Program
(CTAP) must protect all cropland and noncropland acres on the
farm from wind and water erosion and noxious weeds. Producers
who sign ARC county or individual contracts and PLC contracts
agree to effectively control noxious weeds on the farm according
to sound agricultural practices. If a producer fails to take
necessary actions to correct a maintenance problem on a farm
that is enrolled in ARC, PLC or CTAP, the County Committee may
elect to terminate the contract for the program year.
FSA County Committee Election
DON’T MISS OUT ON VOTING
Ballots will be mailed to voters by Nov. 9, 2015, and must be
returned to the FSA county office or postmarked by Dec. 7, 2015.
Eligible voters must contact their local FSA county office
before the final date if they did not receive a ballot.
WHO CAN VOTE
Agricultural producers of legal voting age may be eligible to
vote if they participate or cooperate in any FSA program. A
person who is not of legal voting age but supervises and
conducts the farming operations of an entire farm also may be
eligible to vote. Members of American Indian tribes holding
agricultural land are eligible to vote if voting requirements
are met. More information about voting eligibility requirements
can be found in the FSA fact sheet titled “FSA County Committee
Election - Eligibility to Vote and Hold Office as a County
Committee Member” http://www.fsa.usda.gov/
news-room/county-committee-elections/index.
Producers may contact their local FSA county office for more
information. To find your local FSA county office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
Farmers to Receive Documentation of USDA Services
Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds agricultural producers that
FSA provides a receipt to customers who request or receive
assistance or information on FSA programs.
As a part of FSA's mission to provide enhanced customer service,
producers who visit FSA will receive documentation of services
requested and provided. From December through June, FSA issued
more than 327,000 electronic receipts.
The 2014 Farm Bill requires a receipt to be issued for any
agricultural program assistance requested from FSA, the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Rural Development
(RD). Receipts include the date, summary of the visit and any
agricultural information, program and/or loan assistance
provided to an individual or entity.
In some cases, a form or document - such as a completed and
signed program enrollment form - serve as the customer receipt
instead of a printed or electronic receipt. A service is any
information, program or loan assistance provided whether through
a visit, email, fax or letter.
To learn more about FSA, visit
www.fsa.usda.gov or to find your local USDA office, visit
http://offices.usda.gov.
USDA Encourages Producers to Consider Risk Protection
Coverage before Fall Crop
Farm Service Agency today encouraged producers to examine the
available U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop risk
protection options, including federal crop insurance and
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage,
before the sales deadline for fall crops.
Deadlines are quickly approaching to purchase coverage for
fall-seeded crops. Producers are reminded that crops not covered
by insurance may be eligible for the Noninsured Crop Disaster
Assistance Program. The 2014 Farm Bill expanded NAP to include
higher levels of protection. Beginning, underserved and limited
resource farmers are now eligible for free catastrophic level
coverage, as well as discounted premiums for additional levels
of protection."
Federal crop insurance covers crop losses from natural
adversities such as drought, hail and excessive moisture. NAP
covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no
permanent federal crop insurance program is available, including
forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms,
floriculture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass,
ginseng, honey, syrup, bioenergy, and industrial crops.
USDA has partnered with Michigan State University and the
University of Illinois to create an online tool at
www.fsa.usda.gov/nap
that allows producers to determine whether their crops are
eligible for federal crop insurance or NAP and to explore the
best level of protection for their operation. NAP basic coverage
is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop
losses that exceed 50 percent of expected production, with
higher levels of coverage, up to 65 percent of their expected
production at 100 percent of the average market price, including
coverage for organics and crops marketed directly to consumers.
To learn more about NAP visit
www.fsa.usda.gov /nap
or contact your local USDA Service Center. To find your local
USDA Service Centers go to
http://offices.usda.gov.
Federal crop insurance coverage is sold and delivered solely
through private insurance agents. Agent lists are available at
all USDA Service Centers or at USDA’s online Agent Locator:
http://prodwebnlb.rma.usda.gov/apps/ AgentLocator/#.
Producers can use the USDA Cost Estimator,https://ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/
apps/costestimator/ Default.aspx, to predict insurance
premium costs.
Federal crop insurance coverage is sold and delivered solely
through private insurance agents. Agent lists are available at
all USDA Service Centers or at USDA’s online Agent Locator:
http://prodwebnlb.rma.usda.gov/apps/ AgentLocator/#.
Producers can use the USDA Cost Estimator,https://ewebapp.rma.usda.
gov/apps/costestimator/ Default.aspx , to predict insurance
premium costs.
For more information on NAP, service fees, premiums and sales
deadlines, contact your local County FSA office or visit the web
at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap
Producers are Reminded to Complete NASS Crop Surveys
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Field
Offices are currently completing 2015 small grain yield surveys
and will contact growers in December to complete row crop yield
surveys. If you are one of the producers contacted to complete a
2015 yield survey, we encourage your participation and
cooperation as many USDA agencies including the Farm Service
Agency (FSA) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) use the NASS yield
data for their programs.
FSA uses NASS county yield data for farm credit, conservation,
disaster programs, loan and commodity programs. Under the 2014
Farm Bill, FSA uses the NASS county yield data to calculate
Agriculture Risk Coverage – County (ARC-CO) benchmark revenues
and current year county revenues. For example, the 2014 NASS
county yield, along with the crop’s marketing year average price
(MYA), are used to determine the county’s current year revenue
to determine if the county will trigger an ARC-CO payment. An
ARC-CO payment is triggered for a county when the current year
revenue falls below the guarantee revenue for the crop and crop
year. In cases where NASS county yield data is not available,
the FSA State Committee must determine a county yield using RMA
yield data or the best available yield data, including assigning
a county yield using neighboring county yields from NASS or RMA.
Any information that producers provide to NASS is kept
confidential and protected by federal law. NASS publishes only
aggregate-level data, ensuring that no individual operation or
producer can be identified. All reports will be available at
www.nass.usda.gov.
NAP Deadline Approaching for 2016 Crops
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) applications
are due at different times, depending on the crop being insured.
November 20, 2015 is the 2016 NAP application closing date for
bi-annual and perennial crops, such as apples, asparagus,
blueberries, caneberries, cherries, grapes, hops, nectarines,
peaches, pears, plums, rhubarb, and strawberries.
December 1, 2015 is the 2016 NAP application closing date for
honey
March 15, 2016 is the 2016 NAP application closing date for
spring and summer planted NAP
crops
May 1, 2016 is the 2017 NAP application closing date for nursery
crops
Eligible producers can apply for 2016 NAP coverage at their
local FSA Office using form CCC-471, Application for Coverage.
The service fee for basic NAP coverage is the lesser of $250 per
crop or $750 per producer per administrative county, not to
exceed a total of $1,875 for a producer with farming interest in
multiple counties. Producers interested in buy-up coverage must
pay a premium, in addition to the service fee. The maximum
premium will be $6,563.
Producer meeting the definition of a socially disadvantaged
farmer or rancher, beginning farmer or rancher or limited
resource farmer or rancher will have service fees waived.
Producers meeting this definition that choose to purchase buy-up
coverage will also have service fees waived and the premium will
be capped at $3,282.
Breaking New Ground
Agricultural producers are reminded to consult with FSA and NRCS
before breaking out new ground for production purposes as doing
so without prior authorization may put a producer’s federal farm
program benefits in jeopardy. This is especially true for land
that must meet Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland
Conservation (WC) provisions.
Producers with HEL determined soils are required to apply
tillage, crop residue and rotational requirements as specified
in their conservation plan.
Producers should notify FSA as a first point of contact prior to
conducting land clearing or drainage type projects to ensure the
proposed actions meet compliance criteria such as clearing any
trees to create new cropland, then these areas will need to be
reviewed to ensure such work will not risk your eligibility for
benefits.
Landowners and operators complete the form AD-1026 - Highly
Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC)
Certification to identify the proposed action and allow FSA to
determine whether a referral to Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) for further review is necessary.
Tree Assistance Program (TAP) Sign-up
Orchardists and nursery tree growers who experience losses from
natural disasters during calendar year 2015 must submit a TAP
application either 90 calendar days after the disaster event or
the date when the loss is apparent. TAP was authorized by the
Agricultural Act of 2014 as a permanent disaster program. TAP
provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and
nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees,
bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.
Eligible tree types include trees, bushes or vines that produce
an annual crop for commercial purposes. Nursery trees include
ornamental, fruit, nut and Christmas trees that are produced for
commercial sale. Trees used for pulp or timber are ineligible.
To qualify for TAP, orchardists must suffer a qualifying tree,
bush or vine loss in excess of 15 percent mortality from an
eligible natural disaster. The eligible trees, bushes or vines
must have been owned when the natural disaster occurred;
however, eligible growers are not required to own the land on
which the eligible trees, bushes and vines were planted.
If the TAP application is approved, the eligible trees, bushes
and vines must be replaced within 12 months from the date the
application is approved. The cumulative total quantity of acres
planted to trees, bushes or vines, for which a producer can
receive TAP payments, cannot exceed 500 acres annually.
2016 Acreage Reporting Dates
Producers who file accurate and timely reports for all crops
and land uses, including failed acreage can prevent the
potential loss of FSA program benefits. Please pay close
attention to the acreage reporting dates below, as some dates
have changed.
In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements,
all producers are encouraged to visit their local County FSA
office to file an accurate crop certification report by the
applicable deadline.
[to top of second column] |
2016 Acreage Reporting Dates
cont.
The following 2016 acreage reporting dates are applicable for
Illinois:
December 15, 2015 fall seeded small grains and perennial
forage with and intended use of forage and grazing
January 2, 2016 honey
January 15, 2016 apples, asparagus, blueberries,
caneberries, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears,
plums,strawberries
June 15, 2016 cucumbers (planted 5/1 – 5/31) in Gallatin,
Lawrence, and White Counties
July 15, 2016 cabbage (planted 3/15 – 5/31), perennial
forage (with an intended use of cover only,green manure, left
standing, or seed) and all
other crops
August 15, 2016 cabbage (planted 6/1 – 7/20)
September 15, 2016 cucumbers (planted 6/1 – 8/15) in
Gallatin, Lawrence, and White
Counties
The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting
dates:
If the crop has not been planted by the above acreage reporting
date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15
calendar days after planting is completed.
If a producer acquires additional acreage after the above
acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no
later than 30 calendars days after purchase or acquiring the
lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county
office.
USDA Extends Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadline
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that the deadline to
enroll for the dairy Margin Protection Program for coverage in
2016 has been extended until Nov. 20, 2015. The voluntary
program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial
assistance to participating farmers when the margin – the
difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls
below the coverage level selected by the farmer.
Producers are encouraged to use the online Web resource at
www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool to calculate the best levels
of coverage for their dairy operation. The secure website can be
accessed via computer, smartphone or tablet.
Producers who were enrolled in 2015 will need to make a coverage
election for 2016 and pay the $100 administration fee. Although
any unpaid premium balances for 2015 must be paid in full by the
enrollment deadline to remain eligible for higher coverage
levels in 2016, premiums for 2016 are not due until Sept. 1,
2016. Also, producers can work with milk marketing companies to
remit premiums on their behalf.
To enroll in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy, contact
your local FSA county office. To find your local FSA county
office, visit
http://offices.usda.gov.
Payments under the program may be reduced by a certain
percentage due to a sequester order required by Congress and
issued pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985. Should a payment reduction be necessary,
FSA will reduce the payment by the required amount.
New Provisions - USDA Adds More Eligible Commodities for Farm
Storage Facility Loans
FSA’s Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program, provides
low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade storage
facilities, and will now include dairy, flowers and meats as
eligible commodities.
The new commodities eligible for facility loans include
floriculture, hops, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and
poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems
that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of
water). Commodities already eligible for the loans include corn,
grain sorghum, soybeans, oats, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds
harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and
dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, and fruits, nuts and
vegetables for cold storage facilities.
FSFL’s are designed to assist a diverse range of farming
operations, including small and mid-sized businesses, new
farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets,
non-traditional farm products, and underserved producers.
To learn more about FSFL’s, visit
www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport or contact your local
FSA county office.
MAL’s Available for Crop Years 2015-2018
The 2014 farm bill authorizes 2014-2018 crop year Marketing
Assistance Loans (MAL’s).
MALs provide financing and marketing assistance for wheat, feed
grains, soybeans, and other oilseeds, pulse crops, wool and
honey. MALs provide producers interim financing after harvest to
help them meet cash flow needs without having to sell their
commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time
lows.
FSA is now accepting requests for 2015 crop MALs for all
eligible commodities after harvest.
The 2014 Farm Bill also establishes payment limitations per
individual or entity not to exceed $125,000 annually on certain
commodities for the following program benefits: ARC PLC,
marketing loan gains (MLGs) and LDPs. These payment limitations
do not apply to MAL loan disbursements.
For more information and additional eligibility requirements,
please visit a nearby USDA Service Center or FSA’s website
www.fsa.usda.gov.
Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides assistance to
eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of
normal mortality due to adverse weather and attacks by animals
reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or
protected by federal law. LIP compensates livestock owners and
contract growers for livestock death losses in excess of normal
mortality due to adverse weather, including losses due to
hurricanes, floods, blizzards, wildfires, extreme heat or
extreme cold.
For 2015, eligible losses must occur on or after Jan. 1, 2015,
and before December 31, 2015. A notice of loss must be filed
with FSA within 30 days of when the loss of livestock is
apparent. Participants must provide the following supporting
documentation to their local FSA office no later than 30
calendar days after the end of the calendar year for which
benefits are requested:
· Proof of death documentation
· Copy of growers contracts
· Proof of normal mortality documentation
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised
Fish Program (ELAP)
ELAP provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of
livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish that have losses due
to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as
blizzards and wildfires. ELAP assistance is provided for losses
not covered by LFP and LIP. For 2015 program year losses (losses
that occur from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015), the
notice of loss and an application for payment must be submitted
by November 2, 2015.
For 2016 program year losses (losses that occur from October 1,
2015 through September 30, 2016), the ELAP notice of loss and an
ELAP application for payment must be submitted by November 1,
2016.
For more information, producers can review the LIP and ELAP Fact
Sheets on the Farm Bill webpage, or contact their local FSA
office.
Maintaining the Quality of Loaned Grain
Bins are ideally designed to hold a level volume of grain. When
bins are overfilled and grain is heaped up, airflow is hindered
and the chance of spoilage increases.
Producers who take out marketing assistance loans and use the
farm-stored grain as collateral should remember that they are
responsible for maintaining the quality of the grain through the
term of the loan.
October Interest Rates
Farm Operating - Direct 2.625%
Farm Ownership - Direct 3.750%
Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint
Financing 2.500%
Farm Ownership - Down Payment 1.500%
Conservation Loan 4.000%
FSFL 7 year Loan 1.875%
FSFL 10 year Loan 2.125%
FSFL 12 year Loan 2.375%
Commodity Loans 1.375%
Unauthorized Disposition of Grain
If loan grain has been disposed of through feeding, selling or
any other form of disposal without prior written authorization
from the county office staff, it is considered unauthorized
disposition. The financial penalties for unauthorized
dispositions are severe and a producer’s name will be placed on
a loan violation list for a two-year period. Always call before
you haul any grain under loan.
Youth Loans
The Farm Service Agency makes loans to youth to establish and
operate agricultural income-producing projects in connection
with 4-H clubs, FFA and other agricultural groups. Projects must
be planned and operated with the help of the organization
advisor, produce sufficient income to repay the loan and provide
the youth with practical business and educational experience.
The maximum loan amount is $5000.
Youth Loan Eligibility Requirements:
Be a citizen of the United States (which includes Puerto Rico,
the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands) or a legal resident alien
Be 10 years to 20 years of age
Comply with FSA’s general eligibility requirements
Be unable to get a loan from other sources
Conduct a modest income-producing project in a supervised
program of work as outlined above
Demonstrate capability of planning, managing and operating the
project under guidance and assistance from a project advisor.
The project supervisor must recommend the youth loan applicant,
along with providing adequate supervision.
Stop by the county office for help preparing and processing the
application forms.
Dates to Remember
November 02 Deadline to provide final ELAP documentation
November 09 COC ballots will be mailed to voters
November 11 Veterans Day "Office Closed"
November 26 Thanksgiving Day "Office Closed"
December 01 General CRP signup period begins
December 07 COC ballots must be returned to FSA County Offices
*****
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 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).
Illinois Farm Service Agency
3500 Wabash Ave
Springfield, IL 62711
www.fsa.usda.gov/il
State Committee:
Jill Appell - Chair
Brenda Hill - Member
Jerry Jimenez - Member
Joyce Matthews - Member
Gordon Stine - Member
State Executive Director:
Scherrie V. Giamanco
Executive Officer:
Rick Graden
Administrative Officer:
Dan Puccetti
Division Chiefs:
Doug Bailey
Jeff Koch
Stan Wilson
Please contact your local FSA Office for questions specific to your
operation or county. |
