|
 Many producers have commented that they "thought they had
already signed up." Please remember that this has been a
multi-phase process. Last winter owners were given the
opportunity to UPDATE program yields and decide whether or not
to reallocate base acres. Producers were then given the choice
to ELECT which program each farm would be in for crop years 2014
through 2018; however, the enrollment period and software just
became available in late June. We are now in the ENROLLMENT and
final stage for the 2014 and 2015 crop years!
The Logan County office has your contracts ready to go, so the
enrollment process is relatively simple! We just need you to
visit the office, verify payment shares and sign the FSA-861
contracts for 2014 AND 2015 prior to the September 30, 2015
deadline.
ALL owners and operators with a share interest in base acres on
the farm must sign the annual contracts. Owners with zero shares
will also need to sign the ARC or PLC contract, unless they have
signed in a previous year and the operation has not changed in
anyway. A signed lease or valid power-of-attorney may also be
used in lieu of collecting an owner’s signature.
For more information about the programs as well as to review the
ARC/PLC Enrollment Contract Appendix, please visit:
www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc.
As always, the Logan County office is not requiring an
appointment to complete this process. Please just stop in at
your convenience and we would be happy to assist you in this
final step for 2014 & 2015!
CRP Re-enrollments & New Signup
Logan County has many CRP (Conservation Reserve Program)
contracts expiring on September 30, 2015. Producers of expiring
contract(s) received a letter in the mail outlining options that
MAY be available to them. If you received one of these letters
and haven’t already contacted the office, please do so
immediately, so that the appropriate paperwork can be initiated.
Currently, there is also acreage available for New Continuous
CRP enrollments into high priority practices such as waterways,
filter strips, field borders and pollinator habitat. If you have
an area that you think is well suited for CRP, please contact
the office. We would be happy to run a report to let you know
what you may be eligible for as well as the new soil rental
rates being offered for your acreage!
Additionally, a general CRP signup is scheduled to begin
December 1, 2015. Please stay tuned for additional information
on this competitive process.
More information on the CRP program can be found at:
www.fsa.usda.gov/crp
Microloans
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that
the FSA borrowing limit for microloans increased from $35,000 to
$50,000. Microloans offer borrowers simplified lending with less
paperwork.
The microloan change allows beginning, small and mid-sized
farmers to access an additional $15,000 in loans using a
simplified application process with up to seven years to repay.
Microloans are part of USDA’s continued commitment to small and
midsized farming operations.
To complement the microloan program additional changes to FSA
eligibility requirements will enhance beginning farmers and
ranchers access to land, a key barrier to entry level producers.
FSA policies related to farm experience have changed so that
other types of skills may be considered to meet the direct
farming experience required for farm ownership loan eligibility.
Operation or management of non-farm businesses, leadership
positions while serving in the military or advanced education in
an agricultural field will now count towards the experience
applicants need to show when applying for farm ownership loans.
Important Note: Microloans cannot be used to purchase real
estate.
Microloan uses are the same as all approved Direct Operating
loan expenses on a smaller scale, including, and not limited to:
- Essential tools
- Fencing and trellising
- Hoop houses
- Bees and bee equipment
- Milking and pasteurization equipment
- Maple sugar shack and processing equipment
- Livestock, seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents,
family living expenses, and other materials essential to the
operation
Irrigation
- GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), GHP (Good Handling
Practices), and Organic certification costs
- Marketing and distribution costs, including those
associated with selling through Farmers’ Markets and
Community Supported Agriculture operations
- Borrower training expenses
Since 2010, more than 50 percent of USDA's farm loans now go to
beginning farmers and FSA has increased its lending to targeted
underserved producers by nearly 50 percent.
Please review the FSA Microloan Program Fact Sheet for program
application, eligibility and related information.
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Important Dates & Reminders
-
August
2 End of Primary Nesting & Brood Rearing Season (CRP
maintenance allowed)
-
August
3 Final date to request a Farm Reconstitution for 2015
-
August
3 Candidate Nomination period ends for 2015 County
Committee Election - LAA #2
-
August
28 Final date to request 1-year extension for expiring
general CRP practice
-
September 7
Labor Day Observed *Office Closed*
-
September 30
Final date to enroll in 2014 & 2015 ARC/PLC Program
-
September 30
Final date to re-enroll continous CRP expiring in 2015
-
October 12 Columbus Day *Office Closed*
-
November 9
County Committee Election Ballots to mailed to all voters in LAA
#2
-
November 11 Veterans Day *Office Closed*
-
November 26
Thanksgiving *Office Closed*
-
December 1 General CRP signup period begins
-
December 7
Final date to return County Committee Election ballots for LAA
#2
-
December 15 Final date to report 2016 fall-seeded crops such
as wheat, hay & pasture
-
December 25
Christmas *Office Closed*
-
Continuous Farm Record Changes (new owners, new operators,
direct deposits, etc.)
-
Continuous Farm Storage Facility Loan Applications
-
Continuous CRP Applications (grassed waterways, filter
strips, field borders, pollinator habitat)
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).
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:
Kenton Stoll - Chairman
Dennis Ramlow - Vice Chairman
Tim Southerlan - 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 is 08/26/2015 at 9:00 AM
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