October Logan County FSA Updates

[October 24, 2016]    Commodity Loans Available For Logan County Producers - The 2014 Farm Bill authorized 2014-2018 crop year Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs).

MALs provide producers interim financing after harvest to help meets cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows.

2016 Marketing Assistance Loan reminders:

• Grain must be harvested prior to applying for the loan.
• Loans mature 9 months following the month of loan disbursement.
• The current interest rate is 1.625% for October.
• Logan County loan rates for 2016 are $2.04 for Corn and $5.13 for Soybeans.
• For elevator stored loans the Warehouse Receipt must indicate that storage has been prepaid through the end of the loan maturity month.
• Lien waivers are required from all cash rent landlords, owners of rented storage facilities, and lien holders on the grain (lenders) before loans can be disbursed.

FSA is accepting applications for all eligible commodities. Call the FSA Office at [phone], ext 2 for more information on Marketing Assistance Loans.

Important Dates to Remember

• November 7 -  COC election ballots mailed to eligible voters
• November 11 - Veterans Day- Office Closed
• November 24 - Thanksgiving Day - Office Closed
• December 8 - Final date to return COC election ballots to the office
• December 15 - Final date to report fall seeded crops such as wheat and perennial forage for 2017
• December 26 - Christmas Day Observed - Office Closed
• Continuous - Farm Record Changes
• Continuous - Farm Storage Facility Loan Applications
• Continuous -  CRP Signup (waterways, filter strips, field borders, pollinator habitat)

New USDA Commitments to Help Build Up Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers

• USDA prioritized $5.6 billion over the next two years within USDA programs and services that serve new and beginning farmers and ranchers. A new, tailored web tool was designed to connect burgeoning farm entrepreneurs with programs and resources available to help them get started.
   
• The new web tool is available at www.usda.gov/newfarmers. The site was designed based on feedback from new and beginning farmers and ranchers around the country, who cited unfamiliarity with programs and resources as a challenge to starting and expanding their operations. The site features advice and guidance on everything a new farm business owner needs to know, from writing a business plan, to obtaining a loan to grow their business, to filing taxes as a new small business owner. By answering a series of questions about their operation, farmers can use the site’s Discovery Tool to build a personalized set of recommendations of USDA programs and services that may meet their needs.
   
• Using the new web tool and other outreach activities, and operating within its existing resources, USDA has set a new goal of increasing beginning farmer and rancher participation by an additional 6.6 percent across key USDA programs, which were established or strengthened by the 2014 Farm Bill, for a total investment value of approximately $5.6 billion. Programs were targeted for expanded outreach and commitment based on their impact on expanding opportunity for new and beginning farmers and ranchers, including starting or expanding an operation, developing new markets, supporting more effective farming and conservation practices, and having access to relevant training and education opportunities. USDA will provide quarterly updates on its progress towards meeting its goal. A full explanation of the investment targets, benchmarks and outcomes is available at: BFR-Commitment-Factsheet.

• As the average age of the American farmer now exceeds 58 years, and data shows that almost 10 percent of farmland in the continental United States will change hands in the next five years, we have no time to lose in getting more new farmers and ranchers established. Equally important is encouraging young people to pursue careers in industries that support American agriculture. According to an employment outlook report released by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Purdue University, one of the best fields for new college graduates is agriculture. Nearly 60,000 high-skilled agriculture job openings are expected annually in the United States for the next five years, yet only 35,000 graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture related fields are expected to be available to fill them. The report also shows that women make up more than half of the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment higher education graduates in the United States. USDA recently released a series of fact sheets showcasing the impact of women in agriculture nationwide.
   
• The announcement builds on USDA’s ongoing work to engage its resources to inspire a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by improving access to land and capital; building market opportunities; extending conservation opportunities; offering appropriate risk management tools; and increasing outreach and technical support. To learn more about USDA’s efforts, visit the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Results Page.

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

Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Phone: [phone] ext. 2
Fax:[phone]

County Committee:
Dennis Ramlow - Chairman
Tim Southerlan - Vice Chairman
Kenton Stoll - Member
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 :
TBD

Questions?
Please contact, John Peters, County Executive Director, at 217-735-5508 ext 2, [e-mail] or for Farm Loans, please contact Tony Schmillen, Farm Loan Manager, at 217-735-5508 ext 2, [e-mail].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. 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 [phone] (Toll-free Customer Service), [phone] (Local or Federal relay), [phone] (Relay voice users).