March Logan County FSA Updates

[March 23, 2017]    ARC/PLC Contracts - Ready for Signature - The 2017 ARC/PLC Contacts are ready for completion at the Logan County FSA office. The process is very quick and painless. Please contact the office immediately if you have changes in your farming operation. Due to recent retirements, the staff in Logan County has downsized. Please take this into consideration and sign up now. No appointments are necessary.

2017 ARC/PLC program year enrollment began on November 1, 2016. Producers are encouraged to contact the office to enroll. If a farm is not enrolled during the 2017 enrollment period, producers on that farm will not be eligible for financial assistance from the ARC or PLC programs should crop prices or farm revenues fall below the historical price or revenue benchmarks established by the program. The two programs were authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and offer a safety net to agricultural producers when there is a substantial drop in prices or revenues for covered commodities.

NAP Signup Deadline Approaching

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops (crops not covered by crop insurance) against natural disasters that result in lower yields. Basic NAP coverage provides catastrophic level (CAT) coverage based on the amount of loss that exceeds 50 percent of expected production at 55 percent of the average market price for the crop. Additional (buy up) coverage is available from 50 to 65 percent of production (in 5 percent increments) at 100 percent of the average market price. For all coverage levels the basic NAP service fee is the lesser of $250 per crop or $750 per producer per administrative county. Buy up coverage premiums are based on the producers share of the crop, eligible acres, and coverage level selected. Beginning, limited resource, and traditionally underserved farmers may be eligible for a waiver of the service fee and a 50 percent reduction of buy up premiums.

The application deadline for NAP for 2017 spring and summer planted crops is March 15, 2017. Contact the FSA office at 217-735-5508 extension 2 for more information about NAP.

USDA Microloans Help Farmers Purchase Farmland and Improve Property

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.

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].

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 - Member
Tim Southerlan - Chairman
Kenton Stoll - Vice Chairman
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 :
March 29th - 9:00 AM

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting should contact John Peters at 217-735-5508 extension 2 or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

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).