Logan County FSA Updates

[May 23, 2018]    2018 Crop Certification Is Underway - Please visit the Logan County FSA office to certify your 2018 spring crops.

In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the Logan County FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by July 16, 2018. Failure to report your spring planted crops prior to July 16, 2018 will result in a $46.00 late filing fee. Please do not wait till the last minute to accomplish this task. Visit the office immediately. No appointment is necessary!

* Please review your crop shares and planting dates*

2018 ARC/PLC Sign Up Continues

The Logan County FSA office has your contracts ready for enrollment in the 2018 Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. The enrollment period officially began on November 1st and will continue through August 1, 2018.

Since shares and ownership of a farm can change year-to-year, producers must enroll by signing a contract each program year. The enrollment process for 2018 is relatively simple! We just need you to visit the office, notify us of any changes that have occurred or will be occurring, verify ownership, payment shares and sign the FSA-861 contracts for 2018.

ALL owners and operators with a crop share interest in base acres on the farm must sign the annual contracts. Owners who cash rent the farm to an operator and have a zero share in the base acres 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.

FSA Offers Joint Financing Option on Direct Farm Ownership Loans

The USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Direct Farm Ownership loans are a resource to help farmers and ranchers become owner-operators of family farms, improve and expand current operations, increase agricultural productivity, and assist with land tenure to save farmland for future generations.

Depending on the applicant’s needs, there are three types of Direct Farm Ownership Loans: regular, down payment and joint financing. FSA also offers a Direct Farm Ownership Microloan option for smaller financial needs up to $50,000.

Joint financing allows FSA to provide more farmers and ranchers with access to capital. FSA lends up to 50 percent of the total amount financed. A commercial lender, a State program or the seller of the property being purchased, provides the balance of loan funds, with or without an FSA guarantee. The maximum loan amount for a Joint Financing loan is $300,000 and the repayment period for the loan is up to 40 years.

To be eligible, the operation must be an eligible farm enterprise. Farm Ownership loan funds cannot be used to finance nonfarm enterprises and all applicants must be able to meet general eligibility requirements. Loan applicants are also required to have participated in the business operations of a farm or ranch for at least three years out of the 10 years prior to the date the application is submitted. The applicant must show documentation that their participation in the business operation of the farm or ranch was not solely as a laborer.

For more information about FSA Loan programs, contact your local FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.  To find your local FSA office, visit http://offices. usda.gov.

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

County Executive Director:
John Peters

Program Technicians:
Ann Curry
Tammy Edwards
Chelsie Peddicord

Farm Loan Manager:
Tony Schmillen

Next County Committee Meeting: TBD due to planting season

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in any meeting should contact John Peters, CED, at 217-735-5508 extension 2 or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339, 3 days prior to the scheduled meeting.

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).