|
 Producers of certain commodities will now be eligible to receive
Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments for the second half
of their 2018 production.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has been administering MFP to
provide the first payments to producers since Sept. 2018 for the
first 50 percent of their 2018 production. MFP provides payments
to almond, cotton, corn, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean, fresh
sweet cherry, and wheat producers.
Producers need only sign-up once for the MFP to be eligible for
the first and second payments. The MFP sign-up period runs
through Jan. 15, 2019, with information and instructions
provided at www.farmers.gov/mfp. Producers must complete an
application by Jan. 15, 2019, but have until May 1, 2019, to
certify their 2018 production.
Eligible producers should apply after harvest is complete, as
payments will only be issued once production is reported.
For farmers who have already applied, completed harvest, and
certified their 2018 production, a second payment will be issued
on the remaining 50 percent of the producer’s total production,
multiplied by the MFP rate for the specific commodity.
Market Facilitation Program
|
Commodity |
First and Second Payment Rate |
Est. Total Payment**
(in $1,000s) |
|
Almonds (shelled) |
$0.03 / lb. |
$63,300 |
|
Cotton |
$0.06 / lb. |
$553,800 |
|
Corn |
$0.01 / bu. |
$192,000 |
|
Dairy (milk) |
$0.12 / cwt. |
$254,800 |
|
Pork (hogs) |
$8.00 / head |
$580,600 |
|
Soybeans |
$1.65 / bu. |
$7,259,400 |
|
Sorghum |
$0.86 / bu. |
$313,600 |
|
Sweet Cherries (fresh) |
$0.16 / lb. |
$111,500 |
|
Wheat |
$0.14 / bu. |
$238,400 |
|
Total |
|
$9,567,400 |
** Total payment rate on 100% of production
MFP payments are limited to a combined $125,000
for corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat capped per person
or legal entity. MFP payments are also limited to a combined
$125,000 for dairy and hog producers, and a combined $125,000
for fresh sweet cherry and almond producers. Applicants must
also have an average adjusted gross income for tax years 2014,
2015, and 2016 of less than $900,000. Applicants must also
comply with the provisions of the Highly Erodible Land and
Wetland Conservation regulations.
For detailed information, read the full USDA
press release.
For more further information or to locate and
contact local FSA offices, interested producers can visit
www.farmers.gov.
Logan County
Committee Election Results & New Logan Co. FSA Employee
Logan County U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA)
announced that County Committee elections are over and the
ballots have been counted.
Kenton Stoll of Chestnut, was re-elected to represent
local administrative area (LAA) #2.
County committee members are a critical component of the
day-to-day operations of FSA. They help deliver programs at the
county level and work to serve the needs of local producers. All
recently elected county committee members will take office in
January 2019 and will be joining the existing committee. Every
FSA office is required to have a county committee, and they are
made up of local farmers, ranchers and foresters who are elected
by local producers.
Nearly 7,800 FSA
county committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each
committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year
terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for
election each year. County committee members impact the
administration of FSA within a community by applying their
knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on
its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity
and disaster programs, emergency programs and eligibility.
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County committee members impact producers through
their decision making and help shape the culture of a local FSA
office. They also ensure the fair and equitable administration of
FSA farm programs in their counties and are accountable to the
Secretary of Agriculture. Members conduct hearings and reviews as
requested by the state committee, ensure underserved farmers,
ranchers and foresters are fairly represented, make recommendations
to the state committee on existing programs, monitor changes in farm
programs and inform farmers of the purpose and provisions of FSA
programs. They also assist with outreach and inform underserved
producers such as beginning farmers, ranchers and foresters, about
FSA opportunities.
For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections
or contact the Logan County FSA office at 217-735-5508.
Logan County also has a new Program Technician in the office. Emily
Tomlin started her career with FSA in October and will be taking
care of the CRP program and the Farm Loan program. She is from the
small town of Cantrall, Illinois. She grew up heavily involved in
the FFA and 4-H and has a passion for agriculture. She attended
Lincoln Land Community College to earn an A.S. in Agriculture and
continued on to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for
her B.S. in Animal Science. While in college, she worked for the
Illinois State Fair Competitive Events Office. In her spare time,
she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and planning
her upcoming wedding set for November 2019.
USDA Microloans
Help Farmers Purchase Farmland and Improve Property
Producers, Including Beginning and Underserved Farmers, Have a New
Option to Gain Access to Land
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.
Logan County FSA Office
1650 5th Street
Lincoln, IL, 62656
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Phone: 217-735-5508
Fax:855-693-7125
County Executive Director:
John Peters
Farm Loan Manager:
Tony Schmillen
Program Technicians:
Ann Curry
Tammy Edwards
Chelsie Peddicord
Emily Tomlin
County Committee:
Kenton Stoll - Chairman
Dennis Ramlow - Vice Chairman
Tim Southerlan - Member
Dorothy Gleason - Advisor
Next County Committee Meeting: TBD |
