REPORTING LOSSES, ACREAGE, AND PRODUCTION FOR CROPS UNDER NAP POLICIES
For losses on 2014 crops covered by the Non-insured Assistance Program (NAP) policies, producers must contact their local FSA office within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent to file a Notice of Loss. Losses to crops need to be reported after each occurrence of damage and in a timely manner to insure continued eligibility for benefits. Producers with crop insurance should contact their local agent when losses occur and before destroying the crop.
Producers are required to report 2014 NAP crop acreage by the earlier of July 15, 2014 or within 15 days of the onset of harvest. Failure to report your acreage will result in late filing fees and potential loss of benefits under the NAP program.
In addition, NAP producers must also certify 2013 crop production by July 15, 2014 for most spring seeded crops. Producers should check with their local FSA offices on production reporting deadlines for crops they have covered by the policies. If producers fail to report 2013 production by the final reporting date, zero yields or yields reduced by established factors will be used in establishing the actual production history for 2014. This normally results in lower NAP crop approved yields. All production certifications are subject to spot-check. Maintaining good production records is key because crop production must be reported on an annual basis to maintain the unit's historical yields. (back to top)
USDA ANNOUNCES PROGRAMS TO CONSERVE SENSITIVE LANDS AND HELP BEGINNING FARMERS Farmers and landowners committed to protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive land may sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) beginning June 9. The Secretary also announced that retiring farmers enrolled in CRP could receive incentives to transfer a portion of their land to beginning, disadvantaged or veteran farmers through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP).
CRP provides incentives to producers who utilize conservation methods on environmentally-sensitive lands. For example, farmers are monetarily compensated for establishing long-term vegetative species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as "covers") to control soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat.
CRP consists of a "continuous" and "general" sign-up period. Continuous sign up for the voluntary program started June 9. Under continuous sign-up authority, eligible land can be enrolled in CRP at any time with contracts of up to 10 to 15 years in duration. In lieu of a general sign-up this year, USDA will allow producers with general CRP contracts expiring this September to have the option of a one-year contract extension. In addition, the new grassland provisions, which will allow producers to graze their enrolled land, will enable producers to do so with more flexibility.
The Transition Incentives Program provides two additional years of payments for retired farmers and ranchers who transition expiring CRP acres to socially disadvantaged, military veteran, or beginning producers who return the land to sustainable grazing or crop production. Sign up will also begin June 9. TIP funding was increased by more than 30 percent in the 2014 Farm Bill, providing up to $33 million through 2018.
As part of the 2014 Farm Bill, participants meeting specific qualifications may have the opportunity to terminate their CRP contract during fiscal year 2015 if the contract has been in effect for a minimum of five years and if other conditions are also met.
For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA county office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov. (back to top) LIVESTOCK DISASTER ASSISTANCE SIGN-UP
Livestock disaster program enrollment is underway. These disaster programs are authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill as permanent programs and provide retroactive authority to cover losses that occurred on or after October 1, 2011. Eligible producers can sign-up for the following livestock disaster assistance programs: Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land or fire on federally managed land. Eligible livestock must physically be located in a county affected by a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county. Producers who suffered eligible grazing losses should submit a completed application and supporting documentation by January 30, 2015.
In Wisconsin, LFP is eligible for the following counties for 2012 only- Adams, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Jackson, Jefferson, Iowa, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood. Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): LIP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law. Producers who suffered livestock death losses should submit a notice of loss and an application for payment to their local FSA office by January 30, 2015. In 2015 and later Notice of Losses must be filed within 30 days for the loss becoming apparent or if earlier January 30 of the immediately preceding calendar year. To expedite applications, all producers who experienced losses are encouraged to bring records documenting those losses to their local FSA Office. Producers should record all pertinent information of natural disaster consequences, including: - Documentation of the number and kind of livestock that have died, supplemented if possible by photographs or video records of ownership and losses
- Dates of death supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts
- Inventory of animals before the deaths occurred.
· For listing of documentation requirements, please contact the Jefferson County FSA Office Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) ELAP provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish that have losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by LFP and LIP. Producers who suffered eligible livestock, honeybee or farm-raised fish losses during 2012 and 2013 program years must submit a notice of loss and application for payment to their local FSA office by August 1, 2014. For 2014 program year losses, the notice of loss and an application for payment must be submitted by November 1, 2014. - For program years 2015 and later, Notice of Loss must be filed within 30 days of the losses becoming apparent or November 1, whichever is earlier.
For more information, producers can review the LFP, LIP, ELAP and TAP Fact Sheets on the Farm Bill webpage. Producers are encouraged to make an appointment with the Jefferson County FSA Office to apply for these programs. (back to top) TREE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP) SIGN-UP
Orchardists and nursery tree growers who experienced losses from natural disasters that occurred on or after October 1, 2011, can sign up for the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). The signup for losses that occurred from October 1, 2011 through 2014 is January 31, 2015. Applications for losses that occur in 2015 and later years must be filed within 90 days of each disaster event or when the losses become apparent.
TAP was authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 as a permanent disaster program. TAP provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.
Eligible tree types include trees, bushes or vines that produce an annual crop for commercial purposes. Nursery trees include ornamental, fruit, nut and Christmas trees that are produced for commercial sale. Trees used for pulp or timber are ineligible.
To qualify for TAP, orchardists must suffer a qualifying tree, bush or vine loss in excess of 15 percent, as adjusted for normal mortality from an eligible natural disaster. The eligible trees, bushes or vines must have been owned when the natural disaster occurred; however, eligible growers are not required to own the land on which the eligible trees, bushes and vines were planted.
If the TAP application is approved, the eligible trees, bushes and vines must be replaced and/or rehabilitated within 12 months from the date the application is approved. The cumulative total quantity of acres planted to trees, bushes or vines, for which a producer can receive TAP payments, cannot exceed 500 acres annually. (back to top) USDA ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO FRUIT, VEGETABLE AND WILD RICE PLANTING RULES Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced fruit, vegetable and wild rice provisions that affect producers who intend to participate in certain programs authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014.
Producers who intend to participate in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs are subject to an acre-for-acre payment reduction when fruits and nuts, vegetables or wild rice are planted on the payment acres of a farm. Payment reductions do not apply to mung beans, dry peas, lentils or chickpeas. Planting fruits, vegetables or wild rice on acres that are not considered payment acres will not result in a payment reduction. Farms that are eligible to participate in ARC/PLC but are not enrolled for a particular year may plant unlimited fruits, vegetables and wild rice for that year but will not receive ARC/PLC payments for that year. Eligibility for succeeding years is not affected.
Planting and harvesting fruits, vegetables and wild rice on ARC/PLC acreage is subject to the acre-for-acre payment reduction when those crops are planted on either more than 15 percent of the base acres of a farm enrolled in ARC using the county coverage or PLC, or more than 35 percent of the base acres of a farm enrolled in ARC using the individual coverage.
Fruits, vegetables and wild rice that are planted in a double-cropping practice will not cause a payment reduction if the farm is in a double-cropping region as designated by the USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation. (back to top) NEW FARM BILL OFFERS INCREASED FARM LOAN OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCERS The 2014 Farm Bill offers increased opportunities for producers including farm loan program modifications that create flexibility for new and existing farmers. A fact sheet outlining modifications to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Loan Programs is available here.
The Farm Bill expands lending opportunities for thousands of producers to begin and continue operations, including greater flexibility in determining eligibility, raising loan limits, and emphasizing beginning and socially disadvantaged producers.
Changes that will take effect immediately include:
-Elimination of the 15 year term limit for guaranteed operating loans.
-Modification of the definition of beginning farmer, using the average farm size for the county as a qualifier
instead of the median farm size.
-Modification of the Joint Financing Direct Farm Ownership Interest Rate to 2 percent less than regular
Direct Farm Ownership rate, with a floor of 2.5 percent. Previously, the rate was established at 5 percent.
-Increase of the maximum loan amount for Direct Farm Ownership Down Payment Loan Program from
$225,000 to $300,000.
-Elimination of rural residency requirement for Youth Loans, allowing urban youth to benefit.
-Debt forgiveness on Youth Loans, which will not prevent borrowers from obtaining additional loans
from the federal government.
-Increase of the guaranteed percentage on Conservation Loans from 75 to 80 percent and 90 percent
for socially disadvantaged borrowers and beginning farmers.
-Microloans will not count toward direct operating loan term limits for veterans and beginning farmers.
Additional modifications must be implemented through the rulemaking processes. Visit the FSA Farm Bill website for detailed information and updates to farm loan programs. (back to top) 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). |
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