Thursday, June 26, 2014

Fwd: June 2014 Miami County Newsletter



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: USDA Farm Service Agency <usdafsa@service.govdelivery.com>
Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2014 at 7:10 AM
Subject: June 2014 Miami County Newsletter
To: iammejtm@gmail.com


June 2014

GovDelivery Newsletter Masthead

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Miami County FSA Updates


Miami County FSA Office

1626 W Logansport Rd
Suite B
Peru, IN 46970

Phone: 765-473-6753
Fax: 855-381-5883

County Executive Director:
Lacey R Shewman

Farm Loan Manager:
John T Simmons

Program Technicians:
Lynn Hayes
Melissa Black
Micki Saylor

Next County Committee Meeting:  July 24, 2014 at 9 AM

Livestock Disaster Assistance Sign-up Underway

Livestock disaster program enrollment opened on April 15, 2014. 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 Oct. 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. Eligible producers must physically be located in a county affected by a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county.  Miami County had a qualifying drought in 2012.  Applications and supporting documentation must be signed and submitted by January 30, 2015.
  • 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.
  • 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 more information, producers can review the LFP, LIP and ELAP Fact Sheets on the Farm Bill webpage. Producers are encouraged to make an appointment with their local FSA office to apply for these programs.


2014 Acreage Reporting Dates

Recently, FSA and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) worked to coordinate acreage reporting dates for programs to streamline this process for common customers.  In order to ensure compliance with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit their local county FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline.

Acreage Reporting Dates for 2014 for all of Indiana are/were as follows:  

  • December 15, 2013:  Fall Mint, Fall Seeded Small Grains
  • January 15, 2014:  Apples
  • July 15, 2014:  All Other Crops

FSA County Offices are accepting late-filed acreage reports without traditionally required late-filing fees for 2014 crops.

The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting dates:

  • If the crop has not been planted by the above acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
  • If a producer acquires additional acreage after the above acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease.  Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office. 
  •  If a perennial forage crop is reported with the intended use of "cover only," "green manure," "left standing," or "seed" then the acreage must be reported by July 15th.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.

If you have been prevented from planting a crop by the final planting date, be sure to file an FSA-576 within 15 days of the final planting date.  The final planting date for corn in Indiana is June 5th; prevented planting claims must be filed by June 20th.  The final planting date in Indiana for soybeans is June 20th; prevented planting claims for soybeans must be filed by July 5th.  For questions regarding crop certification and crop loss reports, please contact your local county FSA office.


USDA Announces CRP & TIP Sign-up

Farmers, ranchers and landowners committed to protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive land may now sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Additionally, 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 starts 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.  USDA will also implement the 2014 Farm Bill's requirement that producers enrolled through general sign-up for more than five years can exercise the option to opt-out of the program if certain other conditions are met. 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.


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.


County Committee Nomination Period Now Open for LAA 1

The nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees began Sunday, June 15, 2014.  In Miami County, LAA-1 will be conducting an election consisting of Allen, Perry, Richland, and Union townships. A map with specific boundaries is available at the county office.

To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area where the person is nominated.

Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2014 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1, 2014. Elections will take place this fall.

While FSA county committees do not approve or deny farm ownership or operating loans, they make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to 11 members that are elected by eligible producers.

FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 3, 2014. Ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 1, 2014. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office on Jan. 1, 2015.


Beginning Farmer Loans

FSA assists beginning farmers to finance agricultural enterprises. Under these designated farm loan programs, FSA can provide financing to eligible applicants through either direct or guaranteed loans. FSA defines a beginning farmer as a person who:

  • Has operated a farm for not more than 10 years
  • Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm
  • Agrees to participate in a loan assessment, borrower training and financial management program sponsored by FSA
  • Does not already own a farm in excess of 30 percent of the county's average size farm.

Additional program information, loan applications, and other materials are available at your local USDA Service Center.  You may also visit www.fsa.usda.gov.


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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--
Jeremy Tobias Matthews

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