Brookings County FSA 2014 County Committee Election - Nominations Being Accepted Brookings County FSA Committee Election Nominations are being accepted through August 1, 2014. County FSA Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations for FSA. They provide valuable local input to FSA programs by providing a direct link between the decisions that affect the delivery of FSA agricultural programs. In Brookings County there are three Local Administrative Areas (LAA's). Each year, one of the three areas must elect or re-elect a committee person to represent their area for a 3-year term. This year, LAA #1, which includes the townships of Laketon, Preston, Winsor, Oakwood, Bangor, Volga, Lake Sinai and Oslo will be holding an election this fall. The County Office staff has begun accepting nominations for LAA #1. The deadline for submitting nominations is August 1st. Any qualified voter may nominate a producer on a FSA-669A form. Producers may also nominate themselves. Additionally, organizations representing minority and women farmers or ranchers may nominate candidates. Nomination forms are on hand in the County Office. You can also find the nomination form (FSA-669A) online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/elections. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Transition Incentive program (TIP) re-opened CRP consists of "continuous" and "general" sign-up period. Continuous sign up for the voluntary programs started June 9. Under continuous sign-up authority, eligible land can be enrolled in CRP at any time with contracts of 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 the option of a one-year contract extension. The one-year extension only applies to General Contracts that expire in September and that won't exceed 15 years when extended. Roberts County has reviewed the expiring General CRP Contracts Sign-ups and they are all 15 year contracts so we don't have any that will qualify for the one year extension. If you have a CRP Contract expiring on September 30, 2014 and are interested in re-enrolling all or part of the acres please contact the office. We will review your expiring CRP Contract acres to see if they will qualify for one of the Continuous Sign-up Practices. Expiring CRP acres can be enrolled for the next year up to 6 months prior to the current CRP Contract Expiration. If you have expiring CRP please contact the office as soon as possible to let us know if you are interested in re-enrolling or will be letting it expire. We would like to work on these right away and get the new contracts ready and approved. If you are interested in offering new land into Continuous CRP the cropping history years have been updated. The land has to be cropped 4 of 6 years 2008 through 2013. If you have land eligible for Farmed Wetlands Program signup you have to have cropped the acreage 3 out of 10 years 2004-2013. There is some additional criteria if you had prevent plant acres regarding either of these cropping year options and we will go over these with producers individually if they apply. The Transition Incentive Program provides two additional years of payments for retired farmers and ranchers who transition expiring CRP acres to socially disadvantaged, military veteran, or a beginning farmers who will return the land to sustainable grazing or crop production. The producer who will be taking over the CRP CANNOT be a family member. Sign up also began June 9. TIP funding increased by more than 30 percent in the 2014 Farm Bill, providing up to $33 million through 2018. If you have a CRP Contract expiring on September 30, 2014 and are interested in re-enrolling all or part of the acres please contact the office. We will review your expiring CRP Contract acres to see if they will qualify for one of the Continuous Sign-up Practices. Expiring CRP acres can be enrolled for the next year up to 6 months prior to the current CRP Contract Expiration. If you have expiring CRP please contact the office as soon as possible to let us know if you are interested in re-enrolling or will be letting it expire. We would like to work on these right away and get the new contracts ready and approved. If you are interested in offering new land into Continuous CRP the cropping history years have been updated. The land has to be cropped 4 of 6 years 2008 through 2013. If you have land eligible for Farmed Wetlands Program signup you have to have cropped the acreage 3 out of 10 years 2004-2013. There is some additional criteria if you had prevent plant acres regarding either of these cropping year options and we will go over these with producers individually if they apply. The Transition Incentive Program provides two additional years of payments for retired farmers and ranchers who transition expiring CRP acres to socially disadvantaged, military veteran, or a beginning farmers who will return the land to sustainable grazing or crop production. The producer who will be taking over the CRP CANNOT be a family member. Sign up also began June 9. TIP funding increased by more than 30 percent in the 2014 Farm Bill, providing up to $33 million through 2018.
USDA ENHANCES FARM STORAGE FACILITY LOAN PROGRAM The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the expansion of the Farm Storage and Facility Loan program, which provides low-interest financing to producers. The enhanced program includes 22 new categories of eligible equipment for fruit and vegetable producers. Producers with small and mid-sized operations, and specialty crop fruit and vegetable growers, now have access to needed capital for a variety of supplies including sorting bins, wash stations and other food safety-related equipment. A new more flexible alternative is also provided for determining storage needs for fruit and vegetable producers, and waivers are available on a case-by-case basis for disaster assistance or insurance coverage if available products are not relevant or feasible for a particular producer. Additionally, Farm Storage Facility Loan security requirements have been eased for loans up to $100,000. Previously, all loans in excess of $50,000 and any loan with little resale value required a promissory note/security agreement and additional security, such as a lien on real estate. Now loans up to $50,000 can be secured by only a promissory note/security agreement and some loans between $50,000 and $100,000 will no longer require additional security. The low-interest funds can be used to build or upgrade permanent facilities to store commodities. Eligible commodities include grains, oilseeds, peanuts, pulse crops, hay, honey, renewable biomass commodities, fruits and vegetables. Qualified facilities include grain bins, hay barns and cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables. Contact your local FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov for more about FSA programs and loans, including the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program.
IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES June 9- Continuous CRP Sign-up Begins June 15- County Committee Nomination Period begins July 4- Office Closed Independence Day Holiday July 15- 2013 ACRE and NAP Production Evidence Deadline July 15- Acreage Reporting Deadline for 2014 Crop Year August 1- 2014 Land and Ownership Changes August 1- last day to file County Committee Election Nomination Forms 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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