Monday, June 23, 2014

Fwd: Mill Run FSA Updates



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: USDA Farm Service Agency <usdafsa@service.govdelivery.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 23, 2014 at 8:39 AM
Subject: Mill Run FSA Updates
To: iammejtm@gmail.com


June 2014

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Mill Run FSA Updates


Mill Run FSA Office

91 Boyles Lane
Parkersburg, WV  26104

Phone: 304-422-9072
Fax2mail: 855-854-3082

County Executive Director:
Daniel O. Shockey

Farm Loan Manager:
Jennifer Fisher

Program Technicians:
Sheila Dye

Next County Committee Meeting:  July 17, 2014 at 9:30am

Agriculture Field Day/StrikeForce Meeting

West Virginia Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director, Daniel O. Shockey, has announced that the Parkersburg USDA Service Center will be holding an Agricultural Field Day July 17, 2014 at the Ritchie County 4H/Fairgrounds from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm in the Multi-purpose building.

Part of the agenda will be devoted to the USDA 's StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunities targeting Wirt, Ritchie, Pleasants, Tyler and Doddridge counties.  USDA's StrikeForce aims to increase investment in rural communities through intensive outreach and stronger partnership.  

USDA partners with rural communities and regions on locally-supported projects. USDA takes steps, in partnership with the community, to provide technical assistance and explanation as needed to ensure that communities can fully access USDA programs.  

Local Community Based Organizations are critical to this effort.  Multiple stake holders from around the area will be set up to share what they can do to help in rural communities along with agricultural production 

Some of the key speakers at the event include USDA Agencies, WVDA Commissioner Walt Helmick, WVU Extension Service and a presentation on Forage Legumes by Dr. Ben Goff from the University of Kentucky.  There will be time for all those who attend can visit the booths from all the area organizations to find out more about how they can help in your area or operation.

If you are planning to attend the field day you are required to RSVP to the Ritchie County Extension office at 304-643-5200.  Pesticide re-certification credit hours will be provided for those who attend the program.   

For more information about this field day or any of the other USDA programs please contact Daniel O. Shockey, Mill Run Farm Service Agency at (304) 422-9072.


Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination Period Begins June 15

The nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees begins Sunday, June 15, 2014.

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. 


Acreage Reporting

 

 

In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the Mill Run FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline. 

The following acreage reporting dates are applicable for Name County: 

January 1, 2014:                             Apples, Peaches

July 15, 2014   :                               All other crops

December 15, 2014:                       Fall seeded small grains 

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 calendars 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. 

For questions regarding crop certification and crop loss reports, please contact the Mill Run FSA office at 304-422-9072.

In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the Mill Run FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline. 

The following acreage reporting dates are applicable for Name County: 

January 1, 2014:                             Apples, Peaches

July 15, 2014   :                               All other crops

December 15, 2014:                       Fall seeded small grains 

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 calendars 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. 

For questions regarding crop certification and crop loss reports, please contact the Mill Run FSA office at 304-422-9072.

 

 


Farm Reconstitutions

When changes in farm ownership or operation take place, a farm reconstitution is necessary. The reconstitution -or recon - is the process of combining or dividing farms or tracts of land based on the farming operation.

The following are the different methods used when doing a farm recon.

Estate Method — the division of bases, allotments and quotas for a parent farm among heirs in settling an estate;

Designation of Landowner Method — may be used when (1) part of a farm is sold or ownership is transferred; (2) an entire farm is sold to two or more persons; (3) farm ownership is transferred to two or more persons; (4) part of a tract is sold or ownership is transferred; (5) a tract is sold to two or more persons; or (6) tract ownership is transferred to two or more persons. In order to use this method the land sold must have been owned for at least three years, or a waiver granted, and the buyer and seller must sign a Memorandum of Understanding;

DCP Cropland Method — the division of bases in the same proportion that the DCP cropland for each resulting tract relates to the DCP cropland on the parent tract;

Default Method — the division of bases for a parent farm with each tract maintaining the bases
attributed to the tract level when the reconstitution is initiated in the system. 


Loans for the Socially Disadvantaged

FSA has a number of loan programs available to assist applicants to begin or continue in agriculture production.  Loans are available for operating type loans and/or purchase or improve farms or ranches.  

While all qualified producers are eligible to apply for these loan programs, the FSA has provided priority funding for members of socially disadvantaged applicants.  

A socially disadvantaged applicant is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of his or her identity as members of the group without regard to his or her individual qualities.  

For purposes of this program, socially disadvantaged groups are women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.  

FSA loans are only available to applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements and are unable to obtain the needed credit elsewhere.  


USDA Announces Programs to Conserve Sensitive Land and Help Beginning Farmers

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.


FSA Signature Policy

Using the correct signature when doing business with FSA can save time and prevent a delay in program benefits. The following are FSA signature guidelines:  

· Spouses may sign documents on behalf of each other for FSA and CCC programs in which either has an interest, unless written notification denying a spouse this authority has been provided to the county office

· Spouses shall not sign on behalf of each other as an authorized signatory for partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, or other similar entities  

For additional clarification on proper signatures contact your local FSA office.


Special Accommodations

Special accommodations will be made upon request for individuals with disabilities, vision impairment or hearing impairment. If accommodations are required, individuals should contact the county FSA office staff directly or by phone.  


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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