Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination period begins June 15th 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. This year's election is being held for the townships of include townships which comprise local administrative area #x. 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. Contact your local FSA office if you are interested in serving on the local FSA County Committee or know someone who is interested. USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) Offers Farm Bill Website and Online Overview of Farm Bill Programs The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Act), also known as the 2014 Farm Bill, was signed by President Obama on February 7, 2014. The Act repeals certain programs, continues some programs with modifications, and authorizes several new programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Most of these programs are authorized and funded through 2018. For the latest on 2014 Farm Bill programs administered by FSA, please visit our Farm Bill website at www.fsa.usda.gov/farmbill and for an FSA program overview please read, download and/or print our recently posted FSA Farm Bill Fact Sheet titled, What's in the 2014 Farm Bill for Farm Service Agency Customers? For more information on FSA, please contact your local USDA Service Center or visit us online at www.fsa.usda.gov. Livestock Disaster Assistance Sign-up Underway Livestock Disaster Assistance Sign-up Underway 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 your local 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 their local FSA office to apply for these programs. Reporting Losses, Acreage & 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 early 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.
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. 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). USDA Prepares to Accept MAL and LDP Requests; Sets 2014 MAL Loan Rates The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting requests for marketing assistance loans (MALs) and loan deficiency payments (LDPs) for eligible 2014 commodities. MALs and LDPs for the 2014 crop year become available to eligible producers beginning with harvest/shearing season and extending through a specific commodity's final loan availability date. MALs and LDPs provide financing and marketing assistance for wheat, feed grains, soybeans, and other oilseeds, pulse crops, wool, mohair and honey. MALs provide producers interim financing after harvest to help them meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows. A producer who is eligible to obtain a loan, but agrees to forgo the loan, may obtain an LDP if such a payment is available. The 2014 Farm Bill also establishes payment limitations per individual or entity not to exceed $125,000 annually on certain commodities for the following program benefits: price loss coverage payments, agriculture risk coverage payments, marketing loan gains (MLGs) and LDPs. These payment limitations do not apply to MAL loan disbursements. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) provisions were modified by the 2014 Farm Bill, which states that a producer whose total applicable three-year average AGI exceeds $900,000 is not eligible to receive an MLG or LDP. National and county loans rates for 2014 crops are posted on the FSA website at: www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport. For more information, please visit a nearby USDA Service Center or FSA's website www.fsa.usda.gov. USDA Enhances Farm Storage Facility Loan Program The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to provide low-interest financing to producers through the Farm Storage and Facility Loan program to build or upgrade feed and commodity storage facilities. Farm Storage and Facility Loans security requirements have been eased for loans between $50,000 and $100,000. Previously, all loans in excess of $50,000 required a promissory note and additional security, such as a lien on real estate. Now, for loans over $50,000 but less than $100,000, additional security is required if the loan collateral has no resale value, such as with a cement pad or a bunker silo with poured concrete pads. The low-interest funds can be used to build or upgrade permanent facilities to store commodities. Loans are available for bunkers, flat storage, hay barns, bins, grain drying and handling facilities as well as silos and oxygen limiting structures. Loans are also available for renovating existing storage facilities as well as for fruit, vegetable, honey and biomass storage. 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. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment