When you call your FSA office, remember to inform the staff of any changes that may affect FSA farm records. That includes any changes to operators, owners and leasing agreements.
The changes in a farm operation must be completed before the enrollment process.
Conservation Reserve Program
Two weeks remain in the general enrollment period for the Conservation Reserve Program. Feb. 26 is the deadline.
Ag economist Michael Swanson has said, “On the average farm, regardless of location, 60 percent of the land on the farm will turn a profit, 20 percent of the farmland will break even and 20 percent of the farmland loses money.”
With that and our current commodity market trends in mind, consider if CRP would be a good fit for your farming operation.
Producers must visit their local FSA offices to submit CRP offers. More information is posted at www.fsa.usda.gov/crp.
Compliance critical to eligibility
Compliance with Highly Erodible Lands and Wetland Conservation provisions is necessary to maintain eligibility for federal farm programs and crop insurance subsidies.
Conservation compliance refers to the USDA requirement that highly erodible lands be farmed in a manner that maintains a certain level of surface residue and minimizes soil erosion. This may include such steps as incorporating minimal or no-till methods, or planting cover crops.
Conservation compliance also prohibits conversions of wetlands or planting an ag commodity on converted wetlands. Converting a wetland may include removing trees, installing a new drainage or modifying an existing drainage to an area.
Producers should file Form AD-1026 with FSA prior to any land clearing or drainage-type projects to ensure the proposed actions meet compliance criteria.
After the form is filed, Natural Resources Conservation Service staff will review the site to ensure the proposed work won’t put your eligibility for benefits at risk. Make sure this review is completed before starting a project.
Livestock Indemnity Program
The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the Livestock Indemnity Program to provide benefits to livestock producers with livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality because of adverse weather.
An eligible weather event includes floods, blizzards, extreme heat and extreme cold.
If you are a livestock producer who had animal deaths as a direct result of the Feb. 2 blizzard, contact your local FSA office to determine if you are eligible for this program.
Source - kearneyhub.com
