September 5, 2017 at 3:32 p.m.
CRP general sign-up has begun
Currently, about 27 million acres are enrolled in CRP. Producers that are accepted in the program can receive cost-share assistance to plant long-term, resource-conserving covers and receive an annual rental payment for the length of the contract which is 10-15 years.
Contracts on 3.3 million acres of CRP are set to expire on Sept. 30, 2013. Producers with expiring contracts or producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP. Producers interested in enrolling land in CRP should contact your local FSA office and make an appointment to determine eligibility and contract information pertaining to their sign-up.
Soil Rental Rates (SRR's) are established to reflect current local dry land cropland rental rates, and provide the basis for determining the annual rental rates used to determine annual payments for CRP. These rates are set at market levels to ensure that program operations do not distort local rental markets, minimize program costs, and achieve program goals and objectives. In addition, SRR's help assure that CRP remains competitive with other programs, and is viable for producers who want to practice good conservation. These rates are grouped by soil productivity factors and are based on surveys conducted by USDA. In addition to the increased SRR's, incentives equal to 20 percent of the SRR are added for select continuous practices.
For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA service center or www.fsa.usda.gov.
Report alfalfa winterkill damage to FSA
Some alfalfa producers in Minnesota are finding evidence of winterkill damage in their alfalfa stands. Producers that have significant winterkill damage should notify their local Farm Service Agency office within 15 days of when loss is apparent, and before any damaged acres are prepared for re-seeding.
Reporting winterkill damage is recommended as a means of documenting such damage for future reference in the event the new farm bill authorizes any type of disaster assistance programs for the 2013 crop year.
Producers who have alfalfa coverage under a federal crop insurance policy should also report any winterkill damage to their insurance agent.
The FSA Office has to know the specific crop and the acres that failed on each field. Failed acreage claims may be verified by Crop Insurance data, County Committee knowledge that an area is affected by a natural disaster, or a field visit.
University of Minnesota Extension has a number of resources available to help evaluate winterkilled stands, while also providing various options and recommendations. These resources can be found at: http://www1.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/crops/spring-issues/ and at http://www.extension.umn.edu/forages/winter-injury-of-alfalfa/.
DCP/ACRE sign-up continues
The sign-up period for DCP and ACRE are still open. Producers are encouraged to sign up for DCP before the Aug. 2, 2013, deadline. An even earlier deadline is for ACRE, which will end June 3, 2013.
Upcoming deadlines for 2013
• May 31 - Final day to apply for 2012 corn or soybean loan.
• June 3 - ACRE sign-up ends.
• June 7 - SURE applications due for 2011 crop losses.
More information about CRP, MILC, and other FSA programs and where to find your local USDA Service Center can be found at www.fsa.usda.gov.
Farm Service Agency is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Visit the Farm Service Agency Web site at: www.fsa.usda.gov for necessary application forms and updates on USDA programs.
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