---

The July payment rate has been announced for MILC at $0.0584 cents per hundred weight. The June payment rate was announced at $0.2187. The August calculation will not be completed until Sept. 30, 2013.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program
The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides weather-related-loss protection for all crops commercially produced for food or fiber for which Catastrophic Risk Protection (crop insurance) is not available. Approaching deadlines are:
• Turf grass sod: application closing date is Sept. 1. NAP coverage period is Oct. 1 - Sept. 30.
• Asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries: application closing date is Sept. 30. NAP coverage period is Oct. 30 - July 31.
• Perennial fruits - apples, cranberries: application closing date is Nov. 20. NAP coverage period is Dec. 20 - Sept. 20.
Benefits become available when a covered crop suffers a loss exceeding 50 percent of the approved yield. The payment rate is 55 percent of the average market price that has been established by program procedure. A fee of $250 per crop, not to exceed $750 per county, must be paid by the application closing date for the crop. Producers must file a notice of loss within 15 days after the date of the disaster condition or when damage to the crop is obvious.

Microloan Program
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) developed the Microloan program to better serve the unique financial operating needs of beginning, niche and small family farm operations.
FSA offers applicants a Microloan designed to help farmers with credit needs of $35,000 or less. The loan features a streamlined application process built to fit the needs of new and smaller producers. This loan program will also be useful to specialty crop producers and operators of community supported agriculture (CSA).
Eligible applicants can apply for a maximum amount of $35,000 to pay for initial start-up expenses such as hoop houses to extend the growing season, essential tools, irrigation and annual expenses such as seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents, marketing, and distribution expenses. As financing needs increase, applicants can apply for a regular operating loan up to the maximum amount of $300,000 or obtain financing from a commercial lender under FSA's Guaranteed Loan Program.
Individuals interested in applying for a microloan or discussing other farm loan programs available, should contact the local FSA office to setup an appointment with a Loan Approval Official.

Upcoming deadlines for 2013
• Sept. 15: CRP Managed Harvesting & Grazing ends - remove all livestock and bales
• Sept. 25: CRP Managed Harvesting and Grazing reporting deadline
• Sept. 30: 2013 Expiring CRP reenrollment deadline
• Sept. 30: 2014 NAP Perennial Forage Crops; Select Fruits and Vegetables; or Wild Rice sales deadline
• Ongoing: Continuous CRP sign up
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.
[[In-content Ad]]

---