USDA Update

by Rod Johnson

April 4, 2003

Signup for the Direct and Count-Cyclical Program is finally over. I know producers are as glad to be done with all of the paper work as we are in the FSA Office. What is next? You need to be getting your information together to report crop acreages for all crops by no later than July 15. Measurement service is still available if you need assistance determining acreages.

The excessive wind Sunday night, March 30 caused some continued erosion problems in some areas. If you are turning in acreage to your crop insurance agent requesting an appraisal, be sure you also report those acres to the FSA Office.

We have still not received much on the new 2001/2002 Crop Disaster Program. It sounds like signup may begin in June. We have seen media reports that indicate USDA will allow producers to use the Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC) price election rate for determining the 95% payment cap imposed by the disaster legislation. The CRC rate is higher than the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) coverage so this will not penalize those producers who selected a higher level of insurance.

You will be seeing publicity about the new LCP-II (Livestock Compensation Program). This program will mainly assist livestock producers in other counties that were not eligible for the Livestock Compensation Program last fall. We feel that most Kiowa County livestock producers participated in this program last fall so they will not be eligible for LCP-II. The program is still only applicable to livestock owned on June 1, 2002. If you did not apply for the Livestock Compensation Program last fall, contact the FSA Office to check on your eligibility.

The Farm Service Agency has announced release of "ADVENTURE", an interactive farm-based computer game. The game was launched at the 2003 National 4-H Conference SHARE FAIR, where FSA and other organization exchange innovative ideas. The game can be accessed at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/fsakids/ . Fun for all ages!