USDA Update

By Rod Johnson

July 25, 2003

Several days of 100 degree weather have really been hard on summer crops. In Eads we have had less than 1 inch of rain since June 7. Some small localized areas in the county have picked up significant precipitation in July but to date in Eads we are currently at 20 percent of average for the month with only one week to go. We have received over 9 inches of precipitation in 2003 which is above average but the dry June and July with high temperatures has taken a toll on native grass and summer crops. We just can't seem to completely break this drought cycle.

The Colorado State FSA Executive Director has given the County Committee authority to hire one temporary employee. Carla Warman has been hired to a full-time, temporary position and will begin the first week in August. After we get Carla trained and with her help, we should be able to proceed faster in completing 2001/2002 Crop Disaster payments. This is still a very complicated program and it will take months, not weeks to finish. Beginning in October, we will be making CRP payments, begin preparing Direct and Counter-cyclical Program contracts for the 2004 crop year, and take NAP applications for 2004 so things will not slow down for some time to come.

We are hoping to have procedures for CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) "Managed Haying & Grazing" sometime next week. We have been advised that CRP acres grazed or hayed last year are not subject to the 3-year rotation. We are starting this year with a clean slate. Those acres grazed or hayed last year may be grazed or hayed this year if included in your conservation plan and if it meets NRCS standards. One problem with the managed haying and grazing is that current procedure requires managed haying and grazing to end 30 days before the average first frost date. The average first frost date (28º) in Kiowa County is October 27 so grazing would need to end September 27. The state is working on getting this date changed. If you are interested in immediate managed haying or grazing, please call the office and give us your name and telephone number so we can call you as soon as information is received. There will be a 25% reduction in the annual rental payment for all acres hayed or grazed.

Producers need to be sure to notify the FSA Office within 15 days of any loss on a crop covered by Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). This is the program where you pay $100 per crop (maximum of $300 per county) for disaster coverage on crops not covered by Federal Crop Insurance through private agents. The crop acreage must be inspected while evidence of the disaster is present and BEFORE the crop is abandoned, destroyed or grazed. In some cases we may need to require areas to be paneled to exclude livestock through the growing season. Failure to timely turn in disaster affected areas can result in ineligibility for payments.