USDA Update

By Rod Johnson

August 8, 2003

We are continuing to process 2001/2002 Crop Disaster Program applications. Please do not call or stop by the office to check on your application until we contact you. The phone calls and producers asking at the counter are just delaying the process. We can not work on applications when we are talking on the telephone. The applications are very complicated and every interruption increases the chances for errors. We will get everyone paid faster if we can minimize interruptions. Thank you for your help.

NRCS finally received their information for making modifications to the CRP plan to allow managed haying and grazing. We are still waiting for information on the date haying or grazing must end. The criteria for stubble height are very similar to the emergency haying and grazing except there is not a requirement to leave 25% ungrazed or reduce stocking levels to 75%. A payment reduction of 25% of the annual CRP rental payment will be required

You will be seeing news releases about signup for the new Livestock Assistance Program (LAP) beginning August 8. Kiowa County will not be able to take signup since the office has not completed everything that needs to be submitted to the STO to make the county eligible for the program. We will advise you as soon as we can take signup.

The County Committee election process has changed for 2003. In the past, the County Committee has been required to add additional persons to ballot if insufficient nominations were received. Beginning in 2003, the County Committee will not add names to the ballot unless NO valid nominating petitions are filed. If NO valid nominating petitions are filed, the County Committee will develop a slate of three (3) nominees.

USDA has placed a high priority on encouraging socially disadvantaged groups to nominate eligible individuals for the County Committee Ballot. Socially disadvantaged group means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as member of a group without regard to their individual qualities.

Nominating petitions are available from the Kiowa County FSA Office at P.O. Box 188, Eads, Colorado 81036. Nomination petitions may also be requested by telephone at 719-438-5851 (Extension 2). In 2003 ballots will be mailed nationwide by a private contractor. Because of this, the nomination dates have been moved forward. Nominations must be received in the Farm Service Agency Office no later than September 5, 2003. A list of eligible voters is available in the FSA Office.

Ballots will be mailed around November 18 and must be returned to the FSA Office in person or postmarked no later than December 1, 2003. The County Committee will count ballots no later then December 8, 2003. The ballot count is open to the public.

In 2003 producers will be electing a County Committee person in Local Administrative Area #2. This is the middle portion of Kiowa County between County Road 27 and 54. Leslie Rittgers is currently serving as your County Committee representative for this area. He is eligible to run for another term if he is willing.

We have had some situations recently that make producers ineligible for Loan Deficiency Payment (LDP). If we receive a FAXed or mailed request for LDP on a date when the LDP rate is zero, the quantity of grain shown on the request is not eligible for loan or LDP at a later date if the LDP rate becomes greater than zero. It is best to contact the FSA Office to make sure an LDP rate is in effect before filing a CCC-633 LDP Certification and Application. The same applies for a CCC-709 Direct LDP Agreement. Producers with a CCC-709 receive the LDP rate in effect on the date grain is delivered after harvest directly to an elevator. If the LDP rate that day is zero, then those bushels receive no LDP and will not become eligible for loan or LDP at a later date.

The interest rate for crop loans disbursed in August is 2.125 percent, up from 2.000 percent in July. The interest rate for farm storage facility loans approved in August is 4.250 percent.