USDA Update

By Rod Johnson

January 24, 2004

Do you have any good pictures of Kiowa County Agriculture (crops, planting, harvesting, etc), wildlife, sunrises/sunsets, prairie flowers, 4-H, FFA, county fairs, or most anything else about the county? If so give the Kiowa County USDA Service Center a call. The USDA Service Center in Eads is working on a photo data base to be used for various purposes. Digital pictures are preferred but we may be able to get good quality color photographs scanned. The FSA Office has a high school work study student, Alma Salinas, working on the photo data base this spring. There may be issues of giving credit to the photographer for some pictures. We will be addressing that issue so proper credit is given if necessary. If you are not interested in receiving specific credit for a picture, credit would be given to the Kiowa County USDA Database.

Friday, January 30, 2004 is the final date to signup up for the 2001/2002 Crop Disaster Program. This disaster program applies to virtually all crops in Kiowa County. The FSA Office is making every effort to identify any producer who may be eligible for crop loss in either or both of those

years. Although we try to make sure we don’t miss anyone, it is ultimately each producer’s responsibility to apply for program benefits at FSA.

Producers have until Jan. 31, 2004, to request LDPs for 2003-crop wool and mohair that have not yet been marketed and remain in storage. If LDPs are not requested, producers have until Jan. 31, 2004, to request loans for 2003-crop wool or mohair. To be eligible for a nine-month marketing assistance loan or LDP for wool or mohair, producers must demonstrate compliance with wetland and highly erodible land conservation requirements.

Eligible producers have until Jan. 31, 2004, to apply for LDPs for unshorn pelts produced during the 2003 crop year. Eligible producers must have beneficial interest in the pelts, owned the lamb for at least 30 calendar days before the date of slaughter and sell the unshorn lamb for immediate slaughter. Producers must also comply with wetland conservation and highly erodible land conservation provisions on all lands in which they have an interest. Pelts must have been produced by an eligible producer from unshorn lambs originating in the United States.

Producers are reminded that no program benefits may be made until the FSA office has made all the necessary payment limitation and eligibility determinations. Producers will remain ineligible until all the required forms that include information pertaining to their farming operations are provided to the office. The FSA county committee or the producer may initiate the payment limitation and payment eligibility determinations. Requests may be filed anytime before the final date for submitting form CCC-502 (Farm Operating Plan for Payment Eligibility Review).  

Programs are subject to the following limitations: 

DCP: Direct Payment - $40,000 per crop year

DCP: Counter-Cyclical Payment - $65,000 per crop year

LDPs: Loan Deficiency Payments - $75,000 per crop year

Market Gains:  $75,000 per crop year

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - $50,000 per fiscal year

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) - $200,000

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) - $100,000 per crop year

Environmental Quality Incentive Payments (EQIP) - $450,000 through the life of the farm bill

Statutory provisions require that all entities--individuals, partnerships, joint operations, corporations, trusts, etc.--provide the names, addresses and ID numbers of the entity’s members to the county committee. Also, entities must inform their members of the requirement for designating "permitted entities" for payment purposes. Spouses may be considered separate "persons" for payment limitation purposes if this determination is requested and all the applicable requirements to be determined a "person" are met.

Foreign investors, who buy, sell or hold a direct or indirect interest in U.S. agricultural land must report their holdings and transactions to the Secretary of Agriculture. Failure to timely file an accurate report can result in a penalty with fines up to 25 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land. Contact your local FSA office to file the appropriate report.

Husbands and wives may sign documents on behalf of one another as individuals for FSA and Commodity Credit Corporation programs in which either has an interest. This option is automatically available unless a written request for exclusion is made to the county office staff by either spouse. There exceptions to the rule. Check with THE FSA county office staff for details.

Special accommodations will be made, upon request, for individuals with disabilities including vision or hearing impairment. If special accommodations are required, please call the FSA office and we will be happy to make any arrangements that are needed.

Any person, class or group of persons may file a discrimination complaint within 180 days of an alleged discriminatory action. Complaints may be filed in writing or orally with the agency head, any designated agency official or the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250. Assistance in filing a complaint can be obtained by calling or visiting any FSA office.