USDA Update

By Rod Johnson

March 12, 2004

We are getting into the season when crop adjusters are beginning to work losses on winter wheat. Adjusters request copies of your crop acreage reports from the FSA Office. If you think you are going to be reporting crop losses on any of your winter wheat, making your acreage report at the FSA office early will speed up the adjustment process. Measurement service is still available if you need assistance in determining crop acreage.

We have received some questions about grazing CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) grass. As it stands now grazing of CRP will not be allowed until after July 15 which is the established end of the nesting period for wildlife in Colorado. We have been advised the CRP is a conservation program that exists primarily because of wildlife interests. Beginning in 2003, managed haying and grazing of CRP acreage is being allowed once every three years to improve the vigor of the grass. The Colorado State Technical Committee, which is a working group of several different agencies, determines the dates when haying and grazing will be permitted. The length of the grazing period for 2004 has not been determined. We will let you know as soon as we get further information. There will still be a 25% annual payment reduction for acres of CRP hayed or grazed.

The wildlife nesting period for Colorado is March 15 through July 15. During this period, no activities such as grazing, haying, mowing, herbicide applications for weed control, burning or any other activity that disturbs established CRP is allowed unless a specific request is made to and approved by the FSA County Committee. It is best to contact the FSA office about any issues on CRP before taking action.

Every year we get questions about what weeds need to be controlled on CRP. Usually about the middle or later part of June, we begin getting complaints from neighboring farmers about bindweed blooming on CRP acres. Bindweed with its white flowers is usually the most noticed weed but other weeds can also be a problem. One in particular that is showing up more frequently and we are getting complaints about is jointed goatgrass. Jointed goatgrass is a real nuisance but you still need to work on controlling it. CRP participants are required to control any weeds (including noxious weeds) that pose a threat to existing cover or adversely impact other landowners in the area. Failure to control weeds can result in payment reductions of two times the cost of controlling the weeds and then you are still required to take action to complete weed control.

The deadline to purchase Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage and for several 2004 crops is here! Monday, March 15 is the deadline for spring crops such as forage sorghum, dual purpose grain sorghum, oats, spring wheat, all millet (except Prosso which is now insurable through Federal Crop Insurance), soybeans and many other crops which are not insurable through Federal Crop Insurance. Cost of coverage is $100 per crop, maximum of $300 per county and $900 for all counties. March 15 is also the deadline to purchase Federal Crop Insurance from private agents for spring crops.