USDA Update

By Rod Johnson

April 30, 2004

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN!! I don’t know that it is a drought buster, but maybe we got the pump primed. We need it to keep raining. Rain began Wednesday, April 21 and continued through Saturday, April 24. Total precipitation amounts for this period around the county varied mostly between 2 and 3 inches. The rains came very slowly which allowed them to soak in. Very little runoff was noted. This will be a big help in getting native grass off to a good start and has definitely begun to improve the moisture profile in cropland.

In last weeks column I stated the deadline for signing up in the 2003 White Wheat Incentive Program was May 4. The correct final date is May 31, 2004. I had taken the May 4 date from an erroneous Fact Sheet that has since been corrected.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it will offer soybean producers the opportunity to request a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order. Beginning May 3, 2004 and continuing through May 28, 2004, eligible producers may obtain a form to request a referendum from County FSA Offices either in person or by sending a request by mail or facsimile. Forms may also be obtained from http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/rp-soy.htm. Request for Referendum forms must be postmarked or returned in person by May 28, 2004, to the FSA Office where farm records are maintained or mailed. An eligible person, is a producer who sold soybeans from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2003 and paid an assessment on that production at least once during that period. Contact the FSA Office for complete details.