USDA Update – February 18, 2019
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
- EXTENDED – FEBRUARY 28 - DEADLINE to apply for 2018 (LFP) Livestock Forage Program –
- MFP production deadline – May 1, 2019
- COC Meeting - March 19th– 9:00 a.m.
- CRP Primary Nesting Season begins March 15th
- Continuous CRP Grassland Signup 201 –Offers being accepted - $5.00 per acre rental rate
Disclaimer: Information in this UPDATE is pertinent to Kiowa County FSA only. Producers reading this and that do not have FSA interest in Kiowa County are advised to contact their local FSA Office.
Kiowa County Committee Reorganizational Meeting
The Kiowa County FSA Committee held the reorganizational meeting February 14. Due to the Government shutdown this was delayed.
Destiny (Duff) Haase – LAA 2 (Central area) – reelected to the COC in December will serve as Chairperson.
Sean Harkness – LAA 1 (East area) will serve as Vice-Chairperson.
Michael Zimmerman – LAA 3 (West area) will serve as Regular Member.
Monthly meetings are scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the USDA Service Center in Eads.
CRP PRIMARY NESTING SEASON
The beginning of primary nesting season (PNS) is fast approaching. The nesting season begins March 15 and ends July 15,during the PNS there can be no disturbance to established CRP grass cover. CRP producers who are required to complete a contract management or are required to perform a weed control cannot complete those requirements during that four-month period. Initial seeding of permanent cover or re-seeding of failed seedings must be completed by April 30, as those contract acres are not deemed to have established permanent cover.
FARM STORAGE FACILITY LOANS
Many producers believe the Farm Storage Facility or (FSFL) loans are for only grain bins, but truly the intent of the FSFL Program is to provide on-farm storage to producers to store and handle eligible facility loan commodities they produce. FSFL collateral must be used for the purpose for which the FSFL storage, equipment and handling truck was acquired, constructed or installed for the entire FSFL term.
Eligible storage and handling trucks, new or used, include the following, for FSFL purposes.
- grain trucks; a piece of farm equipment specially made to accommodate grain products and are traditionally truck chassis units with a mounted grain “dump” body where grain commodities are transported from a field to either a grain elevator or a storage bin.
Eligible Equipment necessary for eligible FSFL commodities include some of the following.
- augers
- baggers (excluding bags)
- circulation fans
There is a long list of eligible equipment, for more information you can either:
- visit www.fsa.usda.gov– click on Fact Sheets, scroll to Loans and click on Farm Storage Facility Loans
- visit your local FSA Office to obtain a copy of the Fact Sheet.
Kiowa County NRCS Office
Scott Smith, with the Cheyenne County NRCS Office is currently overseeing the Kiowa County NRCS Office. Scott is normally in Eads on Wednesday’s after 10:00 a.m. Producers can call the Cheyenne County NRCS @ 719-767-5648, ext. 3 to set up an appointment with Scott.
Kiowa County FSA Committee
- Destiny Haase - LAA 2 – Central area – Committee Chairperson
- Sean Harkness – LAA 1 – East area – Committee Vice-Chairperson
- Michael Zimmerman – LAA3 – West area – Committee Regular Member
USDA SERVICE CENTER CONTACT INFORMATION
409 E Lowell Ave.
PO Box 188 – Eads, CO 81036
Telephone 719-438-5851 FSA (Ext 2), NRCS (Ext 3). FSA Fax number: fax2mail 844-332-7501
- Dawna Weirich – CED dawna.weirich@co.usda.gov
- Charla Ferris – PT charla.ferris@co.usda.gov
- Hallie Barlow - PT hallie.barlow@co.usda.gov
KIOWA COUNTY NRCS CONTACT INFORMATION -
Cheyenne Wells 719-767-5648 ext 3 -
Scott Smith, scott.smith@co.usda.gov -
KIOWA COUNTY FARM LOAN CONTACT INFO – CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT
Telephone 719-336-3437 (ext2)
Mary Rhoades, mary.rhoades@co.usda.gov,
Nicole Lubbers, nicole.lubbers@co.usda.gov
SERVICE CENTER OFFICE HOURS:
Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, by appointment only.
FSA INFORMATION
For information on programs visit our website located at www.fsa.usda.gov or like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.