Eads USDA Service Center Staff

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• MARCH 11, 2022 - CRP SIGNUP 58 – DEADLINE TO SUBMIT OFFER FOR CONTRACTS THAT EXPIRE 9-30-2022.    
• MARCH 15, 2022 - 2022 ARCPLC ELECTION AND ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

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. 

THE USDA SERVICE CENTER HAS A DROP BOX AVAILABLE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING. 

COVID-19 UPDATE - The USDA Service Center received instructions last week that all customers visiting any Service Center will be required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. 

CRP SIGNUP 58

USDA announced general CRP signup will be held from January 31, 2022, through March 11, 2022.   Eligible land that is not currently enrolled in CRP may be offered for enrollment during general CRP signup 58; by an eligible producer.  In addition, a CRP participant with a contract scheduled to expire on September 30, 2022, may submit an offer for land enrolled under that contract that, if accepted, will have a contract beginning on October 1, 2022. For general CRP signup 58, FSA will use the environmental benefits index (EBI) to rank otherwise eligible offers for selection.  

Producers with expiring CRP contracts should have received a letter regarding the options for the expiring acreage. Review the letter with the options available for the expiring acreage.  Last week’s UPDATE article informed producers with expiring contracts to not contact the office unless the land will not be reoffered for the CRP General Signup.  The staff is in the process of getting needed paperwork together for each producer; so that an informed decision regarding the CRP contract(s) can be made.  The office is getting closer to getting that paperwork together; therefore producers should be looking for an email coming to their inbox later this week or next.  Producers who are operators on expiring CRP contracts and are not the owner of the property need to be having a conversation with the landowner(s) to determine shares and if the tenancy will continue.   

The information one producer on the expiring contract will be receiving is the following;

• NRCS status review - for each expiring tract.  NRCS staff has done a great job of getting field visits conducted on the 400+ contracts that are due to expire.   The status review will give producers the percentage of existing native grasses and desirable forbs on the tract.  The status review will also have the conservation practice the current cover meets.  
  • CP-2 – 20 point - minimum of 2-3 native grasses and at least one forb present.  
  • CP-2 - 50 point – minimum of 3-5 native grasses and at least one forb present.
  • CP-4D – 40 point - 4 species of native grasses and/or forbs present. 
• EBI/Land Eligibility worksheet – for each expiring tract.  This will give the producer the maximum rental rate per acre USDA is offering or the tract.  The sheet will also list the total EBI score for the tract.  Remember, the higher the number the better chance for acceptance. 

EBI stands for Environmental Based Index scores for the specific tract of land.  

N1- cover factors -  

• A - Wildlife Habitat Cover Benefits - 10 to 50 points
• B- Wildlife Enhancement - 0,5 or 20 points
  • Applicable to pollinator habitat only
• C- Wildlife Priority areas - 0-30 points
  • Land located in a designated wildlife priority area will receive points with a weighted N1a score of 40 or greater.  
• N2 – Water quality benefits from reduced erosion, runoff and leaching.
• A – Location of land 0-30 points
• B – Groundwater quality – 0-25 points
• C – Surface water quality - 0-45 points

N3 – Erosion Factor, 0-100 points

N4 - Enduring Benefits - 0-50 points

N5 - Air Quality Benefits 0 3-45 points

N6 – Cost 

• A - determined after the end of signup. 
• B - producer can lower maximum rental rate for additional points.  2 points for each percentage below maximum rental rate.  Maximum of 25 points for 15 percent reduction. 

NOTE:  Producers have control of only N1 and N6 factors to increase points; all other factors are computer generated.

Be patient with the staff; the information will be provided, and producers will have ample time to submit an offer before the deadline.  

ARCPLC ELECTION & ENROLLMENT 

ARCPLC program has been handed off to Brandi; producers who have not contacted the office for the election and enrollment can email Brandi (email listed at the end of UPDATE) with their decision.  Producers have been notified and it will be their responsibility to contact the office prior to the March 15, 2022 deadline to make the election and enrollment.  All producers with a share are required to sign the contract; therefore if the operator does not have POA for that specific producer; DO NOT WAIT until March 15, 2022   All signatures need to be in the office by March 15, 2022.