IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

• MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2022 - SERVICE CENTER CLOSED - OBSERVANCE OF JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY
• EMERGENCY GRAZING ON CRP AVAILABLE - 50% stocking rate reduction during primary nesting season and if county remains as D2 drought designation.  
• EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM – Phase 1 – Deadline to submit application July 22, 2022 
• CROP CERTIFICATION DEADLINE - July 15, 2022
• NRCS DEADLINE FOR CRP SU#58 CONSERVATION PLAN - July 29th
• TIP – Transition Incentive Program – DEADLINE TO SUBMIT CRP 1-R - AUGUST 5, 2022.

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. 

D2 DROUGHT DESIGNATION

Last week Eads received 0.9 inches of moisture throughout the week.  Most all areas in the county received moisture which was welcome.  Last week’s drought monitor has just a sliver of D2 drought designation in eastern Kiowa County with the balance of the county now in a D1, moderate drought designation.  

EMERGENCY GRAZING OF CRP

Just a reminder on Emergency grazing of CRP acres is only authorized if the county is rated as a D2 or greater on the U.S. Drought Monitor.  If conditions improve, the drought monitor reflect those changes and the County Committee determines conditions do not warrant continuing Emergency grazing, it will cease and producers will be notified.  

EMERGENCY RELEF PROGRAM 

The office has begun to issue the 2020 and 2021 ERP payments to producers.  The deadline to returned the mailed application is July 22, 2022.  If a producer did not a  suffer a crop loss that an indemnity was paid in 2020 or 2021 an application was not mailed.  

A couple of reminders when completing the FSA-510 ERP forms.  

• Read the cover letter. 
• Questions regarding units and computation of payment on RMA units and crops they need to CONTACT INSURANCE AGENT. 
• SBI signature is only required if claiming a share of the ERP payment. 
• The units are broken down to producer share of crop.  Shares on the CCC-520 need to equal 100% per unit.  
• If landowners have an insurance policy and if the unit suffered a loss, the landowner would receive their own CCC-520 form.  
• Linkage requirement applies to all types of policies; including annual forage.  
• HAIL is not considered a qualifying disaster event and those losses are on the application.  If the loss was due to hail; producer needs to contact their crop insurance agent.  

VOLUNTARY TERMINATINO OF CRP CONTRACTS EXPIRING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Due to concerns regarding global food production, USDA is waiving refunds and penalties for CRP participants who voluntarily request to terminate a CRP contract that is in its final year and set to expire on September 30, 2022.  Producers will continue to receive 100% of the final annual rental payment in October 2022.

FSA National Office did mail letters to producers with expiring contracts.  Letters were not mailed to some producers with; 

• Accepted general CRP signup 58 offer
• Grassland CRP offer
• An approved continuous CRP offer.  

The following criteria must be met for voluntary terminations to be eligible for the waivers of refunds (including interest) and liquidated damages: 

• CRP-1 is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2022
• All participants on the CRP-1 submit a written request to the FSA county office to voluntarily terminate all or a portion of the land under the CRP-1
• Request to terminate after July 15, 2022, which is the end of primary nesting season for CRP.  
• Conservation compliance requirements are met.  

Producers interested in seeking voluntary termination need to contact the FSA Office.