USDA Update – June 23, 2020
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
- PRIMARY NESTING SEASON - March 15 - July 15 - NO ACTIVITY PERMITTED ON CRP
- FSA 2020 ACREAGE REPORTING DATE: EXTENDED TO AUGUST 14 –
- CFAP – Signup May 26 – August 28
- LFP – Signup ends January 30, 2021
- 2020- ARCPLC enrollment - Deadline June 30, 2020
- 2020 – COUNTY COMMITTEE NOMINATION PERIOD - DEADLINE AUGUST 1, 2020
- 2020 PLC YIELD UPDATE – Deadline September 30, 2020
- WHIP+ signup - Begins March 23, 2020
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.
USDA Service Centers will continue to operate by phone appointment only for a few more weeks.
COVID-19 USDA GUIDANCE
There is no public access allowed into the Service Center at this time. Customers can call 719-438-5851 and schedule a phone appointment or can call with questions. The staff is working and will continue to provide customer service. Customers can use email, fax and phones to contact the office and/or employees. Contact information is provided below.
USDA Service Centers Open for Business by Phone Appointment Only
U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Centers are encouraging visitors to take precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The Kiowa County USDA Service Center will continue to be open for business by phone appointment only and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While our program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with our producers by phone, and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call to schedule a phone appointment.
Farm Service Agency: (719) 438-5851 extension 2 - Natural Resources Conservation Service: (719) 438-5851 extension 3.
Employees may also be contacted by email; the email addresses are listed below in the Service Center contact information.
Online services are available to customers with an eAuth account, which provides access to the farmers.gov portal where producers can view USDA farm loan information and payments and view and track certain USDA program applications and payments. Online NRCS services are available to customers through the Conservation Client Gateway. Customers can track payments, report completed practices, request conservation assistance, and electronically sign documents. Customers who do not already have an eAuth account can enroll at farmers.gov/sign-in.
For the most current updates on available services and Service Center status visit farmers.gov/coronavirus.
DROUGHT MONITOR
This week’s drought monitor expanded the D3 extreme drought rating further into Lincoln and Cheyenne counties. Kit Carson, Elbert, El Paso and Pueblo counties are new to the D3 designation. Producers located or have interest in those counties will need to contact those FSA offices to determine eligibility for Livestock Forage Program and if CRP Emergency grazing is available. In looking at the map there isn’t much of Colorado that isn’t designated in a drought intensity from D0 to D3.
2020 ARCPLC Contract Deadline
June 30, 2020 is the last day for producers to enroll an eligible farm into ARCPLC for 2020 crop year. The National Office sent a reminder postcard to farm operators and all farm owner’s producers who do not have one or more farms enrolled and approved for crop year 2020. The majority of all Kiowa County farms are enrolled and approved. If you received a postcard and are a multi-county producer contact all offices you have an interest in to determine what farms need to be completed by next Tuesday, June 30th.
CRP EMERGENCY GRAZING ON HOLD
June 10, the office received notification that the office was approved for CRP Emergency grazing. June 15, the office received notification to not approve any CRP grazing plans until further notice. Today is June 22 and there has been nothing received to allow grazing.
When the office receives notification to allow approved request to graze, producers who have returned all paperwork and are just waiting for approval will receive a phone call that their request has been approved.
For producers who have not requested Emergency grazing; the office has been instructed to continue to accept requests. Below is information on the grazing and the duties of each agency and producers. If there are any questions or concerns; please contact the office.
Either the CRP participant or the livestock producer can contact the FSA Office, by phone to begin the process. There are a number of forms that will require all CRP participants signature before approval can be issued. To speed the process along; either party needs to have a plan together for obtaining those signatures, especially those of non-resident owners.
There is no payment reduction for Emergency grazing
NRCS responsibilities
The livestock producer will work with NRCS on the required grazing plan. During the primary nesting season; which will not end until July 15th the stocking rate is 50% of normal carrying capacity. After July 15th, it the stocking rate will increase to 75%.
The CRP contract participants will be required to sign a modified Conservation Plan of Operations which NRCS will generate.
FSA responsibilities
CRP participants must –
- Complete CRP – 117, request to graze (one signature of current CRP participant required)
- Sign terms and conditions for Emergency Grazing.
- Sign modified CPO generated by NRCS.
Livestock producer must -
- Sign statement that the acreage will not be subleased; if the livestock producer is not a participant on the CRP contract being grazed.
- Follow the grazing plan established by NRCS.
When all signatures have been obtained the CRP contract participants and the livestock producer will receive a letter of approval. There can be NO grazing of the acreage until the approval letter is received by either party.
IMPORTANT: Livestock producers and CRP producers must work together with the grazing of the CRP acreage. Any damage to the CRP contract acreage will be the responsibility of the CRP contract participants. USDA/CCC has a binding and legal contract with the participants NOT with the livestock producer.
2020 CROP ACREAGE REPORTING
Producers who have crop insurance are reminded to report all planted, prevented planted and failed acres to their crop insurance BEFORE reporting to FSA.
Due to COVID-19. FSA received a crop acreage reporting extension to August 14, 2020. Crop insurance has received NO extension concerning deadlines.
Producers in Kiowa County will be required to complete the information for crop reporting on the aerial photos for each farm. Producers can call the office and request the maps to be emailed or mailed. There will also be instructions included pertaining on what information needs to be written on the aerial photo.
Once the office receives the completed maps back in the office; the staff will work through the acreage reports in the order received. Producers will be contacted when the acreage reports are ready for signature.
