USDA Update – May 13, 2019
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
- MARKET FACILITATION PROGRAM PRODUCTION EXTENSION - May 17th
- FSA Farm Loan personnel in Eads Office – June 11th
- COC Meeting - TBD– 9:00 a.m.
- 2019 NAP BUY-UP OPTION DEADLINE – Friday, May 24th
- CRP Primary Nesting Season March 15th– July 15th.
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.
NRCS OFFICE
Producers needing assistance with NRCS programs are urged to call Scott Smith @ Cheyenne Wells NRCS Office. His contact information is 719-767-5648, extension 3. His email address is scott.smith@usda.gov. There has been no official notification of when the vacancies at the Eads NRCS Office will be filled.
POSTCARD
The FSA Office will be mailing a postcard to operators of cropland farms this week notifying them to visit the office to sign the CCC-633EZ, ‘Loan Deficiency Payment Agreement and Request’. The 2019 loan rate for Kiowa County is $2.80, and the posted county price determining daily LDP rates is $3.46; therefore, Kiowa is 67 cents away from having an effective LDP rate. The 633EZ form needs to be on file in an FSA Office BEFOREloss of beneficial interest (title and control) to indicate your intention to receive LDP benefits for this crop year.
The postcard will also explain that operators will need to call the FSA Office to schedule an appointment to complete the 2019 spring certification. The deadline for 2019 acreage certification is July 15thand with staff attending different Farm Bill trainings throughout the summer; this is will be the best way to accommodate the producer and the FSA staff.
REQUESTING FAILED ACREAGE HISTORY CREDIT
Before destroying a planted crop that is not insured through crop insurance or FSA’s NAP program, producers should contact the FSA Office. Acreage reports and requests for disaster credit for failedacreage credit must be sought by a producer before;
the crop acreage is destroyed
disposition of the crop
Producers who destroy a planted crop will not receive failed acreage credit if the crop is destroyed before reporting the failed acres to FSA. This could potentially affect the insurability of subsequent crops with crop insurance.
NAP 2019 BUY-UP OPTION
Producers have a one-time opportunity until May 24, 2019, to obtain buy-up coverage for 2019 or 2020 eligible crops for which the NAP application closing date has passed. Buy-up coverage is not available for crops intended for grazing. Producers who purchased a policy prior to April 8thand wish to add buy-up coverage need to also contact the FSA Office prior to May 24, those producers will not be required to pay the additional service fees.
Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that higher levels of coverage will be offered through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), a popular safety net program, beginning April 8, 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill also increased service fees and made other changes to the program, including service fee waivers for qualified military veterans interested in obtaining NAP coverage.
NAP Buy-Up Coverage Option
The 2018 Farm Bill reinstates higher levels of coverage, from 50 to 65 percent of expected production in 5 percent increments, at 100 percent of the average market price. Producers of organics and crops marketed directly to consumers also may exercise the “buy-up” option to obtain NAP coverage of 100 percent of the average market price at the coverage levels of between 50 and 65 percent of expected production. NAP basic coverage is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50 percent of expected production.
NAP Service Fees
For all coverage levels, the new NAP service feeis the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per county, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties. These amounts reflect a $75 service fee increase for crop, county or multi-county coverage. The fee increases apply to obtaining NAP coverage on crops on or after April 8, 2019.
Beginning, limited resource and targeted underserved farmers or ranchers remain eligible for a waiver of NAP service fees and premium reduction when they file form CCC-860, “Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource and Beginning Farmer or Rancher Certification.”
