IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

• NAP APPLICATON FOR COVERAGE DEADLINE - Alfalfa and Grass - December 1, 2023
• 2023 LIVESTOCK FORAGE PROGRAM or LFP – Kiowa County eligible – deadline to apply January 30, 2024. 

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. 

 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

KIOWA COUNTY FAIR

The USDA Service Center will be closed Monday, September 4, for Labor Day. The office will be open normal business hours during the fair, Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ANNUAL FORAGE AND CROP INSURNACE LINKAGE REQUIREMENT

General Rule of Linkage for ERP Phase 1 and 2 

As producers are reviewing insurance needs with their respective agent; be aware there are linkage requirements for accepting the ERP phase 1 and 2 payments.  

As a condition of payment eligibility and accepting the ERP payment, producers must obtain crop insurance or NAP coverage, as applicable, for the identified crop or trees. By signing the application, producers are agreeing to purchase crop insurance or NAP as applicable for the crop, at the 60/100 coverage level or higher for insured crops: or at the basic 50/55 (catastrophic) coverage level or higher for NAP crops for the next 2 available crop years.  

How does this relate to the Risk Management Agency’s Annual Forage and Rainfall Index Program?

If a producer has received benefits on a Pasture Rangeland and Forage, Annual Forage, or WFRP/Micro Farm policy, for linkage, the producer is required to obtain coverage for the number of acres for which an ERP payment was received, purchase PRF or individual crop insurance policy at 60/100 coverage level or higher or NAP at the basic 50/55 (catastrophic) level of coverage or higher if crop insurance is not available in the county.

Example: To meet linkage a producer could purchase PRF, a forage production crop insurance policy or NAP as applicable for the crop.

If a producer has received benefits on annual forage, for linkage, the producer is required to purchase annual forage or individual crop insurance policy at 60/100 coverage level or higher, or NAP at the basic 50/55 (catastrophic) level of coverage or higher if crop insurance is not available on the crop in the county.

Example:  Producer has an Annual Forage policy and receives an ERP 2022 payment due to a loss on wheat for grain and a loss on sorghum forage hay. To meet linkage producer may purchase annual forage or a wheat policy and NAP for sorghum forage.

NRCS in Colorado Extends Application Deadline for CSP Funding Opportunity 

CSP Application Deadline Extended to September 8, 2023

Colorado ag producers who have existing conservation measures and are looking to add and improve upon them are encouraged to apply for enrollment into the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Through CSP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers ag landowners a variety of conservation practices and enhancements, and the opportunity to implement activities through new technologies and management techniques. 

The NRCS is implementing this round of CSP funding through its ACT NOW Initiative. Colorado's ACT NOW Initiatives allows producers who apply for applicable NRCS funding and have fully established eligibility records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) the potential to know if their project will be funded before leaving the UDSA service center. Landowners interested in improving grazing conditions, increasing crop resiliency, developing wildlife habitat, and are within the project area (see list below) are encouraged to apply. 

Landowner participation is limited to the following areas for this round of CSP funding: Meeker (Rio Blanco County), Craig (Moffatt County), Montrose (Montrose County), Gunnison (Gunnison County), Norwood (San Miguel County), Durango/Ignacio (La Plata County), Pagosa Springs (Archuleta County), Center/Alamosa/San Luis (Saguache, Costilla, Alamosa, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Conejos Counties) Trinidad (Las Animas County), Walsenburg (Huerfano County), Springfield (Baca County), Las Animas (Bent County), Lamar (Prowers County), Pueblo (Pueblo County), Rocky Ford (Otero/Crowley County), Cheyenne Wells (Cheyenne County), Eads (Kiowa County) , Burlington/Flagler (Kit Carson County), Hugo (Lincoln County), Longmont (Boulder County), Denver Metro (Jefferson and Denver Counties), Brighton (Adams County), Byers (Arapahoe County), Akron (Washington County), Yuma/Wray (Yuma County), Julesburg (Sedgwick County) Holyoke (Phillips County), Ft. Collins (Larimer County), Greeley (Weld County) Grand Junction, (Mesa Count), and Delta (Delta County).

CSP funding is available to both large-and small-scale producers and is implemented through five-year contacts. It offers eligible land a baseline payment in addition to the incentive payment. All new activities establish through CSP must be completed on land that the eligible producer has operated for at least five years.

Interested participants are encouraged to contact their local NRCS office located in the USDA Service Center that services their County. To learn more about CSP and other NRCS programs, benefits, and opportunities, visit www.co.nrcs.usda.gov.

CSP applications are due to the local NRCS offices by September 8, 2023.

USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider, and lender.

KIOWA COUNTY FARM SERVICE AGENCY COUNTY COMMITTEE

• Sean Harkness – LAA 1 – East area – Committee Chairperson
• Destiny Haase - LAA 2 – Central area – Committee Vice-Chairperson
• Michael Zimmerman – LAA 3 – 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

FSA - Farm Service Agency  

• Dawna Weirich – CED dawna.weirich@usda.gov
• Charla Ferris – PT  charla.ferris@usda.gov
• Brandi Nevius – PT brandi.nevius@usda.gov
• Teri Ellis – PT teri.ellis@usda.gov

NRCS – Natural Resource Conservation Service

• Scott Smith – Resource Team Leader 719-767-5648 ext. 3 scott.smith3@usda.gov - Cheyenne Wells
• Steve Schmidt – steven.schmidt2@usda.gov  Eads Office
• Marty Miller - marlin.miller@usda.gov Eads Office
• Trey McDowell – tmcdowell@pheasantsforever.org

KIOWA COUNTY FARM LOAN CONTACT INFO – CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Telephone 719-336-3437 (ext. 2) 

• Mary Rhoades, mary.rhoades@usda.gov,
• Nicole Lubbers, nicole.lubbers@usda.gov

SERVICE CENTER OFFICE HOURS:  

Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

RECEIVE USDA INFORMATION

Visit website www.Farmers.gov  for up-to-date information for FSA/NRCS programs.

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For information on programs visit our website located at www.fsa.usda.gov or like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. USDA is an equal opportunity employer.