By the Eads USDA Service Center

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

•    CRP General signup - deadline for offers -  Feb. 26, 2016 - 
•    Dec. 7, 2015 – Aug. 1, 2016 -  2016 ARC-PLC Enrollment
•    March 15 – NAP application closing Date for spring seeded forage crops
•    March 15 – July 15th - Primary Nesting Season for CRP.  No practice or management activity allowed. 

CRP SIGNUP
The deadline is nearing for the 30th anniversary general CRP signup which is Friday, February 26th.  For producers who wish to submit an offer, we ask that you please contact the office with the legal description of the land you wish to offer.  General Signup’s don’t occur every year, so don’t miss this opportunity.  
THE NEW AND IMPROVED 
NON-INSURED ASSISTNACE PROGRAM (NAP) BUY-UP COVERAGE
As spring is nearing, planting decisions are being discussed; the March 15th date is approaching for the sales closing date for spring crops seeded crops (mainly feed crops).  The NAP program through FSA has been around quite some time, I can even remember the original $100.00 service fee!  NAP policies are for crops that are uninsurable thorough RMA (Risk Management Agency) which is purchased through your crop insurance agent.    
The 2014 Farm Bill added the buy-up coverage provisions for NAP crops (except grass policies). The Farm Bill also now allows for waiver of service fees for eligible Limited Resource, Beginning Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Producers (women) – for these producers the NAP service fee is zero and they also qualify for 50% reduction in buy-up premium Producers who are interested in purchasing a Non-Insured Assistance Program policy for spring seeded NAP crops need to do so before March 15, 2016.  
Below is a step by step process of how to purchase a NAP policy - remember you do not have to purchase buy-up coverage - basic 50/55 coverage is still available.  
STEP 1 - Service Fee  
Producers who wish to participate in NAP complete an application and elect the percentage of coverage and yield for 2016 and pay the applicable service fees which remain at $250.0 per crop, $750.00 maximum and $1875.00 for maximum for multi county coverage.   The service fees are computed by administrative county; not physical location of the land.  Ex.  Producer has land that is administrated in the Kiowa County office; however the physical location of the farm(s) is Prowers and Kiowa County.  The producer purchases a NAP policy on sorghum forage.  The producer will pay $250.00 which will cover all land that is administered in Kiowa County. 
STEP 2 - Electing Coverage 
After the service fee is satisfied or waived; producers need to elect their coverage for the crop(s).  The elected and price coverage are as follows. 
Yield / Price
50 / 55 – original coverage prior to 2014
50 / 100 
55/ 100
60/ 100
65/ 100

STEP 3 - Report of Acreage and Notice of Loss Requirements 
Producers are required to complete an acreage report on an FSA-578 by the crop reporting deadline for the crop(s).  Prevent planted acres must be reported with-in 15 days after the crop reporting date.  If the crop suffers any damage from an eligible weather event, the producer is required to file a ‘Notice of Loss’ to the FSA office within 15 days from the time the loss occurs. 
STEP 4 - Production Reporting
Producers must report any harvested production by the reporting deadline. 
STEP 5 – Premium Billing
Premiums are billed 60 days prior to the subsequent year application closing date for the crop and are due 30 days before the sales closing date.  FAILURE TO PAY PREMIUM TIMELY - will result in the producer being determined ineligible to participate in the NAP program the next crop year.  
Premiums are calculated by; 
Shares of crop x number of acres x producer’s approved yield x coverage level x applicable price x 5.25% premium factor = amount due.   
Remember socially disadvantaged and beginning farmer and ranchers are qualified for 50% reduction in premiums.  
Stop by the FSA office for any concerns or questions regarding NAP policies. 
2016 AG OUTLOOK & STRATEGY FORUMS
FSA and CSU Ag & Business Management Economists are sponsoring  AG forms throughout the state beginning in March.   Topics to be addressed are;
•    Market Outlooks & Breakeven Analysis
o    Common commodities in the area
•    FSA Loan Program
o    Commodity
o    Facilities Construction
•    Management Strategies
o    Crop Insurance
o    Enterprise Selection
Location, Time and Dates for meetings in eastern Colorado are as follows.   All meeting begin at 9:30 a.m. (except Limon meeting at 2:30)
•    March 1st – Sterling -  NJC Campus – Hays Student Center
•    March 2nd – Burlington – Community Center – 340 S 14th St. 
•    March 3rd -  Lamar – Prowers County Annex Bldg. – 1001 S. Main
•    March 3rd -  Limon -  Limon Community Bldg. – 477 D Avenue
•    March 10th -  Greeley – Exhibition Bldg. – Island Grove Park – 525 N 15th 

For more information on the meetings contact; Jeff Tranel @ 719-545-1845 or Brent Young @ 970 522- 7207
FEBRUARY INTEREST RATES
Interest rates for the month of February for crop year commodity loans is 1.625. 
Farm Storage Facility Loan interest rates are; 
2.0 % - 7 year loan
2.125  - 10 year loan
2.250 – 12 year loan
2.375 – 15 year loan

USDA SERVICE CENTER CONTACT INFORMATION
Telephone 719-438-5851 
FSA (Ext 2)
NRCS (Ext 3)
FSA Fax number: fax2mail 844-332-7501
E-mail individuals firstname.lastname@co.usda.gov (Example firstname.lastname@co.usda.gov
dawna.weirich
charla.ferris
hallie.barlow
marvin.watson
marlin.miller
lacy.vancampen

KIOWA COUNTY FARM LOAN CONTACT INFO
Telephone 719-336-3437 (ext2) 
Natalie Bond
natalie.bond@co.usda.gov 
Mary Rhoades
mary.rhoades@co.usda.gov

SERVICE CENTER OFFICE HOURS:  
Monday through Friday  
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.