PROMO 660 x 440 Agriculture USDA Service Center Update

USDA Update

Agriculture USDA Service Center Update
USDA Service Center Staff

By Eads USDA Service Center Staff

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

  • USDA Service Center – CLOSED Thursday, November 24th, Happy Thanksgiving!
  • CRP Routine Grazing – First grazing period  October 1 – November 30th
  • 2nd Tuesday each month – FSA Farm Loan personnel in Kiowa County FSA Office. 
  • NAP policy deadline -  December 1st, 2016 - Purchase 2017 policy for Alfalfa, Grass, Mixed Forage
  • December 5 – Last day to return County Committee Ballots
  • December 16 – Deadline for CRP grassland initiative for small scale livestock grazing operations.

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.

THANKSGIVING

As you gather with your friends and family to give ‘Thanks’ for all you have and are grateful.  Employees here at USDA Service Center are thankful for the American Farmer and Rancher and especially those that we serve in Kiowa County.   The employees wish you and yours a Wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. 

MOISTURE

As the storm blew through last Thursday areas received some rain and/or snow.  It was a blessed sight to have any form of moisture as it is dry and much welcomed. 

DROUGHT IMPACTS

I have had producers ask me ‘Who do I need to talk to about how dry it is and has been for months?’  There is a website you can visit to voice your concerns on conditions close to home.

The U.S. Drought Monitor’s reporting feature offers producers an opportunity to submit drought impact and condition reports.

The USDA, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, produced the U.S. Drought Monitor to include a reporting feature that allows producers to report local drought impacts and conditions.

The report allows producers to:

  • Provide a written description of drought impacts on livelihood, activities, etc.;
  • Select categories to show losses and gains as a result of the drought;
  • Report on the duration of drought event;
  • Select Affected Places – geographic areas ranging from an entire state to a small area within a state;
  • Submit images that document the drought and its impact;
  • Provide contact information (includes an option to keep information confidential).

The reporting tool for producers to record the effects of the drought can be accessed at the following link: http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/submitreport/

 

More information including state specific drought impact maps can be found on the U. S. Drought Monitor homepage: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home.aspx

Farm Storage Facility Loans

FSA’s Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade storage facilities.

The low-interest funds can be used to build or upgrade permanent facilities to store commodities. Eligible commodities include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities, floriculture, hops, maple sap, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). Qualified facilities include grain bins, hay barns and cold storage facilities for eligible commodities.  

Loans up to $50,000 can be secured by a promissory note/security agreement and some loans between $50,000 and $100,000 will no longer require additional security.

Producers do not need to demonstrate the lack of commercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products, and underserved producers.

To learn more about the FSA Farm Storage Facility Loan, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport  or contact your local FSA county office.  To find your local FSA county office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.

 

LDP RATES

Be reminded, producers who have sold wheat can still request an LDP if they haven’t done so through their local FSA office.  Contact the local FSA office to learn more.

Producers with grain on the farm can request an LDP or a Marketing Assistance Loan; but not both on the same bushels. 

The website to check daily LDP rates is as follows:

 http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/price-support/ldp-rates/index

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

KIOWA COUNTY FARM LOAN CONTACT INFO – CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

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.  By appointment only on Friday.

FSA INFORMATION

For information on programs visit our website located at www.fsa.usda.gov or like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. 

Agriculture