IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• March 15 – July 15 - CRP primary nesting season. No activity is allowed on CRP contracts, except for Grassland contracts. Break-outs of ANY CRP lands is prohibited during PNS. This includes contracts that are voluntarily terminated with refunds made back to CCC and expired CRP contracts. 
• July 15, 2025 - Deadline for Spring Certification.
• July 16 - August 1, 2025 - COC Nomination deadline, interested candidates need to complete an FSA-669A form. Contact the local FSA Office and one can be emailed. 
• August 15, 2025 - Deadline to submit E-CAP application.

Disclaimer: Information in this UPDATE is pertinent to producers who are served by Kiowa and Cheyenne County.

HEAT and WIND

The past week was brutal here in SE Colorado dealing with days over 100 degree temps and south hot winds. Hopefully, this next week the weather forecast is correct and brings some cooler temperatures, less wind and some rain.

WHEAT HARVEST

With the heat and wind that wheat will be ready soon. We wish everyone a safe and bountiful harvest.  Back in March when the winds were howling I didn’t give the wheat much hope, but it is resilient and the rains have been a blessing.

SPRING ACREAGE REPORTING

Before producers get too busy with wheat harvest, don’t forget to get your planting spring acres reporting to crop insurance and FSA.  In both Cheyenne and Kiowa counties, the FSA offices have a good relationship with the area crop insurance agents, so information is shared between the two.

Information that is needed on the FSA maps

• Crop planted
• Plant date
• Intended use of planted crop - (grain, forage, grazing)
• Shares
• Irrigated - please note on the map

COC NOMINATION PERIOD

COC NOMINATIONS

It’s that time of the year again to begin thinking about County Committee elections. Nominations for COC elections opened on June 16th. Eligible voters in the LAA or Local Administrative Areas should have received a postcard in the mail recently.

In Kiowa County, LAA 3 which is Galatea Road west to the Kiowa/Crowley County line, is eligible for election. Michael Zimmerman currently is the COC member representing that area and he has termed out and is not eligible for re-election.

In Cheyenne County, LAA 3 which is the western portion of the county, Judy Jacobs also termed out and is not eligible for re-election.

We thank Michael and Judy for their dedication to serving the producers in Kiowa and Cheyenne counties by serving on the County Committees. They will be missed.

If you are an eligible voter in either of these LAA’s and counties, please consider serving on the County Committee. Producers who have served or are currently serving will tell you that it’s a learning experience, but also one that doesn’t take a lot of time away from the field. Most committees meet monthly, currently in Kiowa and Cheyenne they are meeting every other month. Eligible producers must submit an FSA-669A by August 1, 2025, to the respective FSA Office