IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• MONDAY, JULY 4, 2022 - SERVICE CENTER CLOSED - OBSERVANCE OF JULY 4^th HOLIDAY
• CROP CERTIFICATION DEADLINE - July 15, 2022
• NRCS DEADLINE FOR CRP SU#58 CONSERVATION PLAN - July 29, 2022
• EMERGENCY GRAZING ON CRP AVAILABLE - 50% stocking rate reduction during primary nesting season and if county remains as D2 drought designation.  
• EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM – Phase 1 – Deadline to submit application July 22, 2022 
• TIP – Transition Incentive Program – DEADLINE TO SUBMIT CRP 1-R - AUGUST 5, 2022.

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. 

2022 SPRING ACREAGE REPORTING DEADLINE - JULY 15, 2022

Most of the operators in the county with multiple farms have a copy of their FSA acreage reporting maps.  We ask that you get those filled out according to the cover letter that was in the envelope and drop the maps off at the FSA office.   Once the acreage reports are completed; the office will contact you to sign the 578’s. 

An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage, and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits.

How to File an Acreage Report

The deadline to file a 2022 spring crop acreage report is July 15, 2022, for all spring seeded crops and perennial crops.  Please note the exceptions that follow.

To file a crop acreage report, you will need to provide:

• Crop and crop type or variety.
• Intended use of the crop.
• Number of acres of the crop.
• Map with approximate boundaries for the crop.
• Planting date(s).
• Planting pattern, when applicable.
• Producer shares.
• Irrigation practice(s).
• Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable.
• Other information as required.

Acreage Reporting Details

The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:

• If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
• If a producer acquires additional acreage after the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.
• If crops are covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, acreage reports should be submitted by the applicable state, county, or crop-specific reporting deadline or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.

Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were unable to because of a natural disaster.  A prevented planting claim needs to be submitted to crop insurance or FSA within 15 days after the final planting date for the crop.  

NATIVE GRASS ACREAGE REPORTING

The FSA Office received clarification regarding acreage reporting for native grass for grazing and grasslands CRP.   In the past, the office considered risk and control of the land with the grassland CRP producer, therefore if the land was rented to a producer who was not a part of the CRP grassland contract, the office would not reflect the grazing producer on the acreage report, which affected that producers LFP and NAP applications.  

Colorado FSA has been advised that grassland CRP is a working lands program, control and risk in the grassland CRP contract and control and risk in the grazing rights are separate and distinct and two producers may independently certify the same land when one is certifying for grassland CRP, and another is certifying for grazing rights of the land.

It will be the responsibility of the producers to supply the office with a current grazing lease for the certification to be amended.  The deadline to file an acreage report for both grassland CRP and grass for intended use for grazing is July 15th annually.  

NRCS CONSERVATION PLANS – SIGNUP 58 

The Eads NRCS office will begin contacting producers with accepted CRP Signup #58 offers to obtain the signatures on the Conservation Plan.   NRCS is under a very tight deadline, currently the signed documents are due to FSA on July 29, 2022 and there are many contracts in Kiowa County to obtain signatures.  

It's important for producers to pay special attention to incoming phone calls or emails from any of the staff listed in the Service Center contact portion located at the end of the article. Failure to sign the conservation plan will void the offer.

SMALL D2 DROUGHT DESIGNATION

The Drought Monitor changed a few weeks ago, currently there are three ratings in the county.   There are areas that could use some moisture, especially after spring planting. 

• D0 - abnormally dry in the west end. 
• D1 - moderate drought in the central and north end. 
• D2 – small portion in the east end. 

EMERGENCY GRAZING OF CRP

Just a reminder on Emergency grazing of CRP acres is only authorized if the county is rated as a D2 or greater on the U.S. Drought Monitor.  If conditions improve, the drought monitor reflect those changes and the County Committee determines conditions do not warrant continuing Emergency grazing, it will cease and producers will be notified.