IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• 2024 SPRING ACREAGE REPORTING - Deadline July 15, 2024
• CONTINUOUS CRP SIGNUP 61- Deadline July 31, 2024
• GRASSLAND CRP SIGNUP – POSTPONED
• CRP PRIMARY NESTING SEASON - March 15 through July 15

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

2024 Spring Acreage Reporting Maps Available

Operators with multiple farms can stop by the office and pick up a copy of your aerial maps for 2024 spring acreage reporting. The 2024 spring acreage reporting deadline is July 15, 2024.

File a Notice of Loss for Failed and Prevented Planted Acres

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds you to report prevented planted and failed acres to establish or retain FSA program eligibility for some programs.

You should report crop acreage you intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were prevented from planting. Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and the Risk Management Agency (RMA).

If you’re unable to report the prevented planting acreage within the 15 calendar days following the final planting date, a late-filed report can be submitted. Late-filed reports will only be accepted if FSA conducts a farm visit to assess the eligible disaster condition that prevented the crop from being planted. A measurement service fee will be charged.

Additionally, if you have failed acres, you should also use form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, to report failed acres.

For hand-harvested crops and certain perishables, you must notify FSA of damage or loss through the administrative county office within 72 hours of the date of damage or loss first becomes apparent. This notification can be provided by filing a CCC-576, email, fax or phone. If you notify the County Office by any method other than by filing the CCC-576, you are still required to file a CCC-576, Notice of Loss, within the required 15 calendar days.

For losses on crops covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), you must file a Notice of Loss within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent. You must timely file a Notice of Loss for failed acres on all crops including grasses.

To file a Notice of Loss, contact your local County USDA Service Center.

Farmers Harness Benefits from Cover Crops

Cover crops are planted because of their excellent benefits, including improving the health and function of soil. This leads to better nutrient cycling, improved water infiltration and more consistent yields over time. Cover crops also suppress weeds, prevent erosion, control diseases and pests as well as help pollinators.

Farmers not familiar with how mixtures of cover crops work together might ask, “Why would I want to plant a cover crop that uses up all my water?” But using diverse annual cropping rotations and cover crop combinations increases soil organic matter. And for each 1 percent in organic matter, there is a 25 percent increase in water holding capacity and up to 30 pounds an acre more of available nitrogen.

While cover crops use some water in the soil profile to grow, they simultaneously improve the soil structure by building soil aggregates, providing armor for the soil surface, and recharging the water in the soil profile though increased infiltration.

Common cover crops in Colorado include forage sorghum, sorghum Sudan, cereal ryegrass, Austrian winter peas, rapeseed, hairy vetch, purple top turnip, and nitro radish.

For more information, contact your Kiowa County USDA Service Center at 719-438-5851 ext 3 or visit nrcs.usda.gov . You can also watch this NRCS video on cover crops at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLoEkcbsJLo or watch below.