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PROMO 660 x 440 Agriculture USDA Service Center Update

USDA Update – May 4, 2024

Eads USDA Service Center Staff

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

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.

FARMERS.GOV QR CODE

Thanks to Teri Ellis for making a QR code for Farmers.gov website.

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QR code to subscribe to Farmers.gov notifications.

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Producers can scan the code and subscribe to Farmers.gov Users should see the following:

How to Subscribe

  1. Enter your email address in the field below to subscribe to our updates, or to access your subscriber preferences.
  2. Receive email communications or choose to receive text message alerts.
  3. Select your preferences by topic, state, or local service center. Topics range from disaster assistance, farm loans, crop insurance, conservation programs, and many more.

If you have any questions, please contact the office.

CRP GRASSLAND SIGNUP

Still no word on when or if FSA will conduct a CRP Grasslands signup.

U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR

Not many changes to the current Drought Monitor map for this week.

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Map of Colorado drought conditions as of April 30, 2024

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Emergency CRP grazing

The office has had some inquiries for Emergency grazing CRP acreage (non-CRP Grassland acres). FSA has specific rules for Emergency Haying and Grazing of CRP acres, with the main one being the PNS or Primary Nesting Season. In Colorado, PNS begins March 15th and ends July 15th.

Emergency Grazing during Primary Nesting Season – March 15 through July 15

For the county to become eligible for Emergency grazing of CRP acres all the following would need to be met –

  • Payments are authorized for the county under LFP or Livestock Forage Program, which occurs when the county has been in a
    • D2 drought designation of 8 weeks or
    • D3 or D4 designation.
  • Grazing is less than 50 percent of the normal carrying capacity.
  • The CRP contract is approved by NRCS to be grazed at 50 percent carrying capacity.

Emergency Grazing and Haying after Primary Nesting Season - July 16 - September 30

  • Counties are authorized CRP emergency haying and grazing outside the PNS when any part of the county is in a D2 condition based on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
  • The CRP contract is approved by NRCS to be hayed or grazed.

NOTES:

Haying is not authorized under Emergency provisions during Primary Nesting Season.

SAFE Lessor Prairie Chicken contracts cannot be grazed or hayed under Emergency or Non-Emergency provisions.

Non-Emergency Grazing and Haying is not authorized during the Primary Nesting Season.

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Information box for the Eads USDA Service Center in Kiowa County, Colorado

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