USDA Update – October 20, 2024
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
- CRP Emergency Grazing Authorized
- Fall Acreage Reporting Deadline - November 15, 2024
- Non-Insurable Assistance Program Application for Coverage Deadline – grass for grazing– December 1, 2024
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.
PAYMENTS ISSUES
Kiowa County issued the 2023 ARC-CO wheat payments last week along with the fiscal year 2024 CRP annual rental payments. Producers should be seeing deposits into their account and will also receive a transaction statement in the mail. If you were due a payment from Kiowa for 2023 ARC-CO or CRP annual rental and have not received a notification by the end of this week, contact the office.
Producers who do not have direct deposit there will be a 10-day delay in receiving the funds as the Treasury Department issues the checks, those do not come out of the county office.
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT NOTIFICATIONS
Primary contact producers on active CRP contract that are entering the fourth and fifth year of the 10-year contract will be receiving a letter within the next couple of weeks from the office notifying them of a required contract management by the end of year six of the 10-year contract. The letter will explain the process of completing a contract management and the activities that have been approved. Once the primary contact receives the notification and if there are questions or concerns, please contact the office. Failure to complete a contract management is a compliance issue that will be handled by the County Committee.
FALL ACREAGE REPORTING
Operators with planted wheat acres need to report the crop, planted acres, intended use and shares of the crop to FSA or crop insurance no later than November 15th. Kiowa County has only a handful of operators who have not reported their acres. We ask that those who have not reported, please contact the office for copies of your maps to be sent or stop by the office and complete the maps.
EMERGENCY GRAZING OF ELIGIBLE CRP ACRES AUTHORIZED
Kiowa County and other counties in SE Colorado, namely Baca, Prowers, Cheyenne and Kit Carson have reached the D2 – severe drought intensity to authorize emergency grazing of CRP acres. October 1st is the beginning of a new fiscal year for CRP, therefore utilizing CRP for grazing this early in the fiscal year will limit the use again for another two years.
Producers interested in emergency grazing of CRP acres must notify their FSA county office before starting any activities. This includes producers accessing CRP acres held by another party.
