Thank you for reading another edition of the Terry County USDA news bulletin. The office has a few announcements and reminders for our producers.
- Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) are currently holding a sign up for the 2022 fiscal year. To be eligible for the first round of funding, please have an application in with your local NRCS Office no later than October 29th, 2021. Applications that are eligible for funding will have an opportunity during Spring 2022.
We will also have a sign-up 2 deadline of February 11th, 2022, with funding being made available in later Summer 2022. So you have ample opportunity to get your applications in.
Reminder, EQIP Applications can be taken all year long. You can contact the NRCS Office to discuss an application or contact Cassie Hayek at 806-891-1131 (cell) or by email cassie.hayek@usda.gov. We can email or mail you an application along with all the correlating documentation to complete eligibility. - The Terry County office is working on 2021 Livestock Forage Program (LFP), if you have livestock that were grazing non-irrigated acreage during the winter months you might be eligible for LFP. Please contract Scott Snodgrass to set up an appointment.
November 1, 2021 – Last day for pumpkin producers to file low yield claim for NAP
November 29, 2021 – Deadline to file an Application for Payment for NAP – Watermelons
December 1, 2021 – Deadline to purchase NAP coverage for 2022 NAP – Grass for grazing
December 14, 2021 – Deadline to file an Application for Payment for NAP – Pumpkins
January 15, 2022 – Deadline to certify/report grapes & small grains
January 31, 2022 – Deadline to signup for 2021 Livestock Forage Program (LFP)
USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for USDA funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). Applications for eligible certification expenses paid between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, are due Nov. 1, 2021.
OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Producers can be reimbursed for expenses including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage.
For 2021, OCCSP will reimburse 50 percent of a certified operation’s allowable certification costs, up to a maximum of $500 for each of the following categories or “scopes:”
· crops
· wild crops
· livestock
· processing/handling
· State organic program fees.
Organic farmers and ranchers may apply through an FSA county office or a participating state agency.
More Information
To learn more about organic certification cost share, please visit the OCCSP webpage, visit usda.gov/organic, or contact your local USDA Service Center
The Importance of Responding to NASS Surveys
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts hundreds of surveys every year and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture.
If you receive a survey questionnaire, please respond quickly and online if possible.
The results of the surveys help determine the structure of USDA farm programs, such as soil rental rates for the Conservation Reserve Program and prices and yields used for the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs. This county-level data is critical for USDA farm payment determinations. Survey responses also help associations, businesses and policymakers advocate for their industry and help educate others on the importance of agriculture.
NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified. NASS data is available online at nass.usda.gov/Publications and through the searchable Quick Stats database. Watch a video on how NASS data is used at youtube.com/watch?v=m-4zjnh26io&feature=youtu.be.
Signature Policy
Using the correct signature when doing business with FSA can save time and prevent a delay in program benefits.
The following are FSA signature guidelines:
· A married woman must sign her given name: Mrs. Mary Doe, not Mrs. John Doe
· For a minor, FSA requires the minor’s signature and one from the minor’s parent
Note, by signing a document with a minor, the parent is liable for actions of the minor and may be liable for refunds, liquidated damages, etc.
When signing on one’s behalf the signature must agree with the name typed or printed on the form or be a variation that does not cause the name and signature to be in disagreement. Example – John W. Smith is on the form. The signature may be John W. Smith or J.W. Smith or J. Smith. Or Mary J. Smith may be signed as Mrs. Mary Joe Smith, M.J. Smith, Mary Smith, etc.
FAXED signatures will be accepted for certain forms and other documents provided the acceptable program forms are approved for FAXED signatures. Producers are responsible for the successful transmission and receipt of FAXED information.
Examples of documents not approved for FAXED signatures include:
· Promissory note
· Assignment of payment
· Joint payment authorization
· Acknowledgement of commodity certificate purchase
Spouses may sign documents on behalf of each other for FSA and CCC programs in which either has an interest, unless written notification denying a spouse this authority has been provided to the county office.
Spouses cannot sign on behalf of each other as an authorized signatory for partnerships, joint ventures, corporations or other similar entities. Likewise, a spouse cannot sign a document on behalf of the other in order to affirm the eligibility of oneself.
Any member of a general partnership can sign on behalf of the general partnership and bind all members unless the Articles of Partnership are more restrictive. Spouses may sign on behalf of each other’s individual interest in a partnership, unless notification denying a spouse that authority is provided to the county office. Acceptable signatures for general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, estates, and trusts must consist of an indicator “by” or “for” the individual’s name, individual’s name and capacity, or individual’s name, capacity, and name of entity.
For additional clarification on proper signatures contact your local FSA office.
RMA Strengthens Insurance Policies Including Dry Beans, Dry Peas and Wheat
USDA is making improvements to crop insurance to better enable agricultural producers to manage risk on their operations. Specifically, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is adding new options for producers of dry beans, dry peas, and small grains, such as wheat, as well as making other adjustments that make crop insurance more accessible for organic producers and veteran farm families.
Dry Beans and Dry Peas Beginning in 2022, the Dry Beans and Dry Peas regulation will:
· Allow enterprise and optional units by type for dry beans and dry peas, preventing a gain on one type of crop from impacting an indemnity for a loss on another type. Enterprise units by type allow a producer to insure all acres of a type in a county as one unit, as opposed to basic and optional units which may base insurance on a portion of the acreage. Enterprise units are attractive to producers due to additional premium discounts provided given risk is diversified across the county.
· Also, allow enterprise and optional units for dry beans to be insured by written agreement, which is consistent with current provisions for dry peas.
· Clarify that if no insurable fall planted acreage exists, the later spring sales closing date would apply in counties that have offers for both the fall and spring-planted types.
Small Grains Beginning in 2022, the Small Grains regulation will:
· Allow enterprise units by type for wheat. Similar to dry beans and dry peas, this change will prevent a gain on one type of crop from impacting an indemnity for a loss on another type.
· Allow optional units for Khorasan type wheat. Currently, optional units by type are available for all types insured, except for Khorasan.
Other Amendments
RMA gathered feedback on the Area Risk Protection Insurance (ARPI) Regulations and Common Crop Insurance Policy (CCIP) Basic Provisions in 2020. Based on input, RMA issued a regulation to update the ARPI Regulations and CCIP Basic Provisions, beginning in 2022, that will:
· Revise the definition of “veteran farmer or rancher” to allow a married couple to be considered a veteran farmer or rancher, even if one spouse is not a veteran. (ARPI Regulations and CCIP Basic Provisions)
· Allow a producer to report acreage as certified organic, or as acreage in transition to organic, when the producer certifies that they have requested, in writing, a written certification or other written documentation from a certifying agent on or before the acreage reporting date. RMA allowed this flexibility during the pandemic, but certification is a challenge in normal years. Adding relief to the policy provides permanent flexibility. (CCIP Basic Provisions)
Public Comments
RMA is accepting comments for 60 days each on these changes on all three rules: Dry Beans and Dry Peas, Small Grains, and ARPI Regulations and CCIP Basic Provisions. Additionally, on the Small Grains Regulation, RMA is inviting comments on whether to allow replanting payments in situations where damage occurs prior to the fall final planting date in counties where winter and spring small grains coverage is available. Comments can be made through regulations.gov or by mail.
More Information
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov.