The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Pike County Planter SWCD Newsletter Quarter 4, 2018 D- 3 For More Information: Counter-Flow Grain Drying Systems More than a Grain Dryer shivvers.com At Shivvers, we understand your crop is more than just a crop. It is your livelihood. It is your pride and joy. Since 1968, the Shivvers family has been perfecting the science of counter-flow grain drying and creating innovative products that we are proud to put our name on. Shivvers doesn't just sell you a grain drying system. We provide you with peace of mind. We certify capacities. Explore a Shivvers Performance System today for • Complete, Precise Control • High Efficiency • High Test Weights and much more! For Counter-Flow Grain Drying More than a Grain shivvers.com At Shivvers, we understand your crop is more than just a Since 1968, the Shivvers family has been perfecting the science creating innovative products that we are proud to put our Shivvers doesn't just sell you a grain drying system. We provide capacities. Explore a Shivvers Performance System today for • Complete, Precise Control • High Efficiency • High Test Weights and much more! K iesel Enterprises I N C O R P O R A T E D 812-386-6580 1198 South Kiesel Drive, Princeton, IN 47670 For more information, visit us at: At Shivvers, we understand your crop is more than just a crop. It is your livelihood. It is your pride and joy. Since 1968, the Shivvers family has been perfecting the science of counter-flow grain drying and creating innovative products that we are proud to put our name on. Shivvers doesn't just sell you a grain drying system. We provide you with peace of mind. We certify capacities. Explore a Shivvers Performance System today for • Complete, Precise Control • High Efficiency • High Test Weights • and much more! www.shivvers.com Farm Service Agency News By Amy R. Barber, County Executive Director Pike County Farm Ser vice Agency ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTIONS FOR THE 2018 COUNTY COMMITTEE Elections for USDA's Farm Ser vice Agency's (FSA) Pike County Committee are under way. It is important that ever y eligible producer participate in these elections because FSA county committees are a link between the agricultural community and the USDA. The 2018 election in Pike County will be conducted for the representative Local Administrative Area (LAA): LAA #2 Jefferson and Washington townships. To be eligible to vote in the elections, a person must: Meet requirement one (see explanation below) or meet requirement two, and requirement three (see explanation below). Requirement One: Be of legal voting age and have an interest in a farm or ranch as either: an individual who meets one or more of the following; (a) is eligible to vote in one's own right, (b) is a partner of a general partner- ship, (c) is a member of a joint venture OR an authorized representative of a legal entity, such as: (a) a corporation, estate, trust, limited partnership or other business enter- prise, excluding general partnership and joint ventures or (b) a state, political subdivision of a state or any state agency (only the designated representative may cast a vote for the entity). Requirement Two: Not of legal voting age, but super- vises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm. Requirement Three: Participates or cooperates in an FSA program that is provided by law. County committee election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters on Nov. 5, 2018. The last day to return com- pleted ballots to the USDA ser vice center is Dec. 3, 2018. For more information on eligibility to ser ve on FSA county committees, visit: www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. USDA LAUNCHES TRADE MITIGATION PROGRAMS USDA launched the trade mitigation package aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. Producers of certain commodities can now sign up for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP). USDA provided details in August of the programs to be employed. USDA's Farm Ser vice Agency (FSA) will administer the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) to provide payments to corn, cotton, dair y, hog, sorghum, soybean, and wheat producers. An announcement about further payments will be made in the coming months, if warranted. USDA is currently working to determine how to address market disruptions for producers of almonds and sweet cherries. The sign-up period for MFP is now open and runs through Jan. 15, 2019, with information and instructions provided at www.farmers.gov/mfp. MFP provides pay- ments to cotton, corn, dair y, hog, sorghum, soybean, and wheat producers who have been significantly impacted by actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of traditional exports. Eligible producers should apply after har vest is complete, as payments will only be issued once production is reported. A payment will be issued on 50 percent of the producer's total production, multiplied by the MFP rate for a specific commodity. A second payment period, if warranted, will be determined by the USDA. Market Facilitation Program Initial Est. Initial Commodity Payment Rate Payment** Cotton $0.06/lb. $276,900 Corn $0.01/bu. $96,000 Dair y (milk) $0.12/cwt. $127,400 Pork (hogs) $8.00/head $290,300 Soybeans $1.65/bu. $3,629,700 Sorghum $0.86/bu. $156,800 Wheat $0.14/bu. $119,200 Total $4,696,300 **Initial payment rate on 50% of production MFP payments are limited to a combined $125,000 for corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, and wheat capped per person or legal entity. MFP payments are also limited to a combined $125,000 for dair y and hog producers. Appli- cants must also have an average adjusted gross income for tax years 2014, 2015, and 2016 of less than $900,000. Appli- cants must also comply with the provisions of the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conser vation regulations. For more further information or to locate and contact local FSA offices, interested producers can visit www. farmers.gov USDA COMMODITY LOANS AVAILABLE TO PIKE COUNTY PRODUCERS U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pike County Farm Ser vice Agency reminds producers that Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) are available to help producers through periods of low market prices. The 2014 Farm Bill authorized MALs and LDPs for the 2014 to 2018 crop years. MALs provide interim financing and allow producers to delay the sale of the commodity at har vest-time lows and wait until more favorable market conditions emerge. A producer who is eligible to obtain a loan, but agrees to forgo the loan, may obtain an LDP if such a payment is available. MALs and LDPs provide financing and marketing assis- tance for wheat, feed grains, soybeans and other oilseeds, pulse crops, rice, peanuts, cotton, wool and honey. The Pike County FSA office is now accepting requests for 2018 MALs and LDPs for all eligible commodities after har vest. Before MAL repayments and LDP disbursements can be made, producers must meet the requirements of actively engaged in farming, cash-rent tenant and member contribution. In order to meet eligibility requirements, producers must retain beneficial interest in the commodity, meaning they have control of the commodity or a title to the com- modity, until the MAL is repaid or the Commodity Credit Corporation takes title to the commodity. The 2014 Farm Bill also establishes payment limitations per individual or entity not to exceed $125,000 annually on certain commodities for the following program benefits: Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage pay- ments, Marketing Loan Gains and LDPs. These payment limitations do not apply to MAL disbursements. Producers or legal entities whose total applicable three- year average adjusted gross income exceeds $900,000 are not eligible for Marketing Loan Gains and LDPs, but are eligible for MALs repaid at principal plus interest. For more information, please visit your local FSA office or www.fsa.usda.gov. To find your local USDA ser vice center, visit www.farmers.gov. MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF FARM-STORED LOAN GRAIN Bins are ideally designed to hold a level volume of grain. When bins are overfilled and grain is heaped up, airflow is hindered and the chance of spoilage increases. Producers who take out marketing assistance loans and use the farm-stored grain as collateral should remember that they are responsible for maintaining the quality of the grain through the term of the loan. UNAUTHORIZED DISPOSITION OF GRAIN If loan grain has been disposed of through feeding, selling or any other form of disposal without prior written authorization from the county office staff, it is considered unauthorized disposition. The financial penalties for un- authorized dispositions are severe and a producer's name will be placed on a loan violation list for a two-year period. Always call before you haul any grain under loan. FARM STORAGE FACILITY LOANS FSA's Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program pro- vides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment and storage and handling trucks. The low-interest funds can be used to build or upgrade permanent facilities to store commodities. Eligible com- modities include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds har vested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dr y peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities, floriculture, hops, maple sap, r ye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultr y (unpro - cessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). Qualified facilities include grain bins, hay barns and cold storage facilities for eligible commodities. Loans up to $50,000 can be secured by a promissor y note/security agreement and loans over $50,000 require additional security. Producers do not need to demonstrate the lack of com - mercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supply- ing local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products, and underser ved producers. To learn more about the FSA Farm Storage Facility Loan, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport or contact your local FSA county office. To find your local FSA county office, visit http://offices.usda.gov. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REQUIRED BEFORE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal agencies to consider all potential environmental impacts for federally-funded projects before the project is approved. For all Farm Ser vice Agency (FSA) programs, an envi - ronmental review must be completed before actions are approved, such as site preparation or ground disturbance. These programs include, but are not limited to, the Emer - gency Conser vation Program (ECP), Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program and farm loans. If project implemen- tation begins before FSA has completed an environmental review, this will result in a denial of the request. There are exceptions regarding the Stafford Act and emergencies. It is important to wait until you receive written approval of your project proposal before starting any actions, including, but not limited to, vegetation clearing, site preparation or ground disturbance. Remember to contact your local FSA office early in your planning process to determine what level of environmental review is required for your program application so that it can be completed timely. Applications cannot be approved contingent upon the com - pletion of an environmental review. FSA must have copies of all permits and plans before an application can be approved. PAYMENTS TO DECEASED PRODUCERS In order to claim a Farm Ser vice Agency (FSA) payment on behalf of a deceased producer, all program conditions for the payment must have been met before the applicable producer's date of death. If a producer earned a FSA payment prior to becoming deceased, the following is the order of precedence of the representatives of the producer: • administrator or executor of the estate • the sur viving spouse • sur viving children, including adopted children • sur viving father and mother • sur viving brothers and sisters • heirs of the deceased person who would be entitled to payment according to the State law In order for FSA to release the payment, the legal repre - sentative of the deceased producer must file a form FSA-325, to claim the payment for themselves or an estate. The county office will verify and determine that the application, contract, loan agreement, or other similar form requesting payment issuance, was signed by the applicable deadline for such form, by the deceased or a person legally authorized to act on their behalf at that time of application. If the application, contract or loan agreement form was signed by someone other than the participant who is deceased, FSA will determine whether the person submit - ting the form has the legal authority to submit the form to compel FSA to pay the deceased participant. Payments will be issued to the respective representative's name using the deceased program participant's tax iden- tification number. Payments made to representatives are subject to offset regulations for debts owed by the deceased. FSA is not responsible for advising persons in obtaining legal advice on how to obtain program benefits that may be due to a participant who has died, disappeared or who has been declared incompetent. UPDATE YOUR RECORDS FSA is cleaning up our producer record database. If you have any unreported changes of address, zip code, phone number, email address or an incorrect name or business name on file they need to be reported to our office. Changes in your farm operation, like the addition of a farm by lease or purchase, need to be reported to our office as well. Produc - ers participating in FSA and NRCS programs are required to timely report changes in their farming operation to the County Committee in writing and update their CCC-902 Farm Operating Plan. If you have any updates or corrections, please call your local FSA office to update your records. FARM RECONSTITUTIONS When changes in farm ownership or operation take place, a farm reconstitution is necessar y. The reconstitution — or recon — is the process of combining or dividing farms or tracts of land based on the farming operation. To be effective for the current Fiscal Year (FY), farm com - binations and farm divisions must be requested by August 1 of the FY for farms subject to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program. A reconsti- tution is considered to be requested when all: • of the required signatures are on FSA-155 • other applicable documentation, such as proof of own - ership, is submitted. Total Conser vation Reser ve Program (CRP) and non- ARC/PLC farms may be reconstituted at any time. The following are the different methods used when doing a farm recon: Estate Method — the division of bases, allotments and quotas for a parent farm among heirs in settling an estate; Designation of Landowner Method — may be used when (1) part of a farm is sold or ownership is transferred; (2) an entire farm is sold to two or more persons; (3) farm owner - ship is transferred to two or more persons; (4) part of a tract is sold or ownership is transferred; (5) a tract is sold to two or more persons; or (6) tract ownership is transferred to two or more persons. In order to use this method the land sold must have been owned for at least three years, or a waiver granted, and the buyer and seller must sign a Memorandum of Understanding; DCP Cropland Method — the division of bases in the same proportion that the DCP cropland for each resulting tract relates to the DCP cropland on the parent tract; Default Method — the division of bases for a parent farm with each tract maintaining the bases attributed to the tract level when the reconstitution is initiated in the system. BREAKING NEW GROUND Agricultural producers are reminded to consult with FSA and NRCS before breaking out new ground for production purposes as doing so without prior authorization may put a producer's federal farm program benefits in jeopardy. This is especially true for land that must meet Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conser vation (WC) provisions. Producers with HEL determined soils are required to apply tillage, crop residue and rotational requirements as specified in their conser vation plan. Producers should notify FSA as a first point of contact prior to conducting land clearing or drainage type projects to ensure the proposed actions meet compliance criteria such as clearing any trees to create new cropland, then these areas will need to be reviewed to ensure such work will not risk your eligibility for benefits. Landowners and operators complete the form AD-1026— Highly Erodible Land Conser vation (HELC) and Wetland Conser vation (WC) Certification to identify the proposed action and allow FSA to determine whether a referral to Natural Resources Conser vation Ser vice (NRCS) for further review is necessar y. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohib- ited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, politi- cal beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimina - tion complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr. usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agri - culture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.