Benefits of making a list
Prior to Christmas, actually right after Halloween, my older daughter started making a list of items she would like to receive for Christmas. It was not just one list, but multiple lists, in fact I found one placed on my desk, another in my closet, and yet even another in my coat pocket. My life was taking on the appearance of the movie “A Christmas Story” where the young boy (Ralphie) strategically places an advertisement for the Red Ryder Rifle in his mother’s favorite magazine. So I’d like to say thanks to my older daughter for showing me the benefit of making a list; after all it worked for her.
Now that 2010 has arrived, it is amazing how quickly the days get filled with preparations for the next planting season. Taking a tip from my daughter, I put together the following list of items area farmers need to be aware of:
• The wet weather we experienced last year, during planting and all the way through harvest, left fields in less than ideal condition. Before doing tillage this spring, to clean up some of the ruts and tracks, contact the Natural Resource Conservation Service and review your options with your existing farm conservation plan. Asking first can prevent loss of USDA program payments and benefits.
• Farms participating in the 2010 Direct Counter-Cyclical Program or the Average Crop Revenue Election can be enrolled now at the Farm Service Agency. This year the deadline for enrollment is June 1. Do not let your busy schedule make you miss this deadline.
• Farmers with crop losses in 2008 can submit applications for potential benefits through the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program. Sign-up began Jan. 4 and an ending date has not yet been announced.
• July 15 is the final date to report 2010 crops. Even though spring planted crops cannot be planted yet or reported yet, producers who have established Conservation Reserve Program practices on their acreage may report those acres now to the FSA Office.
• Producers who enrolled their farms into the ACRE Program last year have until July 15 to certify their crop production for 2009 and for 2008 through 2004.
• Producers who will be planting fruits or vegetables on farms participating in the DCP or ACRE programs need to discuss fruit and vegetable planting restrictions with the Farm Service Agency. The Planting Transferability Pilot Project is a program designed to allow producers who do not have a history of planting fruits and vegetables themselves, to still have their farm participate in DCP or ACRE Programs.
• Farmers who utilize the commodity loan program through the Farm Service Agency Office need to remember May 31 is the last date to request a commodity loan on the 2009 crop.
• Check out the new farm storage facility loan provisions authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. Changes include increased loan amounts and changes to the length of loan options. Another option available to producers is the loan and grant dollars available to farmers willing to make Energy Efficiency Improvements. The grant program has become very popular for producers replacing old dryers and installing new high efficiency grain dryers. The grant program is available through the Rural Development Office.
This past year has been challenging and the weather has prevented harvest from being completely finished. As farmers wrap up harvest and prepare for the new crop, please make safety the first thing on your list.
Brad W. Powelson is the CED of the Farm Service Agency in Bureau County.
