ACREAGE CERTIFICATION AND FAILED AND PREVENTED PLANTED ACREAGE After spring planting, producers need to certify their 2014 acreages by the July 15th reporting deadline. Filing an accurate acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planting acreage is required to establish eligibility for most FSA programs that were enacted in the 2014 Farm Bill. The following exceptions apply to the July 15th reporting deadline: - If the crop has not been planted by July 15th, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
- If a producer acquires additional acreage after July 15th, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendars days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.
Failed acreage must be reported before disposition (destroyed, replanted or put to another use) of the crop and prevented planting must be reported no later than 15 days after the final planting date of the crop. IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE FINAL PLANTING DATES THEY ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE FOLLOWING RMA WEBSITE: http://www.rma.usda.gov/fields/mn_rso/2014/final/ For crops enrolled in programs like NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program), acreage reports must be completed by the earlier of July 15th or the beginning harvest date of the crop. In addition, the deadline for reporting certain NAP crops for the 2015 program year will be here in early fall. The deadline to timely file an acreage report for 2015 perennial forages and fall seeded small grains and wheat is November 15, 2014. For more information on acreage reporting, including final planting dates for crops, additional NAP reporting deadline or any other information, please contact your local FSA office. USDA Announces Programs to Conserve Sensitive Land and Help Beginning Farmers Farmers and landowners committed to protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive land may sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) beginning June 9. The Secretary also announced that retiring farmers enrolled in CRP could receive incentives to transfer a portion of their land to beginning, disadvantaged or veteran farmers through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP). CRP provides incentives to producers who utilize conservation methods on environmentally-sensitive lands. For example, farmers are monetarily compensated for establishing long-term vegetative species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as "covers") to control soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat. CRP consists of a "continuous" and "general" sign-up period. Continuous sign up for the voluntary program starts June 9. Under continuous sign-up authority, eligible land can be enrolled in CRP at any time with contracts of up to 10 to 15 years in duration. In lieu of a general sign-up this year, USDA will allow producers with general CRP contracts expiring this September to have the option of a one-year contract extension. In addition, the new grassland provisions, which will allow producers to graze their enrolled land, will enable producers to do so with more flexibility. The Transition Incentives Program provides two additional years of payments for retired farmers and ranchers who transition expiring CRP acres to socially disadvantaged, military veteran, or beginning producers who return the land to sustainable grazing or crop production. Sign up will also begin June 9. TIP funding was increased by more than 30 percent in the 2014 Farm Bill, providing up to $33 million through 2018. As part of the 2014 Farm Bill, participants meeting specific qualifications may have the opportunity to terminate their CRP contract during fiscal year 2015 if the contract has been in effect for a minimum of five years and if other conditions are also met. For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA county office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov.
REPORTING LOSSES, ACREAGE & PRODUCTION FOR CROPS UNDER NAP POLICIESFor losses on 2014 crops covered by the Non-insured Assistance Program (NAP) policies, producers must contact their local FSA office within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent to file a Notice of Loss. Losses to crops need to be reported after each occurrence of damage and in a timely manner to insure continued eligibility for benefits. Producers with crop insurance should contact their local agent when losses occur and before destroying the crop. Producers are required to report 2014 NAP crop acreage by the early of July 15, 2014 or within 15 days of the onset of harvest. Failure to report your acreage will result in late filing fees and potential loss of benefits under the NAP program.
In addition, NAP producers must also certify 2013 crop production by July 15, 2014 for most spring seeded crops. Producers should check with their local FSA offices on production reporting deadlines for crops they have covered by the policies. If producers fail to report 2013 production by the final reporting date, zero yields or yields reduced by established factors will be used in establishing the actual production history for 2014. This normally results in lower NAP crop approved yields. All production certifications are subject to spot-check. Maintaining good production records is key because crop production must be reported on an annual basis to maintain the unit's historical yields. USDA ANNOUNCES RESTART OF THE BIOMASS CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and will resume on a limited basis upon the publication of a Notice of Funding Availability. BCAP employs three types of biomass assistance primarily through approved BCAP project areas. For growing new biomass, BCAP provides financial assistance with 50 percent of the cost of establishing a perennial crop. To maintain the crop as it matures until harvest, BCAP provides an annual payment for up to 5 years for herbaceous crops, or up to 15 years for woody crops. To collect existing agriculture or forest residues that are not economically retrievable, BCAP provides assistance with mitigating the cost of harvesting and transporting the materials to the end-use facility. The 2014 Farm Bill authorizes $25 million annually for BCAP, requiring between 10 and 50 percent of the total funding to be used for harvest and transportation of biomass residues. Traditional food and feed crops are ineligible for assistance. The 2014 Farm Bill also enacted several modifications for BCAP, including higher incentives for socially disadvantaged farmers, and narrower biomass qualifications for matching payments, among other changes. Only the matching payments portion of the BCAP, with narrower biomass qualifications, will resume this summer. Additional information will be provided as the updated BCAP regulations and policies are implemented. With the 2014 Farm Bill requiring several regulatory updates to BCAP, the resumption of establishment and annual payments has been deferred until a later date. For forest residues, this year's matching payments are targeted for energy generation while reducing fire, insect and disease threats on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. Agriculture residues for energy are also eligible for matching payments.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers BCAP, will coordinate the BCAP enrollments. For more information on BCAP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov. NEW FARM BILL OFFERS INCREASED FARM LOAN OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCERS The 2014 Farm Bill offers increased opportunities for producers including farm loan program modifications that create flexibility for new and existing farmers. A fact sheet outlining modifications to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Loan Programs is available here. The Farm Bill expands lending opportunities for thousands of producers to begin and continue operations, including greater flexibility in determining eligibility, raising loan limits, and emphasizing beginning and socially disadvantaged producers.
Changes that will take effect immediately include: - Elimination of the 15 year term limit for guaranteed operating loans.
- Modification of the definition of beginning farmer, using the average farm size for the county as a qualifier instead of the median farm size.
- Modification of the Joint Financing Direct Farm Ownership Interest Rate to 2 percent less than regular Direct Farm Ownership rate, with a floor of 2.5 percent. Previously, the rate was established at 5 percent.
- Increase of the maximum loan amount for Direct Farm Ownership Down Payment Loan Program from $225,000 to $300,000.
- Elimination of rural residency requirement for Youth Loans, allowing urban youth to benefit.
- Debt forgiveness on Youth Loans, which will not prevent borrowers from obtaining additional loans from the federal government.
- Increase of the guaranteed percentage on Conservation Loans from 75 to 80 percent and 90 percent for socially disadvantaged borrowers and beginning farmers.
- Microloans will not count toward direct operating loan term limits for veterans and beginning farmers.
Additional modifications must be implemented through the rulemaking processes. Visit the FSA Farm Bill website for detailed information and updates to farm loan programs. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay),
(866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). | 
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