Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination Period Began June 15 The nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees began Sunday, June 15, 2014. Elections will be held in local administrative area 2 which includes the towns of Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, East Halifax, Marlboro, and Vernon. This position is currently held by Mary Ellen Franklin of Guilford, VT. To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area where the person is nominated. Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2014 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1, 2014. Elections will take place this fall. While FSA county committees do not approve or deny farm ownership or operating loans, they make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to 11 members that are elected by eligible producers. FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 3, 2014. Ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 1, 2014. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office on Jan. 1, 2015. Farm Reconstitutions When changes in farm ownership or operation take place, a farm reconstitution is necessary. The reconstitution, also called a "recon", is the process of combining or dividing farms or tracts of land based on the farming operation. The following are 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 transferred
2) an entire farm is sold to two or more people
3) farm ownership is transferred to two or more people
4) part of a tract is sold or ownership transferred
5) a tract is sold to two or more people
6) tract ownership is transferred to two or more people.
*In order to use this method, the land must have been owned for at least three years. - Default Method - The division of bases for a parent farm with each tract maintaining the bases attributed to the tract level when the recon is initiated in the system.
Bank Account Changes Current policy mandates that FSA payments be electronically transferred into a bank account. In order for timely payments to be made, producers need to notify the FSA county office when an account has been changed or if another financial institution purchases the bank where payments are sent. Payments can be delayed if the FSA office is not aware of updates to bank accounts and routing numbers. USDA Enhances Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the expansion of the Farm Storage and Facility Loan program, which provides low-interest financing to producers. The enhanced program includes 22 new categories of eligible equipment for fruit and vegetable producers. Producers with small and mid-sized operations, and specialty crop fruit and vegetable growers, now have access to needed capital for a variety of supplies including sorting bins, wash stations and other food safety-related equipment. A new more flexible alternative is also provided for determining storage needs for fruit and vegetable producers, and waivers are available on a case-by-case basis for disaster assistance or insurance coverage if available products are not relevant or feasible for a particular producer. Additionally, Farm Storage Facility Loan security requirements have been eased for loans up to $100,000. Previously, all loans in excess of $50,000 and any loan with little resale value required a promissory note/security agreement and additional security, such as a lien on real estate. Now loans up to $50,000 can be secured by only a promissory note/security agreement and some loans between $50,000 and $100,000 will no longer require additional security
The low-interest funds can be used to build or upgrade permanent facilities to store commodities. Eligible commodities include grains, oilseeds, peanuts, pulse crops, hay, honey, renewable biomass commodities, fruits and vegetables. Qualified facilities include grain bins, hay barns and cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables. Contact your local FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov for more about FSA programs and loans, including the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program.
Guaranteed Loan Eligibility Changes to FSA regulations have removed Guaranteed Operating Loan term limits. Previous and current guaranteed loan borrowers who were not eligible for further guaranteed loans due to the previous 15 year eligibility term limit may now be eligible for further guaranteed loans through their commercial lender. Direct Loan Changes Changes were made to the interest rate charged on loans where FSA provides 50 percent or less on jointly financed purchases of real estate also called Direct Farm Ownership Participation Loans. The interest rate will be the greater of 2.5 percent or the current interest rate for direct Farm Ownership loans minus 2 percent, as a fixed rate for the duration of the loan. At present, the June direct Farm Ownership rate is 4.00 percent. Because the 2.5 percent floor is greater than subtracting 2 percent from the current direct farm ownership loan rate, the rate for Direct Farm Ownership Participation Loans in June is 2.50 percent. Interest Rates
Selected Interest Rates for June 2014: Farm Operating Loans (including microloans) - Direct: 2.250%
Farm Ownership Loans - Direct: 4.000%
Farm Ownership Loans - Direct Down Payment, Beginning Farmer or Rancher: 1.500%
Emergency Loans: 3.250%
Farm Storage Facility Loans (7 years): 2.250%
Commodity Loan: 1.125%
Dates to RememberJul 4 - OFFICE CLOSED - Independence Day
Jul 15 - Last Day for Acreage Reporting and to Submit 2013 Actual Production for NAP
Aug 1 - End ELAP Sign-up for 2012 & 2013
Aug 1 - End of COC Election Nomination Period
Aug 20 - COC Meeting at 10:00am 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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