Commodity Credit Corporation Releases Lending Rates for October

Posted on October 2, 2014 by tanya brown

The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for October 2014. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.125, which is unchanged from September 2014, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans dispersed during September is 1.125, unchanged from last month. Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans and discount rates for the Tobacco Transition Payment Program also are available. Read more.

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USDA Unveils Key New Programs to Help Farmers Manage Risk

Posted on September 26, 2014 by tanya brown

ARC_PLC_Spotlight_imageDirect payments are a thing of the past. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced two farm safety net programs that offer farmers protection when the market causes substantial drops in crop prices and/or revenues. The Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and the Price Loss Coverage (PLC), are now available and producers will have through early spring of 2015 to select which program works best for their business. To help farmers choose between ARC and PLC, USDA helped create online tools that allow farmers to enter information about their operation and see projections about what each program will mean for them under possible future scenarios. “We’re committed to giving farmers as much information as we can so they can make an informed decision between these programs,” said Vilsack. “These resources will help farm owners and producers boil the information down, understand what their options are, and ultimately make the best decision on which choice is right for them.  Learn more and use the new tools to determine which program works best.

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Reminder: Only a Few Days Left for Livestock Producers to Sign Up for Disaster Assistance

Posted on September 26, 2014 by tanya brown

Producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses must secure assistance by Oct. 1, 2014. After that date, anyone seeking assistance will suffer a 7.3 percent reduction in the amount of disaster relief they can receive. The Budget Control Act passed by Congress in 2011 requires USDA to implement reductions of 7.3 percent to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) in the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2014; however, producers seeking LFP support who have scheduled appointments with their local FSA office before Oct. 1, even if the appointment occurs after Oct.1, will not see reductions in the amount of disaster relief they receive. USDA is encouraging producers to register or request an appointment or begin a Livestock Forage Disaster Program application with their county FSA office before Oct. 1, 2014, to lock in the current zero percent sequestration rate. Read more.

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Deadline to Enroll in Cotton Transition Assistance Program is Oct. 7

Posted on September 26, 2014 by tanya brown

Producers interested in enrolling in the Cotton Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) have until Oct. 7 to do so. The program provides interim payments to cotton producers during the 2014 crop year until the Stacked Income Protection Plan — a new insurance product — is available. Details on the plan were released in August. Learn more or review the Stacked Income Protection Plan.

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Farmers Can Use New Web Tool to Determine Coverage for Dairy Protection Program

Posted on September 26, 2014 by tanya brown

Farmers can now enroll in the new Dairy Margin Protection Program and use helpful Web tool to determine the right coverage. The voluntary program provides financial assistance to participating farmers when the difference between the price of milk and feed costs falls below the coverage level selected by the farmer. To help dairy farmers determine the level of coverage, USDA launched a new Web tool that allows farmers to quickly and easily combine unique operation data and other key variables to calculate their coverage needs based on price projections. Learn more or use the new Web tool.

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New Financial Assistance Available to Citrus Growers Affected by HLB

Posted on September 26, 2014 by tanya brown
Photo by: Tim R. Gottwald and Steve M. Garnsey - USDA Agricultural Research Service

Photo by: Tim R. Gottwald and Steve M. Garnsey – USDA Agricultural Research Service.

New funding is available to Florida citrus growers affected by Huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that growers will be eligible for up to 50 percent of the cost of the removal of diseased trees and site preparation, 65 percent of the cost of replanting and labor, and 65 percent of the cost of seedlings. Losses must have occurred on or after Oct. 1, 2011. “USDA is investing in research and a variety of strategies to combat citrus greening over the long-term. In the meantime though, this support will help ensure growers are not wiped out in the short-term,” said Vilsack. Learn more.

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Kudzu Spreads North

Posted on September 26, 2014 by tanya brown

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Producers Suffering Fruit Losses Have Less Than a Week to Enroll for Assistance

Posted on September 12, 2014 by tanya brown

Producers who did not have access to crop insurance yet suffered losses to bush or tree fruit crops due to frost or freeze during the 2012 crop year have until Sept. 22 to enroll in the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. The program provides supplemental payment to producers who were affected by weather damage or other adverse natural occurrences. Enrollment in the program opened July 22 and continues through Sept. 22. Producer must contact their local FSA county office to find if they are eligible to apply.Learn more or locate your FSA county office.

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Corn Production and Yield to be Highest on Record

Posted on September 12, 2014 by tanya brown

A USDA Crop Production report released this week forecasts corn production at 14.4 billion bushels, up 3 percent from the August forecast. September yields are expected to average 171.7 bushels per acre, up 4.3 bushes from August. If realized, this will be the highest yield and production on record for the United States. Soybeanproduction is forecast at a record 3.91 billion bushels, up 3 percent from August and up 19 percent from last year. Based on September 1 conditions, yields are expected to average a record high 46.6 bushels per acre, up 1.2 bushels from last month and up 3.3 bushels from last year. Read the entire crop production report.

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Reminder: Livestock Producers Should Sign Up for Disaster Assistance Programs by Oct. 1

Posted on September 10, 2014 by tanya brown

Producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses must secure assistance by Sept. 30, 2014. After that date, anyone seeking assistance will suffer a 7.3 percent reduction in the amount of disaster relief they can receive. The Budget Control Act passed by Congress in 2011 requires USDA to implement reductions of 7.3 percent to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) in the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2014; however, producers seeking LFP support who have scheduled appointments with their local FSA office before Oct. 1, even if the appointment occurs after Oct.1, will not see reductions in the amount of disaster relief they receive. USDA is encouraging producers to register or request an appointment or begin a Livestock Forage Disaster Program application with their county FSA office before Oct. 1, 2014, to lock in the current zero percent sequestration rate. Read more.

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