IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
v February 19, 2013 – DCP/ACRE sign-up begins
v March 15, 2013 – deadline to purchase 2013 NAP Coverage for hay and grazing
v June 7, 2013 – deadline to apply for 2011 SURE benefits
FSA’s Electronic News and Newsletter Service
Farmers and Ranchers in Dawes/North Sioux now have a more efficient timely option for receiving important Farm Service Agency (FSA) program eligibility requirements, deadlines and related information. We are now offering free online communications through our GovDelivery electronic news service. News will now be sent via e-mail right to your home or farm office or to your Smartphone – affording you immediate notification of farm program news pertinent to your agricultural operation.
GovDelivery is your one-stop shop for the most up-to-date USDA program information and will enable FSA to keep you better informed AND allow FSA to conserve resources and reduce taxpayer expenses associated with the preparation, printing and distribution of hardcopy newsletters.
QUESTIONS? – Contact us at the Dawes/North Sioux County FSA office if you need help.
E-mail to: [email protected]
phone: (308)432-4616
Please subscribe to FSA’s GovDelivery electronic news service.
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
The sales closing date to purchase NAP coverage is March 15, 2013. This is the effective date for spring seeded crops and forage crops. The NAP program offers benefits to producers who suffer losses in excess of 50 percent of their approved yield on selected crops that are non insurable by FCIC.
To be eligible to receive NAP assistance, a producer must request application, and pay the service fee by the closing date of March 15, 2013. The service fee is $250 per crop per county or $750 per producer per county. The fee cannot exceed a total of $1875 per producer with farming interest in multiple counties. Payment of the service fee is also due at the time the producer files the application.
Qualifying limited resource producers may request a waiver of service fees, if:
- In each of the last two years, was your direct or indirect Gross Farm Sales less than or equal to $172,800 per year?
- In each of the last two years, was your Total Household Income less than the Dawes County median household income “County/Area Value” of $23,050.00?
If you answered YES to BOTH questions, you are eligible for NAP FEE WAIVER.
The Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher FY 2013 Self-Determination Tool as available at the following website:
www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/DeterminationTool.aspx?fyYear=2013
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Any person who is convicted under federal or state law of a controlled substance violation could be ineligible for USDA payments or benefits. Violations include planting, harvesting or growing a prohibited plant. Prohibited plants include marijuana, opium, poppies, and other drug producing plants.
HIGHLY ERODIBLE LAND AND WETLAND CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE
Landowners and operators are reminded that in order to receive payments from USDA, compliance with Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions are required. Farmers with HEL determined soils are reminded of tillage, crop residue, and rotation requirements as specified per their conservation plan. Contact must be made to the USDA Service Center PRIOR to conduction new breaks, land clearing or drainage projects to insure compliance, which is recorded on form AD-1026 or AD-1026U
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or e-mail at [email protected]