From the Directors Desk
The weather has been perfect for getting ready for spring work! The calendar indicates it has arrived, and the weather has been cooperating too. Do your spring plans involve drainage tile, removing hedgerows or converting land to cropland? Save money, time and stress by understanding the Food Security Act of 1985 before you begin.
FSA and NRCS will be holding an informational producer meeting to review the provisions and requirements of the Act, the process for wetland determinations, highly erodible land determinations, and what happens if a violation occurs. All producers are invited and welcome to attend.
When: Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at 1:00 pm
Where: Madison County Cooperative Extension, Ag Center
Please call the Madison County FSA office at (315) 824-9076, ext. 2, by Monday, April 4th, to RSVP.
Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting should contact Kyriel Poulin at 315-824-9076 extension 2 or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 by Monday, April 4, 2016.
Just a few reminders. Marketing Assistance Loans are still available. The deadline for 2015 wheat, oat and barley loans is March 31st and the deadline to request 2015-crop corn and soybean loans is May 31. The interest rate is 1.5%, with a 9-month repayment term.
Farm Storage Facility Loan rates are 1.625% for a 7-year loan, 1.875% for a 10-year loan and 2.0% for a 12-year loan. The FSFL program has recently added additional eligible crops including (but not limited to), eggs, cheese, poultry, hops, hay, honey, maple sap, just to name a few. In addition, bulk tanks are now eligible. Call the office for more details.
Annual crop reporting will be here before you know it! May 15th is the deadline for spring forage seedings, and onions. July 15th is the deadline for spring barley, corn, dry beans, sweet corn, grain sorghum, spring oats, potatoes, soybeans, tomatoes, CRP and all other crops. The deadline for cabbage, fresh market beans and processing beans isAugust 15th. If you finish before your scheduled appointment, give us a call and we can get you in to report sooner.
Happy Spring!
Donna W. Purdy
County Executive Director