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FSA News
Eligible farmers and ranchers who suffered livestock, livestock feed and crop losses that occurred before Dec. 31, 2007, can now apply to receive disaster payments. The Farm Service Agency is accepting applications and making payments for quantity losses under CDP that occurred before Dec. 31, 2007. FSA is currently issuing LCP and LIP payments for losses that occurred up to Feb. 28, 2007, and will soon issue payments for losses incurred during the remainder of 2007. FSA will conduct sign-up and begin making payments for quality losses under CDP this spring. More information about CDP, LCP and LIP is available online at: http:// disaster.fsa.usda.gov. SAFE Approved for Georgia USDA has approved conservation projects on a quarter-million acres in 18 states under a new partnership within the Conservation Reserve Program called State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement. SAFE practices provide the flexibility to meet the specific needs of high-value wildlife species in a participating state or region. Conservation practices currently offered under CRP are fine-tuned through SAFE to improve, connect or create higher-quality habitat to promote healthier ecosystems in areas identified as essential to effective management of high priority species. SAFE, like other continuous CRP practices, targets CRP acres to the most environmentally sensitive land. USDA's national goal is to restore or enhance 500,000 acres of wildlife habitat through SAFE. Producers will receive annual CRP rental payments, incentives and costshare assistance to establish habitat-enhancing natural covers on eligible land. Producers enrolling in CRP enter into contracts with USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation. When known, FSA will announce a beginning signup date for SAFE in the near future and conduct sign-up on a continuous basis. Producers can voluntarily offer land for enrollment in SAFE and other CRP programs at their local FSA service center. The purpose of this program is to restore quality, long-term native pine savanna ground cover and associated wildlife by thinning, prescribed burning and establishment of ground cover to a native warm season grass. Eligible Land and Practice To be eligible for this practice (CP38), land must be located in counties within the historic range of the longleaf pine (National CRP Longleaf Priority Area). In addition, land must meet the basic CRP eligibility requirements. Eligible land is cropland that was planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity in four out of the six years 1996 and 2001 and which is also physically and legally capable of being planted in a normal workman manner to an agricultural commodity. Tree stands must be practices CP3, Tree Planting, CP3A, Hardwood Tree Planting or CP11, Trees Already Established which are scheduled to expire from CRP in FY 2008 and FY 2009. Kansas City Mails 1099-G During the last week of January, producers who have received payments from FSA should have also received a CCC-1099-G from the Kansas City office. A CCC-1099-G is a report to the Internal Revenue Service about FSA payments made to you in calendar year 2006. The CCC- 1099-G is a service to help participating producers report taxable income. It is not intended to replace the program participant's responsibility to report income to the IRS. If you received a CCC-1099-G, we recommend that you check the amounts shown with those in your records to see that the amounts are correct. Refunds will no longer be reported on the 1099-G, but will be available online from the FSA Financial Inquiries web-based database. Program participants with eAuthentication user IDs and passwords can access their refund information at FSA-FIand select "Inquiry Type 1099/Refund Reports." Refund amounts are displayed on the Producer's Year-to-Date Activity web page. If you have a question concerning the 1099-G refund information, you may contact your local FSA office for assistance locating the correct payment data. If you choose to visit the office, bring your CCC- 1099-G with you. NASS Statistical Surveys Have you been asked to participate in a survey with USDA's Agriculture Statistics Service? The Quarterly Agricultural Surveys, conducted by the National Agricultural Statistics Service provide inventory and production estimates for crops and livestock at state and national levels. Each quarter a list sample of farm operators are contacted by mail, telephone or personal interview for inventory information on the land they operate. Sample segments also screened for farm operators. Why is it important for producers to participate in these surveys? Because… Statistical information on acreage, production, stocks, prices, and income is essential for the smooth operation of Federal farm programs. It is also indispensable for planning and administering related Federal and State programs in such areas as consumer protection, conservation and environmental quality, trade, education, and recreation. Moreover, the regular updating of information helps to ensure an orderly flow of goods and services among agriculture's producing, processing, and marketing sectors. Reliable, timely, and detailed crop and livestock statistics help to maintain a stable economic climate and minimize the uncertainties and risks associated with the production, marketing, and distribution of commodities. Conservation Compliance All participants in USDA programs are required to have a conservation system in place on all the highly erodible land that they operate. Several areas where problems can arise with complying with a conservation system are; renting new cropland, purchasing new land, breaking out additional cropland, planting different crops such as soybeans, and changing or removing existing conservation practices.
It is very important that you contact the FSA office before doing any of the above. Also, it is very important that you contact our office before modifying - tiling, draining, dredging, filling, or leveling - any wetland or drainage ditch. Failure to obtain advance approval for any of these situations can result in loss of all federal payments and eligibility.
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