Agriculture USDA Service Center Update

USDA Update – May 15, 2023

Eads USDA Service Center Staff

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

  • EMERGENCY GRAZING AVAILABLE ON CERTAIN CRP CONTRACTS -  after March 15th -  50% reduced stocking rate
  • 2023 LIVESTOCK FORAGE PROGRAM or LFP – Kiowa eligible
  • CRP GRASSLANDS SIGNUP - begins April 17, 2023, ends May 26, 2023
  • ERP Phase 2 and PARP Deadline - June 2, 2023

Disclaimer:  Information in this UPDATE is pertinent to Kiowa County FSA only.  Producers reading this and that do not have FSA interest in Kiowa County are advised to contact their local FSA Office. 

THE USDA SERVICE CENTER HAS A DROP BOX AVAILABLE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

DROUGHT MONITOR

The moisture received last week hasn’t been captured by the Drought Monitor authors; therefore next week’s report should reflect some changes.  There are good chances for rain this week. 

ON-GOING PROGRAMS

Below is a brief update on the current programs FSA is administering.  NOTE:  there are user friendly tools to assist in the computations for ERP2 and PARP program.  Call or email the office for those tools to be emailed to you or your tax preparer.  

  • CRP Grasslands Signup #205 -  Expiring or expired CRP and native pastureland is eligible land to offer.  To submit the offer, the land must have been owned or operated for one year by the end of signup. The rental rate for Kiowa County is $18.00 per acre.  Offers are being accepted through May 26, 2023.  
  • 2023 Livestock Forage Program or LFP-  Kiowa County has triggered for 3-month payment on native grass, due to drought conditions.  Counties trigger for LFP based on drought intensities from the U.S. Drought Monitor.   Eligible producers with eligible grazing land can apply before January 30, 2024.
  • ERP 2 -  is a program designed to provide assistance to producers who did not qualify for ERP  phase 1 program for crop years 2020 and 2021.  More information can be found @ https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/emergency-relief/index or contact your local FSA office.  Deadline to submit a completed application is June 2, 2023
  • PARP -  will assist eligible producers of agricultural commodities who experienced revenue decreases in calendar year 2020 compared to 2018 or 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  More information can be found @ www.farmers.gov/coronavirus/pandemic-assistance/parp or contact your local FSA office.  Deadline to submit a completed application is June 2, 2023. 

Program Application Deadlines Extended to June 2 

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has provided additional flexibilities and further enhanced disaster recovery assistance provided by the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) in response to needs expressed by livestock producers in the Western U.S. who have experienced significant feed, forage, animal and infrastructure loss from preexisting, long-term drought conditions further compounded by unprecedented snowfall and winter storms. These livestock disaster program policy enhancements include an extended June 2, 2023, deadline to submit notices of loss and applications for payment for 2022 losses. The deadline extension and program flexibilities are available to eligible producers nationwide who incurred losses from a qualifying natural disaster event.  

“Impacted producers are encouraged contact their FSA county offices to take advantage of ELAP enhancements. Expenses eligible for assistance can include above normal feed purchases, above normal freight, even snow removal in some cases,” said Kent Peppler, State Executive Director for FSA in Colorado. “This Administration continues to demonstrate our understanding of and commitment to livestock production. Last year, we changed a policy in LIP to better reflect the investment producers have in newborn livestock.  This year, cognizant of the fact that many of our producers are managing open range operations, unprecedented amounts of snow, and in some cases are just now realizing all their losses, we are extending the deadline to apply for these critical programs to allow these producers the time they need to manage their recovery.” 

LIP and ELAP reimburses producers for a portion of the value of livestock, poultry and other animals that died because of a qualifying natural disaster event or for loss of grazing acres, feed, and forage. LFP provides benefits for grazing losses due to a qualifying drought or wildfire. For fire, losses must occur on federally managed lands. ELAP provides benefits for grazing losses not covered under LFP.     

New Program Applications for 2022

FSA is accepting 2022 LIP notices of loss and applications for payment through June 2, 2023, for all covered livestock that may have been eligible in 2022.   

Producers who did not sign up for ELAP assistance for hauling livestock, forage and feedstuff hauling or other losses covered under ELAP in 2022 can also apply through June 2, 2023.   

FSA will accept LFP applications for only newly eligible covered livestock through June 2, 2023.  

All required supporting documentation must be received and on file in the county office by the established deadline.   

Revising 2022 Applications   

Producers who have a 2022 ELAP, LIP or LFP application on file with FSA as of the program deadline or were placed on an approved register, may revise their application with the newly updated eligible livestock no later than June 2, 2023.  

Filing a Notice of Loss for ELAP due to 2022 and 2023 Drought  

To support program access for counties that do not currently have a 365-day grazing season, FSA is waiving the 30-day timeframe for producers to submit a notice of loss for the 2023 ELAP program year due to qualifying drought in calendar years 2022 or 2023. Producers can now submit a notice of loss from the date the loss is apparent, as far back as Jan. 1, 2023, for 2022 eligible losses and 2023 eligible losses that occur before June 2, 2023.   

For counties that have a 365-day grazing season, producers must have a qualifying drought in the 2023 calendar year to be eligible for 2023 livestock, water and feed hauling in 2023.  

More Information  

Livestock producers must provide evidence that livestock death was due to an eligible adverse weather event or loss condition. In addition, livestock producers should bring supporting evidence, including documentation of the number and kind of livestock that died, photographs or video records to document the loss, purchase records, veterinarian records, production records and other similar documents. Owners who sold injured livestock for a reduced price because the livestock were injured due to an adverse weather event, must provide verifiable evidence of the reduced sale of the livestock.  

Producers can apply for ELAP, LFP and LIP benefits at their local FSA county office. For more information or to submit a notice of loss or an application for payment, please contact your local FSA office or visit farmers.gov/recover.  

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.    

KIOWA COUNTY FARM SERVICE AGENCY COUNTY COMMITTEE

  • Sean Harkness – LAA 1 – East area – Committee Chairperson
  • Destiny Haase - LAA 2 – Central area – Committee Vice-Chairperson
  • Michael Zimmerman – LAA 3 – West area – Committee Regular Member

USDA SERVICE CENTER CONTACT INFORMATION

409 E Lowell Ave.

PO Box 188 – Eads, CO  81036

Telephone 719-438-5851 FSA (Ext 2), NRCS (Ext 3). FSA Fax number: fax2mail 844-332-7501

FSA - Farm Service Agency  

NRCS – Natural Resource Conservation Service

KIOWA COUNTY FARM LOAN CONTACT INFO – CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

Telephone 719-336-3437 (ext. 2) 

SERVICE CENTER OFFICE HOURS:  

Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  

RECEIVE USDA INFORMATION

Visit website www.Farmers.gov  for up-to-date information for FSA/NRCS programs.

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