Maricopa County Courier U SDA Mar i copa Fa rm Se rv i ce Agency

Dates To Remember:

Sept 15th– Deadline for 2010 Durum Wheat Program sign-up

Sept 23rd– Deadline 2009 TAA Asparagus & Catfish Program sign-up

Sept 30th– Deadline 2008 SURE sign-up

Oct 31st– 2011 NAP Deadline: Native Grasses

On going - Farm Loan Applications accepted

Office Staff:

Christina Day, County Executive Director

Shawneen Stevenson, Farm Loan Manager

Tim Smith, COC Chairperson

Dawnie Stewart, Vice Chairperson

Gary Gable, COC Member

Corey Nelson, NRCS District Conservationist

Volume 6 August 2010

ATTN ALL PRODUCERS:

NEW 2010 Adjusted Gross Applications (CCC-926)will be needed for each pro-ducer/entity signing up for the following programs: ACRE/DCP, ELAP, LFP, LIP, NAP, SURE, LDP/MILC and EQIP. The forms are needed prior to any payment being made.

SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS FOR ALL 2010 PROGRAM SIGNUPS. Please allow up to 1 hour for the sign-up process, you will need to meet with more than one person and filing new payment limitation forms is mandatory for all participants.

Durum Wheat Quality Program: The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, au-thorizes up to $10 million for DWQP to compensate producers of 2010 durum wheat for up to 50% of the actual cost of

fungicide applied to control Fusarium head blight (FHB), commonly known as wheat scab. For 2010 crop year, the DWQP signup pe-riod begins July 21, 2010, and ends Septem-ber 15, 2010. CCC-551’s received after September 15, 2010, will not be accepted. Signup periods for subsequent years will be announced as funding becomes available and will always end on September 15 of the ap-plicable crop year. NOTE: There are no late-filed provisions for DWQP. FSA shall not re-fuse to accept producer’s request to file CCC-551. However, CCC-551’s submitted by par-ticipants after September 15, 2010, shall be disapprove because they were not filed dur-ing the signup period.

2008 Sure Program Deadline: The Deadline for 2008 Sure program payment applications is COB September 30th, 2010. There are No Provisions for late-file applications. FSA-682 Applications not filed by September 30th, 2010, regardless of reasons why, will not receive a payment because of lack of funding. NOTE: Applications must be filed by September 30, 2010, to be eligible for pay-ment consideration.

2010 ELAP Reminder: All producers must file an FSA-578 Report of Colonies by Jan 2, of the year applying for ELAP. If you missed the deadline you can submit a late filed FSA-578 and pay a late file fee of $23.00. You are required to come in and file the report. If you purchase or have a loss you must report it within 15 days. Call for questions.

The USDA FAS Administrator has certified more commodi-ties for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits. The new commodities include: 2009 Asparagus and 2009 Catfish. The producer appli-cation period is from: June 25th–September 23rd, 2010. Forms FSA-229-1’s with sup-porting documentation will be

accepted at the local FSA Center no later than the last day of the application period indicated for each petition. Please contact us for any additional informa-tion.

New TAA Benefits– Asparagus & Catfish: Measurement Service Fees:

Measurements in Goodyear, AZ

Fee:

Fee: $16/

hour

For 1st hour,

plus $8 every

30 min. after

the 1st hour

Mileage

Fee:

0.50/

cents

Times the rate

per mile

$15 Per Farm

Maricopa Courier Page 2

2009 Trade Adjustment Assistance Program

:

- Intensive technical train-ing will be a series of work-shops -requiring from 12 to 20 hours attendance)  to develop an initial business plan (travel expenses not paid) - Long-term intensive train-ing provides applicants 1-on-1 business counseling to complete and implement a long-term business plan (travel expenses not paid).  For more information, visit http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/taa or contact the TAA for Farmers Program staff, Office of Trade Programs, at telephone (202) 720-0638, or (202) 690-0633, or by e-mail at tradeadjust-ment@fas.usda.gov.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has launched USDA's Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program to help American agricul-tural producers adjust to the current, challenging eco-nomic environment.

USDA agencies have estab-lished the TAAF Program, authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. On April 12, 2010 FSA will be accepting benefit applications (FSA-229-1’s) from producers. Re-authorized by the Ameri-can Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act of 2009, the TAA for Farmers Program ap-plies to producers of raw agricultural commodities and fishermen who show a greater than 15 percent decrease-contributed impor-

tantly by an increase in im-ports-in the national average price; the quantity of produc-tion; the value of production; or in cash receipts compared to the average of the three preceding marketing years. The assistance includes help in developing business adjust-ment plans that can serve as a guide for adjusting a pro-ducer's business operation to prevailing economic condi-tions. To be eligible for TAAF Pro-gram payments, applicants must meet eligibility require-ments and attend the follow-ing required training: - Initial technical assistance will explain the TAAF Pro-gram, general business-plan training, and requirements for approval of business-plan payments

Commodity: Final Loan Availability

Date:

Mohair, Peanuts, Unshorn Pelts, Wool

2010 –Wheat, Barley and Oats

Jan 31, 2011

May 15th, 2011

The Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP) pays dairy producers when a public regulatory agency directs them to remove raw milk from the commercial market because it has been contaminated. To qualify for manufacturer eligibility for DIPP benefits: manu-facturer must not have been responsible for contamination of the product, contamination must have been because of a pesticide. Manufacturer losses resulting from the following are not eligible for DIPP benefits: chemicals, toxic substances, nuclear radiation or fallout. If the manufacturer used a pesticide that caused the removal of the dairy product from the market, the pesticide must have been: registered and approved for use by the Federal Government when it was used and used according to directions on the label. Manufacturers who are eligible to apply for DIPP must provide documentation necessary to determine the indemnification amount. To apply for DIPP benefits, the manufacturer must provide the following to their local FSA office: copy of the notice from the public agency that resulted in removing the product from the commercial market, name of the pesticide causing the removal of the product from the market and, if possible, the source of the pesticide, fair market value of the product removed from the commercial market, name of any pesticides used by the manufacturer, estimated salvage value of the product, signed CCC-314, any other information requested by DAFP. Producers may file FSA-373’s in either of the following: the County Office where the dairy operation affected by the contamination is physically located, the producer’s administrative County Office. FSA-373’s must be filed by December 31 following the FY-end in which the loss occurred. FSA-373 must be completed correctly, signed, and returned to the applicable County Office by COB on the final filing date for the applicable FY, to be considered eligible for DIPP benefits. Final Filing Dates as follows:

Dairy Indemnity Payment Program (DIPP):

IF the loss occurred on or after... Then the final filing date to apply is...

October 1, 2008, but by September 30, 2009 December 31, 2009

December 31, 2010 October 1, 2009 , but by September 30, 2010

Rousseau’s Carrot Shed in Tolleson, AZ

Page 3 Volume 5, Issue 9

NAP Insurance: MILC: Crop Insurance is required for all 5 of the new disaster assistance programs included in the 2008 Farm Bill. The SURE, ELAP, LIP, LFP and TAP. IF you can not purchase at least a CAT level of insurance for your crops then you must purchase NAP insurance through the FSA office that administers your farm. The service fee for crop coverage is $250.00/crop up to a maximum purchase of three crops. You must pay the service fee by the sales closing date to have the coverage, no late file provisions apply. Please pay close attention to the Sales Closing Dates:

Changes to the MILC production start month selected by the dairy operation must be made on or before the 14th of the month be-fore the month originally selected by the Dairy Operation as their MILC production start month.

Remember To: Mail/fax in all your milk production receipts each month, submit your 2010 Adjusted Gross Income Certifications.

PLEASE NOTE: We cannot issue any payments until we have re-ceived your 2010 AGI forms. Producers who certify on CCC-926 that their non farm average AGI exceeds $500,000 are ineligible for MILC benefits. 11-LD, subparagraph 12 C provides that pro-ducers are required to certify to the AGI requirement each FY. ALL AGI Certifications are subject to spot-checks.

Bank Changes: Please make sure to notify the County Office

immediately if you have changes to your bank account. It will slow down the process in transmitting any payments from our office if we have incorrect data. Thank you.

LDP Payments: The form (633 EZ) allows producers to indicate intentions to receive LDP benefits before loss of beneficial interest and allows producers to sub-mit an LDP request for benefits at anytime dur-ing the loan/LDP availability period. By com-pleting page 1 of the 633EZ before losing BENEFICIAL INTEREST, producers may be eligi-ble to receive LDP benefits based on the earlier of:

date Beneficial interest is lost in the eligible commodity, according to production evi-dence submitted

the date of request for payment

The 633-EZ Page 1:

allows producers to indicate their intention to receive LDP benefits

is completed 1 time per crop year for ALL commodities

To receive LDP benefits under the 633EZ pro-

ducers must then complete and submit Pg.2 to our office. ATTN Producers: There is an LDP Rate on Wheat– Make sure you turn your pro-duction in to the County Office with Pg. 2 of the 633.

Beneficial Interest Loans/LDP: A pro-

ducer retains BI in the commodity if all or part of the following remain with the producer:

-Control of the Commodity

-Risk of Loss in the Commodity

-Title to the Commodity

Once BI in the commodity is lost. The commodity loses eligibility for a loan or LDP and remains ineligible even if the producer later regains Beneficial Interest.

United States Dept. of Agriculture/FSA Food Drive: NAP Records: The United States Depart-ment of Agriculture is con-ducting a community food drive thru August 31st, 2010. The food drive is part of USDA’s Fed’s, Farm-ers and Friends Feed Fami-lies’ national campaign. FSA offices welcome all dona-tions of non-perishable items -especially canned meats, fish, nuts, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese,

Production records for indi-vidual crops need to be filed with our office to establish an approved Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) yield. If this is the first year you participated in NAP, you can provide production and acreage information from prior years to establish your yield. If you participated in NAP Records submitted must be reliable or verifiable.

2011 NAP

Sept 1, 2010:

2011 NAP

Oct 31, 2010

2011 NAP

Nov 20, 2010

2011 NAP

Nov 30, 2010

Alfalfa, Barley Beans, Gar (Yuma) Canta-loupe, Grass, Native, Honey-dews Lettuce, Rye, Wheat

Apples, Apri-cots, Cherries, Honey, Peaches, Pears, Pista-chios, Plums, Watermelons

Potatoes Crustaceans

Flowers, Stock

Garlic

pastas, powdered milk, baby formula and food, canned soup, canned stew, ravioli, chili, fruits and juices, spaghetti sauce, dry cereal, oatmeal, and rice. For more information, contact our office or visit: www.usda.gov.

Rousseau’s Carrot Shed

Civil Rights Policy:

By FSA and RMA:

Maricopa County FSA Office 12409 West Indian School Road Building B, Suite 201 Avondale, Arizona 85392-9505

Phone: 623-535-5055

Fax: 623-536-5261

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Avondale, Arizona

PERMIT #50

USDA Mar i copa

Fa rm Se rv i ce Agency

We’re on the Web! @

http://

www.fsa.usda.gov

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the

basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orienta-

tion, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program.

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information

(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination

write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or

(202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”

FSA is committed to ensuring the civil rights of every individual who requests access to the programs administered by the Agency. They will be provided employment op-portunities without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, relig-ion, gender, age, disability, mari-tal status, or sexual orientation.

Maricopa County Office Committee (COC) Meet-ing Schedule: The County Committee will meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Payments: If you think you did not receive a payment, or correct payment from any program you participate in, please call the office and ask.

Our goal is to provide the best service we can!

Special Accommodations: Special Accommodations will be made upon request to individuals with disabilities, vision impairment, or hearing impairment. If accom-modations are required, individu-als should contact the county FSA office staff directly or by phone at (623)535-5055

Fraud Prevention: The Farm

Service Agency supports the Risk Man-agement Agency in the prevention of fraud, waste and abuse of the Federal Crop Insurance Program. FSA has been, and will continue to, assist RMA and insurance providers by monitoring crop conditions throughout the growing season. FSA will continue to refer all suspected cases of fraud, waste and abuse di-rectly to RMA.

2010 DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sept 30th: 2008 Deadline for SURE Program

Oct 31st: 2011 NAP Deadline: Native Grasses

Sept 15th: 2010 Deadline for Durum Wheat Quality

Program

Sept 23rd: 2009 Deadline for TAA Asparagus & Catfish

Program