|
As we near the end of 2022, we want to wish all our farmer and rancher customers a very Happy New Year. We wish you all the best through the holidays and into the new year.
As we move into the time of year for severe winter weather, our office wants to remind livestock producers of the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). LIP provides financial assistance for losses of eligible livestock, above normal mortality rates, due to eligible adverse weather. Please remember that losses must be reported to our office within 30 days of when those livestock losses are apparent. You can do that through a phone call to our office.
We also continue to implement the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides financial assistance to livestock producers who have grazing land that has been impacted by drought. Producers must have eligible grazing livestock and eligible grazing land (so either own the acres or have a risk in those acres).
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) is available to producers who have suffered above normal expenses for hauling feed or water to livestock or hauling livestock to new forage/grazing acres due to the impacts of drought. Please note, you must contact our office within 30 days of when you become aware of a loss that can be covered by this program, so as soon as you identify the need to haul supplemental feed or water, you should contact us. The application deadline to receive benefits for 2022 losses for both these programs is Jan. 30, 2022. While that may seem like plenty of time, we have many folks to get through the application process, so please contact us sooner rather than later regarding these programs.
For our crop producers, now is a good time of year to review your options related to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. ARC and PLC are the key safety net programs for commodity crop production, and the election and enrollment period for next year’s production season is now open through March 15, 2023. We will be sending appointment cards to customers to complete the program election and enrollment process. I want to congratulate Bart Dye (Box Butte) & Ray Cranmore (Morrill) on their election to the County FSA Committees. We look forward to working with both of you and the rest of the committee in the new year. Thank you to everyone who returned a COC election ballot for this year’s election.
Wishing you a happy and healthy start to the new year.
--Ainsley
The Scottsbluff Farm Service Agency is currently accepting applications for a special Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiative designed to increase habitat for upland wildlife. The Upland Wildlife State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) CRP aims to create more acres for greater prairie chickens, northern bobwhite, plains sharp-tailed grouse, ring-neck pheasants, songbirds and pollinators.
Through CRP, producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses and shrubs, to control soil erosion, improve soil health and water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat on agricultural land.
Landowners interested in the Upland Wildlife SAFE CRP must offer tracts with a minimum of five acres. There is no maximum number of acres per tract. Cropland must have been planted or considered planted to an agricultural commodity four of the six crop years from 2012-2017 or meet a rotation between 2006 through 2017. Landowners with expired or expiring CRP can offer acres for re-enrollment.
Through SAFE, entities partner with USDA’s FSA and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on CRP projects to enhance habitat for target wildlife species. The Upland Wildlife SAFE is a joint project by FSA, NRCS, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Pheasants Forever of Nebraska. There may be signing incentive and practice incentive payments available as part of this special initiative, as well as additional incentives available through project partners, such as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. To learn more about the Upland Wildlife SAFE CRP, visit fsa.usda.gov/ne or crpsignup.com or contact your local county FSA office.
Farm Service Agency reminds ranchers and livestock producers if they are interested in accessing financial assistance available due to qualifying drought or fire impacts in 2022, now is the time to contact the county FSA office to learn more about the programs and apply.
The deadline to apply for 2022 assistance through the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) is Jan. 30, 2023.
For the 2022 program year, Scotts Bluff, Sioux and Banner Counties have met drought severity levels that trigger LFP. ELAP also uses the U.S. Drought Monitor as a triggering mechanism, but also has other program triggers, depending on whether a producer is applying for assistance due to drought or due to losses related to wildfire. ELAP has triggered in Scotts Bluff, Sioux and Banner Counties for drought and for the Carter Canyon Wildfire.
LFP provides payments to eligible livestock producers and contract growers who also have risk in eligible grazing land or produce forage crops for grazing and who suffered losses due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county. Producers must have risk in both the livestock and the grazing land.
ELAP provides eligible producers with compensation for certain feed losses not covered by LFP, including feed and grazing losses associated with wildfire, as well as assistance with transporting water to grazing livestock, transporting feed to grazing livestock and transporting livestock to new grazing locations. Producers must have risk in both the livestock and the grazing land.
In addition to cattle, eligible livestock for both programs can include alpacas, buffalo/bison, goats, sheep, and others that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period.
To expedite the application process, producers are encouraged to gather records important to the application, such as grazing leases and contract grower agreements for LFP and ELAP assistance and information associated with the transportation of livestock feed (number of loads and mileage) or water (number of loads and gallons), if applying for ELAP assistance.
For more information or to apply, contact the county FSA office at (308) 632-2195, ext. 2.
2022 is coming to an end, which means it’s time to start thinking about what you want to work on in the new year. Setting resolutions can be hard, but we’re here to help!
If you would like to make a #ConservationResolution for 2023, here are some options to consider:
- Incorporate cover crops into your operation.
- Extend your growing season by using a high tunnel.
- Improve your soil health by utilizing no-till practices.
- Provide recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat by restoring wetlands.
- Reduce input costs by focusing on nutrient management.
- Protect topsoil and groundwater quality by devoting environmentally sensitive agricultural land to conservation benefits instead of farming.
To get started on your #ConservationResolutions, we recommend you stop by your local USDA service center, so we can discuss your vision for your land. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can provide you with free technical assistance and or advice.
Learn about the benefits of conservation practices directly from the farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners applying them with our series of 90-second videos. Explore the different types of conservation practices by watching our Conservation at Work series. You can also read producer profiles on farmers.gov.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) assists beginning farmers to finance agricultural enterprises. Under these designated farm loan programs, FSA can provide financing to eligible applicants through either direct or guaranteed loans. FSA defines a beginning farmer as a person who:
- Has operated a farm for not more than 10 years
- Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm
- Agrees to participate in a loan assessment, borrower training and financial management program sponsored by FSA
- Does not own a farm in excess of 30 percent of the county’s average size farm.
For more information contact, contact your Scottsbluff FSA USDA Service Center at 308-632-2195 or visit fsa.usda.gov.
|
