Our office has been busy as we help you prepare for the upcoming growing season.
The countdown is on to the Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage programs enrollment deadline of March 15, 2023. If you have not enrolled your farm(s) for 2023, please call our office. March 15 is also the deadline for changing your current program election, meaning selecting ARC or PLC, as well as the deadline to have all signatures for your contracts. While making a new election is optional, you must enroll (sign a new contract) for 2023 by the deadline if you want to remain eligible for potential benefits.
If you are interested in more information about the ARC/PLC election options, you can listen to the recorded Center for Agricultural Profitability’s webinar, titled “Farm Program Safety Net Options.” Go to fsa.usda.gov/ne and click on the webinar link in the second “spotlights” story.
The deadline for the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) is also March 15, 2023. This program provides a safety net option for some crops not covered by federal crop insurance. This covers millet hay, oats hay, forage sorghum, garbanzo beans, black-eyed peas, and etc. If you raise crops such as these, call our office now to find out more about your options. This is a program you don’t think about until you need it, and then it’s too late, so ask us about it now.
That’s all for this month. Spring is around the corner.
-Brad
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The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides financial benefits to producers who suffer livestock losses above normal mortality due to adverse weather, which can include winter storms with certain conditions such as heavy snowfall and extremely cold temperatures.
Livestock producers who have experienced weather-related livestock losses are reminded that reporting and documenting those losses is an important part of the LIP application process. Producers must report losses within 30 days of when those livestock losses become apparent. A phone call to the county FSA office can serve as official notice of loss.
Adequate documentation must be provided that proves the death or injury of eligible livestock occurred as a direct result of an eligible loss condition in the calendar year for which benefits are being requested. Documentation also must provide sufficient data that identifies the quantity and the livestock kind/type and weight range. Documents providing acceptable evidence may include, but are not limited to, any or a combination of the following:
· contemporaneous producer records existing at the time of event - pictures with a date
· rendering truck receipts or certificates
· veterinary records
· records assembled for tax purposes
· private insurance documents
· bank or other loan documents
· brand inspection records
Livestock owners or contract growers who suffered livestock losses will file a notice of loss and an application for payment at the USDA Service Center responsible for the physical location county where the livestock deaths or injuries occurred. While livestock owners and contract growers must file the notice of loss by 30 calendar days of when the loss is first apparent to the participant, producers have until March 1, 2024, to file the application for payment and provide the supporting documentation for 2023 losses.
Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm loans are considered progression lending. Unlike loans from a commercial lender, FSA loans are intended to be temporary in nature. Our goal is to help you graduate to commercial credit, and our farm loan staff is available to help borrowers through training and credit counseling.
The FSA team will help borrowers identify their goals to ensure financial success. FSA staff will advise borrowers on developing strategies and a plan to meet your goals and graduate to commercial credit. FSA borrowers are responsible for the success of their farming operation, but FSA staff will help in an advisory role, providing the tools necessary to help you achieve your operational goals and manage your finances.
For more information on FSA farm loan program, visit fsa.usda.gov.
Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) throughout Nebraska are currently accepting tree and shrub orders through their Conservation Tree Program. The program encourages the planting and maintenance of trees and shrubs to protect livestock in winter months, reduce energy costs for homeowners, increase food and shelter for wildlife, and more.
Doak Nikerson with the Nebraska Forest Service said livestock producers can experience a tremendous return on their investment when establishing windbreaks. With every $1 invested in a livestock windbreak, a beef cow producer sees $7 in return. Once temperatures fall below 18˚F the animal becomes stressed and requires more feed to maintain its necessary body temperature. Strong, gusty winds create dangerous windchills and cause extreme stress conditions. With a well-established and maintained windbreak, wind speeds can be reduced by 70%, thus reducing feed costs and animal stress.
Natural Resources Districts offer a variety of tree services to landowners in addition to providing seedlings at inexpensive rates. Services include planting design, site preparation, and machine plantings. Tree orders can be taken at NRD offices, or at your local NRCS office. Get the planning process started today. After all, the best time to plant a windbreak was 30 years ago, and the second-best time is today! Learn more at nrdtrees.org.
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