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After a brief hiatus, Heidi Nickol is back in Delaware as the County Executive Director. Heidi spent the last year supporting the Iowa FSA State Office as a program specialist, writing policy and leading trainings all across the state. She is excited to be back working with producers and the staff in Delaware County.
The Delaware County office received two nominations for the County Committee. To review, Mitch Zumbach will be completing his third term representing LAA 3, which includes Coffins Grove, Prairie, Adams, Hazel Green and Union townships. Tom Vaske and Tammy Eibey have been nominated to fill LAA 3 in January.
Tom Vaske is a crop farmer who has farmed for over 23 years. Tom is involved in research for the Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Learning Farms. He resides in Masonville, IA with his wife Jennifer. He has three sons, Matt, Jason and Jacob.
Tammy Eibey is an Iowa State graduate who has farmed with her husband Chris on his family farm for over 39 years, which is located SW of Manchester. She is a retired FSA employee with over 35 years of service. Tammy and Chris have four children: Dan, Keith, Audrey and Allison. Tammy expressed her interest in running for the County Committee, emphasizing that the local county committees provide the local judgement needed in administering FSA programs.
Those of you that reside in LAA 3 will begin receiving ballots on November 6, 2023. The last day to return a completed ballot to our office is December 4, 2023. Please be sure to take an active role in the selection of your COC and place your vote. COCs are a direct link between the agricultural community and the USDA. 'Write - ins' are always accepted as well. Ballots will be tallied on December 7, 2023 during the December COC meeting.
Good luck to both of our candidates and thank you to Mitch for his 9 years of dedicated service to FSA employees and Delaware county farmers!
The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides assistance for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather, such as excessive heat, excessive cold, tornado, flood, and hail.
For 2023 livestock losses, you must file a notice within 30 calendar days of when the loss is first apparent. This may be filed by phone, fax, email or office visit. The following supporting documentation must be provided to FSA no later than 60 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the eligible loss condition occurred.
- Proof of death documentation (pictures, rendering truck receipts, etc)
- Copy of grower’s contracts (if applicable)
- Proof of normal mortality documentation
- Proof of Inventory (bank balance sheet, purchase/sales receipts, vet records, etc)
- Management write up
USDA has established normal mortality rates for each type and weight range of eligible livestock, i.e. Adult Beef Cow = 1.5% and Non-Adult Beef Cattle (less than 400) = 5%. These established percentages reflect losses that are considered expected or typical under “normal” conditions.
Payments are calculated at 75% of fair market value for the eligible livestock as determined by FSA.
In addition to filing a notice of loss within 30 days, you must also submit an application for payment by March 1, 2024. Contact the Delaware County FSA to start your LIP application today!
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Delaware County is now eligible for the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) for grazing losses due to the 2023 drought. The deadline to apply for 2023 LFP assistance is January 30, 2024.
LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land or fire on federally managed land. For LFP, qualifying drought intensity levels are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor. Producers in Delaware County are eligible to apply for 2023 LFP benefits for grazing losses on small grains, native pasture, and improved pasture mixed forage due to a recently reached D3 drought status. Visit the FSA LFP webpage for a full list of eligible counties and pasture types.
Livestock eligible for LFP include alpacas, beef cattle, bison, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland. Recently, FSA updated LFP policy to expand program eligibility to include additional income producing grazing animals, like horses and ostrich, that contribute to the commercial viability of an agricultural operation. Livestock used for hunting and consumption by the owner and horses and other animals that are used or intended to be used for racing and wagering remain ineligible. Un-weaned non-adult beef, buffalo, bison, or dairy cattle are not considered grazing animals and also remain ineligible.
To apply, the following must be submitted by Jan 30, 2024:
- CCC-853 application certifying total # of head (broke out by weight/category) grazing in Delaware County on Sept 7, 2023.
- FSA-578 Crop Reports timely/late-filed on all pasture acres
- Written lease or CCC-855 lease agreements on all rented pasture
- All Eligibility forms, including CCC-941 Adjusted Gross Income
As a reminder, producers who want to participate in many USDA programs including disaster assistance programs like LFP, must file timely acreage reports by filling out the FSA-578 form to remain eligible for program benefits. Livestock producers interested in applying for LFP should contact Delaware County FSA at 563-927-4250 with any questions about the eligibility of specific livestock and forage crops.
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