January 30, 2024 - Deadline to complete 2023 LFP, LIP and ELAP applications and submit supporting documentation.
January 31, 2024 - Deadline to complete 2023 Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) applications and submit supporting documentation. 2024 CCC-633EZ forms are available now.  
March 15, 2024 - Deadline to update 2024 program election on all farms between Price Loss Coverage (PLC), Agricultural Risk Coverage - County (ARC-CO) or Agricultural Risk Coverage Individual (ARC-IC) and sign annual contracts. See article below.  Commodity yields are due now for farms who elected 2023 ARC-IC. Contact Meghan for assistance.

Monroe-Appanoose County US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that County Committee elections are over, and the ballots have been counted.  This year, 2 positions were open for election for Local Administrative Areas (LAA) 1 and 4.

Patrick Beary of Lovilia was elected to represent LAA #1 which consists of Monroe County townships Cedar, Guiford, Jackson, Union and Wayne. Chris Davolt was re-elected for another term, serving LAA #4 which consists of Appanoose County townships of Bellair, Franklin, Independence, Johns, Lincoln, and Pleasant.

County committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. They help deliver programs at the county level and work to serve the needs of local producers. All recently elected county committee members will take office in January 2024 and will be joining the existing committee. Every FSA office is required to have a county committee, and they are made up of local farmers, ranchers and foresters who are elected by local producers.

Nearly 7,800 FSA county committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. County committee members impact the administration of FSA within a community by applying their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, emergency programs and eligibility.

County committee members impact producers through their decision making and help shape the culture of a local FSA office. They also ensure the fair and equitable administration of FSA farm programs in their counties and are accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. Members conduct hearings and reviews as requested by the state committee, ensure underserved farmers, ranchers and foresters are fairly represented, make recommendations to the state committee on existing programs, monitor changes in farm programs and inform farmers of the purpose and provisions of FSA programs. They also assist with outreach and inform underserved producers such as beginning farmers, ranchers and foresters, about FSA opportunities.

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Farm Service Agency (FSA) borrowers with farms located in designated primary or contiguous disaster areas who are unable to make their scheduled FSA loan payments should consider the Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) program.

DSA is available to producers who suffered losses as a result of a natural disaster and relieves immediate and temporary financial stress. FSA is authorized to consider setting aside the portion of a payment/s needed for the operation to continue on a viable scale.

Borrowers must have at least two years left on the term of their loan in order to qualify. 

Borrowers have eight months from the date of the disaster designation to submit a complete application. The application must include a written request for DSA signed by all parties liable for the debt along with production records and financial history for the operating year in which the disaster occurred. FSA may request additional information from the borrower in order to determine eligibility. 

All farm loans must be current or less than 90 days past due at the time the DSA application is complete. Borrowers may not set aside more than one installment on each loan. 

The amount set-aside, including interest accrued on the principal portion of the set-aside, is due on or before the final due date of the loan. 

For more information, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov

Producers in Monroe and Appanoose Counties are eligible to apply for 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on native pasture and improved pasture. 

LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land or fire on federally managed land. 

You must complete a CCC-853 (application) no later than January 30, 2024, for 2023 losses. All supporting documentation must also be on file in the FSA office by January 30, 2024. There are no late file provisions for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program. 

Another available disaster program is called ELAP. This program can provide assistance for water hauling, feed transportation and other losses due to drought and other eligible weather events.

Contact the office to discuss your situation and determine your eligibility. A Notice of Loss for a loss due to drought can use the first day of the drought designation as the date the loss is first apparent. 

An application for payment and all supporting documentation must be on file by January 30, 2024. There are no late file provisions for the ELAP program. 

For more information and additional eligibility requirements, contact Monroe-Appanoose County USDA Service Center at (641)932-7134 x2 or visit fsa.usda.gov.