Montana FSA:

November 2017 Newsletter

In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers, including livestock producers, are encouraged to visit their local FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline.

The 2018 Acreage Reporting/Crop Certification Deadline is Nov. 15, 2017 for Apiculture, Perennial Forage, Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) including native grass, fall wheat (Hard Red Winter) and all other fall-seeded small grains. These crops must be reported to FSA by Nov. 15, 2017 to be considered timely filed in order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements.

The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:

• If the crop has not been planted by the applicable acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.

• If a producer acquires additional acreage after the applicable acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.

• If a perennial forage crop is reported with the intended use of “green manure,” “left standing,” or “seed,” then the acreage must be reported by July 17th. Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP covered crops is the earlier of the applicable dates or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.

Important reminder: A “Final” crop reporting date was established which is the crop’s subsequent year’s acreage reporting date (ARD). If a crop report is not submitted by the subsequent year’s ARD, or “Final” ARD, the acreage report cannot be considered acceptable and producers will not receive planting credit for the crop nor will the crop be eligible for any FSA program benefits for the applicable program year. The first “Final” ARD is November 15, 2017 for 2017 crops that were required to be reported by November 15, 2016. Producers that do not report their 2017 perennial forage crops, including native grass, by November 15, 2017, will not be eligible for the 2017 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) or 2017 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees & Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).

For questions regarding crop certification and crop loss reports, please contact your local FSA office.

Livestock Forage Disaster Program

Available in 42 Montana Counties

FSA’s Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land, or fire on federally managed land.

Livestock producers in 42 Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2017 LFP benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass and forage sorghum that is produced on dryland acres and used for grazing. Irrigated acres used for grazing or aftermath grazing are not eligible under this program. Eligible livestock include alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland during the normal grazing period.

County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of a qualifying drought based on the US Drought Monitor or if a federal agency prohibits producers from grazing normal permitted livestock on federally managed lands due to qualifying fire.

As of Nov. 1, 2017, the following 42 Montana counties met the drought criteria on the U.S. Drought Monitor and are eligible for the 2017 LFP Program: Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, McCone, Meagher, Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux and Yellowstone.

• 1 monthly LFP payment: Big Horn, Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders

• 3 monthly LFP payments: Broadwater, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark and Pondera

• 4 monthly LFP payments: Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Dawson, Fallon, Glacier, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Liberty, Meagher, Musselshell, Powder River, Richland, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Wheatland, Wibaux and Yellowstone

• 5 monthly LFP payments: Blaine, Custer, Daniels, Fergus, Garfield, Hill, McCone, Petroleum, Phillips, Prairie, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan and Valley.

Producers with grazing land physically located in one of the 42 eligible LFP counties should contact their local FSA office to schedule an appointment to begin the application process.

Eligible livestock producers must complete a CCC-853 and the required supporting documentation no later than Jan. 30, 2018, for 2017 losses. Note that 2017 acreage reports are required to be filed for all eligible land no later than the final reporting date of Nov. 15, 2017. Acreage reports filed after that date will not be accepted which will result in ineligibility for the 2017 LFP program. Required supporting documents may include information related to grazing leases or federal grazing permits, contract grower agreements, documentation to support livestock inventory and more.

Additional Information about LFP, including eligible livestock and fire criteria, is available at your local FSA office or online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to Montana Farmers

Approximately 19,010 Montana farms that enrolled in safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill have begun to receive financial assistance for the 2016 crop year. The programs known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), are designed to protect against unexpected drops in crop prices or revenues due to market downturns. Cash flow from these payments is particularly helpful to farmers and ranchers in counties impacted by natural disasters.

Producers in 55 Montana counties have experienced a significant drop in prices or revenues below the benchmark established by the ARC-County or PLC program and thus, have begun receiving payments totaling approximately $212.7 million. Payments related to wheat crops made up much of those payments; however, there were also payments for oats, corn, grain sorghum, canola, and many other commodity crops. Final prices and payment rates have not yet been determined for chickpeas or oilseeds. Payments will not be issued for those commodities, if earned, until sometime after November 30, 2017.

ARC-County payments are based on county-level yields so eligible commodities and payment rates will vary. PLC payments are based on National Marketing Year Average prices so payment rates are consistent Nationwide. Payments for producers enrolled in the ARC-Individual program will begin as soon as possible.

Statewide, over 3,237 farms participated in ARC-County and nearly 15,773 farms participated in PLC. More details on the price and yield information used to calculate the financing assistance from the safety-net programs is available on the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc and http://www.fsa.usda.gov/mt.

Emergency Loan Program Available in MT Disaster Areas

FSA’s Emergency Loan Program is available for agricultural producers in counties designated as primary or contiguous natural disaster areas. See map below of current Disaster Designations in Montana. Contact your local FSA office for specific designations in your area and time frames to apply. Eligible producers have eight months from the date of the disaster designation to apply for low-interest emergency loans to 1.) restore or replace essential property; 2.) pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year; 3.) pay essential family living expenses; or 4.) refinance certain debts, excluding real estate. Producers interested in applying for an emergency loan, or other FLP loans, should contact their local FSA office to set up an appointment with the Farm Loan Program staff serving your area.