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Soybean farmers eligible for USDA crop aid

By Staff | Nov 5, 2010

DES MOINES (AP) – Federal officials in Des Moines said last week that Iowa soybean farmers who suffered weather-related losses are eligible for disaster assistance.

John Whitaker is director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Iowa Farm Service Agency. Whitaker said the program is under way and Iowa soybean producers can take advantage until Dec. 9 under the Crop Assistance Program.

Officials said producers in disaster counties who had 5 percent or greater crop loss during 2009 will get a soybean payment rate of $15.62 times the planted acres.

Officials sid that because of the funding limitations, farmers will receive 75 percent of the payment and may receive up to an additional 25 percent. The total spending for the CAP is at $550 million.

Individual payments are limited to $100,000 per producer in the program.

Sign-up for the payments began Oct. 25 and continues through Dec. 9. Producers will self-certify the crop losses, but should have documentation to support the crop loss claim.

The CAP payments are being administered by the Farm Services Agency, which will also certify number of acres being claimed.

Farmland in 30 Iowa counties qualifies for the program.