DCP/ACRE 2013 sign-up

The Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program and the Average Crop Revenue Election program are being offered for the 2013 crop year under the 2008 Farm Bill Extension.

DCP and ACRE sign-up for 2013 crops opened Monday. The DCP sign-up period ends Aug. 2 and ACRE sign-up will end June 3.

The only program change from 2012 to 2013 is that all eligible participants in 2013 may choose to enroll in either DCP or ACRE for the 2013 crop year.

This means that eligible producers who were enrolled in ACRE in 2012 may elect to enroll in DCP in 2013 or may re-enroll in ACRE in 2013, or vice versa.

Producers should call a local FSA office to schedule an appointment. Walk-in’s are welcome, however appointments will take priority.

IRS 1099 changes

In past years, IRS Form 1099-G was issued to show all program payments received from the Farm Service Agency, regardless of the amount. For calendar year 2012, the 1099-G reporting will change.

IRS Form 1099-G (Report of Payments to Producers) will only be issued to producers whose reportable payments total $600 or more for the calendar year.

Additionally, if the producer has at least $600 in reportable payments received from multiple FSA offices, only one Form 1099-G will be issued.

Producers subject to voluntary withholding or involuntary withholding will receive the appropriate IRS form, even if combined payments are less than $600.

The same changes will apply to producers and vendors who normally receive IRS Form 1099-MISC from FSA.

Producers who receive less than $600 in combined payments should consult a tax advisor to determine if these payments must be reported on their tax return.

FSA GovDelivery

The USDA Farm Service Agency offices have moved to a paperless news distribution system.

Producers are asked to enroll in the new GovDelivery system, which provides notices, newsletters and electronic reminders instead of a hard copy through the mail.

FSA, like many other organizations, is trying to work smarter and be more efficient. Moving to electronic notifications via email helps conserve resources and save taxpayer dollars.

Any person or organization can now subscribe to receive free email updates by going to www.fsa.usda.gov/subscribe.

Producers will be asked for their email addresses when they sign up for the DCP program.

Annie’s Project

Annie’s Project, a six-week series to help farm women learn about farm management skills in a comfortable setting, is coming to Webster County.

Most of the classes will be facilitated by women agricultural professionals. I will be presenting the Farm Programs section of the class. Other topics to be covered include estate planning, life, disability, and health insurance; women and money, understanding balance sheets, production and financial recordkeeping, and crop insurance.

For more information and to register for the class contact Susan Schmitz at ISU Extension at (515) 832-9597 or email her at sschmitz@iastate.edu.

Specific dates and times and location will be announced at a later date.

Leners is the executive director for the Farm Services Agency in Webster County. She can reached at (515) 573-2159, Ext.100.