Dates to remember:

July 4 – Independence Day – offices are closed.

July 15 – Crop acreage reporting deadline

July 15 – Final date to timely file a prevented planting claim

July 15 – Deadline to certify 2012 ACRE production

Aug. 1 – County committee election nomination deadline.

Aug 2 – Primary nesting season ends

Aug. 2 – Direct and Counter Cyclical Program signup deadline

New FAX number

Farm Service Agency will be switching over to a new fax system as of July 12. Producers can continue to fax documents to the county office in the same manner they are accustomed to, but will now send to the following numbers:

Webster/Hamilton: (855) 211-4006.

Boone/Story: (855) 208-7477.

Dallas/Polk: (855) 208-7473.

Kossuth/Hancock: (855) 208-7474.

Carroll/Greene: (855) 208-7478.

Humboldt/Wright: (855) 211-4008.

Ida/Crawford: (855) 211-4009.

Sac/Calhoun: (855) 218-8666.

Woodbury/Monona: (855) 218-8667.

Clay/Palo Alto: (855) 218-8668.

Dickinson/Emmet (855) 218-8669.

Cerro Gordo (855) 211-4017.

Buena Vista/Pocahontas: (855) 218-8670.

Cherokee/O’Brien: (855) 211-4024.

Franklin: (855) 211-4007.

Hardin: (855)-255-6445.

Lyon/Osceola: (855) 218-8665.

Plymouth/Sioux: (855) 211-4020

Marshall/Jasper: (855) 211-4016

Payment limitations

All payment eligibility and payment limitation provisions, including AGI limitations, are extended for the 2013 crop year, program year and fiscal year.

All rules and requirements effective for 2012 program payments and benefits are applicable to eligible recipients of 2013 program payment and benefits.

This includes the requirements of actively engaged-in farming, cash-rent tenant, substantive change, minor child and spousal provisions. Payments will continue to be limited by direct attribution to person and legal entity.

Contributions

All partners, stockholders or members with an ownership interest in the legal entity must make a contribution, whether compensated or not compensated, for:

• Active personal labor,

• Active personal management,

• A combination of active personal labor and active personal management to the farming operation

Note: There are exceptions for spouses.

Additional information on payment limitations is available at FSA county offices or online at: www.fsa.usda.gov

HEL, wetlands

Landowners and operators are reminded that in order to receive payments from USDA, they must be compliant with highly erodible and and wetland conservation provisions.

Farmers with HEL-determined soils must apply tillage, crop residue and rotation requirements as specified in their conservation plan.

Producers should notify FSA prior to conducting land clearing or drainage projects to ensure compliance. If you intend to clear any trees to create new cropland, these areas will need to be reviewed to ensure any work will not jeopardize your eligibility for benefits.

Landowners and operators can complete form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land and Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification to determine whether a referral to Natural Resources Conservation Service is necessary.

For more information on HEL and WC provisions, contact an FSA county office or visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov.

Direct and guaranteed loans

The Farm Service Agency is committed to providing family farmers with loans to meet their farm credit needs. If you are having trouble getting the credit you need for your farm, or regularly borrow from FSA, direct and guaranteed loans are currently available.

Ask your lender about an FSA loan guarantee if you’ve had a setback and your lender is reluctant to extend or renew your loan.

Guaranteed loans have a maximum limit of $1.3 million. This makes the maximum combination of direct and guaranteed loan indebtedness $1,6 million.

The one-time loan origination fee charged on FSA guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans is 1.5 percent of the guaranteed portion of the loan.

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