by Mandi Bird, FSA Executive Director
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June 2017
Hello folks! Thanks for reading the June issue of Coffee Shop Talk! I think summer is officially here! It sure has turned out hot and we could definitely use some rain. We ended May below average with 2.66 inches of precipitation compared to a normal 5.3 inches. From rainfall recorded here at the office, the county has received 6.26 inches of rain this calendar year. Normal rainfall received from January 1 thru May is 14.68, putting us 57% below normal.
With the dry spring, I think many farmers across the county were able to finish planting ahead of normal. So now it’s time to come and report those crops at your local FSA office! Don’t forget to bring your log book with planting dates. No appointment is needed when you visit the Daviess County office, but a heads-up phone call is appreciated so we can have your folders ready. The normal deadline to report crops is July 15. However since it falls on a Sunday this year, you have until Monday, July 16.
On the topic of the dry and late spring, many producers have asked about haying or grazing CRP. The National office has made it very clear there will be no release of CRP before July 15. If this dry weather pattern continues, there is the possibility of releasing CRP under emergency provisions. Stay tuned for more information on CRP and watch for our July article as it will contain more information.
The Livestock Indemnity program covers losses to livestock due to adverse weather events, including lightning. If any producers have lost livestock due to lightning, documentation of those losses must be turned into FSA within 30 days of the weather event. Photos, vet records or insurance records are the best forms of documentation of losses. This program runs by calendar year so producers should keep track of normal herd mortality throughout the year so in the event of livestock losses due to weather, those animals can be compensated for.
A Continuous CRP signup was announced June 1 for Continuous CRP practices and 1-year extensions for general contracts due to expire this year. Continuous practices include waterways, filter strips, buffer strips and wildlife grass borders around crop fields. There are typically no entire field enrollments eligible under a continuous signup. These practices are designed for environmentally sensitive ground and target specific conservation goals. All producers with contracts expiring September 30, 2018, will be receiving a letter from National Office with additional information.
If you are interested in enrolling new ground into CRP, please contact our office for more information. For ground to be enrolled in CRP it must have been planted to an annual crop for 4 out of 6 years between 2008 and 2013 and must be owned for one year prior to being offered into the program. Signup will be held June 4 thru August 17, 2018.
That’s all folks! Thanks for reading this month’s issue of Coffee Shop Talk! Hope everyone has a good summer and we receive some of that much needed rainfall for a successful growing season.