EQIP and WHIP Cutoff Dates Extended

SALINA — The application cutoff date has been extended for both the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) from Jan. 9, 2009, to Jan. 30, 2009, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
“Fall is a busy time of the year for many producers,” said Eric B. Banks, state conservationist for NRCS. “In particular this year with late fall harvest in many parts of the state, as well as the anticipation of 2008 Farm Bill Program rules.  This extension will give those who want to signup a little more time.” 
Although applications may be submitted anytime for the programs, they will be gathered on the extended date for ranking.
Producers with agricultural land, rangeland, or forestland with any concerns listed below should apply at their local NRCS office and work with the staff on a conservation plan. The office is located at your local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center (listed in the telephone book under United States Government or on the Internet at offices.usda.gov).
“In Kansas socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and beginning farmers and ranchers may receive a higher payment rate through EQIP for structural and vegetative practices,” said Banks.
Ranking and allocation distribution for EQIP and WHIP will be determined at a later date.  This does not affect the application process.  Applicants can expect funding decisions to be completed in the spring of 2009.
Producers may apply for EQIP and/or WHIP at their service center.  Information is about 2009 EQIP and WHIP is available at the service center or on the Kansas NRCS Web site www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.

USDA Asks Farmers to Show Their Stewardship
Nationwide Survey to Focus on Irrigation

WASHINGTON — Water is the source of life and the U.S. agricultural industry depends upon this precious resource to meet the world’s growing need for food, feed, fiber and fuel. U.S. agricultural producers will soon have the opportunity to speak out about their water use when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey.
“By providing a single source of comprehensive, up-to-date information on irrigation and water use across the agricultural industry, this survey will aid in efforts to promote efficient irrigation practices and ensure the long-term sustainability of our nation’s water resources,” said Carol House, deputy administrator of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).       
The irrigation survey, which is a supplement to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, will for the first time include a focus on nursery and horticultural operations. NASS will collect information about irrigation water use during 2008, including application methods, equipment, facilities, expenditures, crop acreage and yield.
This information is used by industry, government, and producers themselves, aiding in the development of improved technology, better equipment, more efficient water use practices, and sound programs and policies.
“The nation’s agricultural producers are the first and best stewards of our land and water resources,” House said. “This survey provides them with a voice to help shape the future of their industry and demonstrate their commitment to the conservation and efficient use of water resources.”
On Jan. 12, 2009, NASS will mail the irrigation survey to 35,000 producers nationwide. Recipients are required to complete and return their forms by Feb. 17, 2009. As is the case with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is protected by law. NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified
“As we did with the Census of Agriculture, we are reminding producers that the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey is their voice, their future and their responsibility,” House said.
For more information about the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey, call (800) 727-9540 or visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.

Milk Income Loss Contract Program signup begins

MANHATTAN —  that Signup for the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC) begins this week and will continue through the program's expiration date, Sept. 30, 2012, Bill R. Fuller, State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced Monday. The program’s final rule will soon be published in the Federal Register.
The 2008 Farm Bill reauthorizes the MILC Program, which operates similarly to the counter-cyclical payment program for crops, and makes three key changes in program operation. Under the Farm Bill, the MILC payment rate and the per-operation poundage limit are modified, depending on when the milk is produced. In addition, a “feed cost adjuster,” is introduced over the life of the Farm Bill, which adjusts the $16.94 per hundredweight (cwt.) benchmark price upward depending on the cost of feed rations. When available, MILC payments are based on a payment rate percentage that is multiplied by the difference between a now-flexible target ($16.94 per cwt. or higher) and the specific month’s Boston Class I price of milk.
According to Fuller, USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) issues MILC payments on an operation-by-operation basis up to a maximum of 2.4 million pounds of milk produced and marketed (about 120 cows) from  Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2008.  The production limit per operation increases to 2.985 million pounds (about 145 cows) for each fiscal year from Oct. 1, 2008, through Aug. 31, 2012. Beginning Sept. 1, 2012, the production limitation reverts back to the original limit of 2.4 million pounds per fiscal year.
The 2008 Act adjusts the trigger price of $16.94 cwt., depending on the extent to which feed costs increase. The feed cost adjustment takes effect when the monthly National Average Dairy Feed Ration Cost (calculated from the "entire month" prices published by the National Agricultural Statistics Service) is greater than $7.35 per cwt. beginning Jan. 1, 2008, through Aug. 31, 2012. Calculations from Jan. 1, 2008, through Aug. 31, 2012, will be made at 45 percent of the percentage that the National Average Dairy Feed Ration Cost exceeds $7.35 per cwt.
Beginning with Fiscal Year 2009 which began Oct. 1, 2008, the 2008 Act made changes to the provisions for payment eligibility to add an adjusted gross income (AGI) limit. If the individual or entity has annual non-farm AGI for the relevant base period greater than $500,000, the individual or entity is not eligible for MILC benefits. The base period will be set pursuant to AGI regulations yet to be issued. That rule will also define what is considered to be non-farm income.
During the signup application period, participating dairy operations must select the month of the fiscal year to start receiving payments for eligible production. Producers submitting a contract application within 30 days of the beginning of the application period can select any preceding month as the start month. Producers submitting contract applications after Jan. 21, 2009, will not have the option of selecting an earlier month as the payment start month for the dairy operation for a fiscal year; and will be limited to applicable start month selection rules. Those general rules are that the start month must either be the month the contract is submitted or some later month. Changes in the month may be made from year to year so long as the designation is made by the fourteenth of the month proceeding the new start month. Pound limits run from the start month and all pounds for which payment is received count against the limit for that fiscal year.
Eligible dairy producers are those who commercially produce milk in the United States. To receive program approval, producers must enter into a MILC contract with CCC and provide monthly milk marketing data. Dairy producers can apply for MILC at local FSA offices.
All payments in the program are subject to limits in the contract, regulations, and to changes in statutory provisions for payment.
For more information on MILC contact the Farm Service Agency at the local USDA Service Center.