Farm Service Agency offices get set for lots of interest in program

By MATTHEW WEAVER

Capital Press

There isn't official word yet, but USDA Farm Service Agency state offices are preparing for the next Conservation Reserve Program sign-up -- and expecting a lot of interest.

Rod Hamilton, farm program chief for the Farm Service Agency office in Spokane, said his office is going through normal preparations to hold a general signup for the voluntary program, which is designed to help producers establish long-term conservation efforts on their property by providing rental payments and cost-share assistance.

Agency administrator Jonathan Coppess indicated in testimony before the congressional agriculture committees that the sign-up would occur in August, Hamilton said.

Ron Abbott, farm programs chief of the Boise, Idaho, office for the agency, also said an August signup appears likely.

"That's as good a guess as any right now," he said. "About the only thing we can say positively is (Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack) has said we will have a general sign-up this fiscal year, before Oct. 1."

Because regulations have not been published, Aug. 1 would be the earliest possible sign-up time, Abbott said. It's more likely it would occur in mid-August, he said.

Hamilton said there isn't much detail available about the ranking process. There may be a few changes from prior signups, but the basic processes should be the same.

"One of the things we are hearing is there could be quite a bit of interest, which means this could be a fairly limited signup," Hamilton said.

He advised farmers to consider whether they want to put land into the program and what specific parcels they may be interested in.

Normally, every farmer's offer is ranked in a nationwide competition, Hamilton said, and a percentage of contracts is accepted. This year, 2.8 million acres are coming out of the program, and historically there has been interest from people who want to re-enroll and from those who are not currently enrolled.

"There could be a lot of competition," he said.

Abbott recommended farmers who have not been into the agency office yet do so to complete the set of forms used to determine their eligibility.

"If a person is interested, it would not hurt him in the least to go into an FSA office and get that paperwork out of the way," he said.

There's no guarantee another 2.8 million acres will be accepted, Hamilton said, as there doesn't appear to be an interest in making the program more specialized or targeted beyond a general signup. He believes the vast majority of the land would be eligible to re-enter the program, but with commodity prices so low, he expects interest in keeping the land in the program.

There can be a maximum of 32 million acres in the program across the country, Hamilton said.

Agency listening sessions in response to an Environmental Impact Statement were held around the country last year, including in Spokane.

Hamilton said a 30-day comment period is being held, following publication of the statement the week of June 21. Once final, the new regulations will be published and agency field offices will get their new operating procedures to prepare for sign-up.

New transition program aids retiring, new farmers

The USDA's new Transition Incentives Program helps new and retiring farmers.

Beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and retiring farmers with expiring Conservation Reserve Program land may enroll in the program beginning one year before the expiration date of a CRP contract.

Idaho Farm Service Agency farm programs chief Ron Abbott said the program is designed to aid the transfer of land from a farmer who is retiring to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer.

The retiring farmer receives an additional two years of CRP payment for his involvement in the program.

"It is an easier way for a beginning farmer to get into the business and have a long-term lease on the ground," Abbott said.

The CRP contract must expire within one year of the existing farmer's participation.

The transition cannot be to a family member. The ground must either stay in sustainable grazing or be farmed according a conservation plan to minimize erosion, Abbott said.

According to an agency press release, the incentives program requires the retired or retiring farmer or rancher:

* To have land in the last year of a CRP contract.

* To agree to allow the beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer to make conservation and land improvements.

* To agree to sell, have a contract to sell or agree to a long-term lease for the land with a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher by Oct. 1 of the year the contract expires.

Online

Farm Service Agency: www.fsa.usda.gov