FSA News

MID-CONTRACT MANAGEMENT OF CRP ACREAGE

If you have land enrolled into the USDA-Farm Service Agency Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), you may have contract acreage due for some type of maintenance.  These operations are required and must be conducted, half way through the contract term.  Prior to contract approval, Conservation Plans were developed, which included all the technical work needed to establish and maintain the cover, including a management operation.  You should have received a copy of that document.  Typically mowing or harrowing was recommended, however spot spraying of weeds may be necessary depending on the cover.  All operations must be conducted outside the “primary nesting season”, which each year is April 1 – July 1.

Letters were sent to producers last year for acreage due for the mid-contract maintenance activities.  If you received a letter and completed the work, please contact our office to set up an appointment to apply for a cost share payment.  Within the next month, letters will be mailed for contract acreage scheduled for a maintenance operation to occur this fall.  It is also important for you to check your own contracts so that you know the type and timing of the required activities.  Failure to conduct the operation could be considered non-compliance, and in some cases the contract may sustain a payment reduction.   Please contact us if you have any questions at (509) 745-8561.

YOUTH LOANS

The USDA-Farm Service Agency makes loans to youth to establish and operate agricultural income-producing projects in connection with 4-H clubs, FFA and other agricultural groups.  Projects must be planned and operated with the help of the organization advisor, produce sufficient income to repay the loan and provide the youth with practical business and educational experience.  The maximum loan amount is $5,000.

Youth Loan Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a citizen of the United States (which includes Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) or a legal resident alien.
• Be 10 years to 20 years of age.
• Comply with FSA’s general eligibility requirements.
• Be unable to get a loan from other sources.
• Conduct a modest income-producing project in a supervised program of work as outlined above.
• Demonstrate capability of planning, managing and operating the project under guidance and assistance from a project advisor.  The project supervisor must recommend the youth loan applicant, along with providing adequate supervision.  

Please contact the local FSA Office at (509) 662-1141 for help in preparing and processing the application forms.