Stories by FSA Andy

FSA Andy is written by USDA Farm Service Agency county executive directors in northeastern Ohio.

FSA Andy for June 18, 2009

Thursday, June 18, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello again!
If you are a taxpayer, you might want to read this article. In June 2000, Congress passed the Agricultural Risk Protection Act. This act requires that Risk Management Agency, with the assistance of the Farm Service Agency, improve program compliance and integrity of the federal crop insurance program.
By providing a checks-and-balance system, Risk […]

FSA Andy for June 11, 2009

Thursday, June 11, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello Again!
Your local Farm Service Agency needs your help! We are seeking nominees to serve as a candidate for the county committee and you may be the right person for the job!
Each county office will hold an election in the Local Administrative Area in which the current committee member’s three-year term is set to […]

FSA Andy for June 4, 2009

Thursday, June 4, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello Again!
Planting season is in full swing and many of you are now finishing up those last few acres. Sun-drenched days will soon find us out and about everywhere, whether it’s finishing planting, doing yard work, fishing, biking or golfing.
It won’t be long before the fields come to life with emerging crops. Spring is […]

FSA Andy for May 21, 2009

Thursday, May 21, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello Again!
And a warm welcome to the beautiful springtime weather! With spring planting around the corner, the Farm Service Agency encourages producers to report any prevented planting acreage or failed crop acreage that will not be brought to harvest to their local FSA office.
Failed acreage must be reported to FSA before destroying and replanting […]

FSA Andy for May 14, 2009

Thursday, May 14, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello Again!

“Rain, rain go away come back another day,” even at the ripe old age of (… well let’s not go there) I find myself singing the children’s song as we see yet more rain in the upcoming forecast.

“Grain planting this spring is turning into a tale of two Corn Belts — with one possibly […]

FSA Andy for May 7, 2009

Thursday, May 7, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello Again!
Planting season has begun and farmers are trying to get crops in the ground between all the rains we have been getting lately.
Even though we are rushing around to make sure crops are getting planted on the farm and trying to get signed up for DCP and/or ACRE in the office, I wanted […]

FSA Andy for April 16, 2009

Thursday, April 16, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello Again!
The Farm Service Agency reminds participants in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) of the following operations and maintenance rules applicable to any land you may have enrolled.
Cosmetic or periodic mowing of CRP acreage is prohibited. Mowing to maintain your NRCS plan can be performed on CRP fields after July 15.
CRP land shall […]

FSA Andy for April 9, 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello Again!
Recently, producers received some good news concerning enrolling their farms in the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced USDA has extended the sign-up deadline from June 1 to Aug. 14 for both DCP and the forthcoming ACRE Program. This action extends […]

FSA Andy for April 2, 2009

Thursday, April 2, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello Again!
The recently approved American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) authorized an additional waiver which allows producers another opportunity to pay a buy-in fee for 2008 eligibility to be eligible for 2008 disaster assistance.
The buy-in fee must be paid by May 18. Paying such a buy-in fee does not provide the producer […]

FSA Andy for March 26, 2009

Thursday, March 26, 2009 by FSA Andy

Hello again!
The Farm Service Agency wants to remind interested applicants FSA offers loans for farmers to purchase farmland and to finance agricultural operations. FSA loan programs are designed to help producers who are temporarily unable to obtain private or commercial credit.
In many cases, applicants are beginning farmers who have insufficient net worth to qualify […]