Hello Friends,
One college coach was asked recently about who his starting quarterback would be for the upcoming game.
His reply was that it would be a “fluid situation, which could change based on a number of factors.”
I thought to myself, that is a great description of the day-to-day life of a farmer. Most go to bed with a general idea of what they will be doing that next day, but how can you plan for a cow getting through the fence or the mechanical breakdown halfway through the field?
Making adjustments
Farmers are very adept at changing on the fly and adjusting their schedules to the needs of the farm.
Sometimes deadlines and requirements for FSA add to that burden. The U.S. Department of Agriculture does not always consult your schedule when planning the end of signups or reporting deadlines that must be met.
Recent changes to the Dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) hopefully will help. Signup for the 2016 program year has been extended to Nov. 20, 2015. This gives dairy producers a little more time to decide what level of coverage they want to purchase.
Buy-up margin coverage will again be offered starting at $4.50, up to $8 in 50-cent increments. Producers paying the $100 administrative fee will receive the basic level coverage at $4.
All producers who participated in the MPP in the 2015 year and are still producing milk are required to pay this $100 fee by the November deadline. Producers choosing to buy-up coverage have also been given more time to pay their premiums as well.
Participants now have until Sept. 1, 2016, to pay the buy-up portion of their premium. Payments will be accepted any time prior to that date.
Producers who have already made an election of coverage will be able to change that election up to the November deadline. So dairy producers are once again reminded to get into their local FSA office by Nov. 20, to pay the $100 administrative fee and make their decision for coverage levels for the 2016 crop year.
We look forward to seeing you.
That’s all for now,
FSA Andy
