Hello Again!
Once again, it’s my turn to write FSA Andy this month. Everybody always shoves July on me because nothing major is going on and nobody else can think of anything to write, so they pass it on to the crazy man.
I’d like to do some magic or card tricks, but you reading about is about as fun as getting your prostate checked. If you are 50 or over ask your doctor — it could save your life, trust me.
Anyhow, the Farmers Almanac prediction of drought for this year seems somewhat comical being that I have received a little over 13 inches of rain in the last 40 days. I know things could still change, but let’s hope not.
Wheat harvest has started and yields appear decent, however I have heard that head scab (vomitoxin related) has affected yields, so don’t be surprised if you didn’t spray.
July 15 is fast approaching and if you haven’t reported your crop acres to FSA, you better be calling in for an appointment soon. This is especially important if you have enrolled into the DCP/ACRE program as it is a program requirement/violation and would require a late filed acreage report for each farm to get back in compliance. That’s $46 per farm. Pay yourself $46 an hour and get in and report timely.
July 15 also is significant in the fact that the nesting season is over and CRP crop maintenance can be performed. Complete field mowings are not allowed. Contact your local FSA for requirements.
It has also been rumored that FSA may be holding a general sign-up for CRP this summer, which we haven’t had in quite a while. Stay tuned for more information.
Wheat harvest and CRP brings to mind the CRP continuous program. The past few years I have seen more erosion damage in the fields than ever before. The increase of soybeans with wheat planting on sloping ground coupled with heavy rainfalls appears to be wreaking havoc on the land.
Waterways constructed via the continuous CRP Program are a great way to eliminate this problem. Cost share of up to 90% of the cost to install them is available; a yearly annual rental rate for 10 or 15 years goes along with the cost share. I know a lot of producers are willing to install these on their land, but not on cash rented ground.
I believe that landowners if approached with this concern and an option of utilizing CCRP would be more willing to establish waterways. It’s a win/win situation for producer and landowner alike and will go a long way to keep some of the fields being cut in two due to severe gully erosion. Once that happens I know of no good way to restore these areas.
Stop by your local FSA to see about rental rates and the program foreign ownership of agricultural land that is purchased or sold is required to be reported to the Secretary of Agriculture within 90 days of the transaction.
This can be accomplished by stopping at your local county FSA office. In closing if you remember last year and my take on groundhogs that are not as bad as last year, but they are slower. Skunks are up next week and I have the formula for getting the stink off.
That’s all for now,
FSA Andy
