Hello again!
“It’s all in the timing” and this year, with a cooperative planting season to date, there seems to be reason for optimism for a successful season.
Activity in the fields has been readily apparent for weeks and even seems to be winding down as many folks are finishing or are well on their way to being done.
Better year
You have to admit, it’s better than in years past when we were really looking at the prospect of prevented planting.
Though as we all know, as we move out of the spring season and into the early summer season the planting window seems to close at an increasingly faster pace and who knows if the weather will hold?
Knowing that it often takes 110 days or more for corn to mature and soybeans can be up to 90 to maturity, there is still some flexibility in planting plans if needed.
Final dates
In Ohio, the final planting date for corn is June 5 and for soybeans it is June 20. If, by chance, the weather takes an ugly turn and you are prevented from planting due to weather conditions, please contact both your crop insurance agent and your local FSA office within 15 calendar days of the final planting date to report these acres.
The importance of reporting prevented planting acres should not be overlooked.
Reporting both prevented planted and failed acres allows for historical yields to be maintained for crop insurance, FSA programs ARC/PLC and NAP and allows participation in potential disaster relief programs which may be approved by Congress in the future.
It is recommended for all producers who have prevented planted acres to check with their crop insurance agent before reporting these acres to the FSA to ensure the accuracy of the report as requirements for historical planting differs between crop insurance and the USDA.
Energy efficiency
Do you ever shudder when you get your electric bill for the farm? Want to do something about it?
The USDA Ohio Rural Development Agency is seeking applications from eligible rural small businesses and agricultural producers for funding to make energy efficiency improvements or to install renewable energy systems.
The funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which can provide grants and loan guarantees for the installation of these projects. Small rural businesses and agricultural producers located in Ohio who are interested in applying for these funds must submit their complete application to the Ohio Rural Development State Office.
Applications must be received by June 30.
Renewable energy systems can include solar electric, solar thermal, wind, geothermal, biomass, and anaerobic digestion systems. Energy efficiency improvement systems can include lighting, insulation, electric motor replacements and other energy efficiency improvement projects as outlined in an energy audit.
Grants are available on a competitive basis for up to 25 percent of the eligible project costs, with a maximum grant of $500,000 for renewable energy systems and $250,000 for energy efficiency improvement projects.
Residential excluded
Sorry to say, but residential renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements are not eligible for assistance through this program.
If you are interested in pursuing a grant or loan guarantee for REAP, please contact the Rural Development staff with questions or to request application documents.
I told you I would continue to beat the drum for our county committees. Well, the nomination period is going to open on June 15. You can either nominate yourself or someone you know.
If you are nominating someone else, we will need their contact information so we can ensure that they would be willing to serve if elected.
The nomination period will run until Aug. 3 but don’t wait too long. It will be here before you know it!
That’s all for now,
FSA
