Bruce Nelson, USDA Farm Service Agency acting administrator announced is reminding farmers and landowners that you have until Wednesday, June 1 to enroll farms in the 2011 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program and the Average Crop Revenue Election Program. More than 75% of an expected 1.7 million farms have already enrolled.
"The deadline to enroll farms in the 2011 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program and Average Crop Revenue Election Program is quickly approaching," said Nelson. "Producers who want to participate must act. Farmers and landowners must enroll their eligible farms no later than June 1, 2011, to take advantage of these important programs."
Producers who choose to participate in either the revenue-based ACRE safety net or the price-based DCP safety net must enroll their farms each year. All owners and operators who will share in the DCP or ACRE payments on the farm must sign the enrollment form (CCC-509) by June 1.
Since 2009, producers have had the option to participate in either DCP or ACRE. A producer who initially chose to remain in DCP has the option to switch to ACRE during the current enrollment period; however, producers who chose to enroll in ACRE cannot switch back to DCP.
Farmers have two options. One, you can sign up for DCP only, or sign up for DCP and then elect to enroll in ACRE. Keep in mind that sign-up for DCP occurs annually. And even though ACRE is a multi-year commitment, you have to continue to "enroll" in that program too each year.
While this busy, extended planting season is a headache, FSA requires that you have signatures of all persons who "share" in the base acres on the farm by June 1. Operators who cash rent farms can provide FSA offices with a signed DCP contract for the cash rent landowner, submit cash rent statements signed by the landlord(s) or a signed cash rent certification. Cash rent items are needed by Sept. 30. Payments will not be issued until all signatures on the DCP/ACRE contract have been received by the county office.
You can learn more by visiting your local FSA office, or checking online at fsa.usda.gov/dcp.