Nelson: Multiple FSA deadlines approaching, act now

Editor’s Note: Leann Nelson is County Executive Director for the York and Hamilton County Farm Service Agency offices.

It’s storm season in Nebraska, so if you suffer damage to buildings, pivots, crops, etc. because of severe weather, like occurred in some areas recently, please report these losses to our office in 24-48 hours. Loss information needed is the date, location, cause, what was damaged, estimated percent of loss of crops, and estimated dollar value of loss to structures/pivots. This information is needed so I can file an official disaster report. Please call (402) 694-6163, ext. 2. Thank you in advance for providing this information to our office.

I want to also thank you for all your patience and cooperation with our office during this time of the COVID-19 restrictions. Because so much is being done over the phone and through emails it is imperative that you keep your contact information up to date. Especially phone numbers. If you have changed your email address, no longer have your home phone, have a new cell phone, or have never provided us with a cell number, please make sure we have a current phone number on file where you can be easily reached.

I want to remind you our office continues to serve customers through phone, email, mail and online resources due to the impacts of COVID-19. As a federal government agency, we are following guidelines provided by USDA, and there is a phased in approach to a “return to normal” operations. We are working through those phases. In the meantime, the best way to learn our office status and receive service is to call our office at (402) 694-6163, ext. 2. If someone does not answer when you call, please leave a message with your name, number and reason for your call, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Please speak clearly and slowly when leaving a message. Please know we will do our best to provide you quality service, even if you aren’t sitting across the desk from us right now.

Here are upcoming deadlines that we need you to be aware of and responsive to:

Crop Certification - The deadline for reporting crop acres was July 15, 2020. FSA has waived the late file fees for 30 days. Maps were mailed to you for you to complete and return to our office. If you haven’t already returned them, please do this immediately. If you have completed and returned your maps, we are entering the data, printing the FSA-578’s and sending them to you for signature. Please sign these and return to our office immediately. Your crop report is not complete until we have the signed FSA-578 in this office.

COC Election - Nominations are needed for the upcoming County Committee Election. This year’s election is for Local Administrative Area #1 which includes Phillips, Deepwell, Hamilton, Scoville and Union precincts. Any eligible voter can nominate a candidate. Nominations forms are available from the county office or at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. The current COC member for this LAA is ineligible to serve another term, therefore we are actively looking to fill this position. The deadline to submit a nomination is August 3, 2020.

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) - Our office continues to focus on implementation of CFAP. The application period is open and runs through August 28, 2020. This is a direct payment program to aid farmers and ranchers whose operations have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. It includes many major commodities, crops and livestock, in Nebraska. Producers are highly encouraged to visit the www.farmers.gov/cfap website, where you can download an application to fill out, sign and return to our office for review and processing. Payments are being issued as applications are approved.

Updating PLC Yields - September 30, 2020 is the final date to update your PLC yields. If you have not done this and want to take advantage of this opportunity, contact this office for additional information and the forms to complete your update.

Livestock Producers — With the extended extreme heat/humidity conditions we have been experiencing, I want to remind livestock producers of the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) that provides assistance to eligible producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather, disease and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law. You must file a notice of loss within 30 calendar days of when a loss is first apparent. More information is available at www.fsa.usda.gov and search for LIP.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will broaden the use of the Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) loan provision, normally used in the wake of natural disasters, to allow farmers with USDA farm loans who are affected by COVID-19, and are determined eligible, to have their next payment set aside. In some cases, FSA may also set aside a second payment for farmers who have already had one payment set aside because of a prior designated disaster. For more information on FSA farm loan programs, visit www.fsa. usda.gov or call the Farm Loan Staff at the Hall County FSA Office at (308) 395-8586.

Again, thank you for your patience and cooperation during this trying time. Please know that we are working diligently to provide you with great customer service. If you have questions about these or other programs offered by FSA, please don’t hesitate to call (402) 694-6163 ext. 2 or email me directly at leann.nelson@usda.gov.

Leann Nelson, CED