WELCOME TO GEORGIA The election of responsible agricultural producers to FSA county committees is important to ALL farmers and ranchers with large or small operations. It is crucial that every eligible producer take part in this election because county committees are a direct link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. They help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level. Farmers who serve on committees help decide the kind of programs their counties will offer. They work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by November 4 and must be returned to the FSA county office or postmarked by December 5, 2011. All producers are encouraged to participate. More information on the elections is available at the county office or online at: - November 4, 2011: Ballots mailed to eligible voters.
- December 5, 2011: Last day to return voted ballots to the local FSA Office.
- January 1, 2012: Elected committee members and alternates take office.
June 15, 2011 – The nomination period begins. Request nomination forms from the local USDA Service Center or obtain online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections Aug. 1, 2011 - Last day to file nomination forms at the local USDA Service Center Nov. 4, 2011 - Ballots mailed to eligible voters Dec. 5, 2011 - Last day to return voted ballots to the USDA Service Center Jan. 1, 2012 - Newly elected county committee members take office If you believe that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) improperly denied farm loan benefits to you between 1981 and 2000 because you are Hispanic, or because you are female, you may be eligible to apply for compensation. You may be eligible if: - You sought a farm loan or farm-loan servicing from USDA during that period; and
- The loan was denied, provided late, approved for a lesser amount than requested, approved with restrictive conditions, or USDA failed to provide and appropriate loan service; and
- You believe these actions occurred because you are Hispanic or female.
If you want to register your name to receive a claims package, you can call the Farmer and Rancher Call Center at 1-888-508-4429 or access the following website: www.farmerclaims.gov In 2011, a Claims Administrator will begin mailing claims packages to those who have requested one through the Call Center or website. The claims package will have detailed information about the eligibility and claims process. In order to participate, you must submit a claim to the Claims Administrator by the end of the claims period. If you are currently represented by counsel regarding allegations of discrimination against USDA or in a lawsuit claiming discrimination by USDA, you should contact your counsel regarding this claims process. USDA cannot provide legal advice to you. You are not required to hire an attorney to file a claim, but you may contact a lawyer or other legal services provider in your community for additional guidance.
- 31-Mar – Wheat, Barley, Oats, Honey, Sesame, Canola
- 31-May – Cotton, Corn, Grain, Sorghum, Soybeans, Sunflower Seeds
NAP Insurance Sales Closing Dates:
- 31-Jan - All annually planted crops, both spring and fall
- 15-Aug - Perennial crops, forage crops for hay and grazing, carrots, and all value loss crops
The following programs have other specific eligibility requirements in addition to the requirements mentioned below. Interested producers should contact their local FSA county office for more details on each of these programs.
Livestock Forage Program (LFP) - Producer must be in an eligible county (as determined by U.S. Drought Monitor) and producer must have obtained NAP coverage or an approved Crop Insurance plan of coverage on applicable grazing crops or meet one of the 3 exemptions to the Risk Management Purchase requirement in order to be eligible for LFP. NOTE: The deadline for obtaining NAP coverage on grazing crops is August 15 for coverage to be effective the following calendar year.
The LFP Application must be filed within 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the grazing loss occurred.
There are NO "late-filed" provisions for LFP.
Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) - No requirement to purchase NAP or crop insurance for this program.
Notice of Loss must be filed the earlier of - (a) 30 calendar days of when the loss became apparent to the producer or (b) no later than October 31, 2011.
Application for Payment must be filed no later than 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar year in which the loss occurred.
There are NO "late-filed" provisions for LIP.
Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) - To be eligible for benefits under ELAP, a producer must have obtained either NAP coverage or an approved Crop Insurance plan of coverage on all crops grown by that producer or meet one of the 3 exemptions to the Risk Management Purchase requirement in order to be eligible for ELAP benefits. NOTE: The deadline for obtaining NAP coverage for grazing crops in August 15 for coverage to be effective in the following calendar year.
Notice of Loss must be filed the earlier of - (a) 30 calendar days of when the loss became apparent to the producer or (b) no later than October 31, 2011.
Application for Payment must be filed no later than January 30, 2012
There are NO "late-filed" provisions for ELAP.
Now - Inquire and Sign-up CRP Continuous Practices such as Riparian Buffers
Now - Emergency Conservation approved applicants -- report completed practices to FSA
- 1-Apr-31-Aug - CRP Nesting Season
- 27-May – Deadline for Submission of BCAP project proposals
- 31-May – Deadline to report tobacco
- 1-Jun – Deadline to enroll into Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP)
- 1-Jun – The consent forms, CCC-927, "Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information-Individual," and/or CCC-928, "Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information-Legal Entity," should be mailed directly to IRS at the address given on the form. This is required for each year that the participants receive payments.
- 15-Jul - Deadline to report Spring and Summer-seeded planted acreage
- 1-Aug – Signup ends for the 2009 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) Program
- 1-Nov – Deadline to initiate "Successor In Interest" transfers for Tobacco Transition Buy-out contracts with approved buyers as well as initiating contract transfers between immediate family members
NOTE: If the crop being reported has NAP coverage, the final date to timely report the acreage is 15 days PRIOR to the onset of harvest or grazing. It is important for producers to remember that crops with NAP coverage will usually have a NAP crop reporting date EARLIER than the regularly established reporting dates for crops without NAP coverage.
Present Emergency Loan Application Deadlines in Georgia:
- 26-Jul – Designation S3062 in 159 counties due to drought and excessive heat
- 8-Aug – Designation S3065 in 6 counties due to drought and excessive heat
- 17-Aug – Designation S3075 in 17 counties due to drought and excessive heat
- 14-Sep – Designation S3090 in 11 counties due to drought, extreme heat, and weather-related insect infestations
- 26-Sep – Designation S3095 in 5 counties due to drought
- 01-Dec – Designation M1965 in 4 counties due to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding
- 05-Dec – Designation S3115 in 5 counties due to drought
NOTE: All producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office for information specific to the Emergency Loan Program and to determine whether their counties are declared under a certain designation.
Georgia State FSA Office 355 East Hancock Avenue, STOP 100 Athens, Georgia 30601-2775 Phone: 706-546-2266 Fax: 706-546-2151
State Executive Director
Georgia State Committee
Ronald C. Lee, Chairperson, 229-995-2616 Jaclyn D. Ford, Member, 229-686-0965 Dr. Fred Harrison, Member, 706-255-4176 Jerome Tucker, Member, 229-506-0714 H. B. (Pete) Waller, Member, 770-531-6623
The Farm Service Agency is a federal agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Located in all 50 states, our mission is to help American farmers provide reasonably priced food and fiber to the nation and the world.
The Georgia Farm Service Agency State Committee oversees the activities of the agency. The members are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. They hear appeals from local farmers and guide the direction of agency policy.
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