Meeting Schedule

MPCI Billing Agri-sompo:  There was a programming error in the PCCP (pandemic cover crop program).  This is the program that gives each farmer a $5.00 credit on their MPCI billing for planting a cover crop.  This has to be reported to FSA then it is data mined by the respective insurance providers.  The error in…

ERP Update: To my knowledge all of the ERP payments that were in question have had applications mailed to them for payment.  FSA still has a rocky road ahead of them for appeals on either AGI issues or random missing units.  I do not have a date for Phase 2 of payments at this time. …

Fall Planted Crops If you have intentions on seeding and insuring fall seeded crops that include but not limited to Rye, Winter Wheat, Forage.  Please call the office immediately, the sales closing deadline for these crops is September 30th. Silage Appraisals Chopping corn for other than intended usage (grain) needs to have an appraisal done…

Spring Price Harvest Price % Difference Spring Wheat $9.19 $8.95 -1.03% Durum Wheat $9.44 $9.19 -1.03% Barley $5.35 $5.61 +4.86% As small grain harvest is wrapping up across the region, we have seen some tremendous yields and of course some disappointing yields.  The usual culprits are lack of rain, too much early heat, compaction issues,…

USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced it will begin sending new or updated pre-filled Emergency Relief Program (ERP, previously WHIP+) applications.  This covers the outstanding issues from Phase 1 of ERP and is not Phase 2 of ERP. In its second stage of Phase 1, FSA will begin mailing pre-filled applications in late August to producers who have potentially…

  In response to a letter from Senators John Thune (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Steve Daines (R-MT), USDA made several announcements. First, USDA will indefinitely extend the deadline for producers to return the pre-filled applications for Phase 1 of the Emergency Relief…

  ERP Unintended Issues Prevent Plant 2020 – Background In 2019 USDA announced an extension of harvest or extended the end of insurance periods for crops to allow more time for producers to harvest their crops.  This delay in harvest extended to crops being harvested in the spring, thus delaying normal tillage and fall preparation…

Emergency Relief Program It has been a long time coming (authorized and funded in Oct 2021) but it’s finally here. Most of you should have received your applications from FSA this past week. If eligible it should show the crops for each year 2020 and 2021 that have an ERP payment. The agents and I…

This, as you all know, has been a challenging spring with the wet cold weather. In fact, it’s the 5th wettest spring on record! You may also recall that our agency forecast was for a cool wet spring (just not this extreme of course). We just got our updated forecast and June appears to be…