The following announcements have been issued by the local FSA (Farm Service Agency) office.

Applications for Crop Disaster Program for crop years 2001 and 2002 must be filed by deadline Jan. 30.

New grower applications for tobacco

Applications for new quotas or allotments for tobacco must be filed no later than Tuesday, Feb. 17. Persons who have experience in growing, harvesting and marketing tobacco in at least two of the past five years may qualify for the establishment of new quota or allotment on land they own that does not have an established quota or allotment provided the following conditions apply.

The owner or operator cannot own, operate or have ownership interest in another farm that has an established quota or allotment for any kind of tobacco. The applicant must expect to obtain more than 50 percent of all current year income from farming. Equipment and facilities needed for the productions of tobacco must be either owned or readily available. The applying farm must have cropland suitable for the annual production of tobacco without creating excessive soil erosion.

Determinations of eligibility based on income include all salaries, commissions, pensions, social security and unemployment compensations. Producers who may be eligible for the establishment of a new quota or allotment are encouraged to file applications as soon as possible.

AFIDA

Foreign investors who acquire, transfer or hold interest in farmland in the United Sates are required by law to report all holdings and transactions to FSA. This report is required within 90 days of the transaction.

Fines for failure to report under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) can be as much as 25 percent of the value of the property.

Spousal signatures

Husbands and wives are authorized to sign most FSA forms and requests on behalf of each other. Anyone who desires to deny a spouse this authority must provide FSA with written notifications of their intentions.

Payment eligibity

All producers are reminded that payment eligibility forms as wells as highly erodible land and wetland certifications must be filed or updated to reflect changes in operations prior to issuance of program benefits.

All actively engaged in farming, person, cash rent tenant, or foreign person determinations must be completed as required.

Tobacco

Burley and Dark tobacco marketing cards must be returned to FSA when marketing is complete. Failure to return marketing card timely will result in a reduction of the 2004 quota or allotment to zero.

DCP

Sign-up for 2004 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program is ongoing until deadline of June 1.

Small grain crop reports

Crop reports for small grains that include wheat, barley, and oats is ongoing until deadline of May 31.