*[[2007 DCP Sign Up]{.underline}]{.smallcaps}*

Are you planning to participate in the 2007 Direct and Counter-cyclical
Program? If so, contact the office to sign a 2007 DCP contract
(CCC-509). Sign up began Oct 1, 2006, and must be completed before June
1, 2007. (You can sign your contract after June 1 and before Sept. 30,
2007, but you will be assessed a late-signing fee of \$100.)

When you sign the CCC-509, you are agreeing to:

-   comply with highly erodible land conservation and wetland
    conservation provisions on all your land;

-   devote acreage equal to the base acreage to an agricultural or
    conserving use;

-   effectively control noxious weeds and otherwise maintain base acres
    according to sound agricultural practices;

-   not plant perennial fruits and vegetables or harvest annual FAVs
    (other than lentils, mung beans, and dry peas) or wild rice on base
    acres (Exceptions: Double-cropping covered commodities or peanuts
    with wild rice, fruits, or vegetables shall be permitted in any
    region in which there is a history of this type of
    double-cropping.);

-   file acreage report with respect to all cropland on the farm; and

-   notify the county office staff when there is a transfer of or change
    of interest of a producer.

*[[County Committee Election]{.underline}]{.smallcaps}*

+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| **Selected Interest Rates for**                         |            |
|                                                         |            |
| **October 2006**                                        |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| Farm Operating Loans --- Direct                         | 5.375%     |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| Farm Ownership Loans --- Direct                         | 5.625%     |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| Farm Ownership Loans --- Direct Down Payment, Beginning | 4.00%      |
| Farmer                                                  |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| Emergency Loans                                         | 3.75%      |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+

***[[Just a reminder: Be watching your mailbox for your official county
office committee election ballot starting early next month. Ballots will
be mailed to all eligible voters on November 3, 2006. If, for some
reason, you don't receive a ballot, feel free to notify the county FSA
office. Completed and signed ballots are due back in the county office
by the close of business on Dec 4, 2006.]{.underline}]{.smallcaps}***

**[[Acreage Spot Check Determinations and
Notification]{.underline}]{.smallcaps}**

Each year the Farm Service Agency completes spot checks of acreage
reports. Acreage reports are the basis for delivery of many farm
programs. Acreage spot checks are completed to ensure accurate acreage
reports are used for farm programs.

FSA will spot check acreages on over 10 percent of the farms in each
county. Color imagery flown this summer will be used to complete all
acreage determinations.

All 2006 acreage spot checks will be completed using the FSA Geographic
Information System official acreages. After farms are spot checked, a
Notice of Determined Acreage will be sent to the farm operator.

Producer notifications will be issued by FSA as spot checks are
completed. Questions concerning determined acres should be directed to
the office for clarification.

*[[Commodity Loans Available]{.underline}]{.smallcaps}*

Low interest, 9-month loans on 2006 corn including high moisture, wheat,
barley, soybeans and oats are available. This marketing tool is a great
way to utilize working capital while you wait for local prices to rise,
pay off higher interest notes with low interest money, or purchase next
year's inputs at reduced rates. 

# 

# [[newly re-designed website]{.underline}]{.smallcaps}

We invite you to visit the newly re-designed Farm Service Agency website
at [www.fsa.usda.gov](http://www.fsa.usda.gov/) to learn about new
programs and download forms. For other general USDA information, visit
[www.usda.gov](http://www.usda.gov/).