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**Monmouth \~ Mercer \~ Middlesex County FSA**

***4000 Kozloski Rd., Suite D, P.O. Box 5033***

***Freehold, NJ 07728***

***Phone: (732) 462-0075 Fax: (732) 462-5274***

**[or visit us at www.fsa.usda.gov]{.underline}**

**\~ Farm Service Agency \~ Natural Resource Conservation Service \~
Rural Development \~**

**Service Center Newsletter August 2, 2006 Hours: M-F; 8:00 am to 4:30
pm**

**[Non-insured Assistance Program (NAP)]{.underline}** - If you suspect
serious crop damage, and in order to benefit from your NAP coverage, you
must report it to our office and file a notice of loss within [15
calendar days]{.underline} after the disaster occurrence or the date the
damage to the specific crop acreage is apparent. That way we can send
someone out to make an inspection. Once the notice of loss is approved,
an application for payment must be filed no later than the next crop
year's acreage reporting date, which in most cases would be July 15,
2007. The final date to purchase NAP coverage for a 2007 policy on
Christmas Trees, Fin Fish, Flowers and Grass Sod is September 1, 2006.
For Barley, Clover, Grass, Mixed Forage, and Rye the sales closing date
is September 30, 2006.

**[New Form for Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP) s - CCC-633
EZ]{.underline}** -- There is now a new form, called the CCC-633 EZ, for
requesting loan deficiency payments. The new form is designed to
simplify the LDP process by combining the old CCC-633 and CCC-709's. One
thing that hasn't changed is the statutory requirement that producers
request an LDP before beneficial interest in an eligible commodity is
lost. Once beneficial interest in a commodity is lost, the commodity is
ineligible for an LDP even if beneficial interest is regained. With the
new form, producers will be able to indicate their intentions to receive
LDP benefits before losing beneficial interest. Once the form has been
signed, producers can submit an LDP request at any time during the loan
availability period - before or after losing beneficial interest. The
first page of the form is completed once per crop year for all eligible
crops and indicates the producer's intention to receive LDP benefits. To
receive an LDP benefit, the producer must complete and submit page 2 to
the county office. eLDP online requests are also available to obtain an
LDP.

![](media/image4.wmf){width="0.8680555555555556in"
height="0.7319444444444444in"}**[County Committee Elections]{.underline}
--** The nomination period for the County Committee election ended on
August 1st. This year's election covers Local Administrative Area (LAA)
#1, which is primarily southern Monmouth County. The eligible nominees
for which approved FSA-669A's were received are [Richard
Stern]{.underline} of Cream Ridge, NJ, [Richard Bullock]{.underline} of
Cream Ridge, NJ, and [Debra Kauffman]{.underline} of Farmingdale, NJ.
The next step in the process is the mailing of the ballots, which will
happen by November 3rd. Voters will have until December 4, 2006 to
return their ballots to the county office. Elected committee members and
alternates will then take office on Jan. 2, 2007. To be eligible to vote
a person must be of legal voting age and have an interest in a farm or
ranch as either an owner, operator, tenant, or sharecropper. An eligible
voter could also be a partner in a general partnership or a member of a
joint venture that has an interest in a farm. A person may also vote if,
regardless of age, they supervise and conduct the farming operations on
an entire farm or if they are eligible to participate in any FSA program
that is provided for by law. No person shall be denied the right to vote
because of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability,
political beliefs, sexual orientation or marital or family status.

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**[Farm Records Changes]{.underline}** -- For any who have bought or
sold land, rented additional land for 2006 or lost tracts, please notify
the FSA office so farm records can be updated. For land purchased, a
copy of the deed is required. Also any changes of address should be
reported to your local Farm Service Agency Office as soon as possible.

**[Acreage Reporting]{.underline}** -- The final crop reporting date of
July 15^th^ has passed, however, for any crop planted after that date
the producer has **15 days** from the date of planting to report those
acreages to this office. After 15 days have passed, a \$30 late file fee
per tract applies. To avoid these charges simply call the office with
your planting dates within the prescribed time period. Remember, timely
filing of accurate acreage reports for all crops and land uses,
including failed acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits for a number
of programs, including the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program, the
Conservation Reserve Program, the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance
Program and Loan Deficiency Payments.

**[Payment Limitation]{.underline}** - Payment limitation and payment
eligibility provisions apply to the following programs: Direct and
Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP), Commodity Loans, LDPs, EQIP, CRP, ECP
and NAP. No program benefits subject to limitation may be provided until
all required forms for the specific situation are provided, and the
necessary payment limitation and payment eligibility determinations are
made. Payment limitation and payment eligibility determinations may be
initiated by the County Committee (COC) or requested by the producer. A
farm operating plan is not required to be filed annually, however,
changes that would affect a "person", "actively engaged in farming",
"cash rent tenant", or "foreign person" determination must be reported.
Entities earning program benefits that are subject to limitation must
provide the names, addresses, and ID #s of the entities' members to COC,
and inform the entities' members of the requirements for designating
"permitted entities". All CCC-501s and CCC 502s (payment limitation
forms) submitted by producers are subject to spot check through the end
of the year review process. Spouses may be considered separate "persons"
for payment limitation purposes if this determination is requested and
the applicable requirements are met. A determination of not "actively
engaged in farming" results in the producer being ineligible for any
payment or benefit requiring a determination of "actively engaged in
farming". For more about the information, which must be provided to the
COC, please contact this office.

[Limitations per person are as follows:]{.underline} DCP Payment -
\$40,000 per year, counter-cyclical payments - \$65,000 per year; Total
of Gains from Marketing Loans and LDPs - \$75,000 per year; CRP annual
rental payment - \$50,000 per year; EQIP cost share - \$450,000 for
2002 - 2007, AMA cost share - \$50,000 per year; NAP - \$100,000 per
year, CDP - \$80,000 per year.

**[2007 Farm Bill Funding]{.underline}** -- Now is the time to contact
your local NRCS office and start the application process for 2007 Farm
Bill Programs according to Tony Kramer, State Conservationist for the
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Jersey. "We
want to encourage New Jersey farmers and landowners to submit
applications for 2007 programs now," Kramer said. "Beginning the process
well in advance of application period closings affords more time for
applicants to work with NRCS Soil Conservationists to develop
conservation plans and decide what they really want to accomplish on
their land without the pressure of a deadline." Through the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), farmers may receive
financial and technical help with structural and management conservation
practices that address soil erosion, conservation of irrigation water,
and livestock-related concerns, including rotational grazing practices.
Practices that focus on renewable energy and fuel efficiency are being
considered for next year\'s EQIP programs. Farmers who are thinking
about converting farm vehicles to ethanol or using biodiesel may be able
to apply for cost-share payments through EQIP in 2007.

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**[Dates to Remember!]{.underline}**

[September 1, 2006]{.underline} -- Final day to purchase NAP coverage
for Christmas trees, Flowers, and Sod.

[September 30, 2006]{.underline} -- Final date to purchase NAP coverage
for Barley, Clover, Grass, Mixed Forage, and Rye.

[November 3, 2006]{.underline} -- All County Committee ballots mailed
out to voters.

Our offices will be closed on [Monday, September 4, 2006]{.underline}
for Labor Day.

If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please let
us know. Also, if you know of anyone that would like to receive this
newsletter, please supply us with their address. Also, you may visit our
State website at [www.fsa.usda.gov/nj](http://www.fsa.usda.gov/nj).

[Area FSA Committee: Ross Clayton, Chairman John Hauser, Vice Chairman
Gary Mount, Member]{.underline}

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, and where applicable, sex
marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual
orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, or because all or
part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance
program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs) Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a
complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or
call (800)795-3272 (voice) or (202)720-6382 (TDD).

[USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.]{.underline}