The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds livestock producers that the Jan. 30, 2015, deadline to request assistance for losses suffered from Oct. 1, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2014, is fast approaching.

The Livestock Indemnity Program provides financial assistance to eligible producers for livestock deaths. Losses can be caused by adverse weather, extreme temperatures, disease, or wildfires, or due to attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law, including wolves and avian predators.

To learn more about the Livestock Disaster Assistance program deadlines see: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=ner&newstype=newsrel&type=detail&item=nr_20150121_rel_0003.html or contact a local crop insurance agent.

 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced that a premium subsidy has been established to offer more affordable protection to eligible diversified farm operations, as part of the new Whole-Farm Revenue Protection insurance policy.

Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, required by the 2014 Farm Bill, will be offered through the RMA managed federal crop insurance program. The new policy will offer fruit and vegetable growers and producers with diversified farms selling commodities to wholesale markets, local and regional markets, farm identity preserved markets, or direct markets, more flexible, affordable risk management coverage options.

To learn more about USDA whole farm revenue protection insurance, review the fact sheet at, http://www.rma.usda.gov/news/currentissues/farmbill/ or contact a local crop insurance agent.

 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing key dates for farm owners and producers to keep in mind regarding the new 2014 Farm Bill established programs, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The new programs, designed to help producers better manage risk, usher in one of the most significant reforms to U.S. farm programs in decades.

Dates associated with ARC and PLC that farm owners and producers need to know:

• Sept. 29, 2014 to Feb. 27, 2015: Land owners may visit their local Farm Service Agency office to update yield history and/or reallocate base acres.
• Nov. 17, 2014 to March 31, 2015: Producers make a one-time election of either ARC or PLC for the 2014 through 2018 crop years.
• Mid-April 2015 through summer 2015: Producers sign contracts for 2014 and 2015 crop years.
• October 2015: Payments for 2014 crop year, if needed.

To learn more about USDA disaster relief program, review details for the ARC/PLC programs at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=arpl&topic=landing or contact a local FSA office.

New Programs in the 2014 Farm Bill: Price Loss Coverage, Agricultural Risk Coverage and the Supplemental Coverage Agricultural Insurance Option for Wyoming Farms and Ranches

The Agricultural Act of 2014 was signed into law on February 17, 2014 by President Obama. The Act, widely referred to as the 2014 Farm Bill, introduces major changes in many U.S. farm programs that are important for farm and ranch owners and managers in Wyoming. Under the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill, several long standing programs related to farmers’ and ranchers’ risk management decisions that have been widely used by Wyoming agricultural producers were terminated or are being phased out while several new programs have been introduced.

Three important new programs for Wyoming farms and ranches are then described. These are the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program, the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) program and an insurance program called the Supplementary Coverage Insurance Option (SCO). Under the PLC, payments to crop producers are triggered by relatively low crop prices. Under the ARC, payments to crop producers are triggered by relatively low per acre crop revenues.

On a crop by crop basis, owners and operators are required to make a one-time decision for the entire duration of the 2014 Agricultural Act (which applies to the 2014-2018 crop years) about whether to participate in the PLC or the ARC program.

This policy issues paper identifies and briefly describes the major programs affecting crop producers that were terminated or are being phased out under the provisions of the 2014 Agricultural Act.

Click here to view the bulletin or to download a copy to your computer.

For more information on the Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Programs contact a local Farm Service Agency Office or visit the FSA online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA.

Title: Risk Management for Wyoming Ranches: The Supplemental Federal Agricultural Disaster Programs
Authors: Vincent H. Smith, James B. Johnson, (Montana State University) and John P. Hewlett, University of Wyoming Ranch/Farm Management Extension Specialist.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses to act to secure assistance by Sept. 30, 2014, as congressionally mandated payment reductions will take place for producers who have not acted before that date.

Livestock producers that have experienced grazing losses since October 2011 and may be eligible for benefits but have not yet contacted their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office should do so as soon as possible.

To learn more about USDA disaster relief program, review the 2014 Farm Bill fact sheet at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/farmbill, the LFP program fact sheet, http://go.usa.gov/5JTk, or contact a local FSA office.

The Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) is a voluntary risk management program for dairy producers authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill through Dec. 31, 2018. The MPP-Dairy offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.
Signup for MPP-Dairy takes place from September 2 through November 28, 2014. During this first signup period, producers can register for the September through December 2014 coverage period and/or the January through December 2015 coverage period.
2014 and 2015 coverage elections may be different. Coverage election in subsequent years will take place from July 1 through September 30.

Dairy operations can obtain more information on MPP-Dairy at FSA county offices and online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov; click on Price Support.
View the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) Fact Sheet at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/mpp_dairy.pdf.

Risk Management for Wyoming Ranches: The Supplemental Federal Agricultural Disaster Programs

Wyoming ranchers are involved in risky enterprises and use a wide range of tools to manage risk and reduce the chances that they will suffer financial losses. Mangers choose among alternative risk management strategies on the basis of the ranch’s financial structure and the ranch manager’s preference and capacity for taking on or avoiding risk.

Currently, many alternatives exist for managing risk, including: Federal crop insurance products and supplemental federal disaster programs where available.

The 2008 Farm Bill authorized five standing disaster programs. The most pertinent to Wyoming Livestock ranchers were the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).

The Agricultural Act of 2014, passed February 7, 2014, makes the Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Livestock Indemnity Payments, and Emergency Assistance of Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish permanent and provides for retroactive authority to cover eligible losses back to October 1, 2011.

This retroactive provision reinstates these programs for federal fiscal years 2012 (October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012) and 2013 (October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013).

A recently completed bulletin entitled Production Risk Management for Wyoming Ranches: The Supplemental Federal Agricultural Disaster Programs describes each of the disaster assistance programs in some detail, outlining losses that may be covered and associated compensation available. More importantly, example loss situations are included for Wyoming ranches to show how each program may work to provide protection against various types of losses.

Click here to view the bulletin or to download a copy to your computer.

For more information on the Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Programs contact a local Farm Service Agency Office or visit the FSA online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA.

Title: Risk Management for Wyoming Ranches: The Supplemental Federal Agricultural Disaster Programs
Authors: James B. Johnson, Vincent H. Smith (Montana State University) and John P. Hewlett, University of Wyoming Ranch/Farm Management Extension Specialist.