News

USDA crop acreage reporting & emergency assistance programs open

A state Farm Service Agency executive director is reminding farmers to file crop acreage reports soon.

Michigan’s Joel Johnson tells Brownfield the foundation for all USDA producer programs is good recordkeeping.

“All programs that come from USDA rely on the farm records from each individual, and part of that is keeping their crop certifications up to date,” he says. “July 15th is the deadline for most crops.”

Landowners impacted by historic ice damage in northern Michigan are also eligible for USDA cost-share assistance through the Emergency Forest Restoration Program.

“For such things as debris removal, tree planting, conservation cover, putting a cover crop in to protect from erosion, and for some fence repair or restoration,” he explains.

Johnson says the Emergency Conservation Program should help maple syrup producers.

“There’s a new part to this program which allows for maple sap operations to recoup some of their costs for replacing such things as taps and or tubing that were damaged by the ice storm and or natural disaster,” he says “Also, there would be some debris removal and fence repair or restoration there.”

Johnson recommends working with local county offices to finalize applications.