FSA, Extension to sponsor discussion on Farm Bill

Apr 3, 2009      The Lebanon Reporter

Rod Rose

Apr. 3, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- LEBANON -- Programs in the 2009 Farm Bill, including a new economic safety net for grain farmers, will be discussed at an 8 a.m. April 9 meeting in the Witham Health Services Pavilion at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds.

The meeting is sponsored by the Boone County Farm Service Agency and Purdue Extension of Boone County.

The Average Crop Revenue Election program is "a different wrinkle" for price support methods, said Steve Brown, district director of the Boone County Farm Service Agency.

"We don't have all the regulations yet, but we do have enough to ... go over some of the ACRE program guidelines," Brown said.

"In the past, a lot of our payments have been set in stone," Brown said. The ACRE option protects farmers from income drops resulting from production.

ACRE is an alternative to the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payments program, the USDA said. For 2009 crops, the base price is based on 2007-08 and 2008-09 marketing years.

ACRE pays 20 percent less than direct payments; 30 percent less in marketing assistance loan rates; and requires farmers to forgo counter-cyclical payments, the USDA said.

Also to be discussed April 9 are Supplemental Revenue Assistance payments and Adjusted Gross Income regulations, Brown said.

For more information, call the Boone County FSA at (765) 482-6355.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0436-33903450

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