ACRE program enrollment is open

Apr 29, 2009      The Free Press

Apr. 29, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- RALEIGH -- Mike Eaves, acting executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency, has announced that producers can sign up for the Average Crop Revenue Election program. ACRE is a provision of the 2008 Farm Bill.

"The Average Crop Revenue Election program is an innovative alternative to the traditional farm safety," said Eaves. "This new option presents an opportunity for producers to decide if this revenue based program will work for their operation."

Producers have until Aug.14 to make their decision for the 2009 crop. USDA will not accept any late-filed applications.

Producers who elect the ACRE program for a farm agree to:

- Forgo counter-cyclical payments

- Accept a 20 percent reduction of the direct payments

- Accept a 30 percent reduction in loan rates for all commodities produced on the farm

Commodities eligible for ACRE payments are wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, peanuts, soybeans, sunflower seed, canola, flaxseed, safflower, mustard seed, rapeseed, sesame seed, crambe, dry peas, lentils, small chickpeas and large chickpeas.

The ACRE program was created in the 2008 Farm Bill to give producers an option in lieu of traditional counter-cyclical payments. Producers may elect and enroll in ACRE for the 2009 crop year even if they already have accepted advance direct payments under the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program.

To elect ACRE for a farm, producers must complete Form CCC-509 ACRE, which irrevocably elects ACRE for the farm through crop year 2012. Form CCC-509, the contract to participate in ACRE, must then be completed each year the producer intends to participate and receive benefits.

For more information, contact the Lenoir County Farm Service Agency at (252) 523-0524, 2411 Pink Hill Road, or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0235-34525256

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