07/03/08 Sign up now for farm program and direct payment

Washington Ag July 3, 2008 The Direct and Counter Cyclical Payment program is underway at local Farm Service Agency offices. And as USDA Farm Service Agency deputy director John Johnson explains, this is a more compressed sign up period than usual. Johnson: "Typically we start sign up for DCP on October 1 and it runs until September 30th, a full year. But because of the late passage of the farm bill this year we weren't able to start sign up until we had that legislation in place. Then it made some minor changes to the 2008 program which we had to make some software adjustments for. We have that done so just shortly over a month after the farm bill's passage we did begin sign up for 2008 contracts." Because of the late start to sign up Johnson says the late fee will be waived. Johnson: "So, no late fee but we do have to get all this work done by September 30th. So it is really important that producers interested in the program get an appointment scheduled with the county office and get in and get this done before September 30th." Eligible producers may request to receive an advance payment of 22 percent of the direct payment for each commodity associated with a farm and USDA will issue that advance as soon as practical after enrollment. The final direct payment will be made after October 1st of this year. Producers can sign up online at www.fsa.usda.gov I'm Bob Hoff.