08/08/08 DCP signup deadline

Normally producers can sign up for direct and counter cyclical payments during a fiscal year beginning in October. Deputy Farm Service Agency Administrator John Johnson says this wasn't a normal year and for producers to get direct and counter cyclical payments there's less than two months in the signup period. JOHNSON "But because of the late passage of the farm bill this year we weren't able to start signup until we had that legislation in place and then it made some minor changes to the 2008 program which we had to make some software adjustment for." That was done in June but normally there is a 100 dollar late fee for any sign ups after June first. That late fee was waived this year. Producers who elected to receive an advanced payment started receiving payments last month. JOHNSON "We weren't able to begin signup until well into June so certainly we aren't going to apply a late feed on those contracts that are being applied for today but we do have to get all of this work done by September 30th and so its really important for producers who are interested in this program to get that appointment scheduled with their county office and get a date and time to get this done before September 30th." As he said, you should try to get to their local FSA office or go on line to www.fsa.usda.gov to sign up for the 2008 direct or counter cyclical programs. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott