1-27 IAN Dick Rush ACRE

  Idaho One of Largest Recipients Of USDA Average Crop Revenue Payments.

 According to Magic Valley .com, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has started issuing an estimated $420 million in 2009 Average Crop Revenue Election, or ACRE, payments - with Idaho expected to be one of the largest recipients. Congress established ACRE as part of the 2008 Farm Bill to protect producers from farm market revenue declines.

The payments will be made to producers enrolled in the program for wheat, corn, barley, dry peas, grain sorghum, and lentils. Here’s Farm Service Agency Director Dick Rush: “We’re really pleased with the new ACRE program and the participation by Idaho farmers. We paid out almost $28 million in the State of Idaho in the first year that the program was available.” Of all the money that is available which, again, is estimated $420 million, about 70 percent is expected to be issued to wheat producers and 23 percent to corn producers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said these payments are an important part of the farm safety net.