News Releases

Hello!

Last December, a new Farm Bill was signed and put into place. Since then, programs continue to be implemented and updated. Two of the programs are the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. Producers will have until March 15, 2020 to sign up for either program for the 2019 crop year.

The links below are from sources we think will give you the necessary information and tools needed to make an informed decision about which program is best for you.

ARC/PLC Press Release

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/news-releases/2019/usda-opens-2019-enrollment-for-agriculture-risk-coverage-and-price-loss-coverage-programs

NDSU ARC/PLC Workbook

https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/farmmanagement/farm-bill

ARC/PLC Updated Information

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/arcplc_program/index

ARC/PLC Program Data

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/arcplc_program/arcplc-program-data/index

ARC/PLC Library

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/arcplc_program/arcplc-library/index

ARC/PLC Fact Sheet

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/2019/arc-plc_overview_fact_sheet-aug_2019.pdf

2014 vs. 2018 Farm Bill

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/2019/arc-plc_farm_bill_comparisons-fact_sheet-aug-2019.pdf

FAQ’s

https://askfsa.custhelp.com/app/answers/list/p/365

FSA Programs and Services

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/index

Commodity Fact Sheets

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/fact-sheets/index

ND county FSA offices will be conducting producer meetings November – February. When you make an appointment, the county will need to know which program you’d like to enroll your farm in (PLC, ARC-CO, ARC-IC) and have yield information available if you plan to update your PLC yield in 2020.

*The use of these links does not equate to an endorsement of the news article, source, or product.

Hello! Here, you will find Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) disaster aid information.

If you follow this link you will find a map of North Dakota and the counties where disasters were declared on June 12, 2019. The counties are: Pembina, Walsh, Grand Forks, Traill, Steele, Cass, Barnes, Richland, Ransom, Sargent, LaMoure, Dickey, Emmons, Morton, Grant, Hettinger, Adams, and McKenzie.

The type of aid available in these counties is WHIP+. WHIP+ provides disaster payments to producers to offset losses from hurricanes, wildfires, and other qualifying natural disasters that occurred in 2018-19. This covers the losses of crops, trees, bushes, and vines that occurred as a result of those disaster events. This will provide assistance for yield-based and value loss crops that suffered losses prior to harvest. WHIP+ payments for crop losses only covers production losses, not quality losses. Eligible crops include those where crop insurance or NAP coverage is available. If your county received a Presidential or Secretarial Emergency Disaster Declaration or one or more of the qualifying disaster events, you are eligible for aid. However, if you are outside the disaster declaration, you may still be eligible, but you will need to supply additional/supporting documents. These are determined by a county committee; contact your local FSA office for more information.

WHIP+ will now include programs for both milk losses due to adverse weather conditions and to on-farm stored commodities.

The amount of aid you can receive is dependent on your average adjusted gross farm income (AAGFI). Under WHIP+, a person cannot receive more than $125,000 in payments if the AAGFI is less than 75 percent of their AAGFI for 2015, 2016, & 2017. However, if at least 75 percent of your adjusted gross income is from farming, and necessary documentation is provided, you could be eligible to receive up to $250,000 per crop year under WHIP+ payments.

WHIP+ payments will take into consideration the difference between the expected value of the crop and the actual value of the crop as a result of the disaster event. This will be determined by FSA using crop insurance or NAP prices. Payments under WHIP+ cannot exceed 90 percent of the total losses for those individuals with crop insurance. For those without crop insurance or NAP, the total amount of payments received under WHIP+ cannot exceed 70 percent of the total losses for 2018-19. Production for crop losses is based on the verifiable or reliable production records for that crop year.

It is important to note that the AGI payment limitations that are required under WHIP+ do not apply to prevent plant (PP) payments. WHIP+ is for crops that were damaged after being planted and prevent plant payments are for those that were not able to plant at all due to flooding or disaster related events. PP will be administered in the same way as other Federal crop insurance programs. If you purchased crop insurance and were unable to plant due to a weather-related disaster, you are eligible for PP payments. Under prevent plant, individuals will receive 15% for those with revenue protection, except those who select the harvest price exclusion option and 10% for those who do not have revenue protection. This will be determined by the crop insurance you purchased.

If you receive WHIP+ payments, you will be required to purchase crop insurance for the next 2 available crop years.

Applications should be submitted to your county FSA office. FSA offices are now accepting applications. To learn more about WHIP+ plus and the application material required, please visit farmers.gov.

Please contact our office with any questions at 701-566-9322 or email .

Thank you!

ND Corn Growers Association hires Lisa Hochhalter

FARGO, North Dakota — August 1, 2019 — The North Dakota Corn Growers Association hired Lisa Hochhalter as its Executive Director this past spring. Hochhalter has been working part-time while studying for the bar exam. She has now completed the bar exam and will begin her full-time duties starting August 1, 2019. “We are excited to have Ms. Hochhalter lead our Association, she brings great energy and a passion for the corn industry to this position,” stated North Dakota Corn Growers Association President, Randy Melvin.

Lisa was assigned to the House Industry, Business & Labor and Agriculture Committees for the 2019 North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Prior to her work at the Legislature Lisa was a law clerk at Zimney Foster, P.C., in Grand Forks. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Communications from North Dakota State University and received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law in May 2019.

Lisa will oversee the effective operation of the Association. She will work with the board of directors to develop and implement programs that enhance the profitability of ND farms. She will ensure the continued growth and viability of the Association by actively seeking opportunities to increase membership and identifying potential ongoing sources of revenue. She will also advocate for the North Dakota corn industry with national and state policy leaders. This position will also be the liaison to the National Corn Growers Association on behalf of the Association and the North Dakota corn industry.

The North Dakota Corn Growers Association is the farmer-led membership organization focusing on policy that impacts North Dakota corn producers.