May 6, 2011

Dan Steinkruger, state executive director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Nebraska reminds producers that enrollment for the 2011 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) and Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) will end June 1.

Farmers must must apply for DCP or ACRE annually. If a producer misses the June 1, 2011 deadline, there is a late-filing period from June 2 through August 1 during which producers may still enroll in DCP or ACRE. All owners and operators who will share in a farm’s DCP or ACRE payments must sign the CCC-509 by August 1 to remain eligible for 2011 program benefits.

Faxed signatures are also acceptable on a DCP or ACRE contract. Changes that affect DCP or ACRE program need to be reported to your local office by September 30 because they may cause a refund of all 2011 program benefits.

June 1 is also the deadline for producers to elect (ACRE) for 2011-2012. ACRE is an alternative to the counter-cyclical component of DCP. Election of the ACRE option does not enroll the farm for 2011. Enrollment is a separate and subsequent step — even if the farm was enrolled in DCP previous to the election. There are no late filing provisions for electing to be in the ACRE program. If an election is made after June 1 the election will not take effect until the 2012 crop year.

Producers can visit any USDA Service Center to complete their 2011 DCP or ACRE contract.

Online Enrollment Encouraged

“We also urge producers to make use of the eDCP automated website to complete the annual signup for DCP or ACRE,” said Steinkruger.

The electronic service saves producers time, reduces paperwork, and speeds up contract processing at their local FSA offices. All producers who are eligible to participate can access eDCP at www.fsa.usda.gov/dcp. To use this service, producers must have an active USDA eAuthentication Level 2 account, which requires filling out an online registration form at www.eauth.egov.usda.gov followed by a visit to the local USDA Service Center for identity verification.

Steinkruger stressed it is critical that producers who have not enrolled all farms or obtained all necessary signatures take immediate action. Producers should contact their local FSA office to enroll.

News Release
USDA FSA Nebraska Office