USDA announces program signups
MALONE — Jennifer Bosley, executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in Franklin County, has announced enrollment for the 2010 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program is underway and will continue through June 1, 2010.

Eligible producers may request to receive advance direct payments based on 22 percent of the final direct payment for the farm. USDA will issue advance direct payments beginning Dec. 1, 2009.

USDA computes DCP payments using historical base acres and payment yields established for each farm. Eligible producers receive direct payments at rates established by statute regardless of market prices. Counter-cyclical payment rates vary depending on market prices. Counter-cyclical payments are issued only when the effective price for a commodity is below its target price.

The effective price is the higher of the national average market price received during the 12-month marketing year for each covered commodity and the national average loan rate for a marketing assistance loan for the covered commodity.

The optional ACRE Program provides a safety net based on state revenue losses and acts in place of the price-based safety net of counter-cyclical payments under DCP. A farm's payment is based on a revenue guarantee calculated using a five-year average state yield and the most recent two-year national price for each eligible commodity. For the 2010 crop, the two-year price average will be based on the 2008 and 2009 crop years.

An ACRE payment is issued when both the state and the farm have incurred a revenue loss. The payment is based on 83.3 percent (85 percent in 2012) of the farm's planted acres times the difference between the state ACRE guarantee and the state revenue times the ratio of the farm's yield divided by the state expected yield.

The total number of planted acres for which a producer may receive ACRE payments may not exceed the total base on the farm. In exchange for participating in ACRE, producers do not receive counter-cyclical payments, the farm's direct payment is reduced by 20 percent, and marketing assistance loan rates are reduced by 30 percent.

The decision to enroll in the ACRE program is irrevocable. The owner of the farm and all producers on the farm must agree to enroll in ACRE. Once enrolled, the farm shall be enrolled for that initial crop year and will remain in ACRE through the 2012 crop year.

The June 1, 2010, deadline is mandatory for all participants. USDA will not accept any late-filed applications.

For more information on DCP or ACRE, visit the FSA office or www.fsa.usda.gov.

Gillibrand urges support for institute
PLATTSBURGH — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to include the New York Farm Viability Institute in their "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative.

The institute was created as one of the original "Agriculture Innovation Centers" within the 2002 Farm Bill. Out of the 10 states funded in this program, only New York and Minnesota continue to have fully functioning innovation centers. However, since 2005, the institute has not received federal dollars. During this economic downturn, funding for the Institute is at risk at a time when farmers need its services the most. Inclusion of the institute in the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative would provide crucial support to programs that benefit underprivileged farmers, increase research and education capabilities that maximize farm profits and provide economic models for other farms.

"New York's farmers are a critical part of our economy and we must ensure their success," Gillibrand said. "In this economic crisis, we can't afford to let our family farms be pushed any farther to the brink. If we're going to rebuild this economy, we need to keep families on their farms. The New York Farm Viability Institute helps farms increase profits and provide models for other farms.

The institute shares Gillibrand's interest in expanding USDA programs and outreach to better connect consumers with farmers through the "Know your Farmer, Know your Food" initiative, said Tom Sleight, institute executive director. "Expanding interest in fresh, locally produced food is creating new and exciting opportunities and marketing channels for farmers. An essential part of USDA's campaign is empowering farmers to develop new enterprises and products to reconnect with consumers."

The institute has been doing this and much more, he said. By instituting creative new production and management strategies, the institute has become a vital link to helping farmers stay competitive and meet ever-changing consumer needs.

Located in Syracuse, the institute is a farmer-led nonprofit group that works with farms to foster a vibrant agriculture business sector in New York State. They help farmers expand their businesses by providing support through applied research, outreach education, information transfer, adoption of technology, business planning and market analysis.