Farmers reminded of DCP deadline: June 1

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Linda Hennen, state executive director of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Minnesota, reminds producers that enrollment for the 2010 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) will end June 1, 2010.

Farm producers must apply for DCP on an annual basis and unlike years past, participants may not enroll a farm after June 1, 2010 as there are no late filed provisions for contract years 2009-2012. All owners and operators who will share in the DCP payments on the farm must sign the CCC-509 by June 1 of the contract period.

"We urge producers to make use of the eForms automated website to sign up," said Hennen. "The electronic service saves producers' time, reduces paperwork and speeds up contract processing at their local FSA offices."

USDA computes DCP Program payments using 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.

Contact your local USDA FSA office for details and visit the website www.fsa.usda.gov.

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