Signup Begins for Direct and Counter Cyclical Programs

Signup for Farm Service Agency’s Direct and Counter Cyclical Program and the Average Crop Revenue Election Program during the 2013 crop year began on February 19, 2013. The signup deadline for the 2013 ACRE program is June 3 and signup for the DCP program is August 2, 2013. Producers have a new election opportunity for the ACRE or DCP program. Farms enrolled in ACRE at the end of the 2012 crop year are allowed to make a new election between ACRE or DCP in 2013. Producers who choose to participate in either the revenue-based ACRE safety net or the price-based DCP safety net must apply for the program by the applicable deadline for each. All owners and operators who will share in the DCP or ACRE payments on the farm must sign the enrollment form (CCC-509) by the applicable deadline. If a producer does not get the signed form in to their local office by the deadline for the applicable program, they will not be enrolled in the program for the current year and will not receive benefits. The 2013 ACRE election, if taken, is a one year commitment. In addition, owners who cash lease their land out to operators are not required to agree to the ACRE election. Aaron Krauter, North Dakota State Executive Director for FSA, is encouraging producers to sign up early. “We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to get in and sign up, and doing it before spring field work begins means one less thing a producer needs to worry about,” Krauter said.