USDA has decided to extend by 10 weeks the sign-up period for producers to select the new Average Crop Revenue Election program that was created in the 2008 Farm Bill or the Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment program. Originally the deadline for signup was June 1, 2009 but is now set for Aug. 14, 2009. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement Tuesday while testifying on Capitol Hill before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture.
"In light of the complexities of the new farm bill we decided to extend the DCP and ACRE sign-up deadline to help ensure that America's farmers have enough information and time to determine whether to participate in the ACRE Program," said Vilsack. "The DCP and ACRE programs play a critical role in the farm safety net and it is vital that we act to support the hard work of the farmers we depend on."
The tentative start of sign-up for ACRE and DCP programs was to be Wednesday, April 1. In response to a question from a reporter asking if sign-up was still several weeks away, Vilsack responded that sign-up was likely several days from starting.
For more information about the ACRE or DCP programs contact your local Farm Service Agency Office or www.fsa.usda.gov.
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