Published: June 28, 2008 10:58 pm            

DCP sign-up begins

Sign-up has been announced by USDA for the 2008 Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program (DCP). Sign-up began June 25 in USDA Service Centers and will continue until Sept. 30. To be eligible for benefits, farms must have wheat, oats, barley, corn, soybean, peanuts or grain sorghum base acreage.

Payne County producers can fill out their 2008 DCP contract at the Payne County Farm Service Agency (FSA) located at 2600 S. Maine, Suite A, Stillwater. They encourage producers to call FSA at 372-5711, extension 2, if they have any questions or to schedule a sign-up appointment.

USDA computes DCP 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.

For 2008, eligible producers may request to receive an advance payment of 22 percent of the direct payment for each commodity associated with the farm. USDA will issue advance direct payments as soon as practical after enrollment.

Final direct payments will be issued after Oct. 1. Counter-cyclical payments vary depending on market prices and are issued only when the effective price for a commodity is below its target price (which takes into account the direct payment rate, market price and loan rate).

        

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