The world of agriculture relies on more than farmers to be successful.
The United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) is the sector of the United States government devoted to the in-person assistance of farmers. The FSA is continuously active in carrying out government programs that deal with agriculture.
There is an FSA office in nearly every county in Ohio.
Darin Leach is the County Executive Director for the Logan County Farm Service Agency. He manages the local FSA office and supervises the execution of farm programs in the county.
The office is busy year round but there are some unique programs the Farm Service Agency is active with right now.
Recently, the Ohio FSA announced that 7,963 acres were accepted during the 43rd Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. Leach reported Logan County had 15 participants sign up for the program and was happy to see that all applicants were accepted.
The purpose of the Conservation Reserve Program is to protect natural resources while providing economic and environmental benefits to rural communities. Landowners enrolled in CRP receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible farmland.
Leach also commented on the County Committee program that is unique to the Farm Service Agency. The County Committee is made up of producers from the area and has an important role in the community. The committee touches on decisions such as loans and payments, conservation programs, and other important agricultural issues.
The government program is unique in allowing community input in the decision making process.
Listen to Darin Leach talk about the Farm Service Agency.
Leach would like to remind agricultural producers that annual crop reporting deadlines are approaching. The deadline to report wheat and oats is June 30th and for all other crops, July 15th.
In other news, the Farm Bill, legislation that delegates most of the workload to the FSA, is currently being created and debated in congress. On Thursday, the United States Senate passed their version of the Farm Bill. This marks a huge step in the development and hopefully success of the legislation. The bill is touted as saving $23 billion while reforming farm programs.
