> Nominations open for Pesticide Advisory Committee
> N.C. Pesticide Board announces March case settlements

> NCDA&CS offers grants for specialty crops

> NCDA&CS to host workshops for farmers market managers

> Timely, Reliable Information for Southeast Agriculture

FSA Administrator Urges Bladen County Producers to Enroll in DCP/ACRE
Waiting until “last minute” means long lines at USDA office
 
Elizabethtown — USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia encouraged Bladen County farmers and producers to enroll for the 2013 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (DCP) or the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) before the deadline.
 
“We understand that Bladen County producers have gotten busy, but they can’t forget to visit their county office and sign up for DCP or ACRE,” said Garcia. “Just as farmers plan their spring plantings, producers should plan to schedule an appointment to visit the Bladen County USDA Service Center at the earliest possible time. It’s best to complete the paperwork now rather than to stand in line the day before the deadline,” advised Garcia.

N.C. Forest Service finds laurel wilt disease in New Hanover County
 
RALEIGH -- The N.C. Forest Service has confirmed that laurel wilt, a devastating disease of redbay and other plants in the laurel family, has been identified in New Hanover County in an area near the western edge of Wilmington.

The disease has been identified across the Southeast in portions of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. In North Carolina, it was first discovered in Bladen, Columbus, Pender and Sampson counties in 2011, and in Brunswick County in 2012.

In North Carolina, sassafras, pondberry, pondspice, swampbay and spicebush also fall in the laurel family and could be affected by this disease.

USDA Announces Farm Payments Scheduled to Resume MILC, SURE, and NAP will restart on May 8

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia announced today that farm payments, which had been temporarily suspended due to sequestration, are scheduled to resume today, May 8. This includes payments for the 2011 Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE), the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) and the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC).
 
On March 4, 2013, FSA began a temporary suspension of FSA program payments in order to assess the impact of sequestration and determine the least-disruptive process possible for carrying out required cuts. The Department will use the Secretary’s limited authority to transfer funds to avoid reducing these program payments.

Producers should be advised that program sign-up periods currently underway have the following enrollment deadlines: 2013 Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program – June 3rd; 2011 SURE – June 7; and the 2013 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program – August 2nd. Producers should contact their local Farm Service Agency office as soon as possible for appointments to enroll in these programs before the deadlines.

USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for the American people, even as USDA implements sequestration – the across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget Control Act.  USDA has already undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than $828 million in taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget reductions. These reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out its mission, while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner that causes as little disruption as possible.

USDA:  Final Call for 2012 Census of Agriculture
Bladen County Shouldn’t Miss Chance to Provide Facts Straight from the Farm
 
       With the window to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture officially closing on May 31, 2013 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is urging Bladen County farmers and producers not to miss this opportunity to be counted and help determine the future of farming in America. USDA has already received more than 2 million completed Census forms.
 
"Our nation needs your help to ensure that decisions about U.S. agriculture accurately represent you, your communities, and your industry," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "For every 158 people in America there is one farm. I urge you to take action today and respond to the Census – your country is counting on the information to help ensure a continued supply of food, fiber and fuel for generations to come."

New NCDA&CS Market News report will help farmers track fertilizer and diesel fuel costs

RALEIGH -- A new report from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumers Services State and Federal Market News Service will help farmers track fertilizer and diesel fuel costs -- two significant production expenses. The production cost report will be released each Friday.
“The data is collected from various dealers to compile a price range and average in order to protect the anonymity of individual dealers,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With the planting season under way, this information will be especially timely for growers.”
Growers will find prices for six different types of fertilizer or soil amendments, along with information on diesel fuel. The report can be found on the Market News website at http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/mktnews/RA_GR210.TXT.

The goal of the Market News Service is to provide members of the agriculture industry with information to assist them with making business decisions. Information provided  can assist producers with financial planning, assist insurance companies with insurance claim settlements and benefit other members of the industry.

Secretary Vilsack Launches USDA "StrikeForce" Initiative in North Carolina
 
RALEIGH - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will launch its "StrikeForce" initiative in 10 additional states, including North Carolina.   The primary goal of the StrikeForce initiative is to increase partnership with rural communities and leverage community resources in targeted, persistent poverty areas. Vilsack noted that through the StrikeForce initiative, USDA will do more to partner with local and state governments and community organizations on projects that promote economic development and job creation.
 
"During my travels across the country, I've heard mayors and other community leaders say they have a hard time competing for USDA loan and grant programs. They have a plan to develop a new business or create jobs in their regions, but they lack development capital and they view our application and review processes as a barrier," said Vilsack. "StrikeForce changes that. By increasing outreach and technical assistance to communities, we can serve as better partners and help better leverage resources." 

TURN DEER PROBLEMS INTO PROFIT
 
 North Carolina row crop farmers lose more than $30 million each year because of crop damage caused by deer.  Farmers Manage Deer, a two-year program developed by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and sponsored by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, aims to help farmers both reduce row crop damage and offset this loss.
 
Do you:
 
Suffer lost crop yield and/or have to replant your row crops because of deer damage?
Have to pay others to shoot deer in the spring;
Use your valuable time and resource to handle deer depredation yourself?
 Did you know that:
One doe harvested in the fall can mean three less deer in your fields in the spring - when your crops are most vulnerable?

FSA State Office Announces 45th General Sign-Up for the Conservation Reserve Program
 
April 18, 2013 — Bladen County Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced today that the Bladen County FSA will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up beginning May 20 and ending on June 14.  
 
It continues to be the goal of FSA to ensure that CRP is used to address the most critical resource issues.  In 2012, many states experienced the worst drought in 60 years.  CRP protected environmentally sensitive lands from washing or blowing away.  It gave ranchers extra grazing land when they needed it.  There will be strong competition to enroll or re-enroll acres into CRP, so Bladen County producers are encouraged to maximize their environmental benefits and make sure their offers are cost-effective. 
 
In addition to erosion control, CRP provides significant water quality benefits including reduced nutrients and sediment loadings and adverse consequences associated with floods as well as expanded and enhanced wildlife habitat.
 
Currently, about 27 million acres are enrolled in CRP nationwide.  There are 2,269 acres enrolled in Bladen County.  CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them safeguard environmentally sensitive land. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and enhance wildlife habitat.  Contracts on an estimated 3.3 million acres of CRP are set to expire on Sept. 30, 2013.  121 of those acres are in Bladen County.  Producers with expiring contracts or producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP.
 
Producers that are accepted in the sign-up can receive cost-share assistance for planting covers and receive an annual rental payment for the length of the contract (10-15 years). Producers also are encouraged to look into CRP’s other enrollment opportunities offered on a continuous, non-competitive, sign-up basis.  Continuous sign-ups often provide additional financial assistance.  Those sign-up dates will be announced later.
 
For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit your local FSA county office or www.fsa.usda.gov.  

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
Coverage for Bladen County Farmers and Producers
  
The Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to Bladen County producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to a natural disaster. 
 
Eligible producers must apply for coverage of non-insurable crops using Form CCC-471, and pay the applicable service fee at the FSA office where their farm records are maintained.   The application and service fee must be filed by the sales closing date.  Since sales closing dates vary by crop, contact the Bladen County FSA office for the applicable date for your crops.