By Agri-Pulse Staff

© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.

Washington, Oct. 28 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday the states which have met the revenue triggers allowing farmers to earn Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program payments on planted acres of corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, peanuts, lentils, dry peas and upland cotton if the farm also meets the revenue trigger. These ACRE crops are in addition to wheat, barley and oats, which have been previously announced as meeting the revenue triggers in certain states.

“The ACRE program provides financial and risk management advantages to producers, and those who signed up for ACRE in 2009 will receive payments if state and farm revenue criteria are met,” Vilsack said.

Congress established ACRE as part of the 2008 Farm Bill to protect producers from farm market revenue declines. In order for producers to receive ACRE payments, revenue triggers for a commodity must be met on both a state and farm basis. A listing of the states that meet the revenue triggers for the 2009 crops of corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, peanuts, lentils, and dry peas is available at http://go.usa.gov/a5M. Upland cotton eligibility will be added to this list later today. For the list of states which meet the revenue triggers for the 2009 crops of wheat, barley and oats, go to: www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/2009_st_trigger_status.pdf

Check the USDA lists for eligibility, noting that it can be different within states for irrigated and non-irrigated crops. Overall, 27 states are eligible for some types of payments for corn, grain sorghum, or soybeans. Just 13 states qualify for peanuts, lentils, or dry peas, including 8 states not eligible for corn, grain sorghum, or soybeans payments. Upland cotton eligibility is approved for Arkansas, Mississippi and for non-irrigated production in Texas. For all crops, the individual farm must meet eligibility requirements as well.  

States that meet the revenue triggers for other commodities will be determined after the 2009-2010 marketing year average price is published by the National Agricultural Statistical Service. The scheduled publishing dates for the 2009-2010 marketing year average prices are as follows:

  • Large chickpeas, small chickpeas, sunflower seed, canola, flaxseed, mustard seed, rapeseed, safflower, crambe and sesame seed – November 30, 2010

  • Long grain rice, and medium and short grain rice – January 31, 2011

For more information on the ACRE program visit the local FSA office or go to: www.fsa.usda.gov/dcp

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