Stanly County Soil & Water SUMMER EDITION Conservation ...

[Pages:12]Stanly County Soil & Water Conservation District

SUMMER EDITION JULY 2018

Conservation Information

Terry L. Blalock Farms 2018 Conservation Farm Family of the Year

Agri-Civic Center 26032-C Newt Road Albemarle, NC 28001

704-986-3059

The NC Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts' Outstanding Conservation Farm Family award recognizes farmers and farm families who are actively taking the initiative to implement sound, innovative and cost-effective conservation techniques, and are actively involved in conservation education. This year the award goes to Terry L. Blalock Farms for outstanding stewardship of North Carolina's natural resources through conservation, education and implementation of best management conservation practices.

District Board Members Terry Blalock Chairman

Curtis Furr Vice-Chairman

Jody Smith

Treasurer

Aaron Burleson Supervisor

Chester Lowder Supervisor

Terry and his son, Eric Blalock, grow cotton, corn, wheat, and soybeans in Stanly and Anson County. He also raises beef cattle. Eric is the fourth generation to farm the land since his great-grandfather started farming in 1940. Terry and his wife Becky reside at 4691 Gaddys Ferry Road in Cottonville. Eric and family also live in Cottonville at 4940 Gaddys Ferry Road.

District Board Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 a.m. at the Stanly County Agri Civic Center. All meetings

are open to the public.

District and NRCS Staff Amanda Kirby District Conservation Tech. Rita Little Admin/Education Coordinator Charles Dunevant Soil Conservationist Lin Taylor Civil Engineer Technician

NC Envirothon 2018

Yellow Populars are "Idaho Bound" for National Envirothon!

Students from across the state converged in Alamance County on April 27-28 to participate in the 2018 State Envirothon. Close to 500 middle and high s chool students, in teams of five, competed at the event. A qualifying competition took place at Catawba College in Salisbury earlier in March.

In the high school division, the "Yellow Populars" team proudly took first place in the state competition. The team will represent North Carolina in the NCF National Envirothon in Pocatello, Idaho on July 22-28. The homeschool team is affiliated with the Stanly Montgomery Home School Association. Advisors for the team are Susanne Burns and Angie Stiller.

Envirothon is the most widely recognized hands-on environmental education program in the nation. Students immerse themselves in a year-long learning process that combines in-class curriculum with handson field experiences, facilitated by resource professionals such as soil scientists, aquatic biologists, foresters and wildlife specialists. This intense training culminates in a competition where teams are tested in five subject areas; Soils/Land Use, Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Wildlife, and Current Environmental Issues. Test scores determine winning placements. The Envirothon competition is coordinated by Soil and Water Conservation Districts and sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

The team is eager to travel to Pocatello, Idaho. The competition will be held at Idaho State University and will host winning teams from participating states and Canadian provinces. They will compete for recognition by demonstrating their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. Opening ceremonies will be Sunday, July 22th with various activities planned for the teams each day. In addition to multiple training sessions, the teams will enjoy outdoor activities such as wagon rides, native American dancers, early American square dancing, and a Western BBQ. While in Idaho, they will visit the Soda Springs Geyser. The week will end with an Awards Dinner on Friday, July 27th.

Yellow Populars HS team Front row? Susanne Burns (Advisor), Malory Rogers, Angie Stiller (Advisor),

Amber Stiller, Lexie Burns. Back row ? Tyler Desosiers (Alternate), Erik Conrad, Maddy Davis.

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Summer Edition July 2018

Erosion Control Materials

For more information contact Stanly SWCD 704-986-3059

rlittle@

STANLY

Straw Double Net 8 ft. x 112.5 ft.

$28.00 each

Excelsior Single Net 4 ft. x 180 ft.

$38.00 each

Straw Wattle 12 in. x 10 ft.

Wood Stake 1.5 in. x 24 in. Bundle of 25

$25.00 each

.75 each $16.00 bundle

Sod Staples 6" 1000/box $30.00 box

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Summer Edition July 2018

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Summer Edition July 2018

Students Attend Resource Conservation Workshop

Approximately 100 rising high school juniors and seniors from across the state converged on NC State University on June 24-29 to embark on a week of intense instruction. The instruction, both classroom and field work, was to teach about natural resources and their management in today's global environment. The Resource Conservation Workshop (RCW) is a unique opportunity for accelerated study and hands-on conservation activities. Students are required to submit an application and are chosen for participation by the Stanly Soil & Water Conservation District. Students are housed in NC State University campus dormitories under the guidance of live-in counselors. Two local businesses most graciously donated funds for sponsorship of two students who were selected to attend. The cost of registration, meals and travel is $600 per

student. We applaud First Bank and Uwharrie Bank for making this workshop possible for

Amelia Martin and Erika Norris.

Amelia Martin, daughter of Ward and Felicia Martin of Locust, is

a rising junior. "Since I was young, I have had a great interest in the outdoors, specifically in trees and plant life. I would like to pursue a career in plant science and/or biology." Amelia plans to attend NC State University upon graduating high school.

"The RCW was a great experience and learning opportunity for me. I learned so much about conservation, and I now have a better idea of the career path I want to take." Amelia Martin

Erika Norris, daughter of Steven and Krista Norris of Stanfield, is a

rising junior. "As a young child in a family of ten, I always enjoyed the outdoor experiences I gathered by playing in a ten acre forest with my siblings. Dabbling in the outdoors led to a greater appreciation for the environment, but it was only in 9th grade that, because of an environmental science class and competing in Envirothon, I really began to comprehend the complexity of nature and the need to conserve it."

"Being able to point out best management practices

that could be implemented on surrounding farmland

gave me a new degree of competence and desire to im-

prove the world."

Erika Norris

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Your Community Bank

Member FDIC

Summer Edition July 2018

2018 Acreage Reporting Dates

In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline.

July 16, 2018 is the deadline to report corn, cotton, soybeans, grain sorghum, CRP, others crop, for Stanly County.

The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting dates:

If the crop has not been planted by the above acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.

If a producer acquires additional acreage after the above acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.

If a perennial forage crop is reported with the intended use of "cover only," "green manure," "left standing," or "seed," then the acreage must be reported by July 15th.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.

File a Notice of Loss for Failed Acres and Prevented Planting

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers to report prevented planting and failed acres in order to establish or retain FSA program eligibility for some programs.

Producers should report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were prevented from planting. Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

If a producer is unable to report the prevented planting acreage within the 15 calendar days following the final planting date, a late-filed report can be submitted. Late-filed reports will only be accepted if FSA conducts a farm visit to assess the eligible disaster condition that prevented the crop from being planted. A measurement service fee will be charged.

Additionally, producers with failed acres should also use form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, to report failed acres.

Producers of hand-harvested crops must notify FSA of damage or loss through the administrative County Office within 72 hours of the date of damage or loss first becomes apparent. This notification can be provided by filing a CCC-576, email, fax or phone. Producers who notify the County Office by any method other than by filing the CCC-576 are still required to file a CCC-576, Notice of Loss, within the required 15 calendar days.

For losses on crops covered by the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), producers must file a Notice of Loss within 15 days of the occurrence of the disaster or when losses become apparent. Producers must timely file a Notice of Loss for failed acres on all crops including grasses.

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Summer Edition July 2018

USDA to Help Producers Prepare for Addition of Seed Cotton to Two Key Safety Net Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending acreage history and yield reports to agricultural producers with generic base acres covered by the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 amended the 2014 Farm Bill, adding seed cotton as a covered commodity under the ARC and PLC programs. This week, FSA will start sending information on current generic base acres, yields and 2008-2012 planting history.

The updates are an important part of preparing agricultural producers to make decisions on allocating generic basic acres and updating yields for seed cotton. This summer, producers will have an opportunity to allocate their generic base acres and update their seed cotton yield. All producers electing to participate in either the ARC or PLC program will be required to make a onetime, unanimous and irrevocable election, choosing between price protection and county revenue protection for the 2018 crop year for seed cotton only. Producers who elected ARC with the individual farm option will continue with that option since that election is applicable to all base acre on the farm. The final step to participate requires producers with farms with seed cotton base acres to sign contracts for ARC or PLC for 2018 this summer.

The anticipated timeline is: June 29: Producers are mailed letters notifying them of current generic base acres and yields and 2008 to 2012 planting history. July: An online decision tool for ARC and PLC becomes available. Producers have opportunity to update yields and allocate generic base acres for ARC and PLC. Late July: ARC and PLC one-time elections occur for seed cotton. Late July: ARC and PLC sign-up for 2018 starts for farms with seed cotton base acres.

Breaking New Ground

Agricultural producers are reminded to consult with FSA and NRCS before breaking out new ground for production purposes as doing so without prior authorization may put a producer's federal farm program benefits in jeopardy. This is especially true for land that must meet Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions.

Producers with HEL determined soils are required to apply tillage, crop residue and rotational requirements as specified in their conservation plan.

Producers should notify FSA as a first point of contact prior to conducting land clearing or drainage type projects to ensure the proposed actions meet compliance criteria such as clearing any trees to create new cropland, then these areas will need to be reviewed to ensure such work will not risk your eligibility for benefits.

Landowners and operators complete the form AD-1026 - Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification to identify the proposed action and allow FSA to determine whether a referral to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for further review is necessary.

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Summer Edition July 2018

USDA Reopens Application Period for Producers Recovering from Cattle Loss, Other Disasters

Signup Begins June 4 for Livestock Indemnity Program and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting disaster assistance program applications on June 4 from agricultural producers who suffered livestock, honeybees, farm-raised fish and other losses due to natural disasters.

USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reopening the application period for two disaster assistance programs in response to statutory changes made by Congress earlier this year.

Beginning June 4, FSA will accept new applications for losses for calendar year 2017 or 2018 filed under the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) or Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). Producers who already submitted applications and received decisions on their applications for these years do not need to file again, but they can reapply if they have additional losses or their application was disapproved because it was filed late.

In February, Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which made several changes to these two disaster programs, including:

Removing ELAP's $20 million fiscal year funding cap, enabling FSA to pay producers' 2017 applications in full and their 2018 applications as soon as they are approved. Removing the per-person and legal entity annual program payment limitation of $125,000 for LIP for 2017 and future years. (The income limitation applies as it did before, meaning producers with an adjusted gross income of more than $900,000 are not eligible.)

Changing LIP to allow producers to receive a payment for injured livestock that are sold for a reduced price due to an eligible event. Previously, the program only covered financial loss for livestock death above normal mortality.

Producers interested in LIP or ELAP should contact their local USDA service center. To apply, producers will need to provide verifiable and reliable production records and other information about their operation.

Drought, wildfires and other disasters continue to impact farmers and ranchers, and LIP and ELAP are two of many programs available through USDA to help producers recover. Learn more at disaster.

Reporting Solar Panels Constructed on Cropland

Producers who have solar panels constructed on their farms should notify the local Farm Service Agency office. Any area that is no longer considered suitable as cropland (producing annual or perennial crops) should be designated in FSA's records and aerial photography maps. When base acres on a farm are converted to a non-agricultural commercial or industrial use, the total base acres on the farm must be reduced accordingly. Non-cropland areas used for solar panels might impact payments calculated using base acres, such as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) annual rental payments.

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Summer Edition July 2018

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