The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Act) was enacted into law May 22. The act provides for continuing Direct Counter-cyclical Payments (DCP) for 2008 through 2012. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced the signup period for 2008 DCP that is scheduled to begin June 25, and to continue through September 30.

According to Robert Helmer, county executive director for the Evangeline Parish Farm Service Agency Office, “Although the sign-up has been announced, federal regulation, and program policies and procedures are currently being drafted and developed and will be finalized over the next several months.”

The 2008 DCP shall be administered exactly like the 2007 DCP, except a producer on a farm may not receive DCP payments if the sum of the base acres on the farm is 10 acres or less with exceptions. Exceptions to this provision include farms with less than 10 base acres but that are wholly owned by socially disadvantaged or limited resource farmers or ranchers.

Helmer also explain-ed another change from the 2002 Act is that if an advance counter-cyclical payment is offered, producers will receive only one advance payment that will be issued as soon as practical after completion of the first 180 calendar days of the marketing year.

Producers should contact the Evangeline Parish FSA Office for additional information. Helmer reminds producers additional federal regulations and program policies and procedures are forthcoming.

The Evangeline Parish FSA Office can be reached by telephone at 337-363-6602 ext.two, and is located at 205 Court Street, Ville Platte.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.