What causes producers and landowners to lose out on USDA benefits? Well, based on my 40 years with USDA, it is not reporting to FSA any changes in ag land ownership and/or land lease changes. It does not matter how many times I write this in a news article, or a USDA gov delivery emailed bulletin, or talk about it.
The primary reason that a producer or landowner misses out on any USDA benefits results when new land is purchased or leased, is no one bothers to tell FSA about it. Which means there is nothing we can do to help someone. It is frustrating when someone new comes into our office and says, “I did not know about this.”
Maybe that is inevitable, but I am going to keep trying to continue to get the word out anyway I can. If you buy ag land or if you lease ag land, contact your local FSA office. If we do not know about you, there is nothing we can do to help you.
Just about every week, we get someone in the office for the first time saying they heard about his from so-and-so. Well, you may have been too late, waiting on so-and-so to tell you about it.
We at Tallahatchie County FSA attempt, with news articles and email bulletins and any other sources of info we can use, to let new owners and new producers who lease land, know about any USDA benefits. But we need your help.
Tell anyone who purchases ag land to contact FSA. Tell any producer who raises row crops or livestock, any landowner, new or otherwise, to contact FSA.
I understand that not everyone gets or reads the county newspaper or has their name and email address posted with the local FSA office. But, let’s face it. Most info for new owners and producers is spread by word of mouth. So, you be the person to tell a new owner or producer about contacting FSA.
We won’t know about them if you don’t tell them.
After a USDA deadline, it is too late.
