05/23/05 Signup deadline approaching

Idaho producers who intend to participate in the Farm Service Agency direct or counter cyclical program need to enroll by June first if they want to avoid paying a 100 dollar late fee. State FSA Director Wayne Hammon says producers who don't sign up by June first have until September 30th to enroll as long as they pay the late fee. HAMMON "About 90 percent of the farmers or about 98 percent of the farm ground is enrolled in this program and so most of the producers participate. Last year for example we put out 64 million dollars in direct payments through these contracts." Producers receive a direct payment based on their crop acreage and yield. There is a 40 thousand dollar payment limitation. In the 2002 Farm Bill many Idaho producers sought and got a counter cyclical program to help them when commodity prices drop. Hammon say fortunately they haven't had to us it. HAMMON "For the commodities that we cover here in Idaho the price has held up pretty high. We're thinking of maybe a small barley payment or something like that. No in Idaho it really has not amounted to very much money." Voice of Idaho Agriculture