09/16/05 DCP signup deadline nears

Idaho producers who missed the June first deadline have until the end of this month to enroll in the Farm Service Agency's Direct and Counter Cyclical Program. Applicants will also have to pay the 100 dollar late filing fee. Idaho FSA state director Wayne Hammon says that DCP contracts must be signed annually for producers to receive benefits for the current year, regardless of changes. The DCP program provides both guaranteed and counter-cyclical payments. HAMMON "The counter cyclical payment is based upon the average market price of the year. In wheat for example we project what the average market price will be and if it's below a certain guaranteed amount producers are entitled to a counter cyclical payment of the difference of those two amounts." If we had those years when the Australians flood the market or the Canadians flood the market with grain and our price went down because of that we now have some type of guarantee in place." Producers do have the option of not participating for 2005. Those who elect not to enroll for this year will retain eligibility to participate in the 2006 program. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott