Training session offered farmers on new Farm Bill options

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Louisiana Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Craig A. McCain on Friday announced that the Louisiana FSA, along with Ag Center personnel from both Louisiana State University and Southern University, have developed training materials to conduct and present a series of in-person training opportunities for the benefit of Louisiana’s producers regarding the use of Web-based decision tools and the ARCPLC Programs enacted by the 2014 Farm Bill. The regional meeting in your area will be held Monday, Oct. 27 at the Opelousas Civic Center, 1638 Creswell Lane Extension, Suite 2, Opelousas, LA from 8 A.M. to 12 P.M.
"This training will establish a critical link between the 2014 Farm Bill and producers by providing a greater understanding of available program options as well as use of Web-based decision tools," said McCain. "As attendance capacity is limited to 675 people, I recommend arriving early. If we are unable to accommodate all interested persons, please know that this is only the beginning of the educational process. Additional local meetings will be held in the weeks to come. All producers will be afforded adequate time and opportunity to be educated about and to make program decisions."
Programs to be covered or discussed because of their connection to covered programs include:
• Base reallocation;
• Yield updates;
• Price Loss Coverage (PLC);
• Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) including individual - or county-level ARC coverage;
• ARCPLC Implications related to participation in the Supplemental Coverage
Option (SCO) and Stacked Income Protection Plan for Producers of Upland Cotton
(STAX) offered under the Federal crop insurance program.
• Generic base acres
• Election and annual enrollment