UGA Ag Econ (Dr. Adam N. Rabinowitz and Dr. Yangxuan Liu) will be holding joint producer meetings with Farm Service Agency (FSA) focused on the following topics:
- Generic Base Conversion: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 authorizes seed cotton as a covered commodity for the 2018 crop year. Owners of a farm with generic base acres need to reallocate those acres. This section of the meeting will cover:
o An explanation of the program, options, and the process.
o An introduction to decision aids and important issues to consider when choosing conversion of generic base acres and ARC/PLC programs.
- Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP): The 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program is providing disaster payments to agricultural producers to offset losses from hurricanes and wildfires during 2017. This section of the meeting will cover:
o An explanation of the program and how to participate.
o An overview of risk management strategies and alternative coverages.
- Trade related assistance for agricultural producers: The USDA is taking several actions to assist farmers in response to recent retaliatory tariffs. This section of the meeting will cover the following:
o What’s happening with U.S. trade of agricultural products?
o Market Facilitation Program. Who will be receiving payments and explanation of the process.
o Food Purchase and Distribution Program and Trade Promotion Program. Overview of assistance programs to purchase unexpected surplus and develop new export markets.
Regional meetings will be held on September 10-12 at the following locations:
Bainbridge: 9:00-10:30am
Decatur County Extension Office, 1300 E. River Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817
Perry: 2:45-4:15pm
Houston County Extension Office, 801 Main Street, Perry, GA 31069
Statesboro: 9:00-10:30am
Bulloch County Extension Office, 151 Langston Chapel Road, Statesboro, GA 30458
Tifton: 3:00-4:30pm
UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, 15 RDC Road, Tifton, GA 31794
Cartersville: 9:00-10:30am
Bartow County Extension Office, Stiles Auditorium – 320 West Cherokee Avenue, Cartersville, GA 30120
Watkinsville: 3:00-4:30pm
Oconee County Extension Office, Jay Phil Campbell Building, 1420 Experiment Station Road & Government Station Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677