Continuous certification option for perennial forage

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers with perennial forage crops of an option to report their acreage once, without having to report that acreage in subsequent years, as long as there are no applicable changes on the farm. Interested producers can select the continuous certification option after USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) certifies their acreage report.

“FSA’s continuous certification option simplifies future acreage reporting of perennial crops, and it can also help streamline the application process for many of our farm programs, including disaster assistance programs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “For example, when persistent drought conditions over the past year affected livestock producers in the West and Great Plains, producers who had previously filed a continuous acreage report were able to benefit from a streamlined application process for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program.”

An acreage report documents a crop

Seed Right the First Time

grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses, including perennial crops like mixed forage, birdsfoot trefoil, chicory/radicchio, kochia (prostrata), lespedeza, perennial peanuts and perennial grass varieties. To access many USDA programs, producers must file an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planting acreage.

The perennial crop continuous certification process requires a producer to initially complete an acreage report certifying the perennial crop acreage. The producer may select the continuous certification option any time after the crop is certified. Once the continuous certification option is selected, the certified acreage will roll forward annually and does not require additional action on the producer’s part in subsequent years unless the acreage report changes.

Once an producer selects continuous certification, then continuous certification is appliable to all fields on the farm for the specific crop, crop type and intended use. If continuous certification is selected by any producers sharing in the crop, then the continuous certification is appliable to fields in which the producer has a share for the specific crop, crop type and intended use.

IDENTIFY BLOCKAGES & DIAGNOSE SEED DELIVERY ISSUES TO PREVENT SKIPS & YIELD LOSS WITH THE INDUSTRY’S BEST FLOW MONITORING SOLUTION

Say goodbye to dust-covered optical sensors. Recon Blockage Plus, the next generation of reliable flow monitoring technology is the industry’s only acoustic blockage monitoring system designed to improve precision in every pass. Upgraded with a wired connection to the ECU for improved connectivity, the Recon Blockage Plus acoustic sensor detects blockages and reduced seed flow instantly - preventing skips and increasing yield.

“Currently less than half of the 336.5 million acres of perennial forage is being reported using the continuous certification process,” Ducheneaux said. “Producers can help streamline the reporting process by selecting continuous certification after filing their crop acreage report.”

Producers can opt out of continuous certification at any time. The continuous certification will terminate automatically if a change in the farming operation occurs.

How to File a Report

To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide:

Crop and crop type or variety.

Intended use of the crop.

Number of acres of the crop.

Map with approximate boundaries for the crop.

Planting date(s).

Planting pattern, when applicable.

Producer shares.

Irrigation practice(s).

Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable.

Other information as required.

More Information

Producers can contact their local FSA office to see if their crops are eligible for continuous certification or to make an appointment. Producers can make an appointment to report acres by contacting their local USDA Service Center. #####

If the devil is knocking at your door, let Jesus answer.

Canola market starts the new year strong

Canola prices jumped on the first trading day of the new year as concerns about dry weather in Argentina continue to mount, even though weekend rains sparked some liquidation in other oilseeds and grains. Prices have firmed as the weather in Argentina has been the driest in over 30 years. Crop estimates for Argentina continue to be cut by analysts. However, weak crude oil price action on January 4 caused weakness across the entire ag sector, leading to longs exiting the markets.

Canola prices have increased in the last month, but remain in a tight trading range between $800/MT and $900/MT.

The USDA, in its latest Oilseed Crushings Report, said 180,750 tons of canola seeds were crushed in the U.S. for oil in November, down from 208,459 tons in October, but up from 160,000 tons or 12.5% from November 2021. Total canola oil stocks remained strong at 170,871 tons at the end of November. In Canada, the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA) reported that canola crush for the month of November was 877,405 MT, also up 12% from the same period in 2021.

Market analysts indicate that at the current usage rates of canola in North America, the market will run out of canola before the end of the marketing year, suggesting that either crush or exports will have to be reduced along the way this spring. Exports will be the first to be cut. The oil value represents 88% of the crush value in canola and crush margins remain very strong, suggesting crushers have more pricing power than exporters.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported in the latest Monthly Biofuels Update that a record 166 million pounds of canola oil was used in biofuel production in October. Higher amounts are expected in coming months and this data will be watched closely.

The March ICE canola contract finished at $869/MT on January 4, lower on the day but up $12/MT in the last two weeks and up $28/MT since December 1. The May canola contract ended at $866/MT, down $1.20/MT on the day, but also up $12/MT in the last two weeks and up $22/MT since December 1.

As of January 4, prices at nearby crush plants ranged from $28.24 to $30.40/cwt. for January deliveries and $29.09 to $30.40 for Feb and Mar deliveries, up $.40 - $.50 in the last two weeks.

NDSU will host a Getting it Right in Canola Production virtual meeting on March 9. Getting It Right is an annual crop production conference featuring the latest research-based production information presented by NDSU specialists. Canola growers can go to northerncanola.com to register for the virtual conference.

35 Yearling Bulls

Sell online through SC Online Sales. Check the listing at: www.sconlinesales.com Private treaty bulls will be available beginning March 15th.

Sell online through SC Online Sales. Check the listing at: www.sconlinesales.com Private treaty bulls will be available beginning March 15th

We will be offering a good selection of Maine-Anjou, Maine Angus and MaineTainer bulls for your evaluation. Please stop by the ranch anytime to look through this exciting group of cattle. We look forward to hearing from you. Your

We

Trader's Dispatch will be March 1st.

Phone us at (406) 271-5533

Tractor For Sale

International 1066 turbo with 2350 loader. 540/1000 PTO, 2 dual function remotes, 3 new tires, 1 at 80%, air conditioning works, heater is capped. Tractor was split 3 years ago, new clutch and all linkage replaced. Needs seat and batteries, 6045 hours

$15,000 obo

Phone Taylor at (406) 868-8935, Simms, MT

Montana ranchers compete at national level in Young Farmers & Ranchers

Competitive Events

www.centrol-llc.com

Contact Centrol for all your soil sampling needs for the 2023 season!

Standard Analysis, Complete Analysis or NutriScan™ Analysis.

0-6 inch, 6-24 inch and 24-42 inch depths

Composite or Variable Rate Sampling with prescription writing.

3 GPS guided trucks available. Take the guesswork out of your fertility program with soil sampling from Centrol. Independently owned serving the Golden Triangle since 1985.

Jeff Farkell CPAg/CCA

406-788-4875

Joel Farkell CCA 406-581-6243 centrol_llc@outlook.com

Balewagons & Retrievers

An Alder rancher and couple from Choteau had the opportunity to compete in the Young Farmers & Ranchers Competitive Events during the 104th American Farm Bureau Convention which runs through January 11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Mark Boyd, who had won the Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet in November, spent Saturday talking about agricultural issues with other young producers, ranging from supply chain issues to ways young agriculturalists can begin or remain in agricultural production. The Discussion Meet, which is open to Farm Bureau members age 18-35, is meant to simulate a committee meeting with ideas discussed and solutions developed.

“Competing at the national level allowed me to visit with some of the other competitors and learn about the diversity of other farms and ranches across the country,” said Boyd. “During the competition, I had to keep in mind that although we in Montana might all agree on an issue, people in different parts of the country have different perspectives.”

Haying Equipment

Niagara 14-ft. metal shear, 3/16 capacity, very good condition, 3 phase. $3500

1979 International cabover grain truck, 20-ft. box and hoist with tarp, Cummins engine with 13 speed transmission. $13,500

John Deere 650 grain cart.$1500

Boyd said he prepared at the national level by contacting prior MFBF Discussion Meet winners to learn what worked and what were the challenges in competing at the national meeting.

2006 Peterbilt 385 semi truck, Cummins ISM370 engine, 13 speed transmission $18,500