Staff Report

Producers have until June 1 to sign up for the 2005 crop Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program (DCP), said Melanie Lassiter, executive director for Suffolk’s USDA office.

&uot;I encourage producers to use our time-saving online DCP service to meet the June 1 deadline, or they can apply at any USDA Service Center or Farm Service Agency County office.&uot;

USDA will accept late-filed DCP applications through Sept. 30, 2005, if accompanied by a $100 late fee.

Producers will be unable to apply for 2005 DCP payments after Sept. 30, 2005.

Sign-up for the 2005 DCP began on Oct. 1, 2004.

The 2002 Farm Bill requires that producers sign annual contracts through 2007 to participate in DCP.

Producers may opt out of participating in the program in any year if they choose.

Producers can sign-up online for DCP at http://www.-fsa.usda.gov/egov/edcp_default.htm.

To access the service, producers must have an active USDA eAuthentication Level 2 account, which requires filling out an online registration form at http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov, followed by a visit to the local FSA office for identity verification.The online service allows producers to choose 2005 DCP payment options, assign crop shares and sign and submit their contracts electronically from any computer with Internet access.

Call 539-9265 for more details.