The Farm Service Agency of the U. S. Department of Agriculture is reminding producers that deadlines to apply for some programs are right around the corner.

Montana FSA Acting State Executive Director Dick Deschamps said he wanted to remind Montana farmers, ranchers and landowners of the deadlines, so they can contact their FSA county office to apply “before these opportunities pass. ”

Friday, March 30, is the deadline to apply for Marketing Assistance Loans or Loan Deficiency Payments for 2011 crop year barley, canola, crambe, flaxseed, honey, oats, rapeseed, wheat and sesame seed crops.

Another opportunity closes next week. Friday, April 6, is the deadline for interested landowners and operators to offer bids in the four-week Conservation Reserve Program signup, which opened on March 12.

Operators have a little more time to apply for some other FSA programs.

May 31 is the final date producers can apply for loans/LDPs for 2011 crop-year corn, dry peas, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, rice, safflower seed, chickpeas, soybeans and sunflower seed crops.

Sign-up for agricultural producers and entities to enroll cropland in the 2012 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program and 2012 Average Crop Revenue Election Programs began on Jan. 23 and ends June 1.

Sign-up for the 2010 Crop Disaster Program known as SURE, or Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program, began on Nov. 14, and the deadline to enroll in the program is June 1.

The Conservation Reservation Program haying/grazing periods have been set for 2012 for all farmers and ranchers with Montana land enrolled in CRP.

For managed grazing, the spring grazing period began on March 16 and runs until May 14 and the summer to fall grazing period is July 16 to Sept. 13. Montana's managed haying period is July 16 to Sept. 30.

Producers need to contact the administering FSA county office for prior approval of CRP managed haying and grazing on your land.

For more information about FSA programs, people can contact their local FSA county office, or visit the Montana FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/mt.