Sign-up beginning for FSA payment programs

Oct. 1 is the beginning sign-up date for the direct and counter-cyclical program for crop years 2002 and 2003. Payments will be made soon after.

The new farm bill provides for payments to be made to eligible producers of covered commodities for the 2002-07 crop years. Direct and counter-cyclical payments are made to producers with established crop bases and payment yields.

Payment rates for direct payments are established by the new farm bill and are used regardless of market prices. Producers are also eligible for counter-cyclical payments, but those payments are issued only if effective pric...