DCP enrollment deadline extended through Aug. 3

USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Teresa Lasseter today extended the sign-up deadline for the 2007 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) to August 3, 2007.

Problems with the FSA's webbased computer system caused agency officials to extend the deadline in order to ensure adequate opportunity for all producers to participate in the sign-up. While the signup deadline is extended, the cut-off for participation remains September 30, 2007. Those producers failing to sign up by August 3, 2007, but before September 30, will pay a latefile fee of $100.

Enrollment in DCP for the 2007 contract period began October 1, 2006, and was scheduled to end on June 1, 2007. The extension applies only to the enrollment period, and does not extend the DCP contract period.

DCP provides payments to eligible producers on farms enrolled for the 2002 through 2007 crop years. There are two types of DCP payments - direct payments and counter-cyclical payments. Both are computed using the base acres and payment yields established for the farm. The Farm Se- curity and Rural Investment Act of 2002 authorizes DCP, which is administered by FSA.