FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Roger Betz
October 29. 2008District Extension Farm Management Educator
MSU Extension – Calhoun County
  (269) 781-0784



2008 Farm Bill Producer Educational Sessions Planned

The 2008 Farm Bill has 15 titles and significant impact to producers. Like the 2002 Farm Bill, commodity crop producers have a choice to make whether to participate in the new ACRE program or to stay with the old DP (Direct Payment) and CCP (Counter Cyclical Payment) program.

There are new programs that will benefit fruit and vegetable farms including the new SURE program which is Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments. SURE is targeted to all farm types and provides financial revenue in the triggering event of count declared disasters or if a farm operation has a yield loss greater than 50%. Payments for SURE can be as high as 90% of “expected revenue” depending on crop insurance coverage levels and other factors.

A series of informational meetings will take place in southwestern Michigan, beginning in November and running through January to help answer questions and explain the farm bill and the new ACRE and SURE programs. The meetings will be offered to the public at no charge, and will take place from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Resource people include the local Farm Service Agency County Executive Director and staff along with MSU Extension Educators including Roger Betz, Michigan State University District Extension Farm Management Educator. No registration is required; however, seating may be limited due to the anticipated number of producers interested in learning more about the bill. Please mark your calendar for the nearest location. We hope to see you there!

All programs are 6:30-9:00 p.m. at all locations.

DATE COUNTY ADDRESS
Nov 10 Eaton Eaton County Fairgrounds
Kardel Hall		 1025 S. Cochran Ave, Charlotte
Nov 11 Branch Branch County Fairgrounds
4-H Cabin		 262 Sprague St, Coldwater
Nov 17 HillsdaleHillsdale County Fairgrounds
4-H Bldg.		 115 S. Broad St., Hillsdale
Nov 18 Barry Mainstreet Savings Bank
Community Room (lower level, rear of bldg)		 629 W. State Street, Hastings
Nov 19 Calhoun Calhoun County Bldg.
3rd Floor, Commissioner’s Board Room		 315 W. Green Street, Marshall
Nov 20 Kent Grand Rapids Township Hall
(across from Meijer’s, north of I-96)		 1836 E. Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids
Dec 1 Berrien Jordan Tatter Conference Center
Southwest Michigan Research & Extension Center		 1791 Hillandale Rd., Benton Harbor
Dec 3 Cass Cass District Library 319 M-62 North, Cassopolis
Dec 4 St. Joseph St. Joseph County ISD
(next to Glen Oaks Community College)		 62445 Shimmel Rd., Centreville
Dec 10 Ingham Ingham County Fairgrounds
Community Room		 700 E. Ash St., Mason
Dec 11 Kalamazoo & VanBuren M-Tech Auditorium 7107 Elm Valley Dr., Kalamazoo
Dec 16 Allegan Allegan Human Services Bldg.
Zimmerman Meeting Room		 3255 122nd Ave., Allegan
Dec 18 Ionia MSU Extension Office
Conference Room
(new ofc location – M-66 @ old State Police post across from Wal-Mart		 50 Sprague Rd., Ionia
Jan 15 ’09 Jackson To Be Determined
For information, call the Jackson FSA @ 517-789-7718		 (TBD)
Jan 29 ’09 Ottawa Fillmore Complex
Main Conference Room		 12220 Fillmore St., West Olive

###

MSU Extension is an Affirmative-Action Equal-Opportunity Institution. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

Back to News Releases