Workshops help farmers analyze new ACRE program

Washington Ag March 6, 2009 WSU Extension is offering a series of workshops this month to help farmers analyze whether they should participate in the USDA’s new ACRE program created in the 2008 Farm Bill. One thing farmers give up if they choose ACRE is 20 percent of their direct payments. Tom Platt WSU Area Extension Educator, who has developed a spread sheet calculator to help producers analyze the impact of ACRE enrollment of their farm’s revenue, says producers shouldn’t reject ACRE out of hand. Platt: “There is no question in my mind farmers need to do the calculations. Under some scenarios ACRE will pay for itself the first year. Under others it is marginal whether that will occur but if it still gives you revenue protection for the four year period of time, it might be something worth looking at.� Platt will explain the spreadsheet calculator for ACRE at the workshops. The workshops all begin at 10:30 a.m. and run to 12:30. Registration is required with a cost of $20 for the first member of a farm operation, then five dollars for each additional person. Registration includes the spreadsheet calculator analysis. Mail the registration to Lincoln County Extension P O Box 399 Davenport, Washington 99122. There are workshops at the WAWG meeting room in Ritzville Monday March 9th and Monday March 23rd. In Davenport at the Lincoln County Public Works meeting room Friday March 13th, March 17th and March 27; and at the Spokane County Extension Center March 19th , March 25th and March 31st. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.