A tough year makes for a busy year.

We just turned the calendar, but Farm Service Agency State Director Aaron Krauter says their offices are still working on 2009.

The 2008 farmbill changed history bringing a permanent disaster program.

Krauter says that's exactly what producers need after trying to survive this past spring.

He says the FSA state office is expecting to pay 30 million dollars in Livestock Indemnity Program payments. Another 26 million for 2008 Livestock Forage Program payments.

And he expects Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments, otherwise known as SURE to reach 400 million dollars.

Krauter says the new programs are bringing in a record number of producers.

(Aaron Krauter / FSA State Director) "We are seeing producers come into the FSA office that we didn't know existed before. They are primarily livestock producers, they are not the traditional grain farmer. They are that cow calf operation that grazes some grass and some alfalfa and has some pasture and maybe does a little feed grain on the side, maybe. Those people are coming in because they can see they had a bad year in 2008."


Krauter also wants producers to be aware of a new change.

He says starting January 2010 for producers to be eligible for regular program payments they must submit a consent form with the IRS.

Those forms are avilable at your local USDA Service Center or online. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list