USDA announced on February 3 a Planting Transferability Pilot Project in seven states. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the new pilot project will permit producers in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin to plant such vegetables as cucumbers, green peas, lima beans, pumpkins, snap beans, sweet corn, or tomatoes for processing on base acres under the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP).

"This program offers farmers in these seven states opportunities to diversify crop production and better use their base acres. It's an important step in implementing the 2008 Farm Bill, providing farmers with additional sources of revenue, and supporting the production of healthy fruits and vegetables," he says.

Authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, the Planting Transferability Pilot Project (PTPP) allows producers to plant approved fruits or vegetables for processing on a farm's base acres; these include cucumbers, green peas, lima beans, pumpkin, snap beans, sweet corn or tomatoes. Without the PTPP, planting these crops on base acres would be prohibited. Base acres on a farm will be temporarily reduced each year on an acre-for-acre basis, for each base acre planted with an approved fruit or vegetable on that farm. The approved states and acreages are:

State Acres
Illinois 9,000
Indiana 9,000
Iowa 1,000
Michigan 9,000
Minnesota 34,000
Ohio 4,000
Wisconsin 9,000

Eligible participants must agree to produce one of the approved crops for processing and to provide the county FSA office with a copy of the contract between the producer and processing plant. Participants must agree to produce the crop as part of a program of crop rotation on the farm to achieve agronomic, pest and disease management benefits, and to provide disposition evidence of the crop. Participants must complete form CCC-749 (available at www.fsa.usda.gov) and file it with their county FSA office.

The sign-up period for the PTPP began Feb. 3, 2009, and will end March 2, 2009. USDA will not accept applications filed after that date. For more information on PTPP or other farm programs, visit your local USDA Service Center or the Farm Service Agency Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov.