Jim Mintert recently said what many of you have figured out if you've began dealing with decisions on the 2014 Farm Bill program: The 2014 Farm Bill represents the biggest change to federal farm policy in a generation.
Related: Get Farm Service Agency answers to lingering farm bill questions
While he didn't say it, others would tell you it's also the biggest challenge to understanding farm policy in a generation.
Purdue will host a free farm bill decision webinar on Monday, Feb. 16, beginning at 9 a.m. EST. Mintert, an ag economist and director of the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture, will host the webinar. Michael Langemeier, associate director of the Center, and Mike Boehlje, also a Purdue ag economist, will serve on a panel with Mintert during the presentation.
The webinar is designed to help you evaluate your 2014 Farm Bill choices. You will have a chance to speak directly with Purdue experts, sources say.
Even the title of the bill is confusing – it's 2015 and the 2014 Farm Bill is just getting underway. If you're making changes in base allocation or yields, you must complete them at your county FSA office by Feb. 27. You have the entire month of March to elect which program you want to participate in – either ARC County, ARC-Individual or PAC.
Related: Farm bill program choices must be made soon
Actual enrollment (or "sign-up) is done year by year. It will begin in late spring or early summer. Exact enrollment dates have not been announced. Enrollment for both 2014 and 2015 will be held simultaneously.
While it may not sound that confusing, the devil is in the details, and there are lots of details in this bill. Which program you might elect depends on a number of factors. You will make that election at the FSA office by March 31. That is what this webinar is designed to do – help you understand the program, and compare and sort through the options.
Visit the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture website for details on how to register for the webinar.