Thanksgiving is just around the corner and harvest is still a few weeks from completion.

Soybeans are 95 percent complete, while corn harvest is probably just over 50 percent complete.

Harvest is a little later than normal as producers waited for crops to dry down before beginning.

Once producers have their crop in storage, a commodity loan could be an option to provide operating capital and marketing flexibility. The interest rate is 1.125 percent for the month of November.

For other producers that take advantage of the commodity loan program, it is used as a tax planning tool to either increase revenue or increase expenses.

Producers that feed their grain are also eligible for commodity loans. When the commodity is being fed, a repayment schedule is prepared according to the amount of grain being fed monthly.

Commodity loans are processed usually within three business days of the date of request. This is probably the simplest loan program administered by USDA.

Some of the requirements include:

• Eligibility — Reported crop production on any farm. Conservation compliance rules do apply

• Terms — Matures in nine months and proceeds are deposited directly into your account

• Repayment — Payments can be made at any time during the loan period before selling or feeding

• Collateral — The grain pledged for loan is the collateral, it may not be fed or sold without first repaying a specific quantity or obtaining a marketing authorization

• Storage — Grain must be stored in an approved structure for on-farm storage. Warehouse stored grains are also eligible if stored at an approved government warehouse.

To summarize, for those producers that are storing grain for sale later in the year or for feeding purposes, commodity loans provide an option to consider when obtaining operating capital for crop inputs.

Commodity loans are popular for a variety of reasons.

Since the interest rate is low, producers could maximize early order discounts by paying for seed, fertilizer and crop protection products now.

Interested producers should contact the FSA office for more information.

Reminder to return election ballots

Farmers and farm owners in Local Administrative Area Number 1, which encompasses the following townships in Butler County — Mercer, Slippery Rock, Marion, Venango, Allegheny, Parker, Washington, Brady, Worth, Cherry, Clay, Concord and Fairview, along with LAA Number 5, encompassing southern Beaver County and all of Allegheny County, are reminded to return their ballot for the county committee election by Dec. 1.

Anyone who did not receive a ballot and resides in the respective areas should contact the FSA office and request a replacement ballot.

The FSA county committee system is unique among government agencies, because it allows producers to make important decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs. All eligible farmers and ranchers, especially minorities and women, are urged to get involved and make a difference in their communities by voting in this year’s election.

Committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on disaster and conservation payments, commodity price support loans and payments, establishment of allotments and yields, producer appeals, employing FSA county executive directors and other local issues. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.

Voters are reminded to sign the label on the inside flap of the return envelope to be considered a valid ballot. These labels are removed before opening of the ballots to ensure a private vote.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.