A few details are being released on the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, which was extended through Sept. 30 by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.

Many of the commodity, disaster and conservation programs were continued through 2013.

The extended programs include, among others: the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (DCP), the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE), and the Milk Income Loss contract Program (MILC). The Farm Service Agency is preparing the following actions:

• FSA will begin sign-ups for DCP and ACRE for the 2013 crops on Fe. 19. The DCP sign-up period will end Aug. 2; the ACRE sign-up period will end on June 3.

The 2013 DCP and ACRE program provisions are unchanged from 2012, except that all eligible participants in 2013 may choose to enroll in either DCP or ACRE for the 2013 crop year. This means that eligible producers who were enrolled in ACRE in 2012 may elect to enroll in DCP in 2013 or may reenroll in ACRE in 2013 and vice versa.

• All dairy producers’ MILC contracts are automatically extended to Sept. 30. Eligible producers therefore do not need to reenroll in MILC. Specific details regarding certain modifications to MILC will be released soon.

• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) certification can now be completed for FSA and NRCS programs. AGI certifications are required each year of program participation.

FSA will provide producers with information on program requirements, updates and sign-ups as the information becomes available. Any additional details will be posted on FSA’s website www.fsa.usda.gov.

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