The government’s making Jasper County part of a national pilot project to get some farmers money online. Farm Services Agency director Steve Kennedy says right now they have to go into the office to apply for Loan Deficiency Payments. Just as the I-R-S is putting the income-tax process online, Kennedy says the F-S-A office in Newton will let participants use the Internet to apply for those L-D-P payments. At the local county office they set up a profile for each farmer including dollars and bushels, and they can then use their home computer to file their LDP application. The payments will be made by direct deposit, and Kennedy says that will make the whole process much more convenient.If it’s all worked out, a farmer can file an application and get that payment within days. A few such online LDP’s are being finalized this week, and many will be lined up by fall when harvest brings in the lion’s share of LDP applications.
