Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 18, 1991                   TAG: 9104180102
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FARMERS FACING CROP REDUCTION PROGRAM DEADLINE

The program calls for a 15 percent cut in wheat acreage and a 7.5 percent reduction in corn, sorghum and barley acreage.

In return for meeting those reductions, farmers would be eligible for price-support loans, deficiency payments and other benefits for their 1991 program crops.

Farmers may request 40 percent of the estimated deficiency payments when they sign up. Estimated payment rates are $1.47 per bushel of wheat, 58 cents for corn, 56 cents for sorghum, 47 cents for barley and 15 cents for oats.

Under another provision, farmers can commit up to 92 percent of their permitted acres to conservation uses and still receive deficiency payments on those acres. A deficiency payment is the difference between the market price of a commodity and the government's target price.

Also under the 1991 program, farmers will have planting flexibility on up to 25 percent for their program crop-base acreage. On that 25 percent farmers may plant any program crop, any oilseed or any other crop besides fruits and vegetables.

For more details farmers should call the local Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office.