Dateline: September 7, 2006

Weevil assessment notices arriving soon

ABILENE – Boll weevil eradication assessment notices were recently mailed to cotton producers in the Northern Rolling Plains eradication zone.

The assessments are based on information cotton producers provide the Farm Service Agency when they certify their crops. If growers find an error in the information on their billing, they will need to correct the information at their local FSA office and forward the corrected information to the Foundation.

Payment is due October 7, but a 2 percent discount is available to growers who pay the full assessment by September 22.

Growers with failed acres are eligible to receive a credit of 50 percent of their assessment on those acres completely destroyed prior to the final certification date. Qualifying failed acres must remain free of all hostable cotton until a killing freeze to receive the credit.

To aid NRP growers who have been affected by adverse weather conditions, the TBWEF is offering payment extension agreements for producers whose accounts are current.

“For those having difficulty paying their assessment, help is available by contacting the assessments department and arranging an extension agreement,” said Chief Financial Officer Tina Ballard.

Producers entering into an extension agreement must make a 10 percent down payment, and they will be charged a late fee of 1 percent per month until their accounts are paid. This late fee begins on the date the signed agreement and down payment are received by the Assessments Department. Producers who are delinquent in payment and who do not have an extension agreement are subject to a late fee of 1.5 percent per month.

Producers with extension agreements have 150 days to pay their accounts.

For more information contact the Assessments Department in Abilene at (866) 672-2800.

The Northern Rolling Plains zone includes the following counties: Archer (part), Armstrong (part), Briscoe (part), Childress, Clay, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby (part), Dickens (part), Donley, Floyd (part), Foard, Garza (part), Gray, Hall, Hardeman, Kent, King, Motley, Wheeler, Wichita, and Wilbarger.