(Fredericksburg, TX),– Ricky Neffendorf, Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Gillespie-Kendall-Blanco County says that signup for the 2010 Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program (DCP) is under way and will continue until June 1, 2010.

Producers can fill out their 2010 DCP contract at any USDA Service Center. Producers can also sign-up online. They can choose payment options, assign crop shares and sign and submit their contracts from any computer with Internet access. They can also view and print submitted contract options.

USDA computes DCP payments using base acres and payment yields established for each farm. Eligible producers receive direct payments at rates established by statute regardless of market prices. For 2010, eligible producers may request to receive an advance payment of 22 percent of the direct payment for each commodity associated with the farm. USDA will issue advance direct payments as soon as practical after enrollment. Final direct payments will be issued after Oct. 1, 2010.

For more information regarding DCP program, contact the Gillespie-Kendall-Blanco County FSA office at 830-997-3453 Ext. 2.