New here- Question about letter from USDA

[U-Turn]

Hi! I have lurked here for a while, but just finally signed up because I now have a question!

We just last month bought land in NE, 78 acres of pasture. The land was used before to graze cattle, but the man died about 1.5 years ago & his widow sold the land. It is not CRP land. We have not moved there yet & have nothing on the land right now. It may be a year before we get there.

Ok, so just a few days ago, we get this letter in the mail from the USDA, Farm Service Agency. It says that they need our middle names & social security numbers to "update their records." That's it. No other info. Just a number to call with questions. But, before I call to ask why on earth they need that info, I thought I'd like to be armed with some info.

So, any idea why the USDA would be asking for this? Why would they need the ss# of 2 people who aren't even farming yet & don't plan to have much to do with the USDA, if anything at all? Am I required to tell them? I really don't want to make waves as we are so new to this, but I'm also protective of private information that doesn't need to be made public, KWIM? I'm suspicious, I guess. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[DocM]

They need it so they can find you whenever they want. Maybe host a satellite above your property. Later they'll come and implant a chip in you, take all your livestock for a "secret experiment" and force your children to recite some kind of liberal agenda. It's true! I read about it every day on this very website.

[moopups]

There have been about 10 posts about this subject within the last 20 or so days, just put 'USDA' into the search feature and they will appear with the pros and cons.

[U-Turn]

Originally Posted by moopups

There have been about 10 posts about this subject within the last 20 or so days, just put 'USDA' into the search feature and they will appear with the pros and cons.

Sorry...all I saw were the threads about the NASS & NAIS subjects...I'll look again.

[moopups]

No need to apoligize, its the same group of people, government employs that don't know what they are doing, (besides serving their slave master check writer).

[Bearfootfarm]

"Ok, so just a few days ago, we get this letter in the mail from the USDA, Farm Service Agency. It says that they need our middle names & social security numbers to "update their records."

The land is probably registered with them as a farm. They really do just want to update their records. If you keep it registered as farm land you may be entitled to tax breaks on the property

What the others are referring to is a USDA Farm Survey. It doesnt sound like what you got

[kasilofhome]

Being asked for information does not legally mean that you are required to give it. There was a supreme court ruling in 1974 that covered who what and why a SS# needs to be giving. This IS your Taxation Id. It is needed to pay taxes, many of the benifits offered by the goverment can be deny to any person failing to "volunterrorly" provide a SS#. I personally am willing to forgo some benifits in an effort have a bit more personal control over my life.

Some people just give the milk away for free and then pride themselves on how popular they are with those in power. kinda reminds of high school when some never did catch on that they were being used ---so long someone liked and accepted them to their face they thought all was well. Yea some never grow up to take responceablity for them self. When did it become wrong to "Just say No"

[rambler]

As Bearfootfarm says, if the previous owner had any land at all in any type of govt program, the FSA agency is just trying to update their records. They will assume anyone will want to continue elegability for future ag programs........

In some ways, they can help you with govt programs, from conservation payments, to lending seeders, etc. Many of these types of 'help' come from the USDA office, but you need to be part of the FSA deal to qualify.....

In some ways, they can be very busy-body & not to your liking.

I'd give them a call or a visit, & try to sort out which way you want to go with it all.

It is _possible_ there is some program associated with your land, & you might need to live up to that sort of thing - like an easement, more or less.

Most likely you can just say 'not interested', & that will be that.

But, you will be locking yourself out of some ag programs then.

Your call, just be aware of it.

--->Paul

[Steve L.]

Originally Posted by moopups

...its the same group of people, government employs that don't know what they are doing...

Not necessarily.

It might be someone attempting identity theft.

I'd look up the phone number for the Farm Service Agency, call (or better yet, visit) them, and find out if they even sent the letter!

[U-Turn]

Thanks for all the info! We will try to figure out what to do.

[U-Turn]

Good thought. Didn't even cross my mind. Will do.