Sept 30, 2020 The USDA Advanced Biofuel Payment Program opens tomorrow for Fiscal Year 2021. Its goal is to increase US energy independence by increasing the supply of renewable energy in the public sector. The application window is open from Oct. 1 to Oct 30 so time is short! The USDA is strongly advising applicants to conduct research before submitting their applications. Christianson PLLP can assist all types of producers with their applications and requests for quarterly payments. Applications & Eligibility Any entity that produces and sells advanced biofuel is eligible to apply. An advanced biofuel producer can be an individual, corporation, company, foundation, association, labor organization, firm, partnership, society, Read More...
Archives for September 2020
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2)
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide a second round of direct relief (CFAP 2) to producers who faced price declines and additional costs due to COVID-19. About the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program According to the USDA: President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced on September 17 that USDA will implement an expansion of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) will provide producers with financial assistance to help offset some of the increased costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The CFAP 2 effective payment rate for crops will be multiplied by acreage and the APH yield. Here Read More...
AGRI Livestock Investment Grant
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced this month that there are funds available to update livestock operations. The AGRI Livestock Investment Grant provides up to 10% of project costs for livestock operation improvements, updates, or equipment, for projects during 2021 or 2022. This opportunity closes in a few short weeks, so apply now! AGRI Livestock Investment Grant Eligibility Minnesota livestock* farmers may apply. Applicants must be: in good standing with the state of Minnesota (no back taxes) a current Minnesota resident or a business entity that has authorization to farm in Minnesota the principal operator of the farm *"Livestock" is defined as: beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, poultry, goats, mules, Read More...
Form W2 Must Include FFCRA Wages
Have you paid out any Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) sick leave or expanded family leave wages in 2020? If so, you will need to report those amounts on the employee’s 2020 Form W2 in either Box 14 or on a separate statement that goes with the Form W2. The required reporting provides employees who are also self-employed with information necessary for properly claiming qualified sick leave equivalent or qualified family leave equivalent credits under the FFCRA. This additional reporting is intended to keep a taxpayer from receiving more than the maximum benefit amount for each type of sick and family leave as stated in the FFCRA. The FFCRA wages for sick and expanded family leave will be reported in Boxes 1, 3 (up to the Read More...
MN Employee Notice – Are You Still in Compliance?
Have you hired a new employee in 2020? Have you changed pay rates or paid time-off policies? If so, did you know that you are required to inform your employees in writing of those types of changes? In July 2019, Minnesota’s Wage Theft Law became effective and required MN employers to provide each employee with a written notice at the start of employment that included basic terms of employment and to keep a copy of the noticed signed by the employee on file. The Wage Theft Law also requires an employer to provide a written notice when any of the terms of their employment changes. When is a Change Notice Required? When information required on the notice changes, such as a pay rate, the employer must inform the employee in writing of Read More...