Ohio

No. The Trust program is a privately established program for which the tobacco states have agreed to identify and to certify eligible tobacco farmers. For purposes of the Trust program only, the states obtain relevant tobacco farm data from the United States Department of Agriculture National Data Center. This data is used solely to identify and to certify eligible tobacco farmers (quota holders and producers) for each year's Trust program. The Trust program is not administered by your County Office, or by any other federal office.

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2. How is my County Office involved in this program?

Farm Service Agency county offices at times have information on a farm that is more current than information contained in the USDA file sent to each tobacco state for purposes of the Trust program. In these instances, the county office can provide you with current information to assure that your application is appropriately certified for Trust purposes. For example, if there is a change in farm status (reconstitution, new FSN, etc.) since the last update to the USDA data file sent to the state for purposes of the Trust program, your County office can provide the appropriate information (and if necessary, an appropriate form) to assure certification of your Trust application, and payment to you by the Trust. County Office personnel have no authority to change the terms and conditions of Trust applications. For example, they may not strike out or alter "total farm payment pounds" preprinted on an application. Please do not ask them to do so.

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3. If this is not a federal program, why has my County Office helped me with my application in the past?

The professionals who staff your County Office care deeply about the farmers they serve. Even though they are not allotted time or staff to assist with non-federal programs, such as the Trust, they are committed to helping farmers in any way possible. For some County Offices, the burden of assisting tobacco growers with Trust applications is relatively small. For others, however, the burden can become not only large, but overwhelming. Please bear this in mind when you seek help with an application. Remember that Ohio Tobacco Programs and the Ohio Certification Entity have established a Call Center to assist you with application questions. In addition, you can call OTP directly for help.

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4. When will applications be mailed for the Trust Year 2004 program?

Ohio will mail applications for the Trust Year 2004 program between August 18 and August 23. Planning calls for all applications to be mailed by end of business on August 23.

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5. When must my completed application be returned?

Completed applications must be returned and postmarked by October 18, 2004.

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6. What happens after my application is completed and returned?

Returned applications are processed for eligibility and certification immediately upon return. Applications with missing information (signatures, social security numbers, etc.) will be returned immediately with instructions for completion and submission of the completed application. When data on applications does not match key data in the grower information database, persons who have submitted such applications will be notified of the requirements that must be met for eligibility and/or certification of these applications. Ohio Tobacco Programs, and its application service contractor, ClaimTrack Services, will work with applicants to assure completion of the application, and payment to appropriate parties, as far as is humanly possible. However, it is strictly up to applicants to obtain and to provide information required to complete the application for certification and payment purposes. PAYMENT CANNOT BE MADE WITHOUT THE COOPERATION OF APPLICANTS, AND THE SUBMISSION OF ALL INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR CERTIFICATION AND PAYMENT.

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7. When will I get my check?

No check is mailed for an application until all requirements for eligibility and certification have been met. For some applicants, this means taking time to update USDA tobacco farm records at the County Office, and then obtaining proof of such updating to meet certification requirements. Other applicants may need to obtain court documents to show proof of eligibility, or to meet certification requirements. For most applicants, however, the National Trustee plans to mail the first round of checks for the Trust Year 2004 program on December 30, 2004. Depending on regional and local mail handling, these checks should arrive during the first or second week of January, 2005.

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8. What if I have not received my check by the last week of January?

If you have submitted an application, have not received a check, and have not heard anything from OTP or its contractor, ClaimTrack Services, by the last week of January, 2005, please contact the Call Center. Call center personnel are trained to handle your questions and to track your application accurately and swiftly. You may also call OTP, and we will work with all parties who can help with the location and processing of your application. Also, please see the schedule information for this year.

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9. If my check was not mailed in December, when can I expect to receive a check?

The National Trustee has agreed to mail checks to certified applicants on or about the 20th of each month following December until all eligible applicants are paid. Payment files must be submitted to the National Trustee no later than the 10th of each month in which payments are to be made. Thus, applicants who are required to submit information, or to complete application information, for certification purposes must do so at least five business days prior to the 10th of any month in which the applicant anticipates receiving a check. This allows minimal time to complete a payment file and get the file to the National Trustee, who must then prepare and format the file for purposes of printing and mailing checks. OTP works consistently and diligently with applicants to assure Trust payments. Normally, OTP's last round of payments for any given Trust year occur in March or April of the following year.

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10. What if my application or my check never arrives?

Experts in mass mailing statistics have advised OTP that mailings the size of OTP application and check mailings may experience, on average, post office delivery problems with between one and two percent of mailed material. To date, OTP has experienced each year less than one-half of one percent of such delivery problems. Most problems are related to address changes, moves, and other situations in which people fail to notify the post office of address changes. If you are a quota owner or a farm operator, make sure that your County Office has your name and current address on record. If you are a quota owner or producer who has moved within the last year, make sure that your local post office is notified of your current address. Nothing is more disappointing for OTP after hours of searching for an eligible party than to draw a complete blank, and to have to return a check to the Trustee as unpaid. If you feel that you should have received an application, but did not, please call OTP and discuss your situation with us. In almost all situations, we can answer your questions while you are on the phone with us.

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