The Mower County farm services agency is setting up informational meetings for farmers about the farm bill.

Leroy Sandzen, county executive director of the agency, attended meetings with county representatives from all over the state last week to discuss the information they need to share with farmers.

The meetings are tentatively scheduled as follows:

n 1:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at Adams Legion

n 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Grumpy's in Austin

n 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the 4-H building on the Mower County fairgrounds

n 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12 at the 4-H building

The focus of the meeting will be helping farmers determine their bases and yields, Sandzen said.

"That's going to be the main issue for them," Sandzen said.

There about 2,000 farm operators and owners in Mower County, but Sandzen expects about 400 to 500 farmers to attend the meetings.

The meetings should last about an hour and a half and Sandzen will be sharing information about the farm bill and have information sheets for farmers.

Farmers can visit a Web site at www.extension.umn.edu/farmbill and use a program that will help them in their decision.

Farmers will not need to figure out their bases and yields until next April and can do so anytime between October and then.

"They've got plenty of time to sign up," Sandzen said.

Since the farm bill was approved by the federal government, the farm services agency has received many questions from farmers about it.

Sandzen suggests using the extension service Web site to answer some of the questions.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com