P L O W E R   P R O G R A M  

Toll Free 888-712-4134       Local 602-438-2088

1.  A grower is required to call the Plower Hotline and request an inspection for certification of their farm prior to the deadline.

2.  We keep a legal record of your call.  You will be asked to provide:  the county which your cotton is grown, FSA farm #, gin you plan to use, name, farm name & a contact phone number.  (Note:  failure to provide some of this information, especially the correct FSA Farm #, may delay the certification process).

3.  Each morning, an updated Plower log is e-mailed to our supervisors.  They will check your field as time permits.  Once compliance is verified, they will fill out the appropriate paperwork and forward it to the Phoenix office.  (Note:  if you are concerned regarding compliance of your farm, call in to the Plower line and request the name & phone number of the supervisor assigned to your farm.  Keep in close contact with the ACRPC supervisor).

4.  If you know your farm is not going to be in compliance by the deadline, you may request, in writing, an extension.  It should be addressed to the Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture (Director Donald Butler, 1688 West Adams, Phoenix, AZ  85007; 602-542-4373).  You should also forward a copy of it to the Director of the Arizona Cotton Research & Protection Council (Director Larry Antilla, 3721 E. Wier Ave., Phoenix, AZ  85040; fax 602-438-0407 phone 602-438-0059).  It should clearly identify:  the county which your cotton is grown, your FSA farm #,  your name, the farm name and mailing address, a contact phone number, the nature of the extraordinary circumstances and supporting documentation.  (Note:  Make sure your request is received prior to the deadline.  Do not assume your extension request will be granted.) 

REAL-LIFE 2004 PLOWER SEASON EXTENSION & ABATEMENT EXAMPLE

On rare occasions (2004), weather related "blanket" extensions were granted covering all growers in a specific area as determined by the ADA, and usually recommended by ACRPC members.  The Department received numerous requests from growers in particular areas.  Documentation was provided by Dr. Paul Brown, AZMET: The Arizona Meteorological Network.   Typically however, individual extension requests due to weather conditions are not granted.

An example of an individual extension that was granted in 2004:  A grower leased acreage.  The land owner sold the property to a developer who would not allow the grower access to bring the ground into compliance.  The grower contacted the ACRPC supervisor prior to his deadline.  Mike Whitlow, ACRPC Field Coordinator, and the Az. Dept. of Agriculture made attempts to resolve the issue.  The outcome:  the developer brought the farm into compliance at his own expense, and the grower had his rebate returned to him.

An example of an individual who refused to come into compliance by the deadline, was issued an abatement notice in 1991.  He was charged a tillage cost plus a fifty-percent fine (amounting to more than $10,000) for having the Az. Dept. of Agriculture bring the farm into compliance.  He refused to pay the 150% cost of the abatement.  Therefore, a tax lien was placed on his property.  In 2005, he tried selling this property.  He could not without satisfying the lien.  The Arizona Department of Agriculture and Arizona Attorney General's Office was notified when he tried to sell his property, and he decided to satisfy the lien in order to be able to complete the sale, which, with interest, was more than $25,000.