Bell H-1 Fleet surpasses half a million flight hours
FORT WORTH – The current H-1 fleet of AH-1Z Vipers and UH-1Y Venoms reached a major flight milestone by surpassing the 500,000-flight hour mark. Nearly 400 AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters, built by Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc company and operated by the U.S. Marine Corps and their allies, combined to achieve the milestone.
“The H-1 continues to be the premier example of a family of aircraft that can do more with less and deliver unmatched interoperability and expeditionary agility,” said Mike Deslatte, Bell H-1 vice president and program director. “We are thrilled to reach this tremendous milestone and excited for the future of both the Viper and the Venom as they continue to grow in number and capability around the world.”
The H-1 Viper and Venom provide tremendous versatility to the fleet. Both variants demonstrated integration with advanced weapons and datalink capabilities.
“We are proud that the first 500,000 flight hours of the UH-1Y and AH-1Z included constant deployments to austere deserts, numerous types of naval vessels, and frigid cold environments in support of U.S. and allied service members on the ground and at sea,” said Nate Green, Bell H-1 program manager. “With the Viper and Venom sharing 85 percent commonality of parts, a major advantage of this program is that a single readiness improvement or capability upgrade can often support both aircraft.”
Bell supports the future of H-1s through its work on the Marine Corps Structural Improvement Electrical Power Upgrade (SIEPU) program. Structural and electrical modifications optimize the aircraft to improve mission capabilities, aircrew safety, and interoperability. Bell is currently working to increase the electrical power capacity on the platform, which will allow the airframe to support the integration of additional capabilities for years to come.
“This milestone highlights the crucial missions our customers have accomplished with the H-1 during this time. Congratulations to the U.S. Marine Corps and their allies on this tremendous milestone. Bell is proud to be your partner on this platform,” added Deslatte.
Bell provides diverse and comprehensive services to H-1 squadrons, including parts, maintenance, training, on-site field representatives, and data analytics, supporting worldwide operations.
Farm Service Agency now accepting nominations for farmers and ranchers to serve on local county committees
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting nominations for county committee members for elections that will occur later this year.
Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is unveiling a new GIS tool to make it easier for producers to participate in the nomination and election processes for county committee members, who make important decisions on how federal farm programs are administered locally.
All nomination forms for the 2023 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2023.
“Producers serving on FSA county committees play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency, and they serve as the eyes and ears for the producers who elected them,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “In order for county committees to be both effective and equitable in their decision-making at the local level, they must reflect the full diversity of American agriculture.”
Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for members. Customers can locate their LAA through a new GIS locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections , as well as find forms and other information about FSA county committee elections.
Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee if they participate or cooperate in a USDA program; and reside in the LAA that is up for election this year. Learn more about the 17 county committees for urban agriculture online at farmers.gov/urban . Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning Nov. 6, 2023.
USDA reminds producers to file crop acreage reports
AMARILLO – Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after spring planting should make an appointment with the Potter/Armstrong County Farm Service Agency (FSA) before the applicable deadline.
“In order to comply with USDA program eligibility requirements, all producers must file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said Adam Acker, FSA’s County Executive Director in Potter/Armstrong County. “Our FSA staff is available to assist producers in completing acreage reports, including providing maps.”
An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits. The following acreage reporting dates are applicable for Potter and Armstrong County: July 17, 2023 – Corn, Cotton, Grain Sorghum, Sorghum Forage (Haygrazer), Hybrid Sorghum Seed, and Vegetables planted in the spring/summer such as pumpkins, watermelons, cantaloupe, tomatoes, etc.
To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide:
- Crop and crop type or variety;
- Intended use of the crop;
- Number of acres of the crop;
- Map with approximate boundaries for the crop;
- Planting date(s);
- Planting pattern, when applicable;
- Producer shares;
- Irrigation practice(s);
- Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable;
- Other information as required.
The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:
- If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
- If a producer acquires additional acreage after the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.
- Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP-covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.
Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were unable to because of a natural disaster. Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and USDA’s Risk Management Agency.
FSA offers continuous certification for perennial forage. This means after perennial forage is reported once and the producer elects continuous certification, the certification remains in effect until a change is made. Check with FSA at the local USDA Service Center for more information on continuous certification. Producers can access their FSA farm records, maps and common land units through the farmers.gov portal.
For questions, please contact the Potter/Armstrong County FSA office at 806-468-8600 ext. 2.
To learn more, visit usda.gov.