USDA Makes Second Economic Assistance Payment

USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Friday that the USDA is issuing a second Emergency Commodity Assistance Program payment to eligible producers for the 2024 crop year. The Farm Service Agency has already provided over $8 billion in payments to eligible producers to mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices.

“Initial ECAP payments were factored by 85% to ensure that total program payments did not exceed $10 billion in available funding. Since additional funds remain, FSA is issuing a second payment,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Brooke Appleton. “As producers continue to face market volatility, these payments along with the entire suite of supplemental disaster assistance programs, will help producers navigate market uncertainty, pay down debt for the 2024 crop year, and secure financing for the next crop year.”

Payments will automatically be made to eligible producers with approved ECAP applications who received an initial payment. Any application approved after Sept. 25, 2025, will receive one lump sum payment. Authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, these economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year. 

 

USDA to Open General and Continuous CRP Enrollment for 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Thursday announced several Conservation Reserve Program enrollment opportunities for agricultural producers and landowners. USDA’s Farm Service Agency is accepting offers for both the General and Continuous CRP beginning today through June 6, 2025.  

CRP, USDA’s flagship conservation program, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. For four decades, CRP has provided financial and technical support to agricultural producers and landowners who place unproductive or marginal cropland under contract for 10-15 years and who agree to voluntarily convert the land to beneficial vegetative cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitat. The American Relief Act, 2025, extended provisions for CRP through Sept. 30, 2025. 

“With 1.8 million acres available for all CRP enrollment this fiscal year, we are very aware that we are bumping up against the statutory 27-million-acre statutory cap,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “Now more than ever, it’s important that the acres offered by landowners and those approved by USDA address our most critical natural resource concerns. With the limited number of acres that we have available, we’re not necessarily looking for the most acres offered but instead prioritizing mindful conservation efforts to ensure we maximize the return on our investment from both a conservation and economic perspective.”     

General CRP (Signup 64)   

Agricultural producers and landowners submit offers for General CRP through a competitive bid process. Offers are ranked and scored, by FSA, using nationally established environmental benefits criteria. USDA will announce accepted offers once ranking and scoring for all offers is completed. In addition to annual rental payments, approved General CRP participants may also be eligible for cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.  

Continuous CRP (Signup 63)

Unlike General CRP, Continuous CRP offers are not subject to a competitive bid process. To ensure enrolled acres do not exceed the current statutory cap of 27 million acres, FSA is accepting Continuous CRP offers on a first-come, first-served basis through June 6. However, should allotted CRP acreage remain available following the June 6 deadline, FSA will accept continuous CRP offers from interested landowners through July 31, 2025, and may be subsequently considered for acceptance, in batches, if it’s determined that the offered acres support USDA’s conservation priorities.  

Continuous CRP participants voluntarily offer environmentally sensitive lands, typically smaller parcels than offered through General CRP including wetlands, riparian buffers, and varying wildlife habitats. In return, they receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.  

Continuous CRP enrollment options include:  

—State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative: Restores vital habitat in order to meet high-priority state wildlife conservation goals.

—Highly Erodible Land Initiative: Producers and landowners can enroll in CRP to establish long-term cover on highly erodible cropland that has a weighted erodibility index greater than or equal to 20. 

—Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative: Prioritizes water quality practices on the land that, if enrolled, will help reduce sediment loadings, nutrient loadings, and harmful algal blooms. The vegetative covers also contribute to increased wildlife populations.   

—CLEAR30 (a component of the CLEAR Initiative): Offers additional incentives for water quality practice adoption and can be accessed in 30-year contracts.  

—Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: Addresses high priority conservation objectives of states and Tribal governments on agricultural lands in specific geographic areas.  

Grassland and Expiring CRP Acres

FSA will announce dates for Grassland CRP signup in the near future. Additionally, landowners with acres enrolled in CRP set to expire Sept. 30, 2025, can offer acres for re-enrollment beginning today. A producer can offer to enroll new acres into CRP and also offer to re-enroll any acres expiring Sept. 30, 2025. 

For more information on CRP participant and land eligibility, approved conservation practices and detailed program fact sheets, visit FSA’s CRP webpage.  

 

Money Available to Grow Cover Crops, Trees

The University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture has announced that about $2 million in initial funding will be available for Missouri producers interested in using cover crops or silvopasture approaches on their farmland.

The deadline to apply for incentive payments is Aug. 31, says Rob Myers, director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture. Producers can learn more about the program and how to enroll at https://cra.missouri.edu/mo-crcl.

The funding for cover crop and tree planting (silvopasture) this fall is part of a $25 million USDA grant received by the University of Missouri.

This five-year project, called the Missouri Climate-Resilient Crop and Livestock Project, will provide $17.5 million in incentive funds to farmers and ranchers in Missouri. Each year, there will be specific sign-up periods for a variety of climate-smart practices, Myers says.

Later in the year there will be information about similar incentives for grazing, nutrient management and climate-smart fieldscapes opportunities, which are aimed at smaller farms, he says.

Applicants must have operating control of the relevant field or pasture and have a Farm Service Agency farm number. Applications for cover crop incentive funds will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis for those that meet eligibility requirements, says Kelly Wilson, associate director of the center. After available funds are fully allocated for this season, remaining qualified applicants will be placed on a waiting list for future funding consideration.

Specific opportunities for this enrollment period include $30 an acre to plant cereal rye in front of soybeans, $40 an acre to plant a mix of three cover crops in front of corn or other non-legume crops, $15 an acre to use delayed termination with cover crops and $20 an acre for grazing cover crops.

The silvopasture opportunity involves planting trees along the edges of pasture using a management plan developed with the help of staff from the MU Center for Agroforestry and the MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture, Wilson says. Incentive funds to support the cost of planting and maintaining the trees will be available.

In addition to financial assistance with climate-smart practices, the Center for Regenerative Agriculture will offer workshops, field days, pasture walks and webinars during the project. Details will be shared with farmers and ranchers who apply for project funding and will also be available through the center’s website.

For more information, visit https://cra.missouri.edu/mo-crcl or email mocrcl@missouri.edu.

USDA Nominations Open for County Committees

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. I am excited that we have another opportunity through this year’s nominations and elections cycle to make our committees more inclusive, and in turn, better equipped to best serve all our customers. I encourage you to consider serving the farmers, ranchers and producers in your community on your local FSA county committee, and I thank you in advance for your public service.”

Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for members. LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction and they may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area. 

Customers can locate their LAA through a new GIS locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections. 

“Based on feedback from stakeholders, including the USDA Equity Commission, we are unveiling this new tool to make it easier for producers to effectively participate in the process,” Ducheneaux added. 

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. 

A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits. Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages minority producers, women and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote and hold office. 

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members are vital to how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity and price support programs, county office employment and other agricultural issues. 

USDA Extends Application Deadline for Revenue Loss Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) to July 14, 2023, to give producers more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was June 2. 

Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is partnering with nine organizations to provide educational and technical assistance to agricultural producers and provide assistance in completing an ERP Phase Two application. The extended deadline will give producers more time to work with these partner organizations and apply for assistance.  

“Farm Service Agency recognizes that there is a learning curve for producers applying for our new revenue-based programs and we want to make sure producers have the time they need to apply for assistance,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Partnering with these organizations through cooperative agreements provides additional educational and technical assistance to producers who may need help with the Emergency Relief Program Phase Two application process. The deadline extension gives producers more time to locate and work with these organizations to complete their program application.” 

Cooperative Agreements for ERP Phase Two Application Assistance  

Through cooperative agreements with FSA, the following organizations are providing free assistance to producers across the United States and territories.

–Alabama State Association of Cooperatives 

–Farmers Legal Action Group, INC.

–Flower Hill Institute 

–Intertribal Agriculture Council, Inc,

–North South Institute 

–Renewing the Countryside II 

–Rural Advancement Foundation International - USA 

–Rural Coalition 

–Texas Small Farmers and Ranchers CBO

Depending on a producer’s location, these nine partners can provide assistance either by phone or through online meeting software like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

There is never a charge for technical assistance provided by FSA employees or cooperative agreement recipients. These organizations will assist producers with completing the application and any follow-up future insurance coverage requirements. Producers who receive ERP payments are statutorily required to purchase crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for the next two available crop years. These organizations will not collect producer records, complete or sign the application form, or act on the producer’s behalf in any way throughout this process.

Find more information on FSA cooperative agreements and contact information for the nine organizations please visit fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/cooperative-agreements/index.

PARP Application Assistance

USDA will host a webinar that focus on completing the PARP application form on June 8, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. eastern with members of the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for ERP Phase Two, producers must have suffered a decrease in allowable gross revenue in 2020 or 2021 due to necessary expenses related to losses of eligible crops from a qualifying natural disaster event. Assistance will be primarily to producers of crops that were not covered by Federal Crop Insurance or NAP, since crops covered by Federal Crop Insurance and NAP were included in the assistance under ERP Phase One.

To be eligible for PARP, an agricultural producer must have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year and had a 15% or greater decrease in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to a baseline year.

FSA offers an online ERP tool and PARP tool that can help producers determine what is considered allowable gross revenue for each respective program.  

Producers should contact their local FSA office to make an appointment to apply for ERP Phase Two and PARP assistance. Producers should also keep in mind that July 15 is a major deadline to complete acreage reports for most crops. FSA encourages producers to complete the ERP Phase Two application, PARP application and acreage reporting during the same office visit.

USDA Extends General Signup for Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General Signup period, which had previously been announced as ending on Feb. 12, 2021. USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates were reduced resulting in an enrollment shortfall of over 4 million acres. The program, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides annual rental payments for 10 to 15 years for land devoted to conservation purposes, as well as other types of payments.

Before the General CRP signup period ends, producers will have the opportunity to adjust or resubmit their offers to take advantage of planned improvements to the program.

“The Conservation Reserve Program provides a tremendous opportunity to address climate change both by retiring marginal cropland and by restoring grasslands, wetlands, and forests,” said Robert Bonnie, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary. “CRP has a 35-year track record of success beyond just climate benefits, by providing income to producers, improving water quality, reducing erosion, and supporting wildlife habitat and the hunting and fishing opportunities that go along with it. By extending this signup period, we’ll have time to evaluate and implement changes to get this neglected program back on track.”

As one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the United States, CRP provides both economic and conservation benefits by taking land out of agricultural production. 

Program successes include:

• Sequestering in soils and plants over 12 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), or about the same amount that the entire state of Delaware emits annually.

• Preventing more than 2 billion tons of soil from being blown away by wind erosion over the life of currently enrolled acres.

• Reducing phosphorous reaching streams by almost 85 million pounds, nitrogen by nearly 450 million pounds, and sediment by over 160 million tons in 2020 alone.

• Creating more than 2.3 million acres of restored wetlands while protecting more than 177,000 stream miles with riparian forest and grass buffers, enough to go around the world seven times.

• Establishing over a half million acres of dedicated pollinator habitat and nearly 15 million more acres of diverse plantings that provide forage for pollinators.

• Increasing populations of ducks and other game birds, prairie chickens, and such grassland songbirds as Baird’s Sparrow. CRP in the Northern Great Plains supports an estimated 8.6% of the grassland bird population.

• Increasing habitat that supports economic opportunities, such as job creation, related to hunting and fishing activities.

This signup for CRP gives producers an opportunity to enroll land for the first time or re-enroll land under existing contracts that will be expiring Sept. 30, 2021. All interested producers, including those on Indian reservations and with trust lands, are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center for more information.

All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including those that restrict in-person visits or require appointments. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Our program delivery staff will continue to work with our producers by phone, email, and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

USDA Temporarily Suspends Debt Collection Activities

Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wednesday announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA will temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments, and referring foreclosures to the Department of Justice. USDA will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop judicial foreclosures and evictions on accounts that were previously referred to the Department of Justice.

Additionally, USDA has extended deadlines for producers to respond to loan servicing actions, including loan deferral consideration for financially distressed and delinquent borrowers. In addition, for the Guaranteed Loan program, flexibilities have been made available to lenders to assist in servicing their customers.

Today’s announcement by USDA expands previous actions undertaken by the Department to lessen financial hardship. According to USDA data, more than 12,000 borrowers—approximately 10% of all borrowers—are eligible for the relief announced today. Overall, FSA lends to more than 129,000 farmers, ranchers and producers.

“USDA and the Biden Administration are committed to bringing relief and support to farmers, ranchers and producers of all backgrounds and financial status, including by ensuring producers have access to temporary debt relief,” said Robert Bonnie, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary. “Not only is USDA suspending the pipeline of adverse actions that can lead to foreclosure and debt collection, we  are also working with the Departments of Justice and Treasury to suspend any actions already referred to the applicable Agency. Additionally, we are evaluating ways to improve and address farm related debt with the intent to keep farmers on their farms earning living expenses, providing for emergency needs, and maintaining cash flow.”

The temporary suspension is in place until further notice and is expected to continue while the national COVID-19 disaster declaration is in place.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency provides several different loans for producers, which fall under two main categories:

• Guaranteed loans are made and serviced by commercial lenders, such as banks, the Farm Credit System, credit unions and other non-traditional lenders. FSA guarantees the lender’s loan against loss, up to 95%.

• Direct loans are made and serviced by FSA using funds from the federal government.

The most common loan types are Farm Ownership, Farm Operating and Farm Storage Facility Loans, with Microloans for each:

• Farm Ownership: Helps producers purchase or enlarge a farm or ranch, construct a new or improve an existing farm or ranch building, pay closing costs and pay for soil and water conservation and protection.

• Farm Operating: Helps producers purchase livestock and equipment and pay for minor real estate repairs and annual operating expenses.

• Farm Storage Facility Loans are made directly to producers for the construction of cold or dry storage and includes handling equipment and mobile storage such as refrigerated trucks.

• Microloans: Direct Farm Ownership, Operating Loans and Farm Storage Facility Loans have a shortened application process and reduced paperwork designed to meet the needs of smaller, non-traditional and niche-type operations.

Contact FSA

FSA encourages producers to contact their county office to discuss these programs and temporary changes to farm loan deadlines and the loan servicing options available. For Service Center contact information, visit farmers.gov/coronavirus. For servicing information, access farmers.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

CRP Signup Has Begun

Agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) can sign up for the popular program beginning today, Jan. 4, 2021, until Feb. 12, 2021. The competitive program, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.

“This signup for the Conservation Reserve Program gives producers and landowners an opportunity to enroll for the first time or continue their participation for another term,” Jeremy Mosley, Acting SED said. “This program encourages conservation on sensitive lands or low-yielding acres, which provides tremendous benefits for stewardship of our natural resources and wildlife.”

Through CRP, farmers and ranchers establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland.

Farmers and ranchers who participate in CRP help provide numerous benefits to their local region and the nation’s environment and economy. CRP general signup is held annually and is competitive; general signup includes increased opportunities for wildlife habitat enrollment through the State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.

New cropland offered in the program must have been planted for four out of six crop years from 2012 to 2017. Additionally, producers with land already enrolled but expiring on Sept. 30, 2021, can re-enroll this year. The acreage offered by producers and landowners is evaluated competitively; accepted offers will begin Oct. 1, 2021.

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the United States. The program marked its 35-year anniversary in December 2020. Program successes include:

• Preventing more than 9 billion tons of soil from eroding, which is enough soil to fill 600 million dump trucks.

• Reducing nitrogen and phosphorous runoff relative to annually tilled cropland by 95% and 85%, respectively.

• Sequestering an annual average of 49 million tons of greenhouse gases, equal to taking 9 million cars off the road.

• Creating more than 3 million acres of restored wetlands while protecting more than 175,000 stream miles with riparian forest and grass buffers, which is enough to go around the world seven times.

• Benefiting bees and other pollinators and increasing populations of ducks, pheasants, turkey, bobwhite quail, prairie chickens, grasshopper sparrows, and many other birds.

All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including those that restrict in-person visits or require appointments. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Our program delivery staff will continue to work with our producers by phone, email, and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Worth County Acreage Reporting Dates for 2017

Worth County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Eric Redden announced that producers who file accurate and timely reports for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage can prevent the potential loss of FSA program benefits. Please pay close attention to the acreage reporting dates below for 2017.

 “In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the Worth County FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline," said Redden.

 The following acreage reporting dates are applicable for Worth County: November 15, 2016:  grass certification December 15, 2016: fall barley, fall wheat & all other fall-seeded small grains January 15, 2017:  apples, grapes & peaches May 15, 2017:  spring oats & potatoes July 15, 2017: CRP, burley tobacco, corn, cotton, grain sorghum, hybrid corn seed, popcorn, rice, soybeans & all other crops.

 The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting dates:

 • If the crop has not been planted by the above 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 above 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.

 • If a perennial forage crop is reported with the intended use of “cover only,” “green manure,” “left standing,” or “seed” then the acreage must be reported by July 15th.

 According to Redden, 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.

 For questions regarding crop certification and crop loss reports, please contact the Worth County FSA office at (660) 564-3341.

Worth County FSA Acreage Reporting Dates for 2016

Worth County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Eric Redden announced that producers who file accurate and timely reports for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage can prevent the potential loss of FSA program benefits. Please pay close attention to the acreage reporting dates below for 2016.

“In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit the Worth County FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline," said Redden.

The following acreage reporting date is applicable for Worth County:

July 15, 2016:              CRP, burley tobacco, corn, cotton, grain sorghum, hybrid corn seed, popcorn, rice, soybeans & all other crops.

The following exceptions apply to the above acreage reporting dates:

·         If the crop has not been planted by the above 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 above acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendars days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.

·         If a perennial forage crop is reported with the intended use of “cover only,” “green manure,” “left standing,” or “seed” then the acreage must be reported by July 15th.

According to Redden, 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.

For questions regarding crop certification and crop loss reports, please contact the Worth County FSA office at (660) 564-3341.

FSA Nomination Period Ends August 1st

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the nomination period for farmers and ranchers to serve on local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees begins Wednesday, June 15, 2016.

“Through the county committees, farmers and ranchers have a voice. Their opinions and ideas get to be heard on federal farm programs,” said FSA Administrator Val Dolcini. “I encourage all eligible farmers and ranchers across the spectrum of American agriculture, to get involved in this year's elections. We have seen an increase in the number of qualified nominees, especially among women and minorities, and I hope that trend continues.”

To be eligible to serve on a FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in an FSA administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area where they are nominated.

Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. 2016 nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1, 2016.

FSA will mail election ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 7, 2016. Ballots must be returned to the local county office via mail or in person by Dec. 5, 2016. Newly-elected committee members and alternates will take office on Jan. 1, 2017.

Nationwide, there are approximately 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. These individuals make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs, and other agricultural issues. Committees consist of three to 11 members that are elected by eligible producers, and members serve three-year terms.

To learn more about county committees, contact your local FSA county office or visit http://offices.usda.gov to find a county office near you.

Since 2009, USDA has worked to strengthen and support American agriculture, an industry that supports one in 11 American jobs, provides American consumers with more than 80 percent of the food we consume, ensures that Americans spend less of their paychecks at the grocery store than most people in other countries, and supports markets for homegrown renewable energy and materials. USDA has also provided $5.6 billion in disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; expanded risk management tools with products like Whole Farm Revenue Protection; and helped farm businesses grow with $36 billion in farm credit. The Department has engaged its resources to support a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by improving access to land and capital; building new markets and market opportunities; and extending new conservation opportunities. USDA has developed new markets for rural-made products, including more than 2,500 biobased products through USDA's BioPreferred program; and invested $64 billion in infrastructure and community facilities to help improve the quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.

FSA Announces Changes to Crop Reporting Dates

Worth County USDA Farm Service Agency announced a change in crop acerage reporting dates for the 2013 crop year. All perennial and biennial forage crops must now be reported by November 15th. The new deadline for reporting fall-seeded small grains is December 15th.

In past years, producers had until the end of June to report their acerage for wheat and other small grains, and until the end of July to report their hay and pasture acerage. The new reporting date is much sooner than the prior dates.

All 2013 perennial and biennial forage acres, such as pasture acreage intended for haying or grazing, must be reported to the FSA by the November 15th deadline. All fall-seeded small grain acreage, such as winter wheat, barley, and oats, must be reported by December 15th. For 2012, the reports will be accepted up until December 17th as December 15th falls on a weekend.

Included in the upcoming reporting dates are crops that were planted as cover crops. Cover crops help to protect the soil during winter months and help preserve our nation's water resources.

Many producers are learning more about cover crops and the benefit cover crops have to their operation. After the drought, cover crops can prove to be a valuable asset for retaining soil moisture, as well as providing an additional source of feed for livestock. Cover crops can also help in retaining nitrogen in the soil for next year's crops, instead of letting it slip away into our streams. The change in crop acreage reporting dates was the result of a combined effort of FSA and the Risk Management Agency to make acreage reporting easier and standardized for crop insurance and FSA purposes. All acreage must be reported for a farm, including crops on non-cropland such as hayed or grazed grassland and other cover crops. Reporting acreage ensures producers are compliant with current and future FSA farm programs, including disaster assistance.

To make an appointment to report your crop and forage acreage, contact the Worth County office at (660) 564-3341 or visit online at www.fsa.usda.gov.

Disaster Assistance Signup for 2011 Crop Losses

Worth County SUDA Farm Service Agence Acting Executive Director Veronica Craven announced that producers can enroll in the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program for 2011 crop year losses beginning October 22, 2012. Under the 2008 Farm Bill, SURE authorizes assistance to ranchers who suffered crop losses caused by natural disasters occurring through September 30, 2011.

Eligible producers who experienced a 2011 crop loss can contact the Worth County FSA office to learn more about the SURE program. All eligible farmers and ranchers must sign up for SURE benefits before the June 7, 2013 deadline.

To qualify for a SURE payment, the producer's operation must be located in a county or a contiguous county that was declared a disaster for 2011 and have at least a 10% production loss that affects one crop of economic significance. Producers with agricultural operations located outside a disaster county are eligible for SURE benefits if they had a production loss greater or equal to 50% of the normal production of the farm.

In Missouri. all counties received a primary Secretarial Disaster Designation or were contiguous to a county with a Secretarial Disaster Declaration during 2011. This means producers in all Missouri counties can apply for SURE benefits as long as all other eligibility requirements are met.

To meet program eligibility requirements, producers must have obtained a policy or plan of insurance for all insurable crops through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and obtained Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage on non-insurable crops, if available, from FSA. Eligible farmers and ranchers who meet the definition of a socially disadvantaged, limited resource or beginning farmer or rancher do not have to meet this requirement. Forage crops intended for grazing are not eligible for SURE benefits. For more information on SURE program eligibility requirements, contact the Worth County FSA office at (660) 564-3341 Extension 2 or visit the website at www.fsa.gov/sure.

Worth County Compiling Disaster Reports for Drought

A sweltering heat wave has gripped the area and the governor has requested information so that he can declare disasters as needed. Various offices are completing damage reports and sending info regarding the drought to the governor’s office. Temperatures were in the 90’s and 100’s all last week with no end in sight for this week.
Mark Cadle of the Farm Service Agency said that they were trying to secure an emergency release of CRP land. Normally, most CRP land has managed provisions where they can be hayed only once every three years; Cadle said that the FSA is seeking the release of ground that was hayed last year. Cadle said that they were also seeking to get land released for grazing.
One of the difficulties is that the county must have a 40% shortfall in moisture over the last four months. While the county has received little rain in May and June, it still did not necessarily meet the 40% shortfall when March and April were added.

McCaskill Takes Another Step to Protect Jobs, Resources for Missouri Farmers, Ranchers

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today continued her fight to ensure Farm Service Agency offices remain accessible for Missouri’s farmers and ranchers.

The Farm Bill being currently debated in the Senate would protect agriculture jobs and reduce the national deficit by $23 billion by streamlining and consolidating federal programs and ending unnecessary farm subsidies, while preserving important resources for farm and ranch families and strengthening the crop insurance program—critical to the livelihoods of Missouri’s farmers and ranchers.  

McCaskill has introduced an amendment that would  prevent the closure of a Farm Service Agency (FSA) office unless another office is located within 20 miles driving distance.  

“The Farm Bill is another one of those opportunities to ensure that the voices of families in our small towns and rural communities are heard in Washington,” said McCaskill, who was born in Rolla, Mo. “Not everyone in Congress knows what it means to be from rural America—but as someone who does, I plan to keep up my fight to protect jobs in our ag industry, to guard against any unreasonable regulations on our farm and ranch families, and to preserve access to crucial resources that our small towns rely upon.”

Farmers and ranchers visit FSA offices for assistance with various farm programs, including payment programs, loan services, disaster programs, and conservation programs. In the 2008 Farm Bill, Congress placed limitations on the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture to close FSA offices limiting closures to those offices within 20 miles of another FSA office to avoid placing unreasonable travel burdens on farmers and ranchers.

However, that legislation did not specify that the twenty mile requirement refers to driving distance, as opposed to distance measured in a straight line. Ignoring the clear intent of the 2008 bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is attempting to abuse this technicality to close down additional FSA offices in states across the country, including one in Morgan County that is a twenty-six mile drive from the next nearest office, but less than 20 miles away “as the crow flies.”

McCaskill has already been active on the Farm Bill, last week introducing an amendment ensuring that a program designed to increase broadband access in rural Missouri didn’t have its resources wasted through diversions to large metropolitan areas.

A copy of McCaskill’s amendment to protect Missourians access to Farm Service Agencies is available HERE.

McCaskill Bill Protects Access to Services for Missouri’s Farmers and Ranchers

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is introducing legislation that will ensure Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices remain accessible for Missouri’s farmers and ranchers. 

McCaskill’s legislation would prevent the closure of an FSA office unless another office is located within 20 miles driving distance.

“When we talk about the resources available to our rural communities, we’re talking about the jobs and livelihoods of Missouri’s farmers and ranchers,” said McCaskill, who was born in Rolla, Mo. “If federal bureaucrats are trying to balance their books by exploiting technicalities that hurt our farm and ranch families, I’m going to fight them—just as I’ll continue to fight unnecessary rules that threaten our agricultural production, whether it’s allowing children to work on their family’s farms or allowing farmers to drive a vehicle without the threat of government fines.”

Farmers and ranchers visit FSA offices for assistance with various farm programs, including payment programs, loan services, disaster programs, and conservation programs. In the 2008 Farm Bill, Congress addressed plans by the FSA to close many of its offices nationwide, limiting closures to those offices within 20 miles of another FSA office to avoid unreasonable travel burdens on farmers and ranchers.

However, that legislation did not specify that the twenty mile requirement refers to driving distance, as opposed to distance measured in a straight line. Ignoring the clear intent of the 2008 bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is attempting to abuse this technicality to close down additional FSA offices in states across the country, including one in Morgan County that is a twenty-six mile drive from the next nearest office, but less than 20 miles away as the crow flies.

In response, McCaskill will introduce new legislation to close the loophole and protect access to FSA services for farm and ranch families across the country. McCaskill's bill will make clear that an FSA office cannot be closed unless it is within 20 miles driving distance from another FSA office.

McCaskill has been an outspoken advocate for preventing overregulation of family farms and ranches:

·         Earlier this year, McCaskill, along with Senator Roy Blunt, championed a bipartisan amendment to a highway jobs bill that would exempt farmers transporting crops, livestock and equipment within 150 miles of their farm from regulations aimed at non-farm commercial vehicles. McCaskill’s amendment would also give individual states the freedom to establish safety rules for agricultural vehicles.

·         McCaskill delivered a victory for rural communities, successfully forcing the U.S. Labor Department to withdraw proposed rules that would affect the ability of young adults to work on family farms and ranches

·         McCaskill helped lead a bipartisan group of Senators in pushing for an exemption to allow the transportation of all farm supplies from any distribution point to a local farm retailer or to the consumer during planning and harvest seasons

·         McCaskill confronted the Environmental Protection Agency in opposition to proposed rules over farm dust

USDA Offers Farm Loans for Socially Disadvantaged Groups

Harrison, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, and Worth County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Loan Manager Charles Meissen reminds producers that FSA offers specially-targeted farm ownership and farm operating loans to Socially Disadvantaged (SDA) applicants.
"FSA targets a portion of its loan funds each year to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers," said Meissen. "Farming and ranching is a capital intensive business and FSA is committed to helping producers start and maintain their agricultural operations."
In fiscal year 2011, Missouri FSA obligated $17 million in direct and guaranteed loans to socially disadvantaged producers.
USDA defines socially disadvantaged applicants as a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of the group without regard to their individual qualities. For farm loan program purposes, SDA groups are women, African Americans, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, Hispanics and Asians and Pacific Islanders.
SDA producers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank can apply for either FSA direct loans or guaranteed loans. Direct loans are made to applicants by FSA. Guaranteed loans are made by lending institutions who arrange for FSA to guarantee the loan. FSA can guarantee up to 95 percent of the loss of principal and interest on a loan. The FSA guarantee allows lenders to make agricultural credit available to producers who do not meet the lender's normal underwriting criteria.
The direct and guaranteed loan program offers two types of loans: farm ownership loans and farm operating loans.
Farm ownership loan funds may be used to purchase or enlarge a farm or ranch, purchase easements or rights of way needed in the farm's operation, build or improve buildings such as a dwelling or barn, promote soil and water conservation and development and pay closing costs.
Farm operating loan funds may be used to purchase livestock, poultry, farm equipment, fertilizer, and other materials necessary to operate a successful farm. Operating loan funds can also be used for family living expenses, refinancing debts under certain conditions, paying salaries for hired farm laborers, installing or improving water systems for home, livestock, or irrigation use and other similar improvements.
Repayment terms for direct operating loans depend on the collateral securing the loan and usually run from one to seven years. Financing for direct farm ownership loans cannot exceed 40 years. Interest rates for direct loans are set periodically according to the Government's cost of borrowing. Guaranteed loan terms and interest rates are set by the lender.
For more information on FSA’s farm loan programs, please contact your farm loan Service Center at 660-425-7635.

Emergency Loans for Summer Droughts

Mr. Edward Hamill, State Executive Director, Farm Service Agency, announced effective October 17, 2011, 111 counties including Worth as well as the Independent City of St. Louis will have FSA disaster loans available due to drought and excessive heat which occurred July 1, 2011 and August 30, 2011. Applications for assistance will be accepted at the county office of the Worth County Farm Service Agency on the north side of the square for physical and production losses caused by this disaster. Applications will be accepted through June 18, 2012.

Loans for physical losses must be used to replace or repair damage to buildings, fences, or to compensate the farmer for losses of basic livestock, stored crops, or supplies on hand, equipment, etc., that was lost due to the disaster. Loans for production losses may also be used to buy feed, seed, fertilizer, and livestock or to make payments on real estate or chattel debts. Generally, loans for production losses cannot be approved until crops have completed their production cycle or have been harvested.

In order to qualify, a farmer must have suffered a 30% loss in production or an actual physical loss that was essential to the successful operation of the farm.

Loans for actual losses are made at an interest rate of 3.75% for emergency loans to those eligible applicants who are unable to obtain the credit needed from another source. All loan programs of the Farm Service Agency are conducted on a non-discriminatory basis.

Farm Service Agency Increases Guaranteed Loan Limit

Harrison County USDA Farm Loan Manager Charles Meissen announced that the loan limit for the Guaranteed Loan Program will increase to $1,214,000. The limit is adjusted annually based on the "Prices Paid to Farmers Index," compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

"Raising the guaranteed loan limit will allow FSA to better meet the financial needs of producers across the state," said Meissen.

Another change will affect the one-time loan guarantee fee charged on all FSA loans obligated after October 1st, 2011. The one-time loan guarantee fee will increase from 1.0% to 1.5% of the guaranteed portion of the loan.

FSA guaranteed loans allow lenders to provide agricultural credit to farmers who do not meet the lender's normal underwriting criteria. Farmers and ranchers apply for a guaranteed loan through a commercial lender and the lender arranges for the guarantee. FSA can guarantee up to 95% of the loss of principal and interest on a loan. Guaranteed loans can be used for both farm ownership and operating purposes.

Producers who are unable to obtain financing through a commercial lender, including a guaranteed loan, could be eligible for a FSA Direct Loan. These loans are made by FSA with government funds and the limit is $300,000 (except for Emergency Loans which have a limit of $500,000). The maximum combined guaranteed and direct farm loan indebtedness is now $1,514,000.

For more information on FSA's farm loan programs, please contact Charles Meissen at the Harrison County USDA Service Center at (660) 425-7635.

FSA to Begin Damage Assessments for Worth County

Gov. Jay Nixon today asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to conduct damage assessment reports for all 114 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis to determine the extent of damage to crops and livestock because of the excessive heat and severe drought conditions persisting throughout the state.
“The heat and drought will likely cause crop yields to decrease and livestock to be under greater stress,” Gov. Nixon said. “This year, many Missouri farmers have undergone a number of hardships caused by weather conditions. Timely damage assessments by the Farm Service Agency will help those farmers who have been affected recover more quickly.”
The Governor’s request for damage assessments is the first step in the process of declaring counties as primary disaster areas. Primary disaster counties are those that lose at least 30 percent of the estimated yield of a single crop, or where individual farmers suffer production losses of more than 30 percent.
A disaster designation would allow eligible farmers to be considered for assistance from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Farmers who qualify would receive FSA emergency loans or assistance from the federal Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program. Affected farmers would apply to FSA, which considers each application individually on its merits. Farmers in counties contiguous to primary disaster areas also could be eligible for assistance.
As the damage assessment process moves forward, more information will be available about applying for assistance.