Please submit all media inquires for FSA to FPAC.BC.press@usda.gov.
March 15 Last Day to Complete Enrollment for 2021 Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage Programs
Tue Feb 9, 2021 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 must do so by March 15. Producers who have not yet signed a 2021 enrollment contract or who want to make an election change should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to make an appointment. Program enrollment for 2021 is required in order to participate in the programs, but elections for the 2021 crop year are optional and otherwise remain the same as elections made for 2020.
USDA Extends General Signup for Conservation Reserve Program
Fri Feb 5, 2021 12:30 PMWASHINGTON, February 5, 2021 – 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.
USDA Announces February 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers
Mon Feb 1, 2021 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced loan interest rates for February 2021, which are effective February 1.
USDA Temporarily Suspends Debt Collections, Foreclosures and Other Activities on Farm Loans for Several Thousand Distressed Borrowers Due to Coronavirus
Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:00 AMWASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021 - Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture today 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; and 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.
USDA Offers New Forest Management Incentive for Conservation Reserve Program
Tue Jan 19, 2021 02:30 PMWASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available $12 million for use in making payments to forest landowners with land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in exchange for their implementing healthy forest management practices. Existing CRP participants can now sign up for the Forest Management Incentive (FMI), which provides financial incentives to landowners with land in CRP to encourage proper tree thinning and other practices.
USDA and Dairy Farmers Work Together to Mitigate Risk for 2021
Mon Jan 18, 2021 09:00 AMWASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2021 – In an unprecedented year, USDA staff and dairy producers across the country worked together to protect dairy operations for the 2021 production year under USDA’s risk management program options – the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), and Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle (LGM) programs. Recent enrollment data for these programs indicate that dairy operations are proactively managing their risk.
USDA Offers Additional Assistance for Certain Producers Through Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Fri Jan 15, 2021 10:00 AMWashington, D.C., January 15, 2021 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide additional assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), expanding eligibility for some agricultural producers and commodities as well as updating payments to accurately compensate some producers who already applied for the program. Producers who are now eligible and those who need to modify existing applications due to these updates can contact USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26. Some of these changes are being made to align with the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 while others are discretionary changes being made in response to ongoing evaluation of CFAP.
USDA Reminds Fishermen of January 15 Deadline for Seafood Trade Relief Program
Fri Jan 8, 2021 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds fisherman of the Jan. 15 deadline to apply for the Seafood Trade Relief Program (STRP), which provides support for fishermen impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments. For more information on the program, including guidance on how to apply, visit farmers.gov/seafood or call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.
USDA Seeks Members for Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture
Wed Jan 6, 2021 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking members for a new advisory committee on urban agriculture, part of a broader effort to focus on the needs of urban farmers. The 12-person committee will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices as well as identify any barriers to urban agriculture.
USDA Announces Quality Loss Assistance Now Available for Eligible Producers Affected by 2018, 2019 Natural Disasters
Tue Jan 5, 2021 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that signup for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program will begin Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible crop quality losses due to natural disasters occurring in 2018 and 2019. The deadline to apply for QLA is Friday, March 5, 2021.
Conservation Reserve Program General Signup Begins Today and Ends February 12
Mon Jan 4, 2021 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2021 – 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.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for January 2021
Mon Jan 4, 2021 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for January 2021, which are effective January 4-January 31. These rates are used for a variety of farm credit options available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program
Wed Dec 23, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2020, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021.
USDA Announces Six More Farm Service Agency County Committees for Urban Agriculture, Requests Nominations
Thu Dec 17, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced six additional locations for Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees focused exclusively on urban agriculture.
FSA Quickly Implemented Crucial Programs Amid Challenging Year
Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:30 AMWASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) helped farmers, livestock producers and foresters weather a tough 2020, marked with a pandemic and natural disasters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FSA continued to deliver farm programs to producers through phone and online tools, using social distancing guidelines. The agency also provided extra flexibilities to its programs, adjusting reporting dates and loan processing timelines, and continued to expand technology and streamline services to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
In Challenging Year, USDA Continued its Focus on America’s Farmers and Ranchers
Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:15 AMWASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2020 – USDA farm programs helped farmers and ranchers weather a tough 2020, one marked with a pandemic and multiple natural disasters. USDA’s farm program agencies – the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center – worked to deliver programs to assist agricultural producers while also making strides to enhance efficiency and effectiveness to improve service to customers.
USDA Announces Increase to Certain Incentive Payments for Continuous Conservation Reserve Program
Wed Dec 9, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is increasing incentive payments for practices installed on land enrolled in the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is upping the Practice Incentive Payment for installing practices, from 5 percent to 20 percent. Additionally, producers will receive a 10 percent incentive payment for water quality practices on land enrolled in CRP’s continuous signup. FSA administers CRP on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation.
Dec. 11 Deadline Approaching for USDA Program for Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by COVID-19
Tue Dec 1, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) by Dec. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers facing market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for December 2020
Tue Dec 1, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for December 2020, which are effective December 1-December 31, 2020.
USDA Reminds Dairy Producers of Dec. 11 Deadline for 2021 Safety-Net Enrollment
Mon Nov 16, 2020 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds dairy producers that the deadline to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for calendar year 2021 is Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened DMC signup in October to help producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities.
USDA to Open Signup for the Conservation Reserve Program and CRP Grasslands in Early 2021
Thu Nov 12, 2020 03:00 PMWASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from Jan. 4, 2021, to Feb. 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021 to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and provide annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
Apply Now for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2
Thu Nov 12, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2020 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) is Dec. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.
2020 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Underway
Mon Nov 9, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mailed ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the local FSA county office or postmarked by December 7.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for November 2020
Mon Nov 2, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, November 2, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for November 2020, which are effective November 1-November 30, 2020.
More than $7 Billion Paid in Second Round of USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Mon Oct 26, 2020 05:45 PMWashington, D.C., Oct. 26, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that in the first month of the application period, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) approved more than $7 billion in payments to producers in the second round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. CFAP 2 provides agricultural producers with financial assistance to help absorb some of the increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
USDA Reminds Producers of Disaster Assistance Application Deadline
Fri Oct 23, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds producers that the deadline to submit applications for disaster recovery assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses is Friday, Oct. 30. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) launched a new tool on farmers.gov to help producers with the application process.
USDA Issues $1.68 Billion in Payments to Producers Enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program
Thu Oct 15, 2020 01:30 PMWASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes.
Enrollment Begins for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs for 2021
Wed Oct 14, 2020 02:30 PMWASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2020 – Agricultural producers can now make elections and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2021 crop year. The signup period opened Tuesday, Oct. 13. These key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety-net programs help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops, and more than $5 billion in payments are in the process of going out to producers who signed up for the 2019 crop year.
USDA Announces Oct. 30 Deadline to Submit Wildfire, Hurricane Disaster Assistance Applications
Fri Oct 9, 2020 03:30 PMWASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, as the deadline to submit applications for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses. USDA did not originally specify a deadline when the program was announced.
Dairy Margin Coverage Program Enrollment for 2021 Opens Oct. 13
Thu Oct 8, 2020 01:00 PMCHIPPEWA FALLS, WISCONSIN, Oct. 8, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 for 2021 enrollment.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for October 2020
Thu Oct 1, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, October 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for October 2020, which are effective October 1 - October 31, 2020.
USDA Announces 2021 Upland Cotton Marketing Assistance Loan Rate
Thu Oct 1, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, October 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced that the marketing assistance loan rate for 2021-crop base quality upland cotton is 52 cents per pound.
USDA Reminds Farmers of September 30 Deadline to Update Safety-Net Program Crop Yields
Fri Sep 25, 2020 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farm owners of the September 30 deadline to update Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program yields for covered commodities on the farm. This is a one-time opportunity for producers to update yields, which are used to calculate 2020 through 2023 payments.
USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2021 Sugar Loan Rates, Allotment and Marketing Allocations
Thu Sep 24, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, September 24, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the marketing assistance loan rates for sugar for crop year 2020 (fiscal year 2021). CCC also announced sugar beet and sugarcane allotments and processor marketing allocations for the fiscal year 2021 domestic sugar program.
USDA to Provide Additional Direct Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by the Coronavirus
Fri Sep 18, 2020 09:15 AMWASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2020 – President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced up to an additional $14 billion for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) will begin September 21 and run through December 11, 2020.
USDA Fiscal Year 2020 Sugar Program Announcements
Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:30 AMWASHINGTON, September 10, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced several actions regarding fiscal year (FY) 2020 beet and cane sugar marketing allocations and the raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ).
USDA Supports U.S. Seafood Industry Impacted by Retaliatory Tariffs
Wed Sep 9, 2020 01:15 PMWashington, D.C., September 9, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide approximately $530 million to support the U.S. seafood industry and fishermen impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments. The funding will be provided through the Seafood Trade Relief Program and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
USDA Reminds Farmers of September 30 Deadline to Update Safety-Net Program Crop Yields
Tue Sep 8, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farm owners that they have a one-time opportunity to update Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program yields for covered commodities on the farm. The deadline is September 30, 2020, to update yields, which are used to calculate the PLC payments for 2020 through 2023. Additionally, producers who elected Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) should also consider updating their yields.
USDA Designates 18 Iowa Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Thu Sep 3, 2020 02:45 PMRADCLIFFE, Iowa, Sept. 3, 2020 — Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue designated 18 Iowa counties as primary natural disaster areas, enabling producers who suffered losses because of the recent Derecho, that occurred on August 10, 2020, to be eligible for emergency loans. Additionally, Perdue reminded producers about the suite of disaster assistance programs available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including program flexibilities and a special signup through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for September 2020
Tue Sep 1, 2020 11:00 AMWASHINGTON, September 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for September 2020, which are effective September 1-September 30, 2020.
Deadline Approaching for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Fri Aug 28, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2020 –U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is Sept. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.
USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program
Fri Aug 28, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, August 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2020, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021.
USDA Extends Signup Deadline for New Conservation Pilot Program in Prairie Pothole Region
Wed Aug 26, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, August 26, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to November 20, 2020, for the Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP), a new pilot program that enables farmers to receive payments for planting perennial cover for conservation use for three to five years. Signup opened March 30, 2020, for the pilot program, which is part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and available to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
USDA Announces New Farm Service Agency County Committees for Urban Agriculture, Requests Nominations
Wed Aug 12, 2020 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, Aug. 12 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced new Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees focused exclusively on urban agriculture. County committees have enabled farmer input on the delivery of FSA programs since the 1930s, and these new committees are part of USDA’s efforts to better support urban agriculture.
USDA Announces More Eligible Commodities for CFAP
Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:45 PMWashington, D.C., Aug. 11, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11th, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these tough times.
USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification
Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:45 PMWASHINGTON, August 10, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that organic producers and handlers can apply for federal funds to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic certification through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). Applications for eligible certification expenses paid between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020, are due Nov. 2, 2020.
USDA Announces Changes to Emergency Haying and Grazing Provisions
Fri Aug 7, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced changes for emergency haying and grazing of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This includes changes outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill that streamlines the authorization process for farmers and ranchers.
New USDA Survey to Measure Areas for Improvement
Fri Aug 7, 2020 01:15 PMWASHINGTON, August 7, 2020 –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners. The survey will help USDA understand what it is doing well and where improvements are needed, specifically at the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA).
USDA Offers Annual Installment Deferral Option for Farm Storage Facility Loan Borrowers
Thu Aug 6, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2020 – To assist Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) borrowers experiencing financial hardship from the pandemic and other challenges in production agriculture, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering a one-time annual installment payment deferral option. No fees or prepayment penalties apply for borrowers who choose this FSFL loan flexibility option.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for August 2020
Mon Aug 3, 2020 01:30 PMWASHINGTON, August 3, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for August 2020, which are effective August 1-August 31, 2020.
USDA Announces More Than 1.2 Million Acres Accepted in Recent Signup for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands
Thu Jul 9, 2020 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, July 9, 2020 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the acceptance of more than 1.2 million acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands during the recent signup period that began March 16 and ended May 15. The number of acres offered during this signup period was 1.9 million acres, over 3 times the number offered during the last signup period in 2016.
USDA Announces Loan Rates for 2020 Crop Peanuts
Thu Jul 9, 2020 11:30 AMWASHINGTON, July 9, 2020 – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced 2020-crop loan rates for four types of peanuts. The rates take effect August 1, 2020, the beginning of the peanut crop year.
Additional Commodities Eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Thu Jul 9, 2020 11:15 AMWASHINGTON, July 9, 2020 – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced an initial list of additional commodities that have been added to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), and that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made other adjustments to the program based on comments received from agricultural producers and organizations and review of market data. Producers will be able to submit applications that include these commodities on Monday, July 13, 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting through Aug. 28, 2020, applications for CFAP, which helps offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronavirus pandemic. USDA expects additional eligible commodities to be announced in the coming weeks.
May Margin Triggers Dairy Margin Coverage Program Payment
Tue Jul 7, 2020 04:00 PMWASHINGTON, July 7, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that the May 2020 income over feed cost margin was $5.37 per hundredweight (cwt.), triggering the third payment of 2020 for dairy producers who purchased the appropriate level of coverage under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
USDA Announces Flexibilities for Producers Filing ‘Notice of Loss’ for Failed, Prevented Planted Acres
Thu Jul 2, 2020 02:20 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., July 2, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing additional flexibilities for producers to file on acres with failed crops or crops that were prevented from planting because of extreme weather events. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is adding these flexibilities for Notice of Loss on both insured and uninsured crops to enable Service Centers to best assist producers.
USDA Reminds Producers to Complete Crop Acreage Reports
Wed Jul 1, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., July 1, 2020 – Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after spring planting should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office before the applicable deadline. July 15 is a major deadline for most crops, but acreage reporting deadlines vary by county and by crop. Contact your FSA county office for acreage reporting deadlines that are specific to your county.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for July 2020
Wed Jul 1, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, July 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for July 2020, which are effective July 1-July 31, 2020.
USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program
Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:00 AMWASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2019, which runs from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2020.
USDA Adds Digital Options for Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, June 25, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency will now accept applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) through an online portal, expanding the options available to producers to apply for this program, which helps offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronavirus pandemic. FSA is also leveraging commercial document storage and e-signature solutions to enable producers to work with local service center staff to complete their applications from home.
USDA Dairy Safety-Net Program Signup to Begin October 12 for the 2021 Coverage Period
Thu Jun 18, 2020 03:00 PMWASHINGTON, June 18, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announces that Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) safety-net signup for 2021 coverage will begin October 12 and will run through December 11, 2020. DMC has already triggered payments for two months for producers who signed up for 2020 coverage.
June 30 Last Day to Complete Enrollment for 2020 Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage Programs
Thu Jun 11, 2020 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., June 11, 2020 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2020 must do so by June 30. Although program elections for the 2020 crop year remain the same as elections made for 2019, all producers need to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to sign a 2020 enrollment contract.
Farm Service Agency County Committee Nominations Open June 15
Wed Jun 10, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, June 10, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting nominations for county committee members on Monday, June 15, 2020. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2020 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2020.
USDA Issues First Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Payments
Thu Jun 4, 2020 12:00 PMWashington, D.C., June 4, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already approved more than $545 million in payments to producers who have applied for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. FSA began taking applications May 26, and the agency has received over 86,000 applications for this important relief program.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for June 2020
Mon Jun 1, 2020 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, June 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for June 2020, which are effective June 1-June 30, 2020.
FSA Expands Set-Aside Loan Provision for Customers Impacted by COVID-19
Thu May 21, 2020 12:45 PMWASHINGTON, May 21, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will broaden the use of the Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) loan provision, normally used in the wake of natural disasters, to allow farmers with USDA farm loans who are affected by COVID-19, and are determined eligible, to have their next payment set aside. In some cases, FSA may also set aside a second payment for farmers who have already had one payment set aside because of a prior designated disaster.
March Margin Triggers Dairy Margin Coverage Program Payment
Wed May 20, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, May 20, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced this week that the March 2020 income over feed cost margin was $9.15 per hundredweight (cwt.), triggering the first payment of 2020 for dairy producers who purchased the appropriate level of coverage under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
USDA Announces Details of Direct Assistance to Farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Tue May 19, 2020 11:00 AMWASHINGTON, D.C., May 19, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.
USDA Announces Cooperative Agreements for Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction
Mon May 11, 2020 03:00 PMWASHINGTON, May 11, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $900,000 for local governments to host a Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) pilot project for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The cooperative agreements will support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. The agreements are offered through USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.
USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
Wed May 6, 2020 03:00 PMWASHINGTON, May 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $3 million for grants through its new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until midnight July 6, 2020.
FSA Reminds Producers of Ongoing Disaster Assistance Program Signup
Fri May 1, 2020 12:45 PMWASHINGTON, May 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started making payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) to agricultural producers who suffered eligible losses because of drought or excess moisture in 2018 and 2019. Signup for these causes of loss opened March 23, and producers who suffered losses from drought (in counties designated D3 or above), excess moisture, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms or wildfires can still apply for assistance through WHIP+.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for May 2020
Fri May 1, 2020 09:00 AMWASHINGTON, May 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for May 2020, which are effective May 1-May 31, 2020.
USDA’s New CRP Pilot Program Offers Longer-Term Conservation Benefits
Wed Apr 29, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, April 29, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will open signup this summer for CLEAR30, a new pilot program that offers farmers and landowners an opportunity to enroll in a 30-year Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract. This pilot is available to farmers and landowners with expiring water-quality practice CRP contracts in the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay regions. The program signup period is July 6 to Aug. 21, 2020.
USDA Reports Record Enrollment in Key Farm Safety-Net Programs
Tue Apr 21, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, April 21, 2020 – Producers signed a record 1.77 million contracts for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2019 crop year, which is more than 107 percent of the total contracts signed compared with a 5-year average. USDA also reminds producers that June 30 is the deadline to enroll in ARC and PLC for the 2020 crop year.
USDA Announces 2020 Cotton Loan Rate Differentials
Wed Apr 15, 2020 07:00 AMWASHINGTON, April 15, 2020 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2020 crop loan rate differentials for upland and extra-long staple cotton.
USDA Announces Loan Maturity for Marketing Assistance Loans Now Extended to 12 Months
Thu Apr 9, 2020 01:15 PMWASHINGTON, April 9, 2020 – Agricultural producers now have more time to repay Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The loans now mature at 12 months rather than nine, and this flexibility is available for most commodities.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for April 2020
Fri Apr 3, 2020 10:30 AMWASHINGTON, April 3, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for April 2020, which are effective April 1-April 30, 2020. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for April is 0.625 percent, down from 1.500 percent in March.
USDA Announces Reassignments of Fiscal Year 2020 Domestic Marketing Allocations and Increases to Fiscal Year 2020 Raw and Refined Sugar Tariff-Rate Quotas
Wed Apr 1, 2020 04:00 PMWASHINGTON, April 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced several actions regarding sugar: 1) a reassignment of projected fiscal year (FY) 2020 surplus beet sugar marketing allocations among beet sugar processors, with a consequent reassignment of 750,000 short tons, raw value (STRV) to raw cane sugar imports already anticipated; 2) a reassignment of 550,000 STRV of projected FY 2020 surplus cane sugar allocations to raw cane sugar imports, of which 200,000 STRV is reassigned to raw cane sugar imports already anticipated, and 350,000 STRV (317,515 metric tons, raw value or MTRV) is applied toward an increase in the FY 2020 tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for raw cane sugar; 3) an increase in the FY 2020 refined sugar TRQ of 200,000 STRV (181,437 MTRV); and 4) an increase in the FY 2020 raw sugar TRQ of 350,000 STRV (317,515 MTRV). These actions are effective April 2, 2020.
USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program
Mon Mar 30, 2020 08:45 AMWASHINGTON, March 30, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2019, which runs from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2020.
USDA Announces 2020 Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Rice and Pulse Crops
Thu Mar 26, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2020 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the 2020 marketing assistance loan rates.
USDA Announces More Than 3.4 Million Acres Selected for General Signup Conservation Reserve Program
Thu Mar 26, 2020 01:15 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2020 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the acceptance of more than 3.4 million acres in the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup recently completed, the first general signup enrollments since 2016. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers receive an annual rental payment for establishing 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 the nation’s environment and economy.
FSA Makes Changes to Farm Loan, Disaster, Conservation and Safety Net Programs to Make it Easier for Customers to Conduct Business
Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices are open by phone appointment only until further notice, and FSA staff are available to continue helping agricultural producers with program signups, loan servicing and other important actions. Additionally, FSA is relaxing the loan-making process and adding flexibilities for servicing direct and guaranteed loans to provide credit to producers in need.
USDA Stands Up New Team to Better Serve Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:00 AMWASHINGTON, March 16, 2020 ─The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is standing up a new team of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff that will lead a department-wide effort focused on serving beginning farmers and ranchers.
Monday, March 16 Is the Last Day to Schedule an Appointment with Your FSA Office For Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Enrollment
Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:00 AMWASHINGTON, D.C., March 12, 2020 – Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their 2019 crop year elections for and enrollment in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs must schedule an appointment to do so with their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) by Monday, March 16.
USDA to Open Signup March 16 for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands
Thu Mar 5, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., March 5, 2020 – Farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup beginning March 16. The signup runs through May 15.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for March 2020
Mon Mar 2, 2020 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, March 2, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for March 2020, which are effective March 1-March 31, 2020.
USDA Opens Signup March 23 for Added Causes of Loss Under WHIP+ and Announces Disaster Assistance for Sugar Beet Producers
Fri Feb 28, 2020 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., February 28, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced additional disaster assistance available to agricultural producers, including producers impacted by drought and excess moisture as well as sugar beet growers. Through WHIP+, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is helping producers recover from losses related to 2018 and 2019 natural disasters.
USDA Announces Updates for Honeybee Producers
Wed Feb 26, 2020 03:00 PMWASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced updates to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). These updates include changes required by the 2018 Farm Bill as well as discretionary changes intended to improve the administration of the program and clarify existing program requirements.
Friday Is the Last Day to Schedule an Appointment with Your FSA Office to Compete in CRP General Signup
Tue Feb 25, 2020 01:30 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., February 25, 2020 – Agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup must make an offer of acres or schedule an appointment to do so with their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) service center by Friday, February 28.
USDA Launches New Conservation Pilot Program for Prairie Pothole Producers to Plant Perennial Cover
Mon Feb 24, 2020 09:00 AMWASHINGTON, D.C., February 24, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced a new pilot program that enables farmers in the Prairie Pothole region to receive payments for planting perennial cover for conservation use for three to five years. The new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP) pilot is available to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. The signup for this pilot starts March 30, 2020 and ends August 21.
USDA Reminds Producers of Feb. 28 Deadline for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup
Tue Feb 18, 2020 02:00 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., February 18, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup that there is less than two weeks before the enrollment deadline of February 28, 2020. This signup is available to farmers and private landowners who are either enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling for another 10- to 15-year term.
USDA Announces Details of Risk Management Programs for Hemp Producers
Thu Feb 6, 2020 01:00 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., February 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters. A pilot hemp insurance program through Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) provides coverage against loss of yield because of insurable causes of loss for hemp grown for fiber, grain or Cannabidiol (CBD) oil and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage protects against losses associated with lower yields, destroyed crops or prevented planting where no permanent federal crop insurance program is available. Producers may apply now, and the deadline to sign up for both programs is March 16, 2020.
USDA Asks USTR to Reallocate Unused Raw Sugar TRQ Volume
Thu Feb 6, 2020 06:00 AMWASHINGTON, February 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today requested that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) reallocate the unused quantities of the U.S. World Trade Organization (WTO) fiscal 2020 raw sugar import tariff-rate quota (TRQ).
USDA Issues Third Tranche of 2019 MFP Payments
Mon Feb 3, 2020 03:30 PMWashington, D.C., February 3, 2020 – At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the third and final tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. The payments will begin to show up in farmers’ bank accounts by the end of this week.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for February 2020
Mon Feb 3, 2020 09:00 AMWASHINGTON, February 3, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for February 2020, which are effective February 1-February 29, 2020. All February rates are the same as January’s.
USDA Reminds Producers of Feb. 28 Deadline for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup
Tue Jan 28, 2020 09:30 AMWASHINGTON, D.C., January 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup to enroll by February 28, 2020. This signup is available to farmers and private landowners who are either enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling for another 10- to 15-year term.
FSA Encourages Producers to Enroll Soon in Agriculture Risk and Price Loss Coverage Programs
Wed Jan 15, 2020 03:00 PMWASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 15, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. March 15, 2020 is the enrollment deadline for the 2019 crop year.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for January 2020
Fri Jan 3, 2020 12:00 PMWASHINGTON, January 3, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for January 2020, which are effective January 1-January 31, 2020. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for January is 1.500 percent, down from 1.625 percent in December.
USDA Farm Programs Help Farmers and Ranchers During 2019 Challenges
Thu Dec 19, 2019 09:00 AMWASHINGTON, D.C., December 19, 2019 – USDA farm programs helped producers weather a tough 2019, marked with prevented planting, delayed harvests, and unjustified foreign retaliatory tariffs. USDA’s farm program agencies – the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center – worked to deliver programs to assist farmers and ranchers. Additionally, these agencies made strides to enhance efficiency and effectiveness to improve service to their customers.
USDA Announces No Actions under Feedstock Flexibility Program
Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:40 PMWASHINGTON, December 12, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2019, which runs from Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020.
USDA Extends Deadlines for Dairy Margin Coverage, Market Facilitation Programs
Wed Dec 11, 2019 10:30 AMWASHINGTON, D.C., December 11, 2019 – Due to the prolonged and extensive impacts of weather events this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today extended the deadline to December 20 for producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for the 2020 calendar year. The deadline had been December 13. USDA announced is also continuing to accept applications for the Market Facilitation Program through December 20.