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Arkansas Environmental Assessments for Public Review
There are no Environmental Assessments available for public review at this time. Please check back for updates.Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program
USDA’s Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) helps to cover certification and education expenses for agricultural producers who are certified organic or transitioning to organic. Certified operations and transitional operations may apply for OTECP for eligible expenses paid during the 2020 and 2021 program years and the program will continue into 2022. Eligible expenses include certification expenses, registration fees for educational events and soil testing as required by the National Organic Program.
Signup for OTECP for 2020 and 2021 is Nov. 8, 2021 through Feb. 4, 2022. FSA extended the original signup deadline, which was Jan. 7, 2022. Learn more at farmers.gov/otecp.
USDA Provides $1.8 Billion to Offset Market Fluctuations
Agricultural producers who enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2020 crop year are receiving $1.8 billion, providing critical support to help mitigate fluctuations in either revenue or prices for certain crops.
FSA is also encouraging producers to contact their local USDA Service Centers to make or change elections and to enroll for 2022, providing future protections against market fluctuations. The election and enrollment period opened on Oct. 18, 2021 and runs through March 15, 2022.
Lenders Can Now Apply for New Heirs’ Property Relending Program
Intermediary lenders -- cooperatives, credit unions, can now apply for loans through the new Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP) through October 29, 2021.Through HPRP, FSA loans up to $5 million at a 1% interest rate to eligible lenders. Then, those eligible lenders will reloan funds to heirs to help resolve title issues by financing the purchase or consolidation of property interests and financing costs associated with a succession plan. Intermediary lenders should apply using the HPRP application form (FSA-2637), which can be submitted to a farm loan chief at a local USDA Service Center.
Visit www.farmers.gov/heirs/relending to learn more.
USDA to Invest $67 Million to Help Heirs Resolve Land Ownership and Succession Issues
USDA is providing $67 million in competitive loans through the new Heirs’ Property Relending Program, which aims to help agricultural producers and landowners resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues.
Intermediary lenders -- cooperatives, credit unions, and nonprofit organizations – can apply for loans up to $5 million at up to 1% interest once the Farm Service Agency (FSA) opens the two-month signup window in late August. Visit www.farmers.gov/heirs/relending to learn more.

USDA is committed to delivering financial assistance to farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers who have been impacted by COVID-19 market disruptions through our new initiative – USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers. Stay updated on announcements under the USDA Pandemic Assistance to Producers initiative at farmers.gov.
Pandemic Response and Safety Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a Request for Applications (RFAs) for the Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grants program. This grant program will provide assistance to small businesses in certain commodity areas, including small scale specialty crop producers, food processors, manufacturers, distributors and farmers markets. Small businesses and nonprofits can apply for a grant to cover COVID-related expenses such as workplace safety measures, retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety, shifting to online sales platforms, transportation, worker housing, and medical costs. The minimum funding request is $1,500 and the maximum funding request is $20,000.
Eligible entities should visit the PRS grant portal at usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov for complete information on the program, including how to obtain a free of charge DUNS Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) before applying for this program. Applications must be submitted electronically through the grant portal by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 22, 2021.
Arkansas Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) Normal Grazing Period
The Arkansas State Committee has determined that the grazing periods listed in the chart below are applicable to all Arkansas counties for 2018 and subsequent crop years.
Pasture Type | Beginning Date of Normal Grazing Period | Normal Harvest Date | Normal Grazing Period Days |
---|---|---|---|
Full season improved mixed pasture | January 15 | November 15 | 305 |
Full season improved pasture | March 15 | November 15 | 246 |
Native pasture | March 15 | November 15 | 246 |
Forage sorghum crops planted specifically for the purpose of providing grazing for covered livestock | April 1 | October 31 | 214 |
Annual Ryegrass | November 1 | March 31 | 151 |
Small grain crops planted specifically for the purpose of providing grazing for covered livestock (non-irrigated) | November 1 | March 31 | 151 |
Dates to Remember
- January 2, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- January 16, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- February 20, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- May 29, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- June 19, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- July 4, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- September 4, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- October 9, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- November 10, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- November 23, 2023 - FSA offices closed
- December 25, 2023 - FSA offices closed
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Planting Dates for Arkansas
Commodity | FCIC Final Planning Date |
---|---|
Corn | April 25 Note: This date applies to all counties except for Benton, Clay, Craighead, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Randolph Counties |
Corn | May 1 Benton, Clay, Craighead, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Randolph Counties |
Grain Sorghum | May 15 |
Upland Cotton | May 20 Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff Counties |
Upland Cotton | May 25 Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Clark, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, and Pulaski Counties |
Peanuts | May 25 |
Rice | May 25 |
Soybeans - Not following another crop | June 15 |
Soybeans - Following another crop | June 25 |
Ongoing
- Final Date to Inform FSA of Crop Losses is Prior to the Crop Disposition.
- Reports of Failed Acreage Must be Filed with the County Office Before Disposition of the Crop.
- Reports of Prevented Planting Acreage Must be Filed with the County Office no Later than 15 Calendar Days after the Final Planting Date for that County
Latest FSA News for Arkansas
USDA Announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Signup for 2023
USDA Announces Additional Assistance for Distressed Farmers Facing Financial Risk
USDA Encourages Rice Farmers to Prepare for new Rice Production Program
USDA Develops Simplified Direct Loan Application to Improve Customer Service
USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production