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USDA Accepts 2 Million Acres in Offers Through Conservation Reserve Program General Signup
Thu May 5, 2022 09:30 AM US/EasternGeorgia, May 3, 2022 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 2 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and landowners through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup, which included 9756 acres in Georgia. This is the first of the program’s multiple signups occurring in 2022. With about 3.4 million acres expiring this year, Vilsack encourages producers and landowners to consider the Grassland and Continuous signups, both of which are currently open.
USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Signups for 2022
Mon Jan 31, 2022 01:30 PM ESTGA, Jan. 26, 2022 – Agricultural producers and landowners can sign up soon for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a cornerstone conservation program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the Biden-Harris Administration effort to address climate change and achieve other natural resource benefits. The General CRP signup will run from Jan. 31 to March 11, and the Grassland CRP signup will run from April 4 to May 13.
Georgia USDA Agencies to host "Roadmap to Success" Virtual Workshop for New and Prospective Farmers and Ranchers
Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:30 AM ESTAthens, GA, 01/18/2022 - The Georgia USDA announced a virtual workshop for new and prospective farmers to learn more about getting started with their farming operations and working with the USDA agencies to assist them. The "Roadmap to Success" virtual workshop will be held on February 23, 2022 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Deadline Extended to Apply for Pandemic Support for Certified Organic and Transitioning Operations
Mon Jan 3, 2022 12:30 PM ESTWASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline for agricultural producers who are certified organic, or transitioning to organic, to apply for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP). This program provides pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses. The deadline to apply for 2020 and 2021 eligible expenses is now Feb. 4, 2022, rather than the original deadline of Jan. 7, 2022.
Deadline Extended to Apply for Pandemic Support for Certified Organic and Transitioning Operations
Mon Jan 3, 2022 12:30 PM ESTBackground: USDA has extended the deadline for agricultural producers who are certified organic, or transitioning to organic, to apply for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP). The deadline to apply for 2020 and 2021 eligible expenses is now Feb. 4, 2022, rather than the original deadline of Jan. 7, 2022.
USDA Builds Pandemic Support for Certified Organic and Transitioning Operations
Wed Nov 10, 2021 03:00 PM ESTWASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses to agricultural producers who are certified organic or transitioning to organic. USDA will make $20 million available through the new Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) as part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, which provides new, broader and more equitable opportunities for farmers, ranchers and producers.
USDA Designates Four Georgia Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Thu Oct 28, 2021 09:00 AM ESTThis Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
Biden Administration Appoints Arthur Tripp to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Georgia
Mon Oct 25, 2021 08:00 AM ESTWASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2021— The Biden Administration recently appointed Arthur Tripp as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA Georgia Farm Service Agency (FSA). Tripp joined the Georgia FSA team on Oct. 11, 2021.
In Historic Move, USDA to Begin Loan Payments to Socially Disadvantaged Borrowers under American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005
Fri May 21, 2021 04:00 PM ESTAthens, May 21, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) today published the first notice of funding availability (NOFA) (PDF, 242 KB) announcing loan payments for eligible borrowers with qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005. The official NOFA will be published in the Federal Register early next week and USDA expects payments to begin in early June and continue on a rolling basis. A subsequent notice addressing guaranteed loan balances and direct loans that no longer have collateral and have been previously referred to the Department of Treasury for debt collection for offset, will be published within 120 days.
USDA Announces New State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Georgia
Tue Aug 11, 2020 07:09 AM America/New_YorkAthens, Georgia, August 11, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced Rachel McLocklin Santos as the new State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Georgia, serving as an appointee of President Donald J. Trump. FSA State Executive Directors help implement USDA policies in planning, organizing and administering FSA programs in their respective states. They are also responsible for running the day-to-day activities of the state FSA office.
Additional Commodities Eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Thu Jul 9, 2020 06:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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.
USDA Reminds Georgia Producers to Complete Crop Acreage Reports
Tue Jul 7, 2020 05:50 AM America/New_YorkAthens, GA, July 7, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds Georgia producers to complete crop acreage reports by the applicable deadline for their county. Acreage reporting dates vary by crop and by county. Contact your FSA county office for a list of acreage reporting deadlines by crop.
June 30 Last Day to Complete Enrollment for 2020 Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage Programs
Thu Jun 11, 2020 01:12 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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 01:07 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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.
Farmers and Ranchers in Georgia Can Now Apply for Financial Assistance through USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Tue May 26, 2020 01:52 PM America/New_YorkAthens, GA, May 26, 2020 – Agricultural producers can now apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which provides direct payments to offset impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. The application and a payment calculator are now available online, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff members are available via phone, fax and online tools to help producers complete applications. The agency set up a call center in order to simplify how they serve new customers across the nation.
FSA Expands Set-Aside Loan Provision for Customers Impacted by COVID-19
Thu May 21, 2020 01:42 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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.
USDA Announces Details of Direct Assistance to Farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Tue May 19, 2020 03:43 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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 Offers Farm Loans for Farmers Facing COVID-19 Related Challenges
Thu May 7, 2020 03:30 PM America/New_YorkAthens, GA, May 7, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers that FSA offers farm ownership and farm operating loans to agricultural producers who may not find success obtaining loans from their traditional financial institutions because of COVID-19. Farmers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank can apply for FSA direct or guaranteed loans.
USDA Reminds Georgia Producers to Complete Crop Acreage Reports
Wed May 6, 2020 03:09 PM America/New_YorkAthens, GA, May 6, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in Georgia are currently open to phone and virtual appointments only but can still work with producers on timely filing crop acreage reports. FSA staff can provide assistance over the phone or email.
FSA Reminds Producers of Ongoing Disaster Assistance Program Signup
Mon May 4, 2020 02:41 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, May 4, 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 Stands Up New Team to Better Serve Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Mon Mar 16, 2020 06:45 AM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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.
FSA 2019 Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Program (ARC/PLC) Sign-up Deadline March 16, 2020
Tue Jan 28, 2020 12:47 PM America/New_YorkAthens, GA., Jan. 28, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk Loss (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. March 16, 2020 is the enrollment deadline for the 2019 crop year.
USDA Reminds Producers of Feb. 28 Deadline for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup
Tue Jan 28, 2020 09:52 AM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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.