WELCOME TO IDAHO FARM SERVICE AGENCY
FSA’s Customer Kiosks now available nationwide
New Customer Kiosks will make your county office visits quicker and easier. The new customer kiosks from USDA’s Farm Service Agency are now available at every county office nationwide. These kiosks help to streamline your visit to your local county office and easily access a variety of features such as signing FSA documents, utilizing the Loan Assistance Tool, browsing USDA programs, accessing the internet, accessing necessary personal information, and signing up for a Login.gov account, which provides access to farmers.gov level two features and other USDA and U.S. Government web resources. Future kiosk functionality enhancements include a customer check-in application, self-service option for FSA program applications and documents, financial inquiries and more.
USDA Reminds Idaho Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports
Agricultural producers in Idaho should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline after planting is complete. The acreage reporting deadline for most crops in Idaho is July 15, 2024. Idaho producers can use the Service Center Locator to find contact information for their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.
Farm Service Agency Seeking Nominations for Farmers and Ranchers to Serve on Local County Committees
Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2024 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2024.
Read News Release for more information
Haga clic aquí para la versión en español
Producers and Landowners Can Now Sign Up for USDA's Grassland Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can now sign up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP). The signup runs from June 3 through June 28, 2024. Grassland CRP, offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands and provide important conservation benefits for wildlife, soil health and carbon sequestration, all while continuing most grazing and haying practices.
USDA Now Accepting Applications for Available Funds to Help Cover Organic Certification Costs
Through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will cover up to 75% of organic certification costs at a maximum of $750 per certification category. FSA is now accepting applications, and organic producers and handlers should apply for OCCSP by the Oct. 31, 2024, deadline for eligible expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024.
Dairy Producers in Idaho are Reminded to Enroll in 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage by April 29
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging dairy producers to enroll by April 29, 2024, for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), an important safety net program that helps offset milk and feed price differences. This year’s DMC signup began Feb. 28, 2024, and payments, retroactive to January, began in March 2024. So far, DMC payments triggered in January and February of 2024 at margins of $8.48 and $9.44 respectively.
Producers Have Until March 15 to Enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage (ARC/PLC) Program
Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year have until March 15, 2024, to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provide vital income support to farmers who experience substantial declines in crop prices or revenues for the 2024 crop year. As of February 22, 2024, Idaho producers have completed 8,669 contracts, representing 59.1% of the more than 14,660 expected contracts in Idaho. Please contact your local FSA county office as soon as possible to set an appointment before the March 15 deadline.
REMINDER: 2024 ARC/PLC signup ends March 15, 2024
USDA Now Accepting Applications for Farm Loans Online
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers. More than 26,000 customers who submit a Direct Loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet and build a farm operating plan. This tool is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, improve customer service, and expand credit access. See news release for more information.
USDA Makes Producer-Friendly Change to 2023 Notice of Loss Requirements for Two Livestock Disaster Assistance Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has waived certain notice of loss requirements for 2023 for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). In an effort to streamline assistance to support access to critical 2023 natural disaster recovery assistance, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is waiving the requirement to submit ELAP or LIP notices of loss within a pre-determined number of days for 2023. Instead, producers have the flexibility to submit 2023 notices of loss as soon as possible, once losses are realized, following a natural disaster event or no later than the established annual program application for payment deadlines for each program. FSA county committees are also being asked to re-evaluate 2023 ELAP and LIP late-filed notices of loss to determine if the waiver applies.
Read News Release for more information
Haga clic aquí para la versión en español
Inflation Reduction Act Assistance for Distressed Borrowers
Since October 2022, USDA has provided approximately $1.5 billion in immediate assistance to more than 24,000 financially distressed direct and guaranteed FSA loan borrowers through the Inflation Reduction Act.
FSA is currently accepting individual requests for assistance from borrowers who took certain extraordinary measures to avoid delinquency on their direct FSA loans, missed a recent installment, or are unable to make their next scheduled installment.
For more information on eligibility, or to submit a request for assistance, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center or visit farmers.gov/inflation-reduction-investments/assistance.
Discrimination Financial Assistance Program
The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program is a new program, authorized by Section 22007(e) of the Inflation Reduction Act, that will provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to 2021.
Details about the program, including an application and e-filing portal, are available at 22007apply.gov. Applicants can also call the free call center at 1-800-721-0970
Filing an application is FREE and does not require a lawyer. The application period is open and USDA has extended the deadline for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13, 2024.
For more information regarding the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, please click on the link below to view the Information for Applicants Fact Sheet or visit the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program website at 22007apply.gov.
Information for Applicants Fact Sheet
Haga clic aquí para la versión en español
Emergency Loans/Emergency Conservation Program
Emergency Conservation Program (helps repair damage to farm or rangeland caused by natural disasters)
Please contact your local office (click here) for more information.
USDA to Host 2018 Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session
USDA is hosting a listening session for initial input on the 2018 Farm Bill. USDA is seeking public input on the changes to existing programs implemented by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency. Each agency will take into account stakeholder input when making discretionary decisions on program implementation.
The listening session will be held Feb. 26, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in the Jefferson Auditorium in the South Building located at 14th Street and Independence Ave. S.W. in Washington, D.C.
The listening session is open to the public. Participants must register at farmers.gov/farmbill by February 22, 2019, to attend the listening session and are encouraged to provide written comments prior to the listening session. For those orally presenting comments at the listening session, written comments are encouraged to be submitted to regulations.gov by February 22, 2019. Additional written comments will be accepted through March 1, 2019. Comments received will be publicly available on www.regulations.gov.
For more information on the listening session visit farmers.gov/farmbill.
Farm Loan Programs
Microloan limit now at $50,000. For information about microloans and other Farm Service Agency loan products click here
Latest FSA News for Idaho
USDA Designates Two Idaho Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Area for Drought
USDA Designates Mineral County in Montana as a Primary Natural Disaster Area for Drought
Farm Service Agency Seeking Nominations for Farmers and Ranchers to Serve on Local County Committees
USDA Awards $50 Million to Support Farmworkers and Agricultural Employers
USDA Opens Application Period for Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreements
USDA Seeks Feedback from Producers About 2024 Crops, Stocks, Inventories, and Values
USDA Designates Two Idaho Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought
Producers and Landowners Can Now Sign Up for USDA's Grassland Conservation Reserve Program