Please submit all media inquiries for FSA to FPAC.BC.press@usda.gov.
USDA Accepts 2 Million Acres in Offers Through Conservation Reserve Program General Signup
Tue May 3, 2022 03:00 PM US/MountainIDAHO, 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 82,346 acres in Idaho. 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 To Compensate Drought-Stricken Ranchers for Above Normal Costs to Haul Livestock to Forage
Wed Apr 6, 2022 03:00 PM US/MountainIdaho, April 6, 2022— Due to the persistent drought conditions in the Great Plains and West, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering additional relief through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to help ranchers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres. This policy enhancement complements previously announced ELAP compensation for hauling feed to livestock. ELAP livestock and feed hauling assistance is retroactive for 2021 and will be available for losses in 2022 and subsequent years.
USDA Offers CLEAR30 Option for Producers to Enroll Land with Expiring Conservation Contracts
Fri Apr 1, 2022 03:00 PM US/MountainIDAHO, April 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the signup period for its Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers initiative (CLEAR30) — a nationwide opportunity for certain landowners and agricultural producers currently implementing water quality practices through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to enroll in 30-year contracts, extending the lifespan and strengthening the benefits of important water quality practices on their land.
USDA to Provide Payments to Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought or Wildfire
Thu Mar 31, 2022 03:00 PM US/MountainWASHINGTON, March 31, 2022 – The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that ranchers who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for forage losses due to severe drought or wildfire in 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments for increases in supplemental feed costs in 2021 through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP).
USDA Encourages Producers to Enroll Grasslands into Special Conservation Reserve Program Signup
Wed Mar 30, 2022 03:49 PM US/MountainWASHINGTON, March 30, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages producers and landowners to enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting next week through May 13, 2022. Grassland CRP provides a unique opportunity for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners to keep land in agricultural production and supplement their income while improving their soils and permanent grass cover. The program had its highest enrollment in history in 2021 and is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader effort to equip producers with the tools they need to help address climate change and invest in the long-term health of our natural resources.
USDA Updates Eligibility for Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program
Fri Mar 18, 2022 11:37 AMWASHINGTON, March 17, 2022— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has clarified the definition of a spot market sale and hog eligibility under the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP), which assists producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale from April 16, 2020, through Sept. 1, 2020. Hog producers will also now be required to submit documentation to support information provided on their SMHPP application. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications through April 29, 2022, which is an extension of the April 15, 2022, deadline previously set for the program.
USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs to Increase Equity
Wed Mar 9, 2022 02:00 PM US/MountainWASHINGTON, March 8, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating its farm loan programs to better support current borrowers, including historically underserved producers. These improvements are part of USDA’s commitment to increase equity in all programs, including farm loans that provide important access to capital for covering operating expenses and purchasing land and equipment.
New Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to Meet March 23-24
Wed Mar 9, 2022 11:00 AM America/BoiseWASHINGTON, March 8, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host the first public meeting of the inaugural Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on March 23-24, 2022. The public – including urban producers– is encouraged to attend.
Biden Administration Appoints Matt Gellings to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Idaho
Thu Jan 20, 2022 07:00 AM MSTWASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2022— The Biden Administration recently appointed Matt Gellings as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA Idaho Farm Service Agency (FSA). Gellings joined the Idaho FSA team on Jan. 18, 2022.
USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Idaho Farmers and Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought
Tue Aug 24, 2021 01:30 PM ESTIdaho agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by the ongoing, severe drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. As agricultural producers move into recovery mode and assess damages, they should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages.
USDA Reminds Farmers of September 30 Deadline to Update Safety-Net Program Crop Yields
Tue Sep 8, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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.
Deadline Approaching for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Fri Aug 28, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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 More Eligible Commodities for CFAP
Tue Aug 11, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_YorkWashington, 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 03:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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 Oct. 31, 2020.
New USDA Survey to Measure Areas for Improvement
Fri Aug 7, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, Aug. 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 10:00 AM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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 Stands Up New Team to Better Serve Beginning Farmers and Ranchers in Idaho
Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:00 AM America/New_YorkBoise, ID July 31, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is standing up a new team that will lead a department-wide effort focused on serving beginning farmers and ranchers
Was Your Operation Impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic? Apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Today
Fri Jul 24, 2020 04:00 PM America/New_YorkBoise, ID, July 24, 2020 - Farmers and ranchers feed our state, our nation, and in fact, our world. You work long hours to provide essential resources for us all, and in these challenging times, I want you to know that USDA is here to support you and your operation through our Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP. Whether you farm one acre or many more, grow food for local markets or big supply chains, CFAP can help. We’re accepting applications through August 28 and encouraging producers to apply now.
Additional Commodities Eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Thu Jul 9, 2020 02:00 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 Announces More Than 1.2 Million Acres Accepted in Recent Signup for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands
Thu Jul 9, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_YorkBOISE, ID, 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 Designates Three Idaho Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Tue Jul 7, 2020 07:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, July 7, 2020 — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated four Nevada counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Elko, Eureka, Lander, and White Pine counties who suffered losses due to recent drought, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.
May Margin Triggers Dairy Margin Coverage Program Payment
Tue Jul 7, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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 Designates Four Nevada Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Tue Jul 7, 2020 11:00 AM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, July 7, 2020 — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated four Nevada counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Elko, Eureka, Lander, and White Pine counties who suffered losses due to recent drought, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.
USDA Announces Flexibilities for Producers Filing ‘Notice of Loss’ for Failed, Prevented Planted Acres
Thu Jul 2, 2020 04:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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 Adds Digital Options for Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Thu Jun 25, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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
Thu Jun 18, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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 02:00 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 04:00 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.
USDA Issues First Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Payments
Thu Jun 4, 2020 08:00 AM America/New_YorkWashington, 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.
Farmers and Ranchers in Idaho Can Now Apply for Financial Assistance through USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Tue May 26, 2020 04:00 PM America/New_YorkBoise, ID, 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 Implements Set-Aside Loan Provision for Customers
Thu May 21, 2020 04:00 PM ESTWashington, D.C., 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 05:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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 02:00 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 Reports Record Enrollment in Key Farm Safety-Net Programs
Tue Apr 21, 2020 09:00 AM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, 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.