• State Executive Director: W. Michael Sullivan
• Administrative Officer: Alison Rose
• Administrative Specialist: Leila Naylor
• Agricultural Program Specialist: Ingrid Fratantuono

Farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers have new online options to access U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Through USDA’s new streamlined process, producers doing business as an individual can now register, track and manage their applications for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) and 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) on the secure and convenient  www.farmers.gov. USDA eAuthentication does not have the mechanism to issue login accounts to businesses, corporations, other entities, or for anyone acting on behalf of another individual or entity. Producers, doing business as an individual, first need to sign up for Level 2 eAuthentication access. 

Users with a secure Level 2 eAuthentication ID, linked to their USDA customer record, can apply for select USDA programs, view and print farm maps and farm records data. Enrolling is easy! Visit farmers.gov/sign-in to learn more.

To locate a service center near you or use online services not requiring eAuthentication access, visit www.farmers.gov. For technical assistance, call the eAuthentication help desk at 1-800-457-3642.

USDA and SCORE Launch Innovative Mentorship Effort to Support New Farmers and Ranchers

SCORE matches business professionals and entrepreneurs with new business owners to mentor them through the process of starting-up and maintaining a new business. USDA and its partners across rural America are working with SCORE to support new farming and ranching operations, and identify and recruit mentors with a wealth of agricultural experience.

“SCORE’s mission to help people start and grow vibrant small businesses is boosted by this new partnership with USDA. America’s farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses will benefit from the business knowledge and expertise SCORE can offer,” said Records. “The partnership allows both SCORE and USDA to serve more people while providing America’s farmers added support to lead to more sound business operations, create profitable farms with sustainable growth and create new jobs. We are excited at the opportunity to extend SCORE’s impact to our farmers and the agriculture industry.”

SCORE mentors will partner with USDA and a wide array of groups already hard at work serving new and beginning farmers and ranchers, such as the FFA, 4-H, cooperative extension and land grant universities, nonprofits, legal aid groups, banks, technical and farm advisors. These partnerships will expand and integrate outreach and technical assistance between current and retired farmers and agri-business experts and new farmers.

This joint initiative leverages SCORE’s 10,000 existing volunteer mentors and USDA’s expertise and presence in agricultural communities to bring no-cost business mentoring to rural and agricultural entrepreneurs. This initiative will also be another tool to empower the work of many community-based organizations, cooperative extension and land grant universities working with beginning farmers in their communities. SCORE mentorship will also be available to current farmers and ranchers. Anyone interested in being a mentor can get more information and sign up on the USDA New Farmers’ website at https://newfarmers.usda.gov/mentorship.

Other News

• USDA Announces March Income over Feed Cost Margin Triggers Third 2019
• USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Producers Costs for Organic Certification
• USDA Announces New Decision Tool for New Dairy Margin Coverage Program
• USDA Extends Deadline to May 17 for Producers to Certify 2018 Crop Production for Market Facilitation Program Payments
• USDA Announces Buy-Up Coverage Availability and New Service Fees for Noninsured Crop Coverage Policies

• USDA Announces February Income over Feed Cost Margin Triggers Second 2019 Dairy Safety Net Payment

• Higher Limits Now Available on USDA Farm Loans

•  USDA Designates Six Massachusetts Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas including Bristol, Newport and Providence Counties in Rhode Island.

• USDA Designates Three Connecticut Counites as Primary Natural Disaster Areas, producers in contiguous counties including Kent and Washington Counties in Rhode Island.

Opportunity to Request a Referendum: Soybean Promotion, Research, and Information Program

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that soybean producers may request a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order, as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act. Participation in the Request for Referendum is voluntary, and producers should only participate if they wish to request a referendum on the program.

The results of the Request for Referendum will be published in a notice in the Federal Register. If at least 10 percent of eligible producers, as determined by USDA, participate in the Request for Referendum, a referendum will be held within one year from that determination.

Interested soybean producers may request a referendum during a four-week period beginning on May 6 and ending May 31, 2019. Form LS-51-1, Soybean Promotion and Research Order Request for Referendum, may be downloaded online, or obtained by mail, fax, or in person from Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices during this time.

Completed forms and supporting documentation must be returned to the appropriate county FSA office by fax or in person no later than close of business May 31, 2019, or if returned by mail, must be postmarked by midnight May 31, 2019, and received in the county FSA office by close of business on June 6, 2019.

For detailed information, including eligibility, read the full AMS announcement. To find your local office, visit www.farmers.gov.

USDA Historic Aerial Photography Available!

For more than half a century, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has acquired high quality aerial photographs to support federal farm programs. Over the years, the USDA has photographed the vast majority of the nation and its territories at approximately seven-year intervals.

The USDA’s Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO) is home to one of the country’s largest aerial film libraries. We currently house more than 70,000 rolls of film. Our imagery dates from 1955 to the present, and is available at several different scales and in stereo. The APFO has a photographic wet lab, which allows us to print photos on site.

USDA historic photography can play a vital role in environmental assessments, change detection, past land use and property boundary disputes. Our photographs are frequently ordered by attorneys, universities, local governments and individuals.

USDA imagery is available to the general public at minimal cost. We can provide black and white, color infrared, or natural color prints depending on the original film type. Enlargements up to 38”x38” are available. We can also provide tiff scans which can be viewed on any computer. We are able to certify photos for use in court.

You can order this aerial imagery by contacting the APFO by phone, fax, mail or email. Please be prepared to provide an accurate description of the area you wish to be included in your photo; this can be a legal description, latitude and longitude, or a local map. All products are made to order and completion time may vary depending on existing workload. Please include your name, address and phone number with your inquiry.

Customer Service Section
Telephone: 801-844-2922
Fax: 801-956-3653
Email: apfo.sales@slc.usda.gov

USDA Farm Service Agency
Aerial Photography Field Office
2222 West 2300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84119-2020

More information about our products and services is available on our website: www.apfo.usda.gov