The Washington State Farm Service Agency serves the agricultural community through 25 county USDA service centers and one state office, located in Spokane. The Washington FSA State Committee and locally-elected county committees provide producer input to federal farm programs.
- County Committee List - county/state committees and their meeting schedules.
FSA helps to ensure a stable food supply for the nation by supporting American farmers. This is accomplished through the implementation of farm programs authorized by Congress. The programs currently carried out in Washington State are categorized under the following headings.
To find out more about the rules and regulations related to FSA programs click here.
FSA Ensures the civil rights of every individual who requests access to programs administered by the agency.
USDA Issues Additional Pandemic Assistance Payments for Underserved Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is currently making automatic Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) top-up payments to underserved farmers and ranchers. Payments will be based on the 2020 program certification on form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification.
Producers who have not previously certified to their status for the 2020 program year have until Feb. 10, 2023, to submit form CCC-860 to be eligible for the additional payments. Contact your local USDA Service Center for more information.
Pandemic Assistance for Producers
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.
Reporting Agricultural Losses and Agricultural Disaster Relief
Farmers and ranchers know all too well that natural disasters can be a common, and likely a costly, variable to their operation. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has emergency assistance programs to provide financial help when disasters strike. Timely reporting of damage and loss is essential for program participation. Additionally, some of those programs require a disaster designation to trigger eligibility. Agricultural producers can play a vital role in the disaster designation process. Please report crop and livestock losses and damage to agricultural land or structure s to your Farm Service Agency county office and your crop insurance agent, if applicable.
Additional resources available:
- Washington State FSA Overview of Disaster Programs
- Forest Service Overview of Programs and Temporary Grazing Permit Application
- NRCS Overview of the Emergency Watershed Program
- WSU Forester Contacts and Forest Stewardship Class Brochure
- 2020 FSA Disaster Program - Power Point
Resources Available for Small and Midsize Farmers
USDA has put together several resources for accessing capital, risk management and other issues. The information can be viewed here.
County Committee Elections
County Committee (COC) Elections are underway. The election of responsible agricultural producers to FSA COC is important to ALL farmers and ranchers with large or small operations. It is crucial that every eligible producer take part in this election because county committees are a direct link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. They help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level. Farmers who serve on committees help decide the kind of programs their counties will offer. They work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers.
The following Local Administrative Areas are currently up for election across Washington stated: LAA Map
Information about the COC process can be found on our website https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/county-committee-elections/ or at your local county office. From June 15 through August 1, you can nominate yourself or a candidate of your choice for your local FSA county committee. Persons participating or cooperating in FSA’s programs - and of legal voting age - can be nominated. This includes farmers and ranchers who may be participating in other USDA agency programs but have their farm on file with FSA. FSA encourages all interested agricultural producers, including women and minority growers, to seek nomination.
Featured Program - Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
The Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program provides financial assistance to producers when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. more
Featured Program - Tree Assistance Program (TAP)
The Tree Assistance Program provides financial relief to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters. The Bi-Partisan Budget Act of of 2018 made several program changes. more
IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES
CROP ACREAGE REPORTING DATES FOR 2022 CROP YEAR
- May 15, 2022 – Cabbage planted March 14 and April 20.
- July 15, 2022 – Perennial forage and spring planted alfalfa seed; cabbage planted April 20 to June 10; onions planted March 14 to April 20; all other crops and land uses, including CRP, except crops listed for the other dates.
- August 15, 2022 – Buckwheat, cabbage planted June 11 to August 10.
NAP CROP PRODUCTION REPORTING DATES FOR 2022 CROP YEAR
- December 15, 2022 – NAP covered fall-seeded crops. Fall canola, fall mint, fall peas, fall lentils, fall seeded small grains.
- January 15, 2022 – NAP covered tree fruits, blueberries and cranberries.
- July 15, 2022 – NAP covered crops not listed above, including perennial forage for hay or seed.
Late filed production may be accepted for Actual Production History (APH) purposes in a subsequent year.
NAP APPLICATION CLOSING DATES FOR 2023 CROPS
- May 31, 2022 – Nursery crops (check with your local county FSA office to verify that Federal crop insurance coverage is not available in your county and the that the crop would not be consider under another crop category for FSA program purposes). The 2023 acreage reporting deadline for nursery crops is May 31, 2022.
- August 31, 2022 – Cabbage (for seed or fresh), canola, carrots (for seed), cauliflower (for seed or fresh), onions (for seed, fresh or processing), rapeseed, rutabaga (for seed or fresh), turnips (for seed or fresh), and any other fall planted crops not mentioned in other closing dates.
- September 30, 2022 – Aquaculture, beets (for stecklings), Christmas trees, floriculture, garlic, mint, mushrooms, turf grass sod, perennial grazing, forage, mixed forage, and forage seed crops.
- November 20, 2022 – All Perennial crops not listed under the 9/30 category, along with asparagus, berries, grapes, hops, and tree fruits and nuts.
- December 31, 2022 – Honey.
- March 15, 2023 – Artichokes, beets (for seed or fresh), buckwheat, camelina, carrots (for fresh or processing), hemp, mustard, radish (for seed or fresh), small grain forages (wheat, barley, oats, peas), and any other spring planted crops not mentioned in other closing dates.
NAP coverage should be purchased at least 1 day before the crop is planted, but no later than the application closing date.
For perennial forage enrolled in NAP coverage, the acreage must be reported by the earlier of either 15 days before harvest or grazing, the normal harvest date in the county, or July 15.
NAP coverage cannot be offered on any crop for which catastrophic (CAT) level coverage through Federal Crop Insurance is available in the county. If you have questions regarding NAP availability or NAP application closing dates, please contact your local FSA office for more information.
Stay Current on FSA News - Instant Electronic Bulletins and Texts
GovDelivery is a free email service that enables Farm Service Agency county offices to send you bulletins, deadline reminders, newsletters and texts instantly. For text updates, contact your FSA county office. For bulletins and newsletters via email - sign up now to receive information about program details, signup dates and deadlines. Subscribe now.
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