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USDA Now Accepting Applications for Farm Loans Online
Wed Dec 6, 2023 06:25 PMWASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2023 – 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.USDA Designates Two More Counties in Western Washington as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought
Wed Dec 6, 2023 05:28 PMThis 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 to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.USDA Designates Two Counties in Western Washington as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought
Thu Nov 16, 2023 03:00 PM PSTThis 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 to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.
2023 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Open This Week
Mon Nov 6, 2023 12:00 PM PSTWASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots this week for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas for these committee members who make important decisions about how Federal farm programs are administered locally. Producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or have their ballots postmarked by Dec. 4, 2023, for those ballots to be counted.USDA to Provide More Than $3 Billion to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2022 Natural Disasters
Mon Nov 6, 2023 11:30 AM PSTWASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2023 - The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $3 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2022. Eligible impacted producers can apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. The program will help offset the financial impacts of crop yield and value losses from qualifying disasters occurring in 2022.
USDA Designates Three Counties in Washington as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought
Wed Oct 25, 2023 10:00 AM PSTThis 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 to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.USDA Designates Four Counties in Western Washington as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought
Mon Oct 23, 2023 10:30 AM PSTThis 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 to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.
USDA Extends Milk Loss Program Assistance Deadline to October 30
Fri Oct 13, 2023 04:30 PM PSTWASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2023 – The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the application deadline for the Milk Loss Program (MLP) to Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, allowing more time for eligible dairy farmers to apply for much-needed, weather-related disaster recovery assistance.USDA Extends Application Deadline for Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13
Thu Oct 12, 2023 05:00 PM PSTWASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the deadline for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13, 2024, to give eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was October 31, 2023.
Farm Service Agency to Host Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program Workshop
Fri Oct 6, 2023 12:30 PM PSTSpokane Valley, WA (Oct. 6, 2023) – The Farm Service Agency in Washington is hosting an informational workshop on Oct. 13, 2023, to inform producers of available funding under the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP).
USDA Designates Three Counties in Washington and 10 Counties in Oregon as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Qualifying Drought
Wed Oct 4, 2023 05:30 PM PSTThis 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 to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.USDA Designates Six Counties in Idaho and Seven Counties in Oregon as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Qualifying Drought; Six Counties in Washington Also Eligible for Assistance
Fri Sep 22, 2023 04:30 PM PSTThis 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 to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.USDA Designates Five Counties in Eastern Washington as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought
Fri Sep 22, 2023 04:00 PM PSTThis 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 to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.
USDA Announces Milk Loss Assistance for Dairy Operations Impacted by 2020, 2021 and 2022 Disaster Events
Mon Sep 11, 2023 09:00 AM US/PacificWASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2023 –The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced Milk Loss Program (MLP) assistance for eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed, without compensation, from the commercial milk market due to qualifying weather events and the consequences of those weather events that inhibited delivery or storage of milk (e.g., power outages, impassable roads, infrastructure losses, etc.) during calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022. Administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), signup for MLP begins Sept. 11 and runs through Oct. 16, 2023.Inflation Reduction Act Section 22007 – Discrimination Financial Assistance Program
Mon Aug 7, 2023 11:00 AM PSTThe 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.
USDA Previews Emergency Relief Assistance for Agricultural Producers Who Incurred Losses Due to 2022 Natural Disaster Events
Tue May 23, 2023 12:00 AMWASHINGTON, May 19, 2023 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced plans to roll out $3.7 billion in Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) assistance to crop and livestock producers who sustained losses due to a qualifying natural disaster event in calendar year 2022. USDA is sharing early information to allow producers time to gather documents in advance of program delivery. Through distribution of remaining funds, USDA is also concluding the 2021 ELRP program by sending payments in the amount of 20% of the initial ELRP payment to all existing recipients.USDA Announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program Signup for 2023
Mon Apr 17, 2023 03:24 PMUSDA Names Appointees to the Washington Farm Service Agency State Committee
Fri Mar 17, 2023 02:00 PM ESTSpokane, Wash., March 17, 2023 - The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced appointees who will serve on the Washington USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee.
Agricultural Producers Have Until March 15 to Enroll in USDA’s Key Commodity Safety Net Programs
Mon Mar 6, 2023 01:34 PMUSDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Signup for 202
Fri Feb 17, 2023 11:33 AMUSDA Develops Simplified Direct Loan Application to Improve Customer Service
Thu Feb 9, 2023 10:19 AMUSDA Invests $9.4 Million in Compost and Food Waste Reduction Projects
Thu Feb 2, 2023 03:04 PMUSDA Announces Major Program Improvements, Progress, and Investments to Benefit American Farmers, Ranchers, and Producers
Tue Jan 10, 2023 03:29 PM2023 Dairy Margin Coverage Deadline Extended – Jan. 31, 2023, Last Day to Enroll
Thu Dec 8, 2022 04:05 PMUSDA Names Appointees to the Washington Farm Service Agency State Committee
Fri Aug 5, 2022 12:00 AM ESTSpokane, Wash., Aug. 5, 2022- The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced appointees who will serve on the Washington USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee.
Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders, keeping producers informed about FSA programs and operating in a manner consistent with USDA equal opportunity and civil rights policies.
USDA Designates Three Washington Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Wed Jun 22, 2022 05:20 PMUSDA Accepts 2 Million Acres in Offers Through Conservation Reserve Program General Signup
Wed May 4, 2022 12:13 PMUSDA Accepting New or Modified Proposals for Its State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Program
Mon Apr 18, 2022 05:32 PMUSDA Announces Partnership with Northwest Seaport Alliance to Ease Port Congestion and Restore Disrupted Shipping Services to U.S. Grown Agricultural Commodities
Fri Mar 18, 2022 09:48 AMNew Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to Meet March 23-24
Tue Mar 8, 2022 01:51 PMUSDA Extends Deadline for Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program
Thu Feb 24, 2022 03:39 PMDeadline Extended to Enroll in 2022 Dairy Margin Coverage and Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage
Thu Feb 10, 2022 10:26 AMUSDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Signups for 2022
Thu Jan 27, 2022 10:59 AMUSDA Provides Additional Pandemic Assistance to Hog Producers
Tue Dec 14, 2021 01:04 PMUSDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Washington Farmers and Livestock Producers Impacted by Wildfires and Drought
Mon Aug 23, 2021 10:01 AMEmergency Haying, Grazing of Conservation Reserve Program Acres Available to Help Livestock Producers Weather Drought
Thu Aug 19, 2021 01:08 PMUSDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification
Wed Aug 18, 2021 09:41 AMUSDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Washington Farmers and Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought
Thu Jul 29, 2021 02:48 PMDeadline Fast Approaching for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup
Thu Jul 22, 2021 01:49 PMUSDA to Provide Pandemic Assistance to Livestock Producers for Animal Losses
Tue Jul 13, 2021 04:38 PMUSDA Announces Dates for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands Signups
Tue Jul 13, 2021 10:49 AMUSDA Announces Dates for Conservation Reserve Program General and Grasslands Signups
Wed Jun 16, 2021 12:42 PMUSDA Opens Signup for CLEAR30, Expands Pilot to Be Nationwide
Tue Jun 15, 2021 12:00 PM US/EasternWASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 – Landowners and agricultural producers currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) now have a wider opportunity to enroll in a 30-year contract through the Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers initiative, called CLEAR30. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding CLEAR30 – a water-quality focused option available through CRP – to be nationwide now.
After Identifying Gaps in Previous Aid, USDA Announces ‘Pandemic Assistance for Producers’ to Distribute Resources More Equitably
Fri Apr 30, 2021 08:23 PMUSDA Announces Funding Available to Organizations to Assist Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers under Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative
Wed Apr 7, 2021 12:00 PMDairy Margin Coverage Program Enrollment for 2021 Opens Oct. 13
Fri Nov 13, 2020 07:00 PM America/New_YorkCHIPPEWA FALLS, WISCONSIN, Oct. 8, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 for 2021 enrollment.
New USDA Survey to Measure Areas for Improvement
Fri Aug 7, 2020 02:30 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2020 – WASHINGTON, August 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). A selection of 28,000 producers will receive the survey over the next few weeks, but all farmers are encouraged to take the survey at farmers.gov/survey. “We want to hear from our customers so we can learn what we’re doing right and where we’re missing the mark,” Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey said. “Good data is critical to good decision-making. The more responses we receive, the better we can understand what we need to do to improve our services to America’s farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners.” This survey is part of the President’s Management Agenda. It requires High Impact Service Provider agencies across the federal government, including FSA and NRCS, to conduct annual surveys to measure and respond to areas needing improvement. “We recognize producers and our staff may be experiencing a lot of change in how they interact with USDA,” Farm Service Agency Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “This is a good time to check in with our customers.” “We will use this input to help improve the delivery of our conservation programs as our sister agencies will do for their programs.” Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Matthew Lohr said.
Additional Commodities Eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Fri Jul 10, 2020 05:15 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.
May Margin Triggers Dairy Margin Coverage Program Payment
Wed Jul 8, 2020 11:15 AM 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 Dairy Safety-Net Program Signup to Begin October 12
Fri Jun 19, 2020 04:00 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.
USDA Issues First Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Payments
Fri Jun 5, 2020 01:00 PM 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 Washington State Can Now Apply for Financial Assistance through USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Tue May 26, 2020 10:00 AM America/New_YorkSpokane, WA 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.
USDA Announces Details of Direct Assistance to Farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Fri May 22, 2020 10:30 AM 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 Announces More Than 3.4 Million Acres Selected
Thu Mar 26, 2020 03:15 PM America/New_YorkSpokane, WA, March 26, 2020 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the acceptance of more than 3.4 million acres in the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup recently completed, the first general signup enrollments since 2016. County offices will begin notifying producers with accepted offers no later than April 3.
USDA Opens Signup March 23 for Added Causes of Loss Under WHIP+ and Announces Disaster Assistance for Sugar Beet Producers
Mon Mar 9, 2020 01:45 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, D.C., February 28, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced additional disaster assistance available to agricultural producers, including producers impacted by drought and excess moisture as well as sugar beet growers. Through WHIP+, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is helping producers recover from losses related to 2018 and 2019 natural disasters.
USDA Reminds Producers of Feb 28 Deadline for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup
Tue Feb 18, 2020 06:00 PM America/New_YorkWASHINGTON, D.C., February 18, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup that there is less than two weeks before the enrollment deadline of 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.
Encourages Producers to Enroll Soon in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs
Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:30 AM America/New_YorkUSDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk Loss (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. March 15, 2020 is the enrollment deadline for the 2019 crop year.