USDA Reminds Specialty Crop Growers of Deadline to Apply for Assistance for 2023 On-Farm Food Safety Expenses

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds specialty crop growers that assistance is available for producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification through the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program. Producers can apply for assistance on their calendar year 2023 expenses through Jan. 31, 2024.  

USDA Announces Oct. 30 Deadline to Submit Wildfire, Hurricane Disaster Assistance Applications

Contact:
FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

Final Opportunity for 2018 and 2019 Disaster Recovery Assistance

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, as the deadline to submit applications for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses. USDA did not originally specify a deadline when the program was announced.

New Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to Meet March 23-24  

Contact: FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, 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.    

USDA Designates Allamakee and Winneshiek Counties as Disaster Areas Due to Drought

A Secretarial Disaster Designation has been issued for one (1) county in Minnesota as a primary disaster area for drought. Additionally, two (2) Iowa counties are contiguous to the disaster area. This determination will allow the Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Loans to be made available to eligible family farmers with qualifying production and physical losses in the primary and the contiguous counties to the declared disaster area.

Secretarial Declaration Number: S5498
Emergency Loan Application Deadline: April 22, 2024

USDA Reminds Producers of Feb. 28 Deadline

Contact: FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, 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.

New Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to Meet March 23-24 

Contact: FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, 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.    

Three Iowa Counties Impacted by Recent USDA Disaster Designation

A Secretarial Disaster Designation has been issued for 12 counties in Wisconsin as primary disaster areas for drought. Additionally, three (3) Iowa counties are contiguous to the disaster area. This determination will allow the Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Loans to be made available to eligible family farmers with qualifying production and physical losses in the primary and the contiguous counties to the declared disaster area.

Secretarial Declaration Number: S5460

Contact USDA Farm Service Agency Now to Enroll in Key Safety Net Programs – Don’t Let the March 16 Deadline Pass You By

Contact: Michaelm.sullivan@usdagov

By W. Michael Sullivan, State Executive Director in Rhode Island, USDA Farm Service Agency

The clock is ticking… March 16 is THE LAST day to make what is likely one of the most important business decisions you will make for your farming operation this year.

USDA Designates Two Iowa Counties Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought in South Dakota

This 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.