USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification

Contact:
FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, 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.

USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs to Increase Equity

WASHINGTON, March 9, 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.   

Winnebago & Worth County Coverd

Administrator Zach Ducheneaux is making Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency physical loss loans available in one (1) Minnesota county due to losses caused by multiple disaster events that occurred August 11, 2023, through August 23, 2023. In addition, two (2) Iowa counties are named as contiguous counties. This notification allows Farm Service Agency 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.

USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs to Increase Equity

 SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 9, 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. 

Nebraska Disaster Designation Impacts Three Iowa Counties

A Secretarial Disaster Designation has been issued for three (3) counties in Nebraska as primary disaster areas due to 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: S5427

USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Iowa Farmers and Livestock Producers Impacted by Recent Tornadoes

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 16, 2022 – Iowa agricultural operations in Adair, Benton, Decatur, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Polk, Tama, Warren and Wayne counties have been significantly impacted by recent tornadoes and severe storms that occurred in early March 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover.   

USDA Designates Two New York Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

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.