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Farm Service Agency

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

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                            - 2024 (16)                                - March (6)
                              - February (4)
                              - January (6) 
                            - 2023 (74)                                - December (9)
                              - November (4)
                              - October (4)
                              - September (7)
                              - August (5)
                              - July (6)
                              - June (8)
                              - May (9)
                              - April (4)
                              - March (5)
                              - February (5)
                              - January (8) 

Please submit all media inquiries for FSA to FPAC.BC.press@usda.gov.In a proactive effort to expedite the issuance of Stakeholder Notifications for Disaster Designations including Secretarial, Administrator’s Physical Loss Notification, Quarantine and Presidential designations, FSA is no longer posting these notifications to the FSA National webpage. Stakeholder notifications for disaster designations will be posted to state FSA webpages under the “State News Releases” section.

                          - USDA Announces April 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers   Mon Apr 1, 2024 12:00 PM US/Eastern   WASHINGTON, April 1, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for April 2024, which are effective April 1, 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.   
                          - USDA Announces 2024 Marketing Assistance Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Rice, and Pulse Crops  Fri Mar 29, 2024 12:00 PM US/Eastern   WASHINGTON, March 29, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2024 Marketing Assistance Loan rates. 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:00 PM EST5EDT  
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2023, which runs from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024.
 
                          - Applications for USDA Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants Due April 9  Tue Mar 19, 2024 01:00 PM US/Eastern   WASHINGTON, March 19, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for grants to support urban agriculture and innovative production. Applications for USDA’s Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production grants are due April 9, 2024, via grants.gov.  
                          - USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers and Communities Affected by Catastrophic Texas, Oklahoma Wildfires  Thu Mar 7, 2024 11:00 AM EST   WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by recent wildfires in the Texas panhandle and western Oklahoma. To date, around 1.3 million acres have burned across both states. USDA staff are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to agricultural producers and communities in need. 
                          - USDA Launches New Bobwhite Conservation Pilot and Announces General Conservation Reserve Program Signup  Sat Mar 2, 2024 10:00 AM EST  SIOUX FALLS, S.D., March 2, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of a new conservation initiative – Working Lands for Wildlife’s Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project, as well as the signup dates for USDA’s General Enrollment signup in the Conservation Reserve Program (General CRP), which opens March 4. Both conservation opportunities give producers tools to conserve wildlife habitat while achieving other conservation benefits, including sequestering carbon and improving water quality and soil health.    
                          - USDA Announces March 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Fri Mar 1, 2024 12:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, March 1, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for March 2024, which are effective March 1, 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.   
                          - Dairy Producers Can Enroll for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage Beginning Feb. 28  Fri Feb 23, 2024 01:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2024– Starting next Wednesday, dairy producers will be able to enroll for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), an important safety net program offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides producers with price support to help offset milk and feed price differences. This year’s DMC signup begins Feb. 28, 2024, and ends April 29, 2024. For those who sign up for 2024 DMC coverage, payments may begin as soon as March 4, 2024, for any payments that triggered in January 2024. 
                          - USDA Rallies Partners to Help with Outreach to Beginning, Veteran and Socially Disadvantaged Producers on the Conservation Reserve Program-Transition Incentives Program  Thu Feb 8, 2024 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing almost $1.8 million in cooperative agreements with six partner organizations for outreach and technical assistance to promote awareness and understanding of the Conservation Reserve Program-Transition Incentives Program among agricultural communities. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers the program as an important tool to help beginning, veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers access land, as well as keep agricultural lands in production. These partnerships build on other efforts by USDA to increase equity in program delivery and broaden the reach of its programs to underserved producers. 
 
                          - USDA to Issue $306 Million in Final Payments to Producers Impacted by 2020 and 2021 Natural Disasters  Tue Feb 6, 2024 02:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2024 - The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing final Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments totaling approximately $306 million to eligible commodity and specialty crop producers who incurred losses due to natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin issuing these additional payments to eligible producers this week. 
                          - USDA Announces February 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers   Thu Feb 1, 2024 12:00 PM EST  
****WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for February 2024, which are effective Feb. 1, 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.  
 
                          - Farmers, Ranchers Now Can Make USDA Farm Loan Payments Online  Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:00 AM EST  WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that most farm loan borrowers will be able to make payments to their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov in early February. Pay My Loan is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, especially for producers who may have limited time during the planting or harvest seasons to visit a local FSA office; modernize and improve customer service; provide additional customer self-service tools; and expand credit access to assist more producers. 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2023, which runs from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024. 
                          - USDA Invests Approximately $11.5 Million in Composting and Food Waste Reduction Projects in 23 States  Thu Jan 25, 2024 04:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, January 25, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing approximately $11.5 million in 38 cooperative agreements that support innovative, scalable waste management plans to reduce and divert food waste from landfills. The Composting and Food Waste Reduction cooperative agreements, which are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, are part of USDA’s broad support for urban agriculture. The program is jointly administered by USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The recommended projects will be implemented between now and 2026.   

 
 
                          - USDA Encourages Producers Participating in Conservation Reserve Program to Consider Forest Management Incentive     Thu Jan 25, 2024 03:00 PM EST  WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering financial assistance to agricultural producers and private landowners enrolled in its Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to improve the health of their forests. The Forest Management Incentive, available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), can help participants with forest management practices, such as brush management and prescribed burning.   
                          - USDA to Reopen Signup for Continuous Conservation Reserve Program  Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:00 AM EST  WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications for the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (Continuous CRP) signup on Jan. 12, 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers and landowners interested in conservation opportunities for their land in exchange for yearly rental payments to consider the enrollment options available through Continuous CRP, which also includes the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) offered by FSA partners. Additionally, producers participating in CRP can apply to re-enroll beginning Jan. 12, 2024 if their contracts will expire this year.   
                          - USDA Announces January 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Tue Jan 2, 2024 12:00 PM EST  WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for January 2024, which are effective Jan. 2, 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs. 
                          - USDA Announces 2024 Wool and Mohair Marketing Assistance Loan Rates  Wed Dec 27, 2023 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced Marketing Assistance Loan rates for 2024-crop graded wool by micron class. Loan rates for ungraded wool and mohair are unchanged and remained the same from the prior crop year.
 
                          - USDA Appoints New Members to the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production  Wed Dec 20, 2023 12:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed four new members to the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Federal Advisory Committee (Committee). The new members are replacing four members whose terms are expiring and rotating off the Committee. The Committee is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to support urban agriculture and innovative production, creating a network for feedback. 
                          - Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs Receive 2018 Farm Bill One Year Extension, Farmers Can Now Enroll for the 2024 Crop Year  Mon Dec 18, 2023 01:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year starting Dec. 18, 2023. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024. 
                          - USDA Requests Public Input on Reporting for  Foreign Agriculture Land Holdings  Fri Dec 15, 2023 01:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting public input – due by Feb. 16, 2024 – on how foreign filers report agricultural land holdings in the United States. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is proposing to update the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Report form so that reporting can include data on long-term lessees, data to assess the impacts of foreign investment on agricultural producers and rural communities, and to gather geospatial information. 
                          - USDA Reminds Specialty Crop Growers of Deadline to Apply for Assistance for 2023 On-Farm Food Safety Expenses  Thu Dec 14, 2023 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 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 to Begin Issuing Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program Payments  Wed Dec 13, 2023 11:35 AM EST   WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will begin issuing more than $223 million in Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) payments. These payments help producers who suffered a decrease in allowable gross revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2020 calendar year.   
                          - USDA Announces 2024 Upland Cotton Marketing Assistance Loan Rate  Thu Dec 7, 2023 12:00 PM EST  WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced that the marketing assistance loan rate for 2024-crop base quality upland cotton is 52.00 cents per pound.  
                          - USDA Now Accepting Applications for Farm Loans Online  Tue Dec 5, 2023 02:00 PM EST  WASHINGTON, 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. 
                          - USDA Announces December 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Fri Dec 1, 2023 12:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for December 2023, which are effective Dec. 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs. 
                          - USDA Provides $208 Million to Help Prevent Guaranteed Borrower Foreclosures and to Assist Emergency Loan Borrowers  Thu Nov 30, 2023 01:30 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it is providing approximately $208 million in automatic financial assistance for qualifying farm and emergency loan borrowers. This announcement is made possible by $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided in Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act, an important part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. 
                          - USDA Makes Producer-Friendly Change to 2023 Notice of Loss Requirements for Two Livestock Disaster Assistance Programs  Wed Nov 29, 2023 12:00 AM US/Eastern   WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has waived certain notice of loss requirements for 2023 for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). In an effort to streamline assistance to support access to critical 2023 natural disaster recovery assistance, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is waiving the requirement to submit ELAP or LIP notices of loss within a pre-determined number of days for 2023. Instead, producers have the flexibility to submit 2023 notices of loss as soon as possible, once losses are realized, following a natural disaster event or no later than the established annual program application for payment deadlines for each program. FSA county committees are also being asked to re-evaluate 2023 ELAP and LIP late-filed notices of loss to determine if the waiver applies.   
                          - 2023 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Open This Week  Mon Nov 6, 2023 12:00 AM EST  WASHINGTON, 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. 
                          - USDA Announces November 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Wed Nov 1, 2023 12:00 PM US/Eastern  WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for November 2023, which are effective Nov. 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.      
                          - USDA to Provide More Than $3 Billion to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2022 Natural Disasters  Fri Oct 27, 2023 02:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, 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’s Conservation Reserve Program Pays More Than $1.77 Billion to America’s Producers in Support of Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture  Mon Oct 16, 2023 03:00 PM US/Eastern   WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued more than $1.77 billion this year to agricultural producers and landowners through its Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a critical piece of the Department’s efforts to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry on working lands. Right now, CRP’s more than 667,000 participants received payments from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for their voluntary conservation efforts on more than 23 million acres of private land. 
                          - USDA Extends Milk Loss Program Assistance Deadline to Oct. 30  Fri Oct 13, 2023 01:00 PM US/Eastern   WASHINGTON, 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 Announces October 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon Oct 2, 2023 12:00 PM US/Eastern   WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for October 2023, which are effective Oct. 2, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.    
                          - Dairy Margin Coverage Program Provides Critical Support for Dairy Operations  Fri Sep 29, 2023 04:00 PM US/Eastern   WASHINGTON – Sept. 29, 2023— The August milk margin triggered the eighth consecutive payment for dairy producers who obtained Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for the 2023 program year. August’s income over feed margin is $6.46 per hundredweight (cwt.) with projected DMC payments totaling $120 million. To date, including the projected August payments, dairy producers have received more than $1.2 billion in much needed economic support for 2023 and margin forecasts indicate the likelihood of more to come before the end of the calendar year.   
                          - USDA to Begin Issuing $1.75 Billion to Agricultural Producers Through Critical Emergency Relief Programs  Wed Sep 27, 2023 09:00 AM US/Eastern   WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will begin issuing more than $1.75 billion in emergency relief payments to eligible farmers and livestock producers. These much-needed payments are helping farming and ranching operations recover following natural disasters in 2020, 2021 and 2022.  
                          - USDA Launches Program to Support Agricultural Employers and Farmworkers, Aiming to Increase Economic and Supply Chain Resilience as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda      Fri Sep 22, 2023 08:30 AM EST  
**WASHINGTON, D.C., September 22, 2023** – The Biden-Harris Administration today announced that agricultural employers can begin to apply for a pilot program designed to improve the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain by addressing workforce challenges farmers and ranchers face. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in coordination with other federal agencies, is announcing up to $65 million in grants available for the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program).  
 
                          - USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2024 Sugar Loan Rates  Thu Sep 21, 2023 12:00 AM US/Eastern  WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced sugar loan rates for crop year 2023 (fiscal year 2024). 
                          - USDA Provides $5 Million in Second Round of Payments to Help Organic Dairy Producers Cover Increased Costs   Wed Sep 20, 2023 12:00 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, September 20, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing a second round of payments for dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP), providing an additional $5 million to help dairy producers mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already paid out $15 million in the first round of payments for eligible producers, bringing total ODMAP payments to $20 million.
 
                          - USDA Announces Milk Loss Assistance for Dairy Operations Impacted by 2020, 2021 and 2022 Disaster Events  Mon Sep 11, 2023 08:00 AM US/Eastern  WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 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.  
                          - USDA Announces September 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Fri Sep 1, 2023 12:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for September 2023, which are effective Sept. 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs. 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Aug. 21, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2022, which runs from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023. 
                          - USDA Offers Disaster Program Flexibilities for  Flood-Impacted Producers in the Northeast  Mon Aug 14, 2023 02:00 PM EST   Richmond, Vt., Aug. 14, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) have authorized policy flexibilities for key disaster assistance programs and crop insurance to aid Northeast agricultural operations that have been significantly impacted by recent flooding in 2023. 
                          - USDA To Provide Additional Financial Assistance to Qualifying Guaranteed Farm Loan Borrowers Facing Financial Risk  Fri Aug 11, 2023 11:00 AM EST   WASHINGTON, August 11, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced approximately $530 million in additional, automatic financial assistance for qualifying guaranteed Farm Loan Programs (FLP) borrowers who are facing financial risk. The announcement is part of the $3.1 billion to help certain distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).  
                          - USDA to Begin Issuing Cost-Share Payments for the Emergency Grain Storage Facility Assistance Program  Mon Aug 7, 2023 04:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is beginning to issue cost-share assistance payments through the Emergency Grain Storage Facility Assistance Program (EGSFP) for approved and funded applications that have met the requirements for partial or final payment. FSA first announced $20 million for this program in March to help producers affected by eligible disaster events from Dec. 1, 2021, through Aug. 1, 2022, that damaged or destroyed large commercial grain elevators in eight Midwest states 
                          - USDA Announces August 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Tue Aug 1, 2023 09:30 AM EST   WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for August 2023, which are effective Aug. 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.  
                          - Biden-Harris Administration Announces Investments in Urban Agriculture, Food and Market Access through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda  Fri Jul 21, 2023 01:00 PM EST  PHILADELPHIA, Pa., July 21, 2023 – Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a series of investments that will increase market access and revenue streams for producers while strengthening the food system and giving consumers better access to locally grown foods and healthier choices. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small made the announcement in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as officials from the Biden-Harris Administration travel across the country to demonstrate how President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is delivering results and creating transformative new economic opportunities for families and businesses.   
                          - USDA Extends Deadline for Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Until August 11  Fri Jul 21, 2023 01:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, July 21, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for the new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) to August 11, 2023. This extension gives organic dairy producers more than two additional weeks to apply for the program. ODMAP helps producers mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry. This assistance will help keep organic dairy operations sustainable until markets return to more normal conditions.    
                          - USDA Accepts Nearly 2.7 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup, Successfully Closing the Gap and bringing CRP Near to Acreage Cap  Wed Jul 19, 2023 12:00 AM    WASHINGTON, July 19, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for nearly 2.7 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup, which received a record setting sign-up of 4.6 million acres in offers. This working lands program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and further the CRP’s impacts. Grassland CRP is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader effort to address climate change and conserve natural resources.  
                          - Financial Assistance Application Process Opens for USDA Farm Loan Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination  Fri Jul 7, 2023 12:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, July 7, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the opening of the financial assistance application process for eligible farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directs USDA to provide this assistance. Since the law’s passage, USDA has worked diligently to design the program in accordance with significant stakeholder input.  
                          - Urban Producers, Public Invited to Attend August Meeting of Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production  Thu Jul 6, 2023 01:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, July 6, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages urban producers, innovative producers and other stakeholders to submit comments for and virtually attend a public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Committee) on Aug. 1, 2023. 
                          - USDA Announces July 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon Jul 3, 2023 12:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, July 3, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for July 2023, which are effective July 3, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs. 
                          - USDA Announces Historic Investment in Wildlife Conservation, Expands Partnership to Include Additional Programs  Tue Jun 27, 2023 11:30 AM EST   BOULDER, Colo., June 27, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing that it will expand its work on wildlife conservation by investing at least $500 million over the next five years and by leveraging all available conservation programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), through its Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) effort.  
                          - Biden-Harris Administration Announces Intended Investment of Approximately $300 Million in 50 Projects Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access for Underserved Producers  Thu Jun 22, 2023 01:00 PM EST  WASHINGTON, June 22, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced its selection of 50 projects for potential award, totaling approximately $300 million. These innovative projects will help improve access to land, capital, and markets for underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. The Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access (Increasing Land Access) Program, which is funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, works to increase access to farm ownership opportunities, improve results for those with heirs’ property or fractionated land, increase access to markets and capital that affect the ability to access land, and improve land ownership, land succession and agricultural business planning.  
                          - USDA Reminds Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports by July 17, Use New Online Map Features on Farmers.gov  Wed Jun 21, 2023 01:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, June 21, 2023 - Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) office before the applicable deadline, which for many places and crops is July 17. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) also reminds producers with login access to farmers.gov of several features that can help expedite acreage reporting, such as the ability to view, print and label maps.  
                          - Farm Service Agency Now Accepting Nominations for Farmers and Ranchers to Serve on Local County Committees  Thu Jun 15, 2023 01:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, June 15, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting nominations for county committee members for elections that will occur later this year. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is unveiling a new GIS tool to make it easier for producers to participate in the nomination and election processes for county committee members, who make important decisions on how federal farm programs are administered locally. 
                          - USDA Announces Corrections to Emergency Relief Program Policy to More Accurately Reflect 2020 and 2021 Natural Disaster Impacts on Crops Intended for On-Farm Use  Wed Jun 14, 2023 04:00 PM EST  WASHINGTON, June 14, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two to provide a method for valuing losses and accessing program benefits to eligible producers of certain crops, including grapes grown and used by the same producer for wine production or forage that is grown, stored and fed to livestock, that do not generate revenue directly from the sale of the crop. 
                          - USDA Accepts More Than 1 Million Acres in Offers Through Conservation Reserve Program General Signup  Mon Jun 12, 2023 02:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, June 17, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 1 million acres in this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup. This is one of several signups that USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is holding for the program.  
                          - USDA Announces June 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Thu Jun 1, 2023 12:00 PM EST   WASHINGTON, June 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for June 2023, which are effective June 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.   
                          - USDA Announces Loan Rates for 2023-Crop Peanuts  Thu Jun 1, 2023 11:00 AM EST   WASHINGTON, June 1, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced 2023-crop loan rates for four types of peanuts. The rates take effect Aug. 1, 2023, the beginning of the peanut crop year. 
                          - USDA Extends Application Deadline for Revenue Loss Programs to July 14  Fri May 26, 2023 01:30 PM EST  WASHINGTON, May 26, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) to July 14, 2023, to give producers more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was June 2.  
                          - USDA Offers Assistance to Help Organic Dairy Producers Cover Increased Costs  Fri May 19, 2023 01:00 PM EST  WASHINGTON, May 19, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces assistance for dairy producers with the new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). ODMAP is established to help mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry. 
                          - USDA Previews Emergency Relief Assistance for Agricultural Producers Who Incurred Losses Due to 2022 Natural Disaster Events  Fri May 19, 2023 11:00 AM EST   WASHINGTON, 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 
                          - USDA Seeks Members for Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production  Mon May 15, 2023 01:15 PM EST  WASHINGTON, May 15, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for four positions on the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. Nominations will be open to public from May 15, 2023, to July 15, 2023. The 12-member Committee, which first convened in March 2022, is part of USDA’s efforts to increase support for urban agriculture and innovative production. 
                          - USDA Announces New Steps to Enhance Organic Markets and Support Producers  Wed May 10, 2023 11:15 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 10, 2023 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking additional steps as part of its commitment to strengthen the market for domestically grown organic goods, and to support producers seeking organic certification.
 
                          - USDA, Colorado Introduce Additional Conservation Practice to Address Regional Drought Concerns  Mon May 8, 2023 12:30 PM EST  
DENVER, Colo., May 8, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State of Colorado are continuing and strengthening their Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) partnership to support and empower Colorado’s agricultural producers and landowners in reducing consumptive water use and protecting water quality, while conserving critical natural resources.
 
                          - USDA Announces Signup for New Rice Production Program  Fri May 5, 2023 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 5, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin sending prefilled applications to rice producers the week of May 8 for the new Rice Production Program (RPP), which will provide up to $250 million in assistance to rice farmers based on 2022 planted and prevented planted acres.  
 
                          - USDA is Providing $130 Million in Assistance to Help Farmers Facing Financial Risk  Mon May 1, 2023 03:15 PM EST  
To date, over $1 billion in immediate assistance is providing relief to more than 20,000 distressed borrowers thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that nearly $130 million in additional, automatic financial assistance has been obligated for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk.
 
                          - USDA Announces May 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon May 1, 2023 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for May 2023, which are effective May 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA’s CLEAR30 Offers Producers with Expiring Voluntary Conservation Contracts Rental Incentives and Longer Term Options  Wed Apr 26, 2023 03:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, April 26, 2023 — Agricultural producers and landowners with certain expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts can extend that land’s role in conservation for another 30 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the signup period for its Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers initiative (CLEAR30) now through July 31, 2023.
 
                          - USDA Announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program  Signup for 2023  Mon Apr 17, 2023 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, April 17, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting today and running through May 26, 2023.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2023 Cotton Loan Rate Differentials  Mon Apr 17, 2023 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, April 17, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the 2023 crop loan rate differentials for upland and extra-long staple cotton which are applied to the crop loan rate to determine the per bale actual loan rate. 
 
                          - USDA Announces April 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon Apr 3, 2023 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for April 2023, which are effective April 3, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2023 Marketing Assistance Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Rice and Pulse Crops  Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 31, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2023 Marketing Assistance Loan rates.

Marketing Assistance Loans provide interim financing to producers so that commodities can be stored after harvest when market prices are typically low and sold later when market conditions may be more favorable.
 
                          - USDA Announces Additional Assistance for Distressed Farmers Facing Financial Risk  Mon Mar 27, 2023 04:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that beginning in April it will provide approximately $123 million in additional, automatic financial assistance for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk, as part of the $3.1 billion to help distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 20, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2022, which runs from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023.
 
                          - USDA Announces Sign-up for Cost-Share Assistance for On-Farm Grain Storage in Areas with Limited Commercial Capacity Due to Severe Storms  Thu Mar 9, 2023 04:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 9, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that producers in counties affected by eligible disaster events in Kentucky, Minnesota, South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, and Tennessee can apply for cost-share assistance through the Emergency Grain Storage Facility Assistance Program (EGSFP).
 
                          - USDA Announces March 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Wed Mar 1, 2023 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for March 2023, which are effective March 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Encourages Rice Farmers to Prepare for new  Rice Production Program  Tue Feb 28, 2023 08:30 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today previewed plans to provide up to $250 million in assistance to rice farmers and what steps they can take to be prepared to sign up when the program is released later this spring. USDA is sharing information early so producers can prepare for program signup, which will include a pre-filled application in an effort to simplify and streamline the application process.  
 
                          - USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Signup for 2023  Thu Feb 16, 2023 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin applying for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup starting February 27 through April 7, 2023. CRP is a cornerstone voluntary conservation program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to address climate change and help agricultural communities invest in the long-term well-being of their land and natural resources.  
 
                          - USDA Develops Simplified Direct Loan Application to Improve Customer Service  Tue Feb 7, 2023 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed a simplified direct loan application to provide improved customer experience for producers applying for loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The simplified direct loan application enables producers to complete a more streamlined application, reduced from 29 to 13 pages.
 
                          - USDA’s Farm Service Agency Helps Farmers and Ranchers Tackle Challenges  Mon Feb 6, 2023 10:00 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2023 – Under the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has worked to assist distressed borrowers, improve land access for underserved producers and provide disaster assistance and relief for producers impacted by natural disasters. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) also gave producers and landowners tools to help with climate-smart land management and made great strides in supporting USDA’s priorities of improving equity in program delivery and helping producers rebound and recover after natural disasters, the pandemic, and other challenges in the past two years.
 
                          - USDA Announces February 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Wed Feb 1, 2023 06:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for February 2023, which are effective Feb. 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Fri Jan 27, 2023 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2022, which runs from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023.
 
                          - USDA Announces Additional Assistance for Dairy Farmers  Mon Jan 23, 2023 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, January 23, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the details of additional assistance for dairy producers, including a second round of payments through the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) and a new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP).
 
                          - USDA Announces Signup for 2023 Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers  Fri Jan 20, 2023 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2023— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds specialty crop producers of available assistance to help cover certain costs of complying with regulatory and market-driven food safety certification requirements.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers of Continuous Certification Option for Perennial Forage  Wed Jan 11, 2023 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers with perennial forage crops of an option to report their acreage once, without having to report that acreage in subsequent years, as long as there are no applicable changes on the farm. Interested producers can select the continuous certification option after USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) certifies their acreage report. 
 
                          - USDA Expands Eligibility, Enhances Benefits for Key Disaster Programs  Tue Jan 10, 2023 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made updates to several conservation, livestock and crop disaster assistance programs to give more farmers, ranchers, and tribes the opportunity to apply for and access programs that support recovery following natural disasters.  Specifically, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded eligibility and enhanced available benefits for a suite of its programs.
 
                          - El USDA amplía la elegibilidad y mejora los beneficios de los principales programas por desastre  Tue Jan 10, 2023 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, 10 de enero de 2023 - El Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés) realizó actualizaciones a varios programas de asistencia por desastre de conservación, ganadería y cultivos para dar a más agricultores, ganaderos y tribus la oportunidad de solicitar y acceder a programas que apoyan la recuperación después de desastres naturales.
 
                          - USDA Announces Major Program Improvements, Progress, and Investments to Benefit American Farmers, Ranchers, and Producers  Mon Jan 9, 2023 11:00 AM EST  
SAN JUAN, P.R., January 9, 2023 — Today, at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced several major developments at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will benefit farmers, ranchers and producers across the nation.  
 
                          - USDA Announces January 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Tue Jan 3, 2023 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for January 2023, which are effective Jan. 3, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - Biden-Harris Administration Announces an Additional $325 Million in Pilot Projects through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, for Total Investment of $3.1 Billion  Mon Dec 12, 2022 02:00 PM EST  
TUSKEGEE, Ala. December 12, 2022 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing an additional $325 million for 71 projects under the second funding pool of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities effort, bringing the total investment from both funding pools to over $3.1 billion for 141 tentatively selected projects. Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities is working to expand markets for American producers who produce climate-smart commodities, leverage greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart production, and provide meaningful benefits to producers, including small and underserved producers.
 
                          - 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage Deadline Extended – Jan. 31, 2023, Last Day to Enroll  Thu Dec 8, 2022 02:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2022 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline  for producers to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage (SDMC) for program year 2023 to Jan. 31, 2023.  
 
                          - USDA Announces December 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Thu Dec 1, 2022 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for December 2022, which are effective Dec. 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA and Three Tribal Nations to Enter Historic  Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Agreements  to Support Working Lands Conservation  Thu Nov 17, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
RAPID CITY, South Dakota, Nov. 17, 2022— Three Tribal Nations in the Great Plains are partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help conserve, maintain and improve grassland productivity, reduce soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
 
                          - USDA Previews Crop and Revenue Loss Assistance for Agricultural Producers   Tue Nov 15, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2022 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced plans for additional emergency relief and pandemic assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is preparing to roll out the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two as well as the new Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP), which are two programs to help offset crop and revenue losses for producers.  USDA is sharing early information to help producers gather documents and train front-line staff on the new approach. 
 
                          - USDA Releases Nationwide Farmer, Rancher and Forest Manager Prospective Customer Survey  Wed Nov 9, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9. 2022 – Producers can now take a nationwide survey to help the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) improve and increase access to its programs and services for America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest managers. The survey includes new and existing customers. USDA encourages all agricultural producers to take the survey, especially those who have not worked with USDA previously
 
                          - 2022 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Open This Week  Wed Nov 9, 2022 08:30 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2022 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began 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 (LAA) 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 be postmarked by Dec. 5, 2022, in order for those ballots to be counted.
 
                          - USDA Announces November 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Tue Nov 1, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for November 2022, which are effective Nov. 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Launches Loan Assistance Tool to Enhance Equity and Customer Service  Wed Oct 26, 2022 02:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a new online tool to help farmers and ranchers better navigate the farm loan application process. This uniform application process will help to ensure all farm loan applicants receive equal support and have a consistent customer experience with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) regardless of their individual circumstances.  
 
                          - Farmers Can Now Make 2023 Crop Year Elections, Enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs  Wed Oct 19, 2022 03:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2022 – Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began Monday, and producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC.
 
                          - USDA Provides Payments of nearly $800 Million in Assistance to Help Keep Farmers Farming  Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:05 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, October 18, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) whose operations face financial risk.
 
                          - USDA Formalizes Big Game Conservation Partnership with State of Wyoming  Mon Oct 17, 2022 03:15 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the state of Wyoming are formalizing a partnership to support the voluntary conservation of private working lands and migratory big game populations in Wyoming. As part of the agreement signed today by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Governor Mark Gordon, USDA will provide a new package of investments in key conservation programs for fiscal year 2023, which includes funding to support increased staffing capacity and the deployment of streamlined program application processes for agricultural producers and landowners. Producers in the Wyoming pilot area will be able to apply for conservation programs that meet their unique needs starting this fall.
 
                          - Dairy Producers Can Now Enroll for 2023 Signup for Dairy Margin Coverage  Mon Oct 17, 2022 01:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2022 – Dairy producers can now enroll for 2023 coverage through the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program, an important safety net program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps producers manage changes in milk and feed prices. Last year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) took steps to improve coverage, especially for small- and mid-sized dairies, including offering a new Supplemental DMC program and updating its feed cost formula to better address retroactive, current and future feed costs. These changes continue to support producers through this year’s signup, which begins today and ends Dec. 7, 2022. 
 
                          - USDA Announces October 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon Oct 3, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for October 2022, which are effective Oct. 3, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2023 Upland Cotton Marketing Assistance Loan Rate  Fri Sep 30, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced that the marketing assistance loan rate for 2023-crop base quality upland cotton is 52.00 cents per pound.
 
                          - El USDA ayuda a los agricultores, ganaderos y comunidades afectadas por el huracán Fiona  Thu Sep 29, 2022 01:30 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, 27 de septiembre de 2022 - El Secretario de Agricultura, Tom Vilsack, ha ordenado al Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA) que ayude en los esfuerzos de recuperación de los agricultores, ganaderos y residentes afectados por el huracán Fiona. El personal del USDA en las oficinas de todo el país está listo para responder con una variedad de flexibilidades en el programa y otros tipos de asistencia a los productores y las comunidades que lo necesiten. 
 
                          - USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers, and Communities Affected by Hurricane Fiona  Thu Sep 29, 2022 01:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2022 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Fiona. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and communities in need.
 
                          - USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2023 Sugar Loan Rates,  Allotment and Marketing Allocations  Thu Sep 29, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced sugar loan rates for crop year 2022 (fiscal year 2023). CCC also announced sugar beet and sugarcane allotments and processor marketing allocations for the fiscal year 2023 domestic sugar program. 
 
                          - USDA to Provide up to $20 Million for Construction of On-Farm Grain Storage Facilities in Areas Impacted by Recent Natural Disasters  Mon Sep 26, 2022 03:30 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2022 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make available $20 million in cost-share assistance to help agricultural producers in Kentucky, Minnesota, South Dakota and surrounding areas to rebuild storage facilities damaged by devastating natural disaster events in 2021 and 2022. This assistance will help producers who were hard-hit by disasters and are currently struggling with a lack of available grain storage have the resources they need as they head into the 2022 crop harvest. 
 
                          - USDA Seeks Input on New Grant Program to Strengthen Food Supply Chain, Reduce Irregular Migration, and Improve Labor Protections for Farmworkers  Wed Sep 21, 2022 02:30 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, September 21, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is gathering input to help shape a recently announced planned grant program focused on improving the resiliency of our food and agricultural supply chain by addressing labor shortages in agriculture, reducing irregular migration through increased use of legal pathways, and improving labor protections for farmworkers. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will hold three virtual listening sessions on Sept. 28-29 for the new farm labor stabilization and protection pilot grant program, which the Biden-Harris administration announced earlier this year as part of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.  
 
                          - USDA Opens People’s Garden Initiative to Gardens Nationwide  Fri Sep 9, 2022 01:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, September 9, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its People’s Garden Initiative to include eligible gardens nationwide.  School gardens, community gardens, urban farms, and small-scale agriculture projects in rural, suburban and urban areas can be recognized as a “People’s Garden” if they register on the USDA website and meet criteria including benefitting the community, working collaboratively, incorporating conservation practices and educating the public. Affiliate People’s Garden locations will be indicated on a map on the USDA website, featured in USDA communications, and provided with a People’s Garden sign.
 
                          - USDA Announces September 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Thu Sep 1, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for September 2022, which are effective Sept. 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Tue Aug 30, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2021, which runs from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022.
 
                          - USDA Announces First Three Lenders for Heirs’ Property Relending Program  Thu Aug 18, 2022 05:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, August 18, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Akiptan, Inc., the Cherokee Nation Economic Development Trust Authority (CNEDTA) and the Shared Capital Cooperative have been approved or conditionally approved as intermediary lenders through the Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP). Once HPRP loans with these lenders close, these lenders will help agricultural producers and landowners resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues. Additionally, USDA encourages more intermediary lenders, including cooperatives, credit unions and nonprofit organizations to apply. Currently, more than $100 million of HPRP funding is available for these competitive loans.
 
                          - USDA to Mail Additional Pre-Filled Applications to Producers Impacted by  2020, 2021 Disasters  Thu Aug 18, 2022 04:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced another installment (phase) in assistance to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021. More than 18,000 producers will soon receive new or updated pre-filled disaster applications to offset eligible crop losses. Approximately $6.4 billion has already been distributed to 165,000 producers through USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Emergency Relief Program (ERP). 
 
                          - USDA Invests $14.5 Million in Taxpayer Education, Program Outreach Efforts for Farmers and Ranchers  Fri Aug 5, 2022 10:00 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing in two outreach and education efforts for farmers and ranchers, including those who are new to farming or who have been historically underserved by USDA programs. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is investing $10 million for agriculture-oriented taxpayer education as well as $4.5 million in outreach for the Conservation Reserve Program’s Transition Incentives Program (CRP TIP), which helps with access to land for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Both efforts help advance equity and access to USDA programs and agriculture.  
 
                          - Streamlined Delivery of Emergency Relief Programs Is Win-Win for USDA and Agricultural Producers  Thu Aug 4, 2022 03:15 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2022 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has processed more than 255,000 applications for the new Emergency Relief Program (ERP). USDA has made approximately $6.1 billion, to date, in payments to commodity and specialty crop producers to help offset eligible losses from qualifying 2020 and 2021 natural disasters. By breaking-down agency barriers, using existing data across USDA and pre-filled applications, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in cooperation with the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has been able to expediently provide economic relief and save producers and staff over a million hours of time.
 
                          - USDA Announces August 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon Aug 1, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for August 2022, which are effective Aug. 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - Deadline Extended and More Pre-Filled Forms For   2020 and 2021 Disasters on the Way  Wed Jul 27, 2022 10:00 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, July 27, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will indefinitely extend the deadline for producers to return the pre-filled applications for Phase One of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP).  A new deadline will be announced after the last Phase One applications are mailed and provide at least 30 days following the mailing.  
 
                          - USDA Begins Issuing Payments for Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program  Tue Jul 26, 2022 10:00 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2022— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is increasing the amount of funding available for the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP) and expects to issue approximately $62.8 million in pandemic assistance payments to hog producers starting this week. SMHPP assists eligible producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale from April 16, 2020, through Sept. 1, 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) accepted SMHPP applications through April 29, 2022.
 
                          - Urban Producers, Public Invited to Attend Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production  Wed Jul 20, 2022 02:30 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages urban producers and others to attend the second public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on August 5. The Committee will discuss new urban conservation practices, focus areas and priorities for the Commission, and the new Farm Service Agency (FSA) urban county committees, among other topics.
 
                          - USDA Accepts More than 3.1 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup  Tue Jul 12, 2022 09:00 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for more than 3.1 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grassland Signup, the highest in history. This program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and promoting plant and animal biodiversity and conservation, and it’s part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader effort to address climate change and to conserve natural resources. 
 
                          - USDA Announces Loan Rates for 2022-Crop Peanuts  Wed Jul 6, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, July 6, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced 2022-crop loan rates for four types of peanuts. The rates take effect Aug. 1, 2022, which is the beginning of the peanut crop year.
 
                          - USDA Announces July 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Fri Jul 1, 2022 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for July 2022, which are effective July 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Has Issued More Than $4 Billion in Emergency Relief Program Payments to Date  Wed Jun 29, 2022 02:30 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2022 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that to date, agricultural producers have already received more than $4 billion through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), representing approximately 67% of the more than $6 billion projected to be paid through this first phase of the program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed out pre-filled applications in late May to producers with crop insurance who suffered losses due to natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. Commodity and specialty crop producers have until July 22 to complete applications.   
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Tue Jun 28, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, June 28, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2021, which runs from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022.
 
                          - USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses  for Specialty Crop Growers  Fri Jun 17, 2022 02:15 PM EST  
HOLLIS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, JUNE 17, 2022— Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to provide up to $200 million in assistance for specialty crop producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 or 2023. USDA’s new Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program will help to offset costs for specialty crop producers to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements, which is part of USDA’s broader effort to transform the food system to create a more level playing field for small and medium producers and a more balanced, equitable economy for everyone working in food and agriculture.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports  Thu Jun 16, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2022 – Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) service center before the applicable deadline. July 15 is a major deadline for most crops, but acreage reporting deadlines vary by county and by crop. Producers should make an appointment as soon as possible to avoid missing earlier deadlines.
 
                          - Farm Service Agency Now Accepting Nominations for Farmers and Ranchers to Serve on Local County Committees  Wed Jun 15, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting nominations for county committee members. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for members. LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction. This may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.  
 
                          - USDA Fiscal Year 2022 Sugar Program Actions  Tue Jun 7, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing various actions affecting beet and cane processor allocations and supplies of raw cane sugar in the U.S. market. The actions include: (1) transferring allocations among beet processors and (2) reassigning cane processor allocations to raw cane imports already anticipated.
 
                          - USDA Advances Food System Transformation with $43 Million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, Adds New Urban County Committees  Fri Jun 3, 2022 02:30 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces significant investments to support urban agriculture, including $43.1 million for grants and cooperative agreements as well as six new urban county committees to help deliver key USDA programs to urban producers. These actions support USDA’s efforts to strengthen the food supply chain and transform the food system to be fairer, more competitive, and more resilient.
 
                          - USDA Announces June 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Wed Jun 1, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for June 2022, which are effective June 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - Biden-Harris Administration Drought Resilience Interagency Working Group Releases Summary Report, Marks One Year Since Interagency Coordination  Wed Jun 1, 2022 11:30 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2022 – The Biden-Harris Administration today released the Drought Resilience Interagency Working Group’s (IWG) Summary Report outlining the actions taken to date to improve drought-stricken communities' longer-term resilience to drought through financial and technical assistance. Last month marked one year since the establishment of the Drought Resilience IWG as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to confronting climate change. Download the Summary Report (PDF, 337 KB).
 
                          - USDA to Allow Producers to Request Voluntary Termination of Conservation Reserve Program Contract  Thu May 26, 2022 09:45 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allow Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants who are in the final year of their CRP contract to request voluntary termination of their CRP contract following the end of the primary nesting season for fiscal year 2022. Participants approved for this one-time, voluntary termination will not have to repay rental payments, a flexibility implemented this year to help mitigate the global food supply challenges caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other factors. Today, USDA also announced additional flexibilities for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).  
 
                          - USDA Announces Signup for the Commodity Container Assistance Program  Wed May 25, 2022 02:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2022 —Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications for the Commodity Container Assistance Program (CCAP) which currently includes a partnership with the Port of Oakland in California and the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), which is a marine cargo operating partnership between the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma in Washington State. Ongoing market disruptions have created logistical challenges associated with the availability and flow of shipping containers to transport agricultural commodities, which has prevented or delayed American-grown agricultural commodities from reaching their markets.  
 
                          - USDA Commits to Big Game Conservation Partnership with the State of Wyoming: Initial Investments Forthcoming  Fri May 20, 2022 11:00 AM US/Eastern  
CODY, Wyo., May 20, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Robert Bonnie announced a new partnership that uses diverse Farm Bill investments to support voluntary conservation of private working lands and migratory big game populations in Wyoming. Bonnie made the announcement at the University of Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park 150th Anniversary Symposium. Using lessons learned from this pilot, USDA seeks to scale up this model across the West as part of President Biden’s commitment to support voluntary, locally-led conservation efforts to reach the administration’s national conservation goals.   
 
                          - USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs of Organic, Transitioning Producers  Mon May 16, 2022 01:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2022 – Agricultural producers and handlers who are certified organic, along with producers and handlers who are transitioning to organic production, can now apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) and Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which help producers and handlers cover the cost of organic certification, along with other related expenses. Applications for OTECP and OCCSP are both due October 31, 2022. 
 
                          - USDA to Provide Approximately $6 Billion to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2020 and 2021 Natural Disasters  Mon May 16, 2022 11:45 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2022 – The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses. 
 
                          - USDA Announces Initiative, Invests $22.5 Million in Water Quality Improvements in Chesapeake Bay  Fri May 6, 2022 11:00 AM US/Eastern  
LANCASTER, Pa., May 6, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will invest an additional $22.5 million in conservation assistance in fiscal year 2022 to help farmers boost water quality improvements and conservation in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The new Chesapeake Bay States’ Partnerships Initiative will support Bay-area farmers, building on a $1.1 billion investment made by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) over the past decade. USDA is also announcing a new task force – jointly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – to better quantify the voluntary conservation efforts of farmers in the Bay watershed.
 
                          - USDA to Provide $50 Million in Support to U.S. Cotton and Wool Apparel  Manufacturers Impacted by the Pandemic  Thu May 5, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, May 5, 2022 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a commitment of $50 million to assist eligible apparel manufacturers of worsted wool suits, sport coats, pants, or Pima cotton dress shirts; Pima cotton spinners; and wool fabric manufacturers and wool spinners. The new Cotton and Wool Apparel (CAWA) program is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and the Department’s efforts to help our food, agriculture and forestry sectors get back on track and plan for the future.  
 
                          - USDA Renews People’s Garden Initiative  Tue May 3, 2022 11:00 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, May 3, 2022 – Today Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack planted a tree to announce the reopening of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) People’s Garden Initiative. People’s Gardens across the country will grow fresh, healthy food and support resilient, local food systems; teach people how to garden using conservation practices; nurture habitat for pollinators and wildlife and create greenspace for neighbors. The garden at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. will be joined by 17 flagship gardens located in urban communities nationwide.   
 
                          - USDA Accepts 2 Million Acres in Offers Through Conservation Reserve Program General Signup  Tue May 3, 2022 09:45 AM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, May 3, 2022 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 2 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and landowners through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup, the first of the program’s multiple signups occurring in 2022. With about 3.4 million acres expiring this year, Vilsack encourages producers and landowners to consider the Grassland and Continuous signups, both of which are currently open.  
 
                          - USDA Announces May 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon May 2, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, May 2, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for May 2022, which are effective May 2, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Accepting New or Modified Proposals  for Its State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Program  Mon Apr 18, 2022 01:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, April 18, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is welcoming new and modified proposals from conservation partners for the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative, a part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) focused on effectively managing wildlife habitat.  USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has expanded available practices under this initiative in response to feedback from partners.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2022 Cotton Loan Rate Differentials  Fri Apr 15, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the 2022 crop loan rate differentials for upland and extra-long staple cotton which are applied to the crop loan rate to determine the per bale actual loan rate.
 
                          - USDA Offers CLEAR30 Option for Producers to Enroll Land with Expiring Conservation Contracts  Fri Apr 1, 2022 03:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, April 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the signup period for its Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers initiative (CLEAR30) — a nationwide opportunity for certain landowners and agricultural producers currently implementing water quality practices through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to enroll in 30-year contracts, extending the lifespan and strengthening the benefits of important water quality practices on their land.  
 
                          - USDA Announces April 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Fri Apr 1, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, April 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for April 2022, which are effective April 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA to Provide Payments to Livestock Producers Impacted by  Drought or Wildfire   Thu Mar 31, 2022 03:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, March 31, 2022 – The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that ranchers who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for forage losses due to severe drought or wildfire in 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments for increases in supplemental feed costs in 2021 through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP).
 
                          - USDA Announces 2022 Marketing Assistance Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Rice and Pulse Crops  Wed Mar 30, 2022 03:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, March 30, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2022 Marketing Assistance Loan rates.
 
                          - USDA Encourages Producers to Enroll Grasslands into Working Land Conservation   Wed Mar 30, 2022 02:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, March 30, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages producers and landowners to enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting next week through May 13, 2022. Grassland CRP provides a unique opportunity for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners to keep land in agricultural production and supplement their income while improving their soils and permanent grass cover.   The program had its highest enrollment in history in 2021 and is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader effort to equip producers with the tools they need to help address climate change and invest in the long-term health of our natural resources.  
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Tue Mar 29, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, March 29, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2021, which runs from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022.
 
                          - USDA 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 10:00 AM US/Eastern  
SEATTLE, March 18, 2022 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced plans for prepositioning containers of agricultural goods near port terminals to help improve service for shippers of U.S. grown agricultural commodities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) to enhance access to a 49-acre “pop up” site to accept either dry agricultural or refrigerated containers for temporary storage at NWSA in Seattle to reduce operational hurdles and costs, making it so they can more quickly be loaded on ships at the export terminals. The NWSA includes the marine cargo operations of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma and is the fourth-largest container gateway in the United States.
 
                          - USDA Updates Eligibility for Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program  Thu Mar 17, 2022 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2022— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has clarified the definition of a spot market sale and hog eligibility under the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP), which assists producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale from April 16, 2020, through Sept. 1, 2020. Hog producers will also now be required to submit documentation to support information provided on their SMHPP application. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications through April 29, 2022, which is an extension of the April 15, 2022, deadline previously set for the program.  
 
                          - USDA to Extend Application Deadlines for Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Funding Opportunity  Fri Mar 11, 2022 03:00 PM EST  
NEW ORLEANS, March 11, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadlines to apply for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity after requests from many stakeholders.
 
                          - New Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to Meet March 23-24   Tue Mar 8, 2022 02:00 PM EST  
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 Updates Farm Loan Programs to Increase Equity  Tue Mar 8, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 8, 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.   
 
                          - USDA Announces March 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Tue Mar 1, 2022 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for March 2022, which are effective March 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Extends Deadline for Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program  Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:30 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2022 — Hog producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale during the COVID-19 pandemic now have until April 15, 2022, to submit their applications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP). SMHPP, which is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, originally had a deadline to submit applications by Feb. 25, 2022.   
 
                          - Agricultural Producers Have Until March 15 to Enroll in USDA’s Key Commodity Safety Net Programs  Wed Feb 16, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2022 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year have until March 15, 2022, to sign a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues.  
 
                          - USDA to Invest $1 Billion in Climate Smart Commodities, Expanding Markets, Strengthening Rural America  Wed Feb 9, 2022 09:30 AM EST  
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Feb. 7, 2022 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today at Lincoln University that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is delivering on its promise to expand markets by investing $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. USDA is now accepting project applications for fiscal year 2022.
 
                          - Deadline Extended to Enroll in 2022 Dairy Margin Coverage and Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage  Tue Feb 8, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2022 – USDA has extended the deadline to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage (SDMC) for program year 2022. The deadline to apply for 2022 coverage is now March 25, 2022. As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to support dairy farmers and rural communities, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened DMC and SDMC signup in December 2021 to help producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities.
 
                          - USDA Provides Update on Implementation of Forthcoming Disaster Assistance  Thu Feb 3, 2022 09:45 AM EST  
HOUSTON, Feb. 3, 2022 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided an update at the Cattle Industry Convention on forthcoming assistance for agricultural producers impacted by weather-related disasters in calendar years 2020 and 2021.
 
                          - USDA Announces Inaugural Federal Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture  Tue Feb 1, 2022 03:45 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2022 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack selected 12 members to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) inaugural Secretary’s Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture to provide input on policy development and to help identify barriers to urban agriculture as USDA works to promote urban farming and the economic opportunities it provides in cities across the country.
 
                          - USDA Announces February 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Tue Feb 1, 2022 01:15 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for February 2022, which are effective Feb. 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Signups for 2022  Wed Jan 26, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2022 – Agricultural producers and landowners can sign up soon for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a cornerstone conservation program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the Biden-Harris Administration effort to address climate change and achieve other natural resource benefits. The General CRP signup will run from Jan. 31 to March 11, and the Grassland CRP signup will run from April 4 to May 13.
 
                          - USDA Urges Producers to Submit Applications for 2021 Grazing Loss Assistance by Jan. 31  Tue Jan 25, 2022 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds ranchers and livestock producers that they may be eligible for financial assistance through the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for 2021 grazing losses due to a qualifying drought or fire. The deadline to apply for 2021 LFP assistance is Jan. 31, 2022. 
 
                          - U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Staff Appointments  Wed Jan 19, 2022 04:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the names of individuals who will hold senior staff positions in Washington, D.C.
 
                          - USDA Announces January 2022 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers   Mon Jan 3, 2022 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for January 2022, which are effective Jan. 3. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Thu Dec 23, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2021, which runs from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022.
 
                          - USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2022 Sugar Program Actions  Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced various actions to increase available supplies of raw and refined sugar to the U.S. market. The actions include: (1) increasing the fiscal year 2022 (FY22) overall allotment quantity (OAQ); (2) transferring allocations among beet processors; and (3) increasing raw cane sugar imports from Mexico. Action items (1) and (2) are being undertaken to allow all beet processors to market all of their expected FY22 beet sugar supply. Currently, some beet processors anticipate that their FY22 beet sugar supply will exceed their FY22 marketing allotment, a phenomenon known as “blocked stocks.” Absent action by USDA, beet processors with blocked stocks would be unable to market their entire FY22 beet sugar supply. Action item (3) was undertaken on Nov. 23, 2021 to add more raw cane sugar to the U.S. market.
 
                          - Deadline Extended to Apply for Pandemic Support for Certified Organic and Transitioning Operations  Tue Dec 21, 2021 11:30 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline for agricultural producers who are certified organic, or transitioning to organic, to apply for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP). This program provides pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses. The deadline to apply for 2020 and 2021 eligible expenses is now Feb. 4, 2022, rather than the original deadline of Jan. 7, 2022.  
 
                          - USDA Expands Partnerships for Conservation Through Its Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program  Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:30 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is leveraging its authorities under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to bring in new types of partners and ultimately expand opportunities in voluntary conservation for the Nation’s agricultural producers and private landowners. In direct response to feedback from state agencies, Tribes, non-profits and other groups, USDA has updated CREP’s rule regarding matching fund requirements, and invested in additional staff to work directly with partners for streamlined, partner-driven conservation efforts.  
 
                          - USDA Provides Additional Pandemic Assistance to Hog Producers   Mon Dec 13, 2021 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new program to assist hog producers who sold hogs through a negotiated sale during the period in which these producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP) is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and addresses gaps in previous assistance for hog producers. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications Dec. 15, 2021 through Feb. 25, 2022.   
 
                          - USDA Opens 2022 Signup for Dairy Margin Coverage, Expands Program for Supplemental Production  Wed Dec 8, 2021 01:15 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2021 – As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to support dairy farmers and rural communities, today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opened signup for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program and expanded the program to allow dairy producers to better protect their operations by enrolling supplemental production. This signup period – which runs from Dec. 13, 2021 to Feb. 18, 2022 – enables producers to get coverage through this important safety-net program for another year as well as get additional assistance through the new Supplemental DMC.
 
                          - USDA Issues Final Pandemic Payments for Timber Harvesters and Haulers  Thu Dec 2, 2021 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin issuing final pandemic assistance payments to timber harvesters and timber hauling businesses through the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) program starting next week. In total, $200 million will be provided to loggers and log trucking businesses who experienced a gross revenue loss of at least 10% during the period of Jan. 1 through Dec. 1, 2020, compared to the period of Jan. 1 through Dec. 1, 2019. This support is part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. 
 
                          - USDA Announces December 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Wed Dec 1, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for December 2021, which are effective Dec. 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Issuing Approximately $270 Million in Pandemic Assistance to Poultry, Livestock Contract Producers   Thu Nov 18, 2021 03:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun issuing approximately $270 million in payments to contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry who applied for Pandemic Assistance. Earlier this year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) identified gaps in assistance including in the initial proposal to assist contract growers. In August, USDA released the improved program for contract producers to fill these gaps, providing support as part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.  
 
                          - USDA Builds Pandemic Support for Certified Organic and Transitioning Operations  Thu Nov 4, 2021 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses to agricultural producers who are certified organic or transitioning to organic. USDA will make $20 million available through the new Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) as part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, which provides new, broader and more equitable opportunities for farmers, ranchers and producers.    
 
                          - 2021 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Underway  Wed Nov 3, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2021— 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 (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. To be counted, producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or be postmarked by Dec. 6, 2021.  
 
                          - USDA Provides $1.8 Billion to Offset Market Fluctuations  Mon Nov 1, 2021 01:00 PM   
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is in the process of issuing $1.8 billion in payments to agricultural producers who enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2020 crop year.  These payments provide critical support to help mitigate fluctuations in either revenue or prices for certain crops. These two USDA safety-net programs help producers of certain crops build back better after facing the impacts of COVID-19 and other challenges. 
 
                          - USDA Announces November 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon Nov 1, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for November 2021, which are effective Nov. 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Offers Online Tool for Drought-Stricken Ranchers to  Estimate Compensation for Feed Transportation Costs  Wed Oct 13, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2021— An online tool is now available to help ranchers document and estimate payments to cover feed transportation costs caused by drought, which are now covered by the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated the program this year to include feed transportation costs as well as lowered the threshold for when assistance for water hauling expenses is available. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin taking applications this fall.  
 
                          - USDA Launches First Phase of Soil Carbon Monitoring Efforts through Conservation Reserve Program Initiative  Tue Oct 12, 2021 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2021 –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $10 million in a new initiative to sample, measure, and monitor soil carbon on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to better quantify the climate outcomes of the program. CRP is an important tool in the Nation’s fight to reduce the worst impacts of climate change facing our farmers, ranchers, and foresters. This initiative will begin implementation in fall 2021 with three partners. Today’s announcement is part of a broader, long-term soil carbon monitoring effort across agricultural lands that supports USDA’s commitment to deliver climate solutions to agricultural producers and rural America through voluntary, incentive-based solutions.
 
                          - USDA Invests $4.7 Million to Provide Outreach and Technical Assistance to Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers  Thu Oct 7, 2021 03:45 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today an investment of $4.7 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to historically underserved farmers and ranchers. The partnerships will support participation in Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs, including those that are part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.
 
                          - USDA Announces Recipients of Urban Agriculture Grants and Cooperative Agreements   Tue Oct 5, 2021 05:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2021 –   Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the selection of recipients for more than $6.6 million in grants and cooperative agreements through the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. These grants and cooperative agreements build on $4.1 million in projects funded in 2020.  
 
                          - Higher Loan Limit Now Available for USDA Guaranteed Farm Loans  Mon Oct 4, 2021 10:00 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing a higher loan limit will be available for borrowers seeking a guaranteed farm loan starting Oct. 1, 2021, from $1.776 million to $1.825 million.
 
                          - USDA Announces October 2021 Lending Rates and 2022 Upland Cotton Marketing Assistance Loan Rates  Fri Oct 1, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for October 2021, which are effective Oct. 1, as well as marketing assistance loan rates for upland cotton in 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.  
 
                          - USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2022 Sugar Loan Rates,  Allotment and Marketing Allocations, and No Actions Under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for Fiscal Year 2022  Thu Sep 30, 2021 08:00 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the marketing assistance loan rates for sugar for crop year 2021 (fiscal year 2022). CCC also announced sugar beet and sugarcane allotments and processor marketing allocations for the fiscal year 2022 domestic sugar program. In addition, CCC announced that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2021 (fiscal year 2022), which runs from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022.
 
                          - USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers, and Communities Affected by Hurricane Ida  Mon Sep 27, 2021 02:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, September 27, 2021 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Ida. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and communities in need.
 
                          - USDA Extends Deadline to Apply for Pandemic Assistance to Livestock Producers with Animal Losses  Thu Sep 16, 2021 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing additional time for livestock and poultry producers to apply for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP). Producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing may now apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals through Oct. 12, 2021, rather than the original deadline of Sept. 17, 2021. PLIP is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.
 
                          - USDA Accepts More than 2.5 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup, Double Last Year’s Signup  Fri Sep 10, 2021 09:00 AM EST  
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has accepted offers for more than 2.5 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment through this year’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Signup. This is double last year’s enrollment and brings the total acres enrolled across all CRP signups in 2021 to more than 5.3 million acres, surpassing USDA’s 4-million-acre goal. Producers and landowners submitted offers for nearly 4 million acres in Grassland CRP, the highest in the signup’s history. 
 
                          - USDA Expands Assistance to Cover Feed Transportation Costs for Drought-Impacted Ranchers  Wed Sep 8, 2021 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, September 8, 2021— In response to the severe drought conditions in the West and Great Plains, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today its plans to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA is updating the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to immediately cover feed transportation costs for drought impacted ranchers. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide more details and tools to help ranchers get ready to apply at their local USDA Service Center later this month at fsa.usda.gov/elap.
 
                          - USDA Announces September 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Wed Sep 1, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for September 2021, which are effective September 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - Lenders Can Now Apply for New Heirs’ Property Relending Program  Mon Aug 30, 2021 03:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, August 30, 2021 – Intermediary lenders can now apply for loans through the new Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications today through October 29, 2021, and cooperatives, credit unions and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for these competitive loans, which ultimately will help agricultural producers and landowners resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues.
 
                          - USDA Updates Pandemic Assistance for Livestock, Poultry Contract Producers and Specialty Crop Growers  Tue Aug 24, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2021—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19, is part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has set an Oct. 12 deadline for all eligible producers to apply for or modify applications for CFAP 2. 
 
                          - USDA Accepts 2.8 Million Acres for the Conservation Reserve Program  Mon Aug 23, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has accepted 2.8 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in 2021. This year, almost 1.9 million acres in offers have been accepted through the General CRP Signup, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has accepted over 897,000 acres for enrollment through the Continuous Signup.  The Continuous Signup remains open and CRP Grasslands Signup closed last week, so USDA expects to enroll more acres into all of CRP than the 3 million acres that are expiring.
 
                          - USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification  Tue Aug 17, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2021 – Organic producers and handlers can now apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds to assist with the cost of receiving or maintaining organic certification. Applications for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) are due Nov. 1, 2021.  
 
                          - USDA Invests $15 Million in Klamath River Basin  Mon Aug 2, 2021 03:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, August 2, 2021 —The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $15 million for a new drought pilot to assist agricultural producers impacted by worsening drought conditions to provide relief to impacted California and Oregon producers in the Klamath River Basin. The announcement comes as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture will travel to the state for events focused on drought and wildfire resiliency on Tuesday.
 
                          - USDA Announces August 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon Aug 2, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, August 2, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for August 2021, which are effective August 2. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2021 Loan Rates for Crop Peanuts  Fri Jul 30, 2021 04:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced 2021 crop loan rates for four types of peanuts. The rates take effect August 1, 2021, the beginning of the peanut crop year.
 
                          - Biden Administration to Invest $67 Million to Help Heirs Resolve Land Ownership and Succession Issues  Thu Jul 29, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, July 29, 2021 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced during a press conference with U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, U.S. Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., and U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $67 million in competitive loans through the new Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP), which aims to help agricultural producers and landowners resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues. Intermediary lenders -- cooperatives, credit unions, and nonprofit organizations – can apply for loans up to $5 million at 1% interest once the Farm Service Agency (FSA) opens the two-month signup window in late August.
 
                          - USDA Announces Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers  Tue Jul 20, 2021 10:00 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing up to $200 million to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have experienced losses due to COVID-19 as part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Loggers and truckers can apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) July 22 through Oct. 15, 2021. The Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program (PATHH) is administered by FSA in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.
 
                          - Deadline Fast Approaching for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup  Mon Jul 19, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, July 19, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reminding producers and landowners that the signup deadline for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) current general signup is fast approaching. Eligible producers must submit their offers by July 23, 2021.
 
                          - USDA to Provide Pandemic Assistance to Livestock Producers for Animal Losses  Tue Jul 13, 2021 12:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, July 13, 2021— Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack announced the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) in [recorded] remarks at the National Pork Industry Conference in Wisconsin Dells, WI. The announcement is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Livestock and poultry producers can apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) July 20 through Sept. 17, 2021.
 
                          - USDA Announces Dates for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands Signups  Mon Jul 12, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2021 –– Agricultural producers and landowners can apply for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup from today until August 20. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated signup options to provide greater incentives for producers and increase the program’s conservation and climate benefits, including setting a minimum rental rate and identifying two national priority zones.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Thu Jul 1, 2021 02:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP) for crop year 2020, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021.
 
                          - USDA Announces July 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Thu Jul 1, 2021 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for July 2021, which are effective July 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - Farm Service Agency Now Accepting Nominations for County Committee Members  Tue Jun 22, 2021 12:00 PM US/Eastern  
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) began accepting nominations for county committee members on June 15. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2021 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 2, 2021.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports  Wed Jun 16, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2021 – Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office before the applicable deadline. July 15 is a major deadline for most crops, but acreage reporting deadlines vary by county and by crop.
 
                          - USDA Opens Signup for CLEAR30, Expands Pilot to Be Nationwide  Tue Jun 15, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, 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.
 
                          - USDA Announces Additional Aid to Ag Producers and Businesses in Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative  Tue Jun 15, 2021 09:15 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today additional aid to agricultural producers and businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Earlier this year, Secretary Vilsack announced plans to use available pandemic assistance funds to address a number of gaps and disparities in previous rounds of aid. As part of the Pandemic Assistance initiative announced in March, USDA pledged to continue Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments and to provide aid to producers and businesses left behind. Implementation of the assistance announced today will continue within 60 days to include support to timber harvesters, biofuels, dairy farmers and processors, livestock farmers and contract growers of poultry, assistance for organic cost share, and grants for PPE.
 
                          - USDA Announces Dates for Conservation Reserve Program General and Grasslands Signups  Mon Jun 14, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, June 14, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has set a July 23, 2021, deadline for agricultural producers and landowners to apply for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup 56. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications for CRP Grasslands from July 12 to August 20. This year, USDA updated both signup options to provide great incentives for producers and increase its conservation benefits, including reducing the impacts of climate change.
 
                          - USDA to Begin Payments for Producers Impacted by 2018 and 2019 Natural Disasters  Fri Jun 11, 2021 03:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2021 – More than $1 billion in payments will be released over the next several weeks starting June 15 for agricultural producers with approved applications for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program and for producers who have already received payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). These U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs provide disaster assistance to producers who suffered losses to 2018 and 2019 natural disasters.
 
                          - USDA Announces June 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Tue Jun 1, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced loan interest rates for June 2021, which are effective June 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production  Thu May 27, 2021 03:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 27, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of up to $4 million for grants to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Office) is accepting proposals for planning and innovation projects, and these grants are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture.
 
                          - USDA Announces New Initiative to Quantify Climate Benefits of Conservation Reserve Program  Tue May 25, 2021 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced an initiative to quantify the climate benefits of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. This multi-year effort will enable USDA to better target CRP toward climate outcomes and improve existing models and conservation planning tools while supporting USDA’s goal of putting American agriculture and forestry at the center of climate-smart solutions to address climate change.
 
                          - In Historic Move, USDA to Begin Loan Payments to Socially Disadvantaged Borrowers under American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005  Fri May 21, 2021 12:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) today published the first notice of funding availability (NOFA) (PDF, 242 KB) announcing loan payments for eligible borrowers with qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005. The official NOFA will be published in the Federal Register early next week and USDA expects payments to begin in early June and continue on a rolling basis. A subsequent notice addressing guaranteed loan balances and direct loans that no longer have collateral and have been previously referred to the Department of Treasury for debt collection for offset, will be published within 120 days.
 
                          - USDA Announces Cooperative Agreements for Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction  Mon May 17, 2021 03:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 17, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of up to $2 million for local governments to host Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year 2021. The cooperative agreements support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans and they are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture.
 
                          - USDA Expands Aquaculture Disaster Assistance to Include Fish Raised for Food  Thu May 13, 2021 10:00 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2021 — In response to catastrophic aquaculture losses due to major winter storms that hit states along the U.S. Gulf Coast in February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced a policy change that makes food fish and other aquatic species eligible for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). Previously, only farm-raised game and bait fish were eligible for death loss ELAP benefits. Beginning June 1, eligible aquaculture producers can request ELAP assistance for 2021 losses. This policy change is for the 2021 and subsequent program years.
 
                          - USDA Announces Listening Session on Impacts of COVID-19 on New Farmers  Tue May 4, 2021 01:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a virtual listening session for beginning farmers and ranchers to learn how COVID-19 impacted their farming operations and to get their feedback on USDA assistance. The listening session will take place on May 6, 2021, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Eastern time.
 
                          - USDA Announces May 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon May 3, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, May 3, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced loan interest rates for May 2021, which are effective May 3. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Expands and Renews Conservation Reserve Program in Effort to Boost Enrollment and Address Climate Change  Wed Apr 21, 2021 03:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2021 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. Additionally, USDA is announcing investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects and $25 million for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials. Secretary Vilsack made the announcement today at White House National Climate Task Force meeting to demonstrate USDA’s commitment to putting American agriculture and forestry at the center of climate-smart solutions to address climate change.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2021 Cotton Loan Rate Differentials  Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the 2021-crop loan rate differentials for upland and extra-long staple cotton, which are applied to the crop loan rate to determine the per bale actual loan rate.
 
                          - USDA Announces Funding Available to Organizations to Assist Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers under Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative  Mon Apr 5, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, April 5, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The funding was made possible by USDA’s new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, an effort to distribute resources more broadly and to put greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers impacted by the pandemic. Today also marks the reopening of FSA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) signup as part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Farmers and ranchers will have at least 60 days to apply or make modifications to existing CFAP 2 applications.
 
                          - USDA Announces April 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Thu Apr 1, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, April 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced loan interest rates for April 2021, which are effective April 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2021 Marketing Assistance Loan Rates  for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Rice and Pulse Crops  Wed Mar 31, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 31, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2021 Marketing Assistance Loan rates.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2020, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021.
 
                          - After Identifying Gaps in Previous Aid, USDA Announces ‘Pandemic Assistance for Producers’ to Distribute Resources More Equitably  Wed Mar 24, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2021 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions. The new initiative—USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers—will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new programs. The Department will also develop rules for new programs that will put a greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers, timber harvesters, as well as provide support for the food supply chain and producers of renewable fuel, among others. Existing programs like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will fall within the new initiative and, where statutory authority allows, will be refined to better address the needs of producers.
 
                          - March 15 Deadline to Complete Election & Enrollment for 2021 Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage Programs  Mon Mar 8, 2021 03:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 8, 2021 – Agricultural producers who have not yet elected and enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 have until March 15. Producers who have not signed a contract or who want to make an election change should contact their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center to make an appointment. Right now, about 1.4 million farms have enrolled, about 81% of expected participation.
 
                          - USDA Extends Application Deadline for the Quality Loss Adjustment Program  Fri Mar 5, 2021 12:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 5, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline from March 5 to April 9 for agricultural producers to apply for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program because of recent winter storms and some clarifications to program rules. This program assists producers who suffered crop quality losses due to qualifying 2018 and 2019 natural disasters.
 
                          - USDA Announces March 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon Mar 1, 2021 12:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, March 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced loan interest rates for March 2021, which are effective March 1.
 
                          - U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Leadership in Farm Production and Conservation Mission Area  Fri Feb 19, 2021 11:15 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today the appointment of Gloria Montaño Greene as Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) and the appointment of Zach Ducheneaux as Administrator of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). They will begin their positions on Monday, Feb. 22.
 
                          - March 15 Last Day to Complete Enrollment for 2021 Agriculture Risk Coverage,  Price Loss Coverage Programs  Tue Feb 9, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2021 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 must do so by March 15. Producers who have not yet signed a 2021 enrollment contract or who want to make an election change should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to make an appointment. Program enrollment for 2021 is required in order to participate in the programs, but elections for the 2021 crop year are optional and otherwise remain the same as elections made for 2020.
 
                          - USDA Extends General Signup for Conservation Reserve Program  Fri Feb 5, 2021 12:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, February 5, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General Signup period, which had previously been announced as ending on Feb. 12, 2021. USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates were reduced resulting in an enrollment shortfall of over 4 million acres. The program, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides annual rental payments for 10 to 15 years for land devoted to conservation purposes, as well as other types of payments.
 
                          - USDA Announces February 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers  Mon Feb 1, 2021 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced loan interest rates for February 2021, which are effective February 1. 
 
                          - USDA Temporarily Suspends Debt Collections, Foreclosures and Other Activities on Farm Loans for Several Thousand Distressed Borrowers Due to Coronavirus  Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:00 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021 - Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA will temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments, and referring foreclosures to the Department of Justice; and USDA will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to stop judicial foreclosures and evictions on accounts that were previously referred to the Department of Justice. Additionally, USDA has extended deadlines for producers to respond to loan servicing actions, including loan deferral consideration for financially distressed and delinquent borrowers. In addition, for the Guaranteed Loan program, flexibilities have been made available to lenders to assist in servicing their customers.
 
                          - USDA Offers New Forest Management Incentive for Conservation Reserve Program  Tue Jan 19, 2021 02:30 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available $12 million for use in making payments to forest landowners with land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in exchange for their implementing healthy forest management practices. Existing CRP participants can now sign up for the Forest Management Incentive (FMI), which provides financial incentives to landowners with land in CRP to encourage proper tree thinning and other practices.
 
                          - USDA and Dairy Farmers Work Together to Mitigate Risk for 2021  Mon Jan 18, 2021 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2021 – In an unprecedented year, USDA staff and dairy producers across the country worked together to protect dairy operations for the 2021 production year under USDA’s risk management program options – the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), and Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle (LGM) programs. Recent enrollment data for these programs indicate that dairy operations are proactively managing their risk.
 
                          - USDA Offers Additional Assistance for Certain Producers Through Coronavirus Food Assistance Program  Fri Jan 15, 2021 10:00 AM EST  
Washington, D.C., January 15, 2021 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide additional assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), expanding eligibility for some agricultural producers and commodities as well as updating payments to accurately compensate some producers who already applied for the program. Producers who are now eligible and those who need to modify existing applications due to these updates can contact USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26. Some of these changes are being made to align with the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 while others are discretionary changes being made in response to ongoing evaluation of CFAP.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Fishermen of January 15 Deadline for Seafood Trade Relief Program  Fri Jan 8, 2021 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds fisherman of the Jan. 15 deadline to apply for the Seafood Trade Relief Program (STRP), which provides support for fishermen impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments. For more information on the program, including guidance on how to apply, visit farmers.gov/seafood or call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.
 
                          - USDA Seeks Members for Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture  Wed Jan 6, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking members for a new advisory committee on urban agriculture, part of a broader effort to focus on the needs of urban farmers. The 12-person committee will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices as well as identify any barriers to urban agriculture.
 
                          - USDA Announces Quality Loss Assistance Now Available for Eligible Producers Affected by 2018, 2019 Natural Disasters  Tue Jan 5, 2021 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that signup for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program will begin Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible crop quality losses due to natural disasters occurring in 2018 and 2019. The deadline to apply for QLA is Friday, March 5, 2021.
 
                          - Conservation Reserve Program General Signup Begins Today and Ends February 12  Mon Jan 4, 2021 01:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2021 – Agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) can sign up for the popular program beginning today, Jan. 4, 2021, until Feb. 12, 2021. The competitive program, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for January 2021  Mon Jan 4, 2021 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for January 2021, which are effective January 4-January 31. These rates are used for a variety of farm credit options available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Wed Dec 23, 2020 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2020, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021.
 
                          - USDA Announces Six More Farm Service Agency County Committees for Urban Agriculture, Requests Nominations  Thu Dec 17, 2020 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced six additional locations for Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees focused exclusively on urban agriculture.
 
                          - FSA Quickly Implemented Crucial Programs Amid Challenging Year  Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:30 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) helped farmers, livestock producers and foresters weather a tough 2020, marked with a pandemic and natural disasters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FSA continued to deliver farm programs to producers through phone and online tools, using social distancing guidelines. The agency also provided extra flexibilities to its programs, adjusting reporting dates and loan processing timelines, and continued to expand technology and streamline services to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
 
                          - In Challenging Year, USDA Continued its Focus on America’s Farmers and Ranchers  Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:15 AM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2020 – USDA farm programs helped farmers and ranchers weather a tough 2020, one marked with a pandemic and multiple natural disasters. USDA’s farm program agencies – the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center – worked to deliver programs to assist agricultural producers while also making strides to enhance efficiency and effectiveness to improve service to customers.
 
                          - USDA Announces Increase to Certain Incentive Payments for Continuous Conservation Reserve Program  Wed Dec 9, 2020 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is increasing incentive payments for practices installed on land enrolled in the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is upping the Practice Incentive Payment for installing practices, from 5 percent to 20 percent. Additionally, producers will receive a 10 percent incentive payment for water quality practices on land enrolled in CRP’s continuous signup. FSA administers CRP on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation.
 
                          - Dec. 11 Deadline Approaching for USDA Program for Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by COVID-19  Tue Dec 1, 2020 02:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) by Dec. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers facing market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for December 2020  Tue Dec 1, 2020 12:00 PM EST  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for December 2020, which are effective December 1-December 31, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Dairy Producers of Dec. 11 Deadline for 2021 Safety-Net Enrollment  Mon Nov 16, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds dairy producers that the deadline to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for calendar year 2021 is Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened DMC signup in October to help producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities.
 
                          - USDA to Open Signup for the Conservation Reserve Program and CRP Grasslands in Early 2021  Thu Nov 12, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from Jan. 4, 2021, to Feb. 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021 to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and provide annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
 
                          - Apply Now for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2  Thu Nov 12, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2020 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) is Dec. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.
 
                          - 2020 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Underway  Mon Nov 9, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mailed ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the local FSA county office or postmarked by December 7.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for November 2020  Mon Nov 2, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, November 2, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for November 2020, which are effective November 1-November 30, 2020.
 
                          - More than $7 Billion Paid in Second Round of USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program  Mon Oct 26, 2020 05:45 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., Oct. 26, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that in the first month of the application period, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) approved more than $7 billion in payments to producers in the second round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. CFAP 2 provides agricultural producers with financial assistance to help absorb some of the increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers of Disaster Assistance Application Deadline  Fri Oct 23, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds producers that the deadline to submit applications for disaster recovery assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses is Friday, Oct. 30. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) launched a new tool on farmers.gov to help producers with the application process.
 
                          - USDA Issues $1.68 Billion in Payments to Producers Enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program  Thu Oct 15, 2020 01:30 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes.
 
                          - Enrollment Begins for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs for 2021  Wed Oct 14, 2020 02:30 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2020 – Agricultural producers can now make elections and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2021 crop year. The signup period opened Tuesday, Oct. 13. These key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety-net programs help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops, and more than $5 billion in payments are in the process of going out to producers who signed up for the 2019 crop year.
 
                          - USDA Announces Oct. 30 Deadline to Submit Wildfire, Hurricane Disaster Assistance Applications  Fri Oct 9, 2020 03:30 PM America/New_York  
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.
 
                          - Dairy Margin Coverage Program Enrollment for 2021 Opens Oct. 13  Thu Oct 8, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
CHIPPEWA 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.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for October 2020  Thu Oct 1, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, October 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for October 2020, which are effective October 1 - October 31, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2021 Upland Cotton Marketing Assistance Loan Rate  Thu Oct 1, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, October 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced that the marketing assistance loan rate for 2021-crop base quality upland cotton is 52 cents per pound.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Farmers of September 30 Deadline to Update Safety-Net Program Crop Yields  Fri Sep 25, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farm owners of the September 30 deadline to update Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program yields for covered commodities on the farm. This is a one-time opportunity for producers to update yields, which are used to calculate 2020 through 2023 payments.
 
                          - USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2021 Sugar Loan Rates, Allotment and Marketing Allocations  Thu Sep 24, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, September 24, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the marketing assistance loan rates for sugar for crop year 2020 (fiscal year 2021). CCC also announced sugar beet and sugarcane allotments and processor marketing allocations for the fiscal year 2021 domestic sugar program.
 
                          - USDA to Provide Additional Direct Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by the Coronavirus  Fri Sep 18, 2020 09:15 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2020 – President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced up to an additional $14 billion for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) will begin September 21 and run through December 11, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Fiscal Year 2020 Sugar Program Announcements  Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:30 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, September 10, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced several actions regarding fiscal year (FY) 2020 beet and cane sugar marketing allocations and the raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ).
 
                          - USDA Supports U.S. Seafood Industry Impacted by Retaliatory Tariffs  Wed Sep 9, 2020 01:15 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., September 9, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide approximately $530 million to support the U.S. seafood industry and fishermen impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments. The funding will be provided through the Seafood Trade Relief Program and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
 
                          - USDA Reminds Farmers of September 30 Deadline to Update Safety-Net Program Crop Yields  Tue Sep 8, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farm owners that they have a one-time opportunity to update Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program yields for covered commodities on the farm. The deadline is September 30, 2020, to update yields, which are used to calculate the PLC payments for 2020 through 2023. Additionally, producers who elected Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) should also consider updating their yields.
 
                          - USDA Designates 18 Iowa Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas  Thu Sep 3, 2020 02:45 PM America/New_York  
RADCLIFFE, Iowa, Sept. 3, 2020 — Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue designated 18 Iowa counties as primary natural disaster areas, enabling producers who suffered losses because of the recent Derecho, that occurred on August 10, 2020, to be eligible for emergency loans. Additionally, Perdue reminded producers about the suite of disaster assistance programs available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including program flexibilities and a special signup through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for September 2020  Tue Sep 1, 2020 11:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, September 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for September 2020, which are effective September 1-September 30, 2020.
 
                          - Deadline Approaching for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program  Fri Aug 28, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2020 –U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is Sept. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Fri Aug 28, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, August 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2020, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021.
 
                          - USDA Extends Signup Deadline for New Conservation Pilot Program in Prairie Pothole Region  Wed Aug 26, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, August 26, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to November 20, 2020, for the Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP), a new pilot program that enables farmers to receive payments for planting perennial cover for conservation use for three to five years. Signup opened March 30, 2020, for the pilot program, which is part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and available to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
 
                          - USDA Announces New Farm Service Agency County Committees for Urban Agriculture, Requests Nominations  Wed Aug 12, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced new Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees focused exclusively on urban agriculture. County committees have enabled farmer input on the delivery of FSA programs since the 1930s, and these new committees are part of USDA’s efforts to better support urban agriculture.
 
                          - USDA Announces More Eligible Commodities for CFAP  Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:45 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., Aug. 11, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11th, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these tough times.
 
                          - USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification  Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:45 PM America/New_York  
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 Nov. 2, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Announces Changes to Emergency Haying and Grazing Provisions  Fri Aug 7, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced changes for emergency haying and grazing of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This includes changes outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill that streamlines the authorization process for farmers and ranchers.
 
                          - New USDA Survey to Measure Areas for Improvement  Fri Aug 7, 2020 01:15 PM America/New_York  
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).
 
                          - USDA Offers Annual Installment Deferral Option for Farm Storage Facility Loan Borrowers  Thu Aug 6, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2020 – To assist Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) borrowers experiencing financial hardship from the pandemic and other challenges in production agriculture, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is offering a one-time annual installment payment deferral option. No fees or prepayment penalties apply for borrowers who choose this FSFL loan flexibility option.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for August 2020  Mon Aug 3, 2020 01:30 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, August 3, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for August 2020, which are effective August 1-August 31, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Announces More Than 1.2 Million Acres Accepted in Recent Signup for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands  Thu Jul 9, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2020 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the acceptance of more than 1.2 million acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands during the recent signup period that began March 16 and ended May 15. The number of acres offered during this signup period was 1.9 million acres, over 3 times the number offered during the last signup period in 2016.
 
                          - USDA Announces Loan Rates for 2020 Crop Peanuts  Thu Jul 9, 2020 11:30 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2020 – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced 2020-crop loan rates for four types of peanuts. The rates take effect August 1, 2020, the beginning of the peanut crop year.
 
                          - Additional Commodities Eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program  Thu Jul 9, 2020 11:15 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, 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  Tue Jul 7, 2020 04:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, 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 Announces Flexibilities for Producers Filing ‘Notice of Loss’ for Failed, Prevented Planted Acres  Thu Jul 2, 2020 02:20 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing additional flexibilities for producers to file on acres with failed crops or crops that were prevented from planting because of extreme weather events. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is adding these flexibilities for Notice of Loss on both insured and uninsured crops to enable Service Centers to best assist producers.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers to Complete Crop Acreage Reports  Wed Jul 1, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1, 2020 – Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after spring planting should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office before the applicable deadline. July 15 is a major deadline for most crops, but acreage reporting deadlines vary by county and by crop. Contact your FSA county office for acreage reporting deadlines that are specific to your county.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for July 2020  Wed Jul 1, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for July 2020, which are effective July 1-July 31, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2019, which runs from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Adds Digital Options for Farmers and Ranchers to Apply for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program  Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency will now accept applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) through an online portal, expanding the options available to producers to apply for this program, which helps offset price declines and additional marketing costs because of the coronavirus pandemic. FSA is also leveraging commercial document storage and e-signature solutions to enable producers to work with local service center staff to complete their applications from home.
 
                          - USDA Dairy Safety-Net Program Signup to Begin October 12 for the 2021 Coverage Period  Thu Jun 18, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, 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.
 
                          - June 30 Last Day to Complete Enrollment for 2020 Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage Programs  Thu Jun 11, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 11, 2020 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2020 must do so by June 30. Although program elections for the 2020 crop year remain the same as elections made for 2019, all producers need to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to sign a 2020 enrollment contract.
 
                          - Farm Service Agency County Committee Nominations Open June 15  Wed Jun 10, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 10, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting nominations for county committee members on Monday, June 15, 2020. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2020 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Issues First Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Payments  Thu Jun 4, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
Washington, 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.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for June 2020  Mon Jun 1, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for June 2020, which are effective June 1-June 30, 2020.
 
                          - FSA Expands Set-Aside Loan Provision for Customers Impacted by COVID-19  Thu May 21, 2020 12:45 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will broaden the use of the Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) loan provision, normally used in the wake of natural disasters, to allow farmers with USDA farm loans who are affected by COVID-19, and are determined eligible, to have their next payment set aside. In some cases, FSA may also set aside a second payment for farmers who have already had one payment set aside because of a prior designated disaster.
 
                          - March Margin Triggers Dairy Margin Coverage Program Payment  Wed May 20, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced this week that the March 2020 income over feed cost margin was $9.15 per hundredweight (cwt.), triggering the first payment of 2020 for dairy producers who purchased the appropriate level of coverage under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
 
                          - USDA Announces Details of Direct Assistance to Farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program  Tue May 19, 2020 11:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, 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 Cooperative Agreements for Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction  Mon May 11, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $900,000 for local governments to host a Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) pilot project for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The cooperative agreements will support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. The agreements are offered through USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.
 
                          - USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production  Wed May 6, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $3 million for grants through its new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until midnight July 6, 2020.
 
                          - FSA Reminds Producers of Ongoing Disaster Assistance Program Signup  Fri May 1, 2020 12:45 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started making payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) to agricultural producers who suffered eligible losses because of drought or excess moisture in 2018 and 2019. Signup for these causes of loss opened March 23, and producers who suffered losses from drought (in counties designated D3 or above), excess moisture, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms or wildfires can still apply for assistance through WHIP+.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for May 2020  Fri May 1, 2020 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for May 2020, which are effective May 1-May 31, 2020.
 
                          - USDA’s New CRP Pilot Program Offers Longer-Term Conservation Benefits  Wed Apr 29, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will open signup this summer for CLEAR30, a new pilot program that offers farmers and landowners an opportunity to enroll in a 30-year Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract. This pilot is available to farmers and landowners with expiring water-quality practice CRP contracts in the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay regions. The program signup period is July 6 to Aug. 21, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Reports Record Enrollment in Key Farm Safety-Net Programs  Tue Apr 21, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2020 – Producers signed a record 1.77 million contracts for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2019 crop year, which is more than 107 percent of the total contracts signed compared with a 5-year average. USDA also reminds producers that June 30 is the deadline to enroll in ARC and PLC for the 2020 crop year.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2020 Cotton Loan Rate Differentials  Wed Apr 15, 2020 07:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2020 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2020 crop loan rate differentials for upland and extra-long staple cotton.
 
                          - USDA Announces Loan Maturity for Marketing Assistance Loans Now Extended to 12 Months  Thu Apr 9, 2020 01:15 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2020 – Agricultural producers now have more time to repay Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The loans now mature at 12 months rather than nine, and this flexibility is available for most commodities.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for April 2020  Fri Apr 3, 2020 10:30 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for April 2020, which are effective April 1-April 30, 2020. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for April is 0.625 percent, down from 1.500 percent in March.
 
                          - USDA Announces Reassignments of Fiscal Year 2020 Domestic Marketing Allocations and Increases to Fiscal Year 2020 Raw and Refined Sugar Tariff-Rate Quotas  Wed Apr 1, 2020 04:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced several actions regarding sugar: 1) a reassignment of projected fiscal year (FY) 2020 surplus beet sugar marketing allocations among beet sugar processors, with a consequent reassignment of 750,000 short tons, raw value (STRV) to raw cane sugar imports already anticipated; 2) a reassignment of 550,000 STRV of projected FY 2020 surplus cane sugar allocations to raw cane sugar imports, of which 200,000 STRV is reassigned to raw cane sugar imports already anticipated, and 350,000 STRV (317,515 metric tons, raw value or MTRV) is applied toward an increase in the FY 2020 tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for raw cane sugar; 3) an increase in the FY 2020 refined sugar TRQ of 200,000 STRV (181,437 MTRV); and 4) an increase in the FY 2020 raw sugar TRQ of 350,000 STRV (317,515 MTRV). These actions are effective April 2, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Mon Mar 30, 2020 08:45 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 30, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2019, which runs from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2020 Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Rice and Pulse Crops  Thu Mar 26, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2020 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the 2020 marketing assistance loan rates.
 
                          - USDA Announces More Than 3.4 Million Acres Selected for General Signup Conservation Reserve Program  Thu Mar 26, 2020 01:15 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., 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. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers receive an annual rental payment for establishing long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Farmers and ranchers who participate in CRP help provide numerous benefits to the nation’s environment and economy.
 
                          - FSA Makes Changes to Farm Loan, Disaster, Conservation and Safety Net Programs to Make it Easier for Customers to Conduct Business  Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices are open by phone appointment only until further notice, and FSA staff are available to continue helping agricultural producers with program signups, loan servicing and other important actions. Additionally, FSA is relaxing the loan-making process and adding flexibilities for servicing direct and guaranteed loans to provide credit to producers in need.
 
                          - USDA Stands Up New Team to Better Serve Beginning Farmers and Ranchers  Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2020 ─The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is standing up a new team of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff that will lead a department-wide effort focused on serving beginning farmers and ranchers.
 
                          - Monday, March 16 Is the Last Day to Schedule an Appointment with Your FSA Office For Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Enrollment  Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 12, 2020 – Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their 2019 crop year elections for and enrollment in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs must schedule an appointment to do so with their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) by Monday, March 16.
 
                          - USDA to Open Signup March 16 for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands  Thu Mar 5, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 5, 2020 – Farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup beginning March 16. The signup runs through May 15.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for March 2020  Mon Mar 2, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 2, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for March 2020, which are effective March 1-March 31, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Opens Signup March 23 for Added Causes of Loss Under WHIP+ and Announces Disaster Assistance for Sugar Beet Producers  Fri Feb 28, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, 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 Announces Updates for Honeybee Producers  Wed Feb 26, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced updates to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). These updates include changes required by the 2018 Farm Bill as well as discretionary changes intended to improve the administration of the program and clarify existing program requirements.
 
                          - Friday Is the Last Day to Schedule an Appointment with Your FSA Office to Compete in CRP General Signup  Tue Feb 25, 2020 01:30 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 25, 2020 – Agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup must make an offer of acres or schedule an appointment to do so with their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) service center by Friday, February 28.
 
                          - USDA Launches New Conservation Pilot Program for Prairie Pothole Producers to Plant Perennial Cover  Mon Feb 24, 2020 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 24, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced a new pilot program that enables farmers in the Prairie Pothole region to receive payments for planting perennial cover for conservation use for three to five years. The new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP) pilot is available to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. The signup for this pilot starts March 30, 2020 and ends August 21.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers of Feb. 28 Deadline for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup  Tue Feb 18, 2020 02:00 PM America/New_York  
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.
 
                          - USDA Announces Details of Risk Management Programs for Hemp Producers  Thu Feb 6, 2020 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters. A pilot hemp insurance program through Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) provides coverage against loss of yield because of insurable causes of loss for hemp grown for fiber, grain or Cannabidiol (CBD) oil and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage protects against losses associated with lower yields, destroyed crops or prevented planting where no permanent federal crop insurance program is available. Producers may apply now, and the deadline to sign up for both programs is March 16, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Asks USTR to Reallocate Unused Raw Sugar TRQ Volume  Thu Feb 6, 2020 06:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, February 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today requested that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) reallocate the unused quantities of the U.S. World Trade Organization (WTO) fiscal 2020 raw sugar import tariff-rate quota (TRQ).
 
                          - USDA Issues Third Tranche of 2019 MFP Payments  Mon Feb 3, 2020 03:30 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., February 3, 2020 – At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the third and final tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. The payments will begin to show up in farmers’ bank accounts by the end of this week.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for February 2020  Mon Feb 3, 2020 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, February 3, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for February 2020, which are effective February 1-February 29, 2020. All February rates are the same as January’s.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers of Feb. 28 Deadline for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup  Tue Jan 28, 2020 09:30 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup to enroll by 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.
 
                          - FSA Encourages Producers to Enroll Soon in Agriculture Risk and Price Loss Coverage Programs  Wed Jan 15, 2020 03:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 15, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. March 15, 2020 is the enrollment deadline for the 2019 crop year.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for January 2020  Fri Jan 3, 2020 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, January 3, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for January 2020, which are effective January 1-January 31, 2020. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for January is 1.500 percent, down from 1.625 percent in December.
 
                          - USDA Farm Programs Help Farmers and Ranchers During 2019 Challenges  Thu Dec 19, 2019 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 19, 2019 – USDA farm programs helped producers weather a tough 2019, marked with prevented planting, delayed harvests, and unjustified foreign retaliatory tariffs. USDA’s farm program agencies – the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Risk Management Agency (RMA), and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Business Center – worked to deliver programs to assist farmers and ranchers. Additionally, these agencies made strides to enhance efficiency and effectiveness to improve service to their customers.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:40 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, December 12, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2019, which runs from Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020.
 
                          - USDA Extends Deadlines for Dairy Margin Coverage, Market Facilitation Programs  Wed Dec 11, 2019 10:30 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 11, 2019 – Due to the prolonged and extensive impacts of weather events this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today extended the deadline to December 20 for producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for the 2020 calendar year. The deadline had been December 13.  USDA announced is also continuing to accept applications for the Market Facilitation Program through December 20.
 
                          - USDA to Open Signup for Conservation Reserve Program on December 9  Thu Dec 5, 2019 11:30 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 5, 2019 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is opening signup for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on December 9, 2019. The deadline for agricultural producers to sign up for general CRP is February 28, 2020, while signup for continuous CRP is ongoing.
 
                          - USDA to Open Signup for Conservation Reserve Program on December 9  Thu Dec 5, 2019 10:30 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 5, 2019 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is opening signup for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on December 9, 2019. The deadline for agricultural producers to sign up for general CRP is February 28, 2020, while signup for continuous CRP is ongoing.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for December 2019  Mon Dec 2, 2019 02:05 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, December 2, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for December 2019, which are effective December 1-December 31, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for December is 1.625 percent, same as in November.
 
                          - USDA Issues Second Tranche of Market Facilitation Program  Fri Nov 15, 2019 05:20 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., November 15, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the second tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. The payments will begin the week before Thanksgiving. Producers of MFP-eligible commodities will now be eligible to receive 25% of the total payment expected, in addition to the 50% they have already received from the 2019 MFP. 
 
                          - USDA Announces its Intent to Ensure Adequate Sugar Supply  Fri Nov 15, 2019 04:30 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., November 15, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it fully intends to take appropriate actions to ensure an adequate supply of sugar to the U.S. market.
 
                          - USDA Announces Block Grants For Three States as Part of Broader Disaster Relief Package  Fri Nov 8, 2019 12:00 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., November 8, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make available $800 million to agricultural producers in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia affected by hurricanes Michael and Florence. The state block grants are part of a broader $3 billion package to help producers recover from 2018 and 2019 natural disasters, which includes the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program-Plus (WHIP+) as well as programs for loss of milk and stored commodities. 
 
                          - USDA, Bureau of Indian Affairs Partner to Spur Economic Development, Strengthen Tribal Communities in Indian Country  Wed Nov 6, 2019 10:10 AM America/New_York  
CATOOSA, Oklahoma, November 6, 2019 – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve tribes’ and tribal members’ access to farm conservation programs to advance conservation in Indian Country. The MOU was signed in Catoosa, Oklahoma, where USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey was joined by BIA Director Darryl LaCounte at the National Tribal Conservation Districts Conference, organized by the Indian Nations Conservation Alliance. This MOU signing represents the Trump Administration’s continued commitment to Indian Country.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for November 2019  Fri Nov 1, 2019 03:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, November 1, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for November 2019, which are effective November 1-November 30, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for November is 1.625 percent, down from 1.750 percent in October.
 
                          - Voting Begins for 2019 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections  Mon Oct 28, 2019 11:30 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, October 28, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots on November 4 to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections.
 
                          - USDA Opens 2020 Enrollment for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs  Tue Oct 15, 2019 10:20 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2019 – Agricultural producers now can enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs – two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety net programs – for the 2020 crop year. Meanwhile, producers who enrolled farms for the 2018 crop year have started receiving more than $1.5 billion for covered commodities for which payments were triggered under such programs.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2020 Upland Cotton Marketing Assistance Loan Rate  Thu Oct 10, 2019 02:40 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, October 10, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced that the marketing assistance loan rate for 2020-crop base quality upland cotton is 52 cents per pound.
 
                          - USDA Announces Correction to Loan Rates for 2019-Crop Peanuts  Thu Oct 10, 2019 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, October 10, 2019 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced corrected 2019-crop loan rates for four types of peanuts. The 2019 peanut loan rates were published in June. The peanut loan rates were incorrectly calculated for the 2019 crop year because of a formula calculation error. The rates have been revised based on corrected formulas. The revised peanut loan rates, by type (Runner, Spanish, Valencia, and Virginia), for processing marketing assistance loans and loan deficiency payments for 2019 crop peanuts have been determined.
 
                          - USDA Opens 2020 Enrollment for Dairy Margin Coverage Program  Mon Oct 7, 2019 01:30 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2019 – Dairy producers can now enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for calendar year 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened signup today for the program that helps producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for October 2019  Tue Oct 1, 2019 04:10 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, October 1, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for October 2019, which are effective October 1-October 31, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for October is 1.750 percent, down from 1.875 percent in September.
 
                          - USDA Seeking Comments on Conservation Reserve Program Environmental Assessment  Fri Sep 27, 2019 02:00 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., September 27 , 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the availability of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The 2018 Farm Bill made changes to CRP, and the assessment evaluates those changes as they relate to the National Environmental Policy Act. The assessment only covers programmatic changes that have not been evaluated previously.
 
                          - USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2020 Sugar Loan Rates, Allotment and Marketing Allocations, and Feedstock Flexibility Program Updates  Fri Sep 27, 2019 01:05 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2019 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced crop year 2019 rates for marketing assistance loan rates for sugar Additionally, USDA announced provisions of the fiscal year 2020 domestic sugar program and that the CCC is not expected to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2019.
 
                          - More Time Provided for Dairy Producers to Enroll in DMC Program  Thu Sep 19, 2019 03:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today extended the deadline to September 27 for dairy producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2019. The deadline had been September 20.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers: 2019 Enrollment Deadline for the Dairy Margin Coverage Program Is Sept. 20  Tue Sep 10, 2019 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds dairy producers that the deadline to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2019 is Sept. 20, 2019. 
 
                          - USDA Resources Available for Farmers Hurt by 2018, 2019 Disasters  Mon Sep 9, 2019 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 9, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian, can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Signup for this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program will begin Sept. 11, 2019.
 
                          - USDA Opens 2019 Enrollment for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs  Tue Sep 3, 2019 01:30 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., September 3, 2019 – Agricultural producers can now enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, two popular safety net programs, for the 2019 crop year. Interested producers must sign up for either program by March 15, 2020. 
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for September 2019  Tue Sep 3, 2019 10:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, September 3, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for September 2019, which are effective September 1-September 30, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for September is 1.875 percent, down from 2.000 percent in August.
 
                          - Farm Service Agency Expands Payment Options  Tue Aug 20, 2019 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 20, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is expanding its payment options to now accept debit cards and Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit. These paperless payment options enable FSA customers to pay farm loan payments, measurement service fees, farm program debt repayments and administrative service fees, as well as to purchase aerial maps.
 
                          - Nearly 17,000 Dairy Operations Enrolled in Dairy Margin Coverage Program  Mon Aug 19, 2019 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that producers of nearly 17,000 dairy operations have signed up for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program since signup opened June 17. Producers interested in 2019 coverage must sign up before Sept. 20, 2019. 
 
                          - Report: Farmers Prevented from Planting Crops on More than 19 Million Acres  Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:30 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2019 – Agricultural producers reported they were not able to plant crops on more than 19.4 million acres in 2019, according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This marks the most prevented plant acres reported since USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) began releasing the report in 2007 and 17.49 million acres more than reported at this time last year. 
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for August 2019  Thu Aug 1, 2019 04:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, August 1, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for August 2019, which are effective August 1-August 31, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for August is 2.000 percent, down from 2.125 percent in July. 
 
                          - USDA Announces Details of Support Package for Farmers  Thu Jul 25, 2019 02:24 PM America/New_York  
Washington, D.C., July 25, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced further details of the $16 billion package aimed at supporting American agricultural producers while the Administration continues to work on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals.
 
                          - New Farmers.gov Feature Helps Producers Find Farm Loans that Fit Their Operation  Wed Jul 17, 2019 12:40 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, July 17, 2019 – A new online tool can help farmers and ranchers find information on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) farm loans that may best fit their operations. USDA has launched the new Farm Loan Discovery Tool as the newest feature on farmers.gov, the Department’s self-service website for farmers. 
 
                          - USDA Now Making Payments for New Dairy Margin Coverage Program  Thu Jul 11, 2019 01:20 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, July 11, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened enrollment for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program on June 17 and has started issuing payments to producers who purchased coverage. Producers can enroll through Sept. 20, 2019. 
 
                          - USDA Extends Deadline to Report Spring-Seeded Crops for Twelve States  Wed Jul 10, 2019 01:20 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, July 10, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for agricultural producers in states impacted by flooding and heavy moisture. The new July 22 deadline applies to producers in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin for reporting spring-seeded crops to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices and crop insurance agents.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for July 2019  Mon Jul 1, 2019 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2019 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for July 2019, which are effective July 1-July 31, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for July is 2.125 percent, down from 2.375 percent in June.
 
                          - USDA Adds Flexibility for Cover Crop Management in Crop Year 2020  Fri Jun 28, 2019 11:55 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON DC, June 28, 2019 – The 2018 Farm Bill mandated changes to the treatment of cover crops for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, which add more flexibility to when cover crops must be terminated while remaining eligible for crop insurance. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) developed new guidelines and policy provisions to enact these changes, which will be available beginning with the 2020 crop year. With these changes, NRCS is now recognized as an agricultural expert resource for cover crop management systems. 
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Fri Jun 28, 2019 09:10 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 28, 2019 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP) for crop year 2018, which runs from Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2019. 
 
                          - USDA Announces Loan Rates for 2019-Crop Peanuts  Thu Jun 27, 2019 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2019 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced 2019-crop loan rates for four types of peanuts. The rates take effect Aug. 1, 2019, the beginning of the peanut crop year. 
 
                          - USDA Announces FY 2019, FY 2020 Supply Adjustments to Sugar Program  Wed Jun 26, 2019 09:13 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced several fiscal year (FY) 2019 sugar program actions to ensure an adequate supply of raw sugar to the U.S. market and established FY 2020 sugar import tariff-rate quota (TRQ) levels.
 
                          - USDA Offers Producers Options to Re-enroll or Extend Expiring CRP Contracts  Fri Jun 21, 2019 12:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2019 – Farmers and ranchers with expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts may now re-enroll in certain CRP continuous signup practices or, if eligible, select a one-year contract extension. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) also is accepting offers from those who want to enroll for the first time in one of the country’s largest conservation programs. FSA’s 52nd signup for CRP runs from June 3 to August 23.
 
                          - Secretary Perdue Announces New Dairy Margin Coverage Signup Begins June 17  Fri Jun 14, 2019 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 14, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announces that signup begins June 17 for the new Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, the cornerstone program of the dairy safety net that helps dairy producers manage the volatility of milk and feed prices, operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
 
                          - Farm Service Agency County Committee Nominations Open June 14  Mon Jun 3, 2019 02:20 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2019 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting nominations for county committee members on Friday, June 14, 2019. Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee. Individuals may nominate themselves or others as a candidate.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for June 2019  Mon Jun 3, 2019 10:05 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for June 2019, which are effective June 1-June 30, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for June is 2.375 percent, same as it was in May. 
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers of Approaching Marketing Assistance Loan Deadlines  Fri May 24, 2019 02:30 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 24, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce reminds producers of the May 31, 2019, deadline to apply for crop year 2018 marketing assistance loans for feed grains, upland cotton, soybeans and minor oilseeds.
 
                          - USDA Reopens Continuous CRP Signup  Wed May 15, 2019 10:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2019 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications beginning June 3, 2019, for certain practices under the continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup and will offer extensions for expiring CRP contracts. The 2018 Farm Bill reauthorized CRP, one of the country’s largest conservation programs. 
 
                          - USDA Announces March Income over Feed Cost Margin Triggers Third 2019 Dairy Safety Net Payment  Tue May 7, 2019 04:20 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2019 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced this week that the March 2019 income over feed cost margin was $8.85 per hundredweight (cwt.), triggering the third payment for dairy producers who purchase the appropriate level of coverage under the new Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
 
                          - USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Producers’ Costs for Organic Certification  Mon May 6, 2019 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2019 – 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 fiscal 2019 funding are due Oct. 31, 2019.
 
                          - USDA Announces Repayment Options for Producers with Coverage in Previous Margin Protection Program for Dairy  Fri May 3, 2019 04:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 3, 2019 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that dairy producers who had coverage under the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), which provided payments to producers when the price of milk fell below the feed costs to produce it, are eligible to receive a repayment for part of the premiums paid into the program.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for May 2019  Wed May 1, 2019 02:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for April 2019, which are effective May 1-May 31, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for May is 2.375 percent, down from 2.500 percent in April.
 
                          - USDA Announces New Decision Tool for New Dairy Margin Coverage Program  Tue Apr 30, 2019 09:50 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2019 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today the availability of a new web-based tool – developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin – to help dairy producers evaluate various scenarios using different coverage levels through the new Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
 
                          - USDA Extends Deadline to May 17 for Producers to Certify 2018 Crop Production for Market Facilitation Program Payments  Mon Apr 29, 2019 10:25 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2019 – USDA extended the deadline to May 17 from May 1 for agricultural producers to certify 2018 crop production for payments through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which helps producers who have been significantly affected by foreign tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional exports. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) extended the deadline because heavy rainfall and snowfall have delayed harvests in many parts of the country, preventing producers from certifying harvested production.
 
                          - USDA Announces February Income over Feed Cost Margin Triggers Second 2019 Dairy Safety Net Payment  Thu Apr 18, 2019 11:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 18, 2019 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced this week that the February 2019 income over feed cost margin was $8.22 per hundredweight (cwt.), triggering the second payment for dairy producers who purchase the appropriate level of coverage under the new but yet-to-be established Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2019 Cotton Loan Rate Differentials  Mon Apr 15, 2019 10:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2019 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the 2019-crop loan rate differentials for upland and extra-long staple cotton.
 
                          - Higher Limits Now Available on USDA Farm Loans  Fri Apr 12, 2019 12:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 12, 2019 – Higher limits are now available for borrowers interested in USDA’s farm loans, which help agricultural producers purchase farms or cover operating expenses. The 2018 Farm Bill increased the amount that producers can borrow through direct and guaranteed loans available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and made changes to other loans, such as microloans and emergency loans.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2019 Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Rice and Pulse Crops  Wed Apr 10, 2019 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2019 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the 2019 marketing assistance loan rates by:
 
                          - USDA Announces Buy-Up Coverage Availability and New Service Fees for Noninsured Crop Coverage Policies  Mon Apr 8, 2019 12:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2019 - USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that higher levels of coverage will be offered through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), a popular safety net program, beginning April 8, 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill also increased service fees and made other changes to the program, including service fee waivers for qualified military veterans interested in obtaining NAP coverage.
 
                          - USDA Launches New Farmers.gov Features to Help with H-2A Applications, Managing Loans  Wed Apr 3, 2019 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 3, 2019 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched two new features on farmers.gov to help customers manage their farm loans and navigate the application process for H-2A visas.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for April 2019  Mon Apr 1, 2019 12:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, April 1, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for April 2019, which are effective April 1 – April 30. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for April is 2.500 percent, down from 2.625 percent in March.
 
                          - USDA Announces No Actions under Feedstock Flexibility Program  Fri Mar 29, 2019 10:10 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 29, 2019 – USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2018, which runs from Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2019.
 
                          - Dairy Producers Previously Enrolled in the Livestock Gross Margin Program Now Eligible for 2018 Margin Protection Program  Fri Mar 22, 2019 11:30 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that dairy producers who elected to participate in the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle Program (LGM-Dairy) now have the opportunity to participate in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) for 2018 coverage. Sign-up will take place March 25 through May 10, 2019. 
 
                          - USDA Outlines Eligibility for 2019 Supplemental Coverage Option Regarding Elections for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage  Wed Mar 13, 2019 01:40 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced this week that producers who purchased or plan to purchase the 2019 Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) policy should report Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) election intentions to their crop insurance agent by March 15, 2019, or the acreage reporting date, whichever is later.
 
                          - USDA Announces 2019 Upland Cotton Marketing Assistance Loan Rate  Fri Mar 8, 2019 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 8, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced that the marketing assistance loan rate for 2019-crop base quality upland cotton is 52 cents per pound.
 
                          - USDA Announces January Income over Feed Cost Margin Triggers First 2019 Dairy Safety Net Payment  Wed Mar 6, 2019 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 6, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced this week that the January 2019 income over feed cost margin was $7.99 per hundredweight, triggering the first payment for eligible dairy producers who purchase the appropriate level of coverage under the new but yet-to-be established Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
 
                          - USDA Appoints David M. Warner Director of External Affairs for the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center  Mon Mar 4, 2019 02:30 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 4, 2019 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Bill Northey today announced that David M. Warner was sworn in to serve as the Director of External Affairs for USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area.
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for March 2019  Fri Mar 1, 2019 09:05 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, March 1, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation, today, announced interest rates for March 2019, which are effective March 1 – March 31, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for March is 2.625 percent, the same as 2.625 percent in February.
 
                          - USDA To Host 2018 Farm Bill Implementation Listening Sessions  Tue Feb 12, 2019 11:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey announced that USDA is hosting a listening session for initial input on the 2018 Farm Bill. USDA is seeking public input on the changes to existing programs implemented by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency. Each agency will take into account stakeholder input when making discretionary decisions on program implementation.
 
                          - USDA Reminds Producers of Feb. 14 Deadline for Market Facilitation Program  Tue Feb 12, 2019 09:00 AM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2019 – Agricultural producers have until Feb. 14, 2019, to sign up for USDA’s Market Facilitation Program (MFP), launched last year to help producers suffering from damages due to unjustified trade retaliation. Producers can apply without proof of yield but must certify 2018 production by May 1, 2019. Since its launch in September 2018, more than 864,000 producers have applied, supporting those hit hard with nearly $8 billion in estimated payments. 
 
                          - USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for February 2019  Fri Feb 1, 2019 01:00 PM America/New_York  
WASHINGTON, February 1, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation, today, announced interest rates for February 2019, which are effective February 1 – February 28, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for February is 2.625 percent, the same as 2.625 percent in January.
 

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