The Farm Service Agency's (FSA) electronic Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (eDCP) service allows agricultural producers to enroll in DCP online. Producers can choose DCP payment options, assign crop shares, and sign and submit their contracts from any computer with Internet access. Producers no longer have to travel to their local FSA office to complete these tasks and can view and print out submitted contract options at any time. For more information about DCP, please visit www.fsa.usda.gov/dcp.

This service convenience is available to all producers eligible to participate in the 2008-2012 DCP program years. eDCP sign-up is offered as an additional DCP enrollment option. Producers can still choose to complete their DCP contracts in person at their local FSA office. The service does not alter any DCP provisions. For instance, for a farm to be enrolled in DCP, all owners and producers with shares on the farm must still sign a DCP contract.

Access to the eDCP service is available to all USDA customers who are eligible to participate in DCP. In order to ensure personal identity, you must first register for a USDA eAuthentication Level 2 Account. This process is easy and starts online by creating a user ID and password and confirming your email. The final step requires visiting a local USDA Service Center to complete the eAuthentication process.

Once you have your eAuthentication account, you can click on this 'Access eDCP/ACRE Service' link and enter your user ID and password on the USDA login screen.

USDA provides eDCP services in a secure online environment that protects participants' privacy through stringent security measures. FSA provides all producers with DCP nationwide customer service, meaning you may visit any FSA office throughout the country to complete your DCP contract.

The eDCP process is available 24/7, except during routine backup and maintenance periods.