The Washington State Farm Service Agency serves the agricultural community through 25 county USDA service centers and one state office, located in Spokane. The Washington FSA State Committee and locally-elected county committees provide producer input to federal farm programs.

• List of county/state committees and their meeting schedules.
• Washington FSA Summary of State and Counties - FSA maintains farm records for the purpose of verifying eligibility for federal farm program participation. From these records, FSA compiles a report which includes the number of farms, farm tracts, number of owners, crops grown and number of acres, and conservation acreage data. Report with information by county and for the state.

FSA helps to ensure a stable food supply for the nation by supporting American farmers. This is accomplished through the implementation of farm programs authorized by Congress. The programs currently carried out in Washington State are categorized under the following headings.

• Conservation
• Disaster Assistance
• Price Support
• Farm Loans
• Energy Programs

To find out more about the rules and regulations related to FSA programs click here.

FSA Ensures the civil rights of every individual who requests access to programs administered by the agency.

Employment Opportunities

Direct Link for WA positions on USAJobs site

In the News

USDA Expands Grasslands Conservation Program to Small-Scale Livestock Producers

USDA will accept over 300,000 acres in 43 states that were offered by producers during the recent ranking period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands enrollment with emphasis placed on small-scale livestock operations. Through the voluntary CRP Grasslands program, grasslands threatened by development or conversion to row crops are maintained as livestock grazing areas, while providing important conservation benefits. Approximately 200,000 of the accepted acres were offered by small-scale livestock operations. More

USDA Announces Farm Service Agency Cooperative Agreements

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced cooperative agreements with 46 partners to educate producers, including those who have been historically underserved by USDA programs, about Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs that provide financial, disaster or technical support. Nearly $2.5 million will go to nonprofits and universities that will provide training and access to FSA programs, financial resources and other information. More

USDA Makes Provides New Cost-Share Opportunities for Organic Producers and Handlers

Organic producers and handlers will be able to visit USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices to apply for federal reimbursement to assist with the cost of receiving and maintaining organic or transitional certification. More

USDA Makes It Easier to Transfer Land to the Next Generation of Farmers

USDA will offer an early termination opportunity for certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts, making it easier to transfer property to the next generation of farmers and ranchers, including family members. The land that is eligible for the early termination is among the least environmentally sensitive land enrolled in CRP. More

USDA Resumes Incentives to Grow the Bioeconomy and Improve Forest Health

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that $1.5 million will be available in fiscal year 2017 for farmers and foresters who harvest and deliver biomass for renewable energy. The funds are from the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. More

USDA Expands Working-Lands Conservation Opportunities through CRP

Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Deputy Under Secretary Alexis Taylor today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will offer a new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands practice specifically tailored for small-scale livestock grazing operations. Small livestock operations with 100 or fewer head of grazing dairy cows (or the equivalent) can submit applications to enroll up to 200 acres of grasslands per farm. USDA’s goal is to enroll up to 200,000 acres. More

Marketing Assistance Loans and Loan Deficiency Payment Reminder

FSA Marketing Assistance Loans can help grain producers meet cash flow needs without selling commodities when market prices are at harvest-time lows. In the current marketing environment for wheat, it may be a good time to contact your local FSA office to learn more about marketing loans and loan deficiency payments.

Wheat producers who are eligible for marketing loans are also eligible for loan deficiency payments (LDPs) should the posted county price fall below the county loan rate. You can purchase a commodity certificate that may be exchanged for the outstanding loan collateral. Unlike LDPs, use of commodity certificates does not affect payment limitations. You can check the daily LDP rates online at www.fsa.usda.gov.

For a commodity to be eligible for a loan, loan deficiency payment, or certificate, you must have beneficial interest in the commodity, defined as having title, possession and control of the commodity, and responsible for loss of or damage to the commodity. All related application forms must be completed at the local FSA office prior to loss of beneficial interest. Other eligibility requirements may apply; consult your local FSA office for more information.

Marketing assistance loans are also available for other commodities, such as corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, extra-long staple cotton, long grain rice, medium grain rice, soybeans and other oilseeds (including sunflower seed, rapeseed, canola, safflower, flaxseed, mustard seed, crambe and sesame seed), dry peas, lentils, small chickpeas, large chickpeas, grade and non-graded wool, unshorn pelts, honey and peanuts.

Resources Available for Small and Midsize Farmers

USDA has put together several resources for accessing capital, risk management and other issues. The information can be viewed here.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

• January 1, 2017 - New County Committee members take office.
• January 2, 2017 - FSA offices closed for the New Year's holiday.
• January 9, 2017 - FSA begins taking Biomass Crop Assistance (BCAP) applications.
• January 30, 2017 - Final date to submit 2016 Livestock Indemnity (LIP) applications if a notice of loss has been filed.

CROP ACREAGE REPORTING DATES FOR 2017 CROP YEAR

• December 15, 2016 - Perennial forage (change for 2017), and the fall seeded crops - alfalfa seed, canola, mint, peas and lentils, small grains and onions planted between August 15 and September 15, 2016
• January 2, 2017 - Honey
• January 15, 2017 - Apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums
• May 15, 2017 - Cabbage planted March 14 and April 20, 2017
• July 15, 2017 - Spring planted alfalfa seed; cabbage planted April 20 to June 10, 2017; onions planted March 14 to April 20, 2017 and all other crops and land uses, including CRP, except crops listed for the other dates
• August 15, 2017 - Buckwheat, cabbage planted June 11 to August 10, 2017

NAP CROP PRODUCTION REPORTING DATES FOR 2016 CROP YEAR

• December 15, 2016 - NAP covered perennial forage for hay and fall-seed NAP covered crops.
• January 15, 2017 - NAP covered tree fruits and blueberries and cranberries.

NAP APPLICATION CLOSING DATES FOR 2017 CROPS

• August 31, 2016 –Aquaculture; beets (for stecklings); cabbage (for seed or fresh); canola; carrots (for seed); cauliflower (for seed or fresh); Christmas trees; floriculture; mushrooms; onions (for seed, fresh or processing); rapeseed; rutabaga (for seed or fresh); turf grass sod; turnips (for seed or fresh); and any other fall planted crops not mentioned in other closing dates.
• September 30, 2016 – Garlic; mint; perennial grazing, forage, mixed forage and forage seed crops; wheat.
• November 21, 2016 - All Perennial crops not listed under the 9/30 category; asparagus; berries; grapes; honey; hops; tree fruits and nuts.
• March 15, 2017 – Artichokes, beets (for seed or fresh); buckwheat; camelina; carrots (for fresh or processing); mustard; radish (for seed or fresh); small grain forages (wheat, barley, oats, peas); and any other spring planted crops not mentioned in other closing dates.

NAP coverage should be purchased at least 30 days before the crop is planted, but no later than the application closing date.

NAP coverage cannot be offered on any crop for which Federal Crop Insurance is available in the county. If you have questions regarding NAP availability or NAP application closing dates, please contact your local FSA office for more information.

Stay Current on FSA News - Instant Electronic Bulletins

GovDelivery is a free email service that enables Farm Service Agency county offices to send you bulletins, deadline reminders and newsletters instantly. Sign up now to receive information about program details, signup dates and deadlines. Subscribe now.

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Rod Hamilton
Acting State Executive Director

Contact us at:

Washington State FSA
316 W. Boone Avenue, Ste #568
Spokane, WA 99201-2350
(509) 323-3000
State Office Directory