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  1. USDA Announces Availability of Additional Farm Loan Funding

    Fri Sep 2, 2016 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that additional funding will be made available to assist more than 1,900 approved applicants who are awaiting farm operating loans. The funds, which were reprogrammed by FSA with the approval of Congress, will leverage up to $185 million in additional lending for direct and guaranteed farm operation loans and will allow the agency to address up to 30 percent of its projected shortfall of funds until the next federal fiscal year resumes on Oct. 1.

  2. USDA Announces Safety Net Assistance for Milk Producers Due to Tightening Dairy Margins

    Thu Aug 4, 2016 at 02:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced approximately $11.2 million in financial assistance to American dairy producers enrolled in the 2016 Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy). The payment rate for May/June 2016 will be the largest since the program began in 2014. The narrowing margin between milk prices and the cost of feed triggered the payments, as provided for by the 2014 Farm Bill.

  3. USDA Designates 3 Counties in South Dakota as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

    Thu Jul 28, 2016 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, July 28, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Butte, Custer and Hardingcounties in South Dakota as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.

  4. USDA Removes Farm Program Payments to Managers Not Actively Engaged in Farming

    Tue Dec 15, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today finalized a rule to ensure that farm safety-net payments are issued only to active managers of farms that operate as joint ventures or general partnerships, consistent with the direction and authority provide by Congress in the 2014 Farm Bill. The action, which exempts family farm operations, closes a loophole where individuals who were not actively part of farm management still received payments.

  5. USDA Announces Enrollment Period for Safety Net Coverage in 2016

    Thu Dec 3, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2015 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that producers who chose coverage from the safety net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, can begin visiting FSA county offices starting Dec. 7, 2015, to sign contracts to enroll in coverage for 2016. The enrollment period will continue until Aug. 1, 2016.

  6. USDA Begins 49th Enrollment Period for the Conservation Reserve Program

    Tue Dec 1, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded farmers and ranchers that the next general enrollment period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) begins today, Dec. 1, 2015, and ends on Feb. 26, 2016. December 2015 also marks the 30th anniversary of CRP, a federally funded program that assists agricultural producers with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.

  7. USDA Improves Access to Capital for Tribal Farmlands with Multiple Owners

    Tue Dec 1, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it is expanding the availability of farm loans for Indian tribes and members to purchase tribal farmland that has multiple owners. The improved lending opportunities are possible due to new authority granted by the 2014 Farm Bill, which allows USDA to provide revolving loan funds to qualified intermediary lenders that can relend the funds to qualified tribes and individuals. The program becomes available today, Dec.1, 2015.

  8. USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to North Dakota Farmers Facing Market Downturn

    Wed Nov 18, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    (FARGO, N.D.), November 18, 2015 – USDA North Dakota Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Aaron Krauter announced that approximately 26,000 North Dakota farms enrolled in new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill are receiving financial assistance for the 2014 crop year. The programs, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), are designed to protect against unexpected drops in crop prices or revenues due to market downturns.

  9. USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to Farmers Facing Market Downturn

    Tue Oct 27, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2015 — The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that beginning today, nearly one half of the 1.7 million farms that signed up for either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will receive safety-net payments for the 2014 crop year.

  10. USDA Extends Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadline

    Tue Sep 22, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the deadline to enroll for the dairy Margin Protection Program for coverage in 2016 has been extended until Nov. 20, 2015. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to participating farmers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below the coverage level selected by the farmer.

  11. USDA Commits $2.5 Million to Expand New Farmer Education

    Tue Sep 22, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that $2.5 million in grants is now available for projects to educate new and underserved farmers about more than 20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency programs that can provide financial, disaster or technical assistance to the agricultural community.

  12. Deadline to Enroll in Key Farm Bill Safety Net Programs Approaches

    Fri Sep 4, 2015 at 01:00 PM
    WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2015 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini reminds farmers and ranchers that they have until Sept. 30 to enroll in several key Farm Bill safety net programs – Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy).

  13. USDA Accepting More Farmland for Wildlife Habitat in North Dakota

    Wed Jul 22, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    FARGO, N.D. – July 22, 2015 – U.S. Department of Agriculture North Dakota Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Aaron Krauter today announced that an additional 25,000 acres of agricultural land in North Dakota is eligible for funding for wildlife habitat restoration.

  14. Record Number of Farmers and Ranchers Certified Under 2014 Farm Bill Conservation Compliance

    Fri Jul 10, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, July 10, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that over 98.2 percent of producers have met the 2014 Farm Bill requirement to certify conservation compliance to qualify for crop insurance premium support payments.

  15. USDA Opens Enrollment Period for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Safety-Net Programs

    Mon Jun 15, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, June 15, 2015 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that eligible producers may now formally enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2014 and 2015. The enrollment period begins June 17, 2015, and will end Sept. 30, 2015.

  16. Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination Period Begins June 15

    Mon Jun 8, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, June 8, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that the nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees begins on Monday, June 15, 2015.

  17. USDA Packages Disaster Protection with Loans to Benefit Specialty Crop and Diversified Producers

    Mon Jun 1, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    (FARGO, N.D.) - June 1, 2015 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Aaron Krauter today announced that producers who apply for FSA farm loans also will be offered the opportunity to enroll in new disaster loss protections created by the 2014 Farm Bill. The new coverage, available from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), is available to FSA loan applicants who grow non-insurable crops, so this is especially important to fruit and vegetable producers and other specialty crop growers.

  18. Secretary Vilsack Announces Additional 800,000 Acres Dedicated to Conservation Reserve Program for Wildlife Habitat and Wetlands

    Fri May 29, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    MILWAUKEE, May 29, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that an additional 800,000 acres of highly environmentally sensitive land may be enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) under certain wetland and wildlife initiatives that provide multiple benefits on the same land.

  19. USDA Reminds Farmers to Certify Conservation Compliance by June 1 Deadline

    Thu May 21, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, May 21, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers to file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form (AD-1026) with their local USDA Service Center by June 1, 2015. The 2014 Farm Bill requires producers to have the form on file in order to remain eligible, or to become eligible for crop insurance premium support.

  20. USDA Wildlife Habitat Conservation Program Reaches 1 Million Acres

    Fri May 1, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON May 1, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that a major national conservation program that restores high-priority wildlife habitat has now surpassed 1 million acres with the recent enrollment of land in La Moure County, North Dakota.

  21. USDA to Issue Disaster Assistance to Help Honeybee, Livestock and Farm-Raised Fish Producers

    Mon Apr 6, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, April 6, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency today announced that nearly 2,700 applicants will begin receiving disaster assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses experienced from Oct. 1, 2013, through Sept. 30, 2014.

  22. USDA Extends ARC and PLC Deadlines

    Fri Mar 27, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, March 27, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today provided farm owners and producers one additional week, until April 7, 2015, to choose between Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), the safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill. The final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres also will be April 7, 2015.

  23. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Bill Programs Approach a Critical March 31, 2015 Deadline

    Wed Mar 25, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    (FARGO, N.D.) - March 25, 2015 — USDA Farm Service Agency North Dakota State Executive Director Aaron Krauter reminds producers that the final date to update yield history, reallocate base acres and elect the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) is Tuesday, March 31, 2015 “Farmers and landowners need to have this completed or a scheduled appointment with FSA by the end of March,” said Krauter.

  24. USDA Implements 2014 Farm Bill Provision to Limit Payments to Non-Farmers

    Tue Mar 24, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, March 24, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a proposed rule to limit farm payments to non-farmers, consistent with requirements Congress mandated in the 2014 Farm Bill. The proposed rule limits farm payments to individuals who may be designated as farm managers but are not actively engaged in farm management. In the Farm Bill, Congress gave USDA the authority to address this loophole for joint ventures and general partnerships, while exempting family farm operations from being impacted by the new rule USDA ultimately implements.

  25. USDA Designates 25 Counties in North Dakota as a Primary Natural Disaster Area With Assistance to Producers in Surrounding States

    Wed Mar 18, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, March 18, 2015 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 25 counties in North Dakota as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of frost, colder than averages winter, cooler than normal spring temperatures, excessive rainfall, ground saturation, frost, freeze, severe thunderstorms, hail, high winds, drought, weather-related insects, diseases and sprout damage that occurred from Jan. 1, 2014, and continues.

  26. USDA Provides One-Time Extension of Deadline to Update Base Acres or Yield History for ARC/PLC Programs

    Fri Feb 27, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that a one-time extension will be provided to producers for the new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres has been extended one additional month, from Feb. 27, 2015 until March 31, 2015. The final day for farm owners and producers to choose ARC or PLC coverage also remains March 31, 2015.