In the news

• USDA Expands Microloans to Help Farm Purchase Farmland and Improve Property
• USDA Removes Farm Program Payments to Managers Not Actively Engaged in Farming
• USDA Announces Enrollment Period for Safety Net Coverage in 2016
• USDA Begins 49th Enrollment Period for the Conservation Reserve Program

See other news releases by clicking on our State News Release page

Spotlight

Launching the Celebration – 30 Years of Conservation

2015 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Conservation Reserve program (CRP) and in recognition of this milestone; FSA has launched a commemorative website. The web address is www.fsa.usda.gov/CRPis30. We hope you’ll visit the site often to take an interactive, cross-country tour and see the nationwide impact of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) unfold virtually over the next several months.

Microloans Expanded to Help Mississippi Farmers Purchase Farmland and Improve Property

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began offering farm ownership microloans, creating a new financing avenue for farmers to buy and improve property. These microloans would be especially helpful to beginning or underserved farmers, U.S. veterans looking for a career in farming, and those who have small and mid-sized farming operations.

Microloans are also available to help with farm land and building purchases, and soil and water conservation improvements. FSA designed the expanded program to simplify the application process, expand eligibility requirements and expedite smaller real estate loans to help farmers strengthen their operations. Microloans provide up to $50,000 to qualified producers, and can be issued to the applicant directly from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).

This microloan announcement is another USDA resource for America’s farmers and ranchers to utilize, especially as new and beginning farmers and ranchers look for the assistance they need to get started. To learn more about the FSA microloan program visit www.fsa.usda.gov/microloans, or contact your local FSA office. To find your nearest office location, please visit http://offices.usda.gov.

What You Need to Know About Heir Property

Heir property refers to land that has been passed down informally from generation-to-generation. In most cases, it involves landowners who died without a will. For more details regarding heir property, read or download the What You Need to Know About Heir Property PDF (114 KB).

NAP Application for Coverage Deadlines

NAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers when natural disasters cause castrophic loss of production (low yield) or prevented planting of an eligible noninsurable crop by providing coverage equivalent to CAT. In the event of a natural disaster, NAP covers the amount of loss greater than the expected production based on the producer’s approved yield and reported acreage. For other eligible NAP crops, producers may select buy-up coverage ranging from 50 to 65 percent of production, in 5 percent increments, and for 100 percent of the average market price. Producers who want to purchase coverage through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) should to do so on or before the application closing date for the applicable crop.

Upcoming NAP Application Closing Dates are shown below:

• 9/01/2016 Closing Date: for Christmas trees, crustaceans, finfish, sod, & strawberries
• 9/30/2016 Closing Date: for Bahia seed, oats, onions, wheat, forage for grazing (cool & warm season), & mechanically harvested forage (cool & warm season)
• 11/20/2016 Closing Date: for honey, apples, blue berries, & grapes
• 1/15/2017 Closing Date: for broccoli, cabbage, greens, and white potatoes
• 2/1/2017 Closing Date: for beans, cantaloupe, cucumbers, eggplant, honeydew, lettuce, pecans, peppers, radishes, squash, turnips, and watermelons
• 2/28/2017 Closing Date: for corn, cotton, okra, peanuts, peas, pumpkins, rice, sesame, sorghum, soybeans, sugarcane, and sweet potatoes

USDA has partnered with Michigan State University and the University of Illinois to create an online tool at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap that allows producers to determine whether their crops are eligible for federal crop insurance or NAP and to explore the best level of protection for their operation. NAP basic coverage is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50 percent of expected production, with higher levels of coverage, up to 65 percent of their expected production at 100 percent of the average market price available, including coverage for organics and crops marketed directly to consumers. Crops intended for grazing are not eligible for additional NAP coverage.

Federal crop insurance coverage is sold and delivered solely through private insurance agents. Agent lists are available at all USDA Service Centers or at USDA’s online Agent Locator: http://prodwebnlb.rma.usda.gov/apps/AgentLocator/#. Producers can use the USDA Cost Estimator, https://ewebapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/costestimator/Default.aspx, to predict insurance premium costs.

For more information on NAP, service fees, premiums and sales deadlines, contact your Administrative County Office or visit the web at www.fsa.usda.gov/nap.

Contact Us

USDA Farm Service Agency
6311 Ridgewood Road, Suite W100
Jackson, MS 39211-2035
601-965-4300