San Juan, Puerto Rico, 12 de octubre de 2018 - La Agencia de Servicios Agrícolas (FSA) del USDA anunció la selección de Wanda J. Pérez como la nueva Directora Ejecutiva Estatal (SED) para la Agencia de Servicios Agrícolas (FSA) de USDA en Puerto Rico. Pérez comenzó en su nueva posición  el 16 de septiembre de 2018.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 16, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Puerto Rico State Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Executive Director Wanda Perez today announced to farmers and ranchers residing outside the contiguous continental United States that the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP) for fiscal year 2018 will begin on July 16, 2018, and end on Sept. 7, 2018.

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2018 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the re-enrollment deadline for the Margin Protection Program (MPP) for Dairy will be extended until June 22, 2018. The new and improved program protects participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below levels of protection selected by the applicant. USDA has already issued more than $89 million for margins triggered in February, March, and April, and USDA offices are continuing to process remaining payments daily.

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2018 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting disaster assistance program applications on June 4 from agricultural producers who suffered livestock, honeybees, farm-raised fish and other losses due to natural disasters.

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2018 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue $34 million to help agricultural producers recover from 2017 natural disasters through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), which covers losses not covered by certain other USDA disaster assistance programs. These payments are being made available today, and they are part of a broader USDA effort to help producers recover from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, wildfires and drought. A large portion of this assistance will be made available in federally designated disaster areas.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2018— U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is encouraging dairy producers to consider enrolling in the new and improved Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), which will provide better protections for dairy producers from shifting milk and feed prices. With changes authorized under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has set the enrollment period to run from April 9, 2018 to June 1, 2018.

WASHINGTON, 20 de octubre de 2017 - A raíz de los huracanes de 2017, el Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (“U.S. Department of Agriculture” o USDA) está proporcionando asistencia de emergencia a los productores de leche del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. El USDA tiene programado comenzar inscripciones el 21 de octubre de 2017.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2017 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced special procedures to assist producers who lost crops or livestock or had other damage to their farms or ranches as a result of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Also, because of the severe and widespread damage caused by the hurricanes, USDA will provide additional flexibility to assist farm loan borrowers.

(San Juan, Puerto Rico), 17 de julio de 2017 – Jean Pierre Giuliani, Director Ejecutivo Estatal del USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA, por sus siglas en inglés) en Puerto Rico anunció hoy que agricultores y ganaderos radicados fuera del territorio continental de Estados Unidos podrán inscribirse para participar en el Programa de Pagos de Reembolso de Gastos para Agricultores y Ganaderos en Desventaja Geográfica (“Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers” o RTCP) del año fiscal 2017 a partir del 17 de julio de 2017 hasta el 8 de septiembre de 2017.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2017 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the expansion of a unique service for farmers and ranchers. FSA’s Bridges to Opportunity program provides a one-stop-shop that connects producers with resources, programs and educational services offered across the department, as well as from other USDA partner organizations. Bridges to Opportunity, which currently provides enhanced customer support to more than 150,000 customers in 20 states, will expand to serve customers across the country before the end of the month using fiscal year 2016 funds.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2016 – Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Deputy Under Secretary Alexis Taylor today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept more than 504,000 acres that were offered by producers during the recent ranking period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands enrollment. 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.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2016 – Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2016 FSA County Committee elections on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 5, 2016, to ensure that their vote is counted.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of a streamlined version of USDA guaranteed loans, which are tailored for smaller scale farms and urban producers. The program, called EZ Guarantee Loans, uses a simplified application process to help beginning, small, underserved and family farmers and ranchers apply for loans of up to $100,000 from USDA-approved lenders to purchase farmland or finance agricultural operations.

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.

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2016 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today signed a proclamation declaring Aug. 7-13, 2016, as "National Farmers Market Week." This year marks the 17th annual National Farmers Market Week to honor and celebrate the important role that farmers markets play in local economies.

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2016 – Today, during National Pollinator Week and in advance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) seventh annual Pollinator Week Festival, the USDA is announcing two initiatives in support of the President’s National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honeybees and Other Pollinators, announced just over one year ago. A review of USDA’s most popular conservation program found that farmers and ranchers across the country are creating at least 15 million acres of healthy forage and habitat for pollinators, and the department has also entered into a new partnership with leading honey bee organizations that will help to ensure future conservation projects continue to provide benefits to these important species.

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2016 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that farmers and ranchers filing crop acreage reports with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and participating insurance providers approved by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) now can provide the common information from their acreage reports at one office and the information will be electronically shared with the other location.

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the enrollment of more than 800,000 acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Through CRP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) helps farmers offset the costs of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees that improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and strengthen wildlife habitat. Farmers’ and ranchers’ participation in CRP continues to provide numerous benefits to our nation, including helping reduce emissions of harmful greenhouse gases and providing resiliency to future weather changes.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reminding farmers and ranchers that the competitive sign-up deadline for its most popular voluntary conservation program, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), is Feb. 26, 2016. This will be one of the most competitive general sign-up periods in history, in part due a statutory limit on the number of acres that can be enrolled in the program. The most competitive applications will be those that combine multiple conservation benefits, such as water quality and wildlife habitat.

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.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2015 – Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2015 FSA County Committee elections on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 7, 2015, to ensure that their vote is counted.

(San Juan, Puerto Rico), October 13, 2015 — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting State Executive Director Jean P. Giuliani reminds agricultural producers that FSA provides a receipt to customers who request or receive assistance or information on FSA programs.

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.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 21, 2015 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Puerto Rico State Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Juan M. Ortiz Serbiá today reminded farmers and ranchers residing outside the contiguous United States that they have until Sept. 11, 2015, to enroll in the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) for fiscal year 2015. Applicants will have until Nov. 2, 2015, to provide supporting documentation.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Corozal Municipality in Puerto Rico as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.

WASHINGTON, el 12 de agosto de 2015 - El Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (USDA por sus siglas en inglés) ha designado a 13 municipios en Puerto Rico como zonas primarias de desastre natural debido a los daños y las pérdidas ocasionadas por la sequía reciente.

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that beginning Sept. 1, farmers and ranchers can apply for financial assistance to help conserve working grasslands, rangeland and pastureland while maintaining the areas as livestock grazing lands.

WASHINGTON, el 15 de julio de 2015 - El Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos (USDA por sus siglas en inglés) ha designado los municipios de Caguas, Gurabo, Juncos y San Lorenzo en Puerto Rico como zonas primarias de desastre natural debido a los daños y las pérdidas ocasionadas por la sequía reciente.

(San Juan, Puerto Rico), July 2, 2015 — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Juan M. Ortiz-Serbiá reminds agricultural producers that FSA provides a receipt to customers who request or receive assistance or information on FSA programs.

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2015 – Following an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on May 29, 2015, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced that all 50 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. may now apply for up to $100 million in grants under the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). The funding is to support the infrastructure needed to make more renewable fuel options available to American consumers. The Farm Service Agency will administer BIP.

(San Juan, Puerto Rico) - May 28, 2015 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Juan M. Ortiz Serbiá, 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.

(San Juan, Puerto Rico), May 14, 2015-- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Juan M. Ortiz Serbiá today announced that the Department has made available financial assistance to eligible Puerto Rico’s citrus growers for the removal of trees afflicted with Huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) and for replanting groves with new healthy stock. The support comes through USDA's Tree Assistance Program.

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.

WASHINGTON, 21 de enero de 2015 — El Departamento de Agricultura Federal recuerda a los productores pecuarios que el 30 de enero de 2015, es la fecha límite para solicitar la asistencia por pérdidas sufridas desde el 1 de octubre de 2011 hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2014.