Illinois Home Page

Welcome to the USDA-Illinois Farm Service Agency

William J. Graff, State Executive Director

Springfield, Illinois

Stabilizing farm income, helping farmers conserve land and water resources, providing credit to new or disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and helping farm operations recover from the effects of disaster are the missions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). FSA was set up when the Department was reorganized in 1994; though its name has changed over the years, the Agency’s relationship with farmers goes back to the 1930s. At that time, Congress set up a unique system under which Federal farm programs are administered locally. Farmers who are eligible to participate in these programs elect a three-to-five person county committee, which reviews county office operations and makes decisions on how to apply the programs. This grassroots approach gives farmers a much-needed say in how Federal actions affect their communities and their individual operations. After more than 60 years, it remains a cornerstone of FSA’s efforts to preserve and promote American agriculture.

Illinois Farm Service Agency State Committee

State Committee Chairperson

Jim Reed

State Committee Members

Melanie DeSutter
George Obernagel
Troy Uphoff
Kirk Liefer

The State Committee responsibilities cover four major areas. They consist of the FSA and CCC commodity and conservation programs, COC operations, policy determinations and information available to public.

The State Committee, in conjunction with the SED, in carrying out responsibilities, determine and advise the COC’s of applicable program and administrative policies as authorized by: applicable regulations, instructions and procedures. This may involve applying national programs to meet local needs and conditions and exercising judgment based on the effect of program rules on producers.

For additional Organizational Structure please visit our FSA Structure and Organization webpage.

State Office Newsletters

All State Office Newsletters can be found by selecting the link “Newsletters” under Browse by subject on the left of each corresponding page.

Illinois News Releases

All News Releases can be found by selecting the link “State News Releases” under Browse by subject on the left of each corresponding page.

Spotlights

Draft Environmental Assessment for American Crystal Sugar Dome

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2

Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? USDA is implementing Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.

Farm Service Agency will accept CFAP 2 applications from September 21 through December 11, 2020.

A call center will be available for producers who would like additional one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application process. Please call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. To find the latest information on CFAP 2, including forms and the contact information for your local Service Center, visit farmers.gov/CFAP.

Deadline Approaching for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2020 –U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is Sept. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.

Farm Service Agency Call Center Can Quickly Set You on the Right Path

Farmers and ranchers can now contact a call center to receive one-on-one assistance from USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees ready to help. By calling 877-508-8364, customers can ask questions about FSA programs – including to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) – to get a jump start on program applications.

Read the article, Farm Service Agency Call Center Can Quickly Set You on the Right Path.

CLEAR 30 PILOT PROGRAM WEBINAR

Starting July 6, 2020, Farm Service Agency (FSA) will open signup for CLEAR30 a new pilot program that offers farmers and landowners an opportunity to enroll in a 30-year Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract.

Eligible producers must have expiring Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) initiative contracts, including continuous CRP Cropland contracts with water-quality practices or marginal pasturelands CRP contracts devoted to riparian buffers, wildlife habitat buffers or wetland buffers. The pilot is available to producers in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The signup for this pilot is July 6 to August 21, 2020.

Stakeholder organizations in these states are invited to join us Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT for an overview of the CLEAR 30 Program and how your organization can assist with outreach efforts in the eligible pilot states. Register for the Stakeholder Lunch and Learn Webinar: https://globalmeetwebinar.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1341972&tp_key=aadd4eaf7a

Please note: All attendees will be in listen-only mode, with an option to submit comments and questions live, via the chat box feature. The session will be recorded, captioned, and posted to the FSA Outreach Webinars page for later viewing.

Other Important FSA Stakeholder Reminders:

Box and OneSpan: Secure, New Online Document Signature Solutions

FSA and NRCS have collaborated to deliver new, secure services for agricultural producers to access, sign, and share documents with USDA Service Center staff in just a few clicks. These tools are in place to improve efficiency for our customers working with USDA Service Centers and support safety measures related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Box and OneSpan support USDA’s mission of improved customer service now and into the future by increasing efficiency for our farmers and ranchers. By using these tools, our customers can digitally complete most business transactions with USDA without ever leaving their homes or agricultural operations. Learn More.

5 Steps to Complete After Spring Planting

With #Plant2020 in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to think about next steps on your farm. Your USDA team understands that the real work continues after planting. We know the rest of spring and summer will be spent scouting crops, irrigating or waiting for timely rains for your dryland fields, and monitoring weed and insect pressure.

Before you get too busy, there are five things to keep in mind after planting. Learn more

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.

Beginning May 26, FSA will begin accepting applications for CFAP. To find the latest information on CFAP, including forms and the contact information for your local Service Center, visit farmers.gov/CFAP.

Webinar for CFAP

USDA to Host Webinar for Producers Interested in Applying for Direct Payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Producers new to Farm Service Agency programs are encouraged to participate

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) will host a webinar on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at 1 p.m. ET, for farmers, ranchers and other producers interested in applying for direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

This webinar is an opportunity for producers to learn about the general application process and required documentation prior to the official beginning of signup. Producers interested in participating may register in advance for webinar at https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_SPWI7yOFSqaGG1JKzhEbjA.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We encourage participants to submit questions through the Q&A box or by emailing CFAP.webinars@usda.gov. While questions will not be answered live during the webinar, answers will be posted at farmers.gov/CFAP.

USDA is hosting this webinar to share what information is needed to apply for direct payments through CFAP, once the application period begins. Producers who are new to participating in FSA programs are especially encouraged to join the webinar. More details about CFAP direct payments will be announced soon.

As part of President Trump and Secretary Perdue’s April 17 announcement of a $19 billion Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program, USDA will provide $16 billion in direct support based on losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted. Also, USDA will assist eligible producers facing additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19.

A recording of the webinar, the answers to its questions, and other CFAP information can be found at farmers.gov/CFAP.

USDA Service Centers Taking Precautionary Measures to Help Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus

U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Centers are encouraging visitors to take proactive protective measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

As part of our commitment to farmers and ranchers, USDA Service Centers will continue to be open for business by phone appointment only and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While our FSA and NRCS program delivery staff at the ServiceCenters will continue to come into the office, they will be working with our producers by phone, and using online tools whenever possible.

Producers can find their Service Center’s phone number at farmers.gov/service-center-locator and more information about Coronavirus and USDA Service Centers at https://www.farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Coronavirus and USDA Service Centers

As proactive health measures are put in effect nationwide to reduce the spread of coronavirus, USDA is taking measures to ensure the safety of its employees and customers. As a result, access to FSA County Offices may be limited. Before visiting a USDA Service Center, contact your office to confirm an in-person or phone appointment. Agricultural producers should visit farmers.gov/coronavirus for the latest information on available services and the latest status of services centers impacted by these locally-specific health measures.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued a proclamation naming February 16-22 as Grain Bin Safety Week.

Make Your Appointment Today with FSA to Enroll in ARC, PLC, and CRP

Op-Ed: Mission Critical! Contact USDA Farm Service Agency Now to Enroll in Key Safety Net Programs – Don’t Let the March 16 Deadline Pass You By. By William J. Graff, State Executive Director at Illinois, USDA Farm Service Agency

The deadline to enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage is March 16, 2020.

Visit FSA Today to Enroll in ARC, PLC, and CRP (Informational Video; featuring Richard Fordyce, Administrator of USDA's Farm Service Agency)

USDA to Open Signup for Conservation Reserve Program on December 9

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is opening signup for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on December 9, 2019. The deadline for agricultural producers to sign up for general CRP is February 28, 2020, while signup for continuous CRP is ongoing.

2018 Farm Bill (Farmers.gov)

The public is welcome to attend a USDA listening session for the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill. The listening session will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share their thoughts about how USDA can streamline and improve program delivery, as well as enhance customer service.

The 2018 Farm Bill provides support, certainty, and stability to our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and land stewards by enhancing farm support programs, improving crop insurance, maintaining disaster programs, and promoting and supporting voluntary conservation.

Download these fact sheets for a listing of what’s new in the 2018 Farm Bill for programs administered by the:

Sign in/Sign up!

Farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers have new online options to access U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Through USDA’s new streamlined process, producers doing business as an individual can now register, track and manage their applications for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) and 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) on the secure and convenient www.farmers.gov. USDA eAuthentication does not have the mechanism to issue login accounts to businesses, corporations, other entities, or for anyone acting on behalf of another individual or entity. Producers, doing business as an individual, first need to sign up for Level 2 eAuthentication access.

Step 1: Create and online account at www.eauth.usda.gov
Step 2: Complete identity verification by either using the online self-service identity verification method or by completing the identity verification in-person at your USDA Service Center.
Step 3: Contact your local USDA Service Center to have your new Level 2 account linked with your USDA customer record
Step 4: You’re enrolled and ready to log in

Users with a secure Level 2 eAuthentication ID, linked to their USDA customer record, can apply for select USDA programs, view and print farm maps and farm records data. Enrolling is easy! Visit farmers.gov/sign-in to learn more.

To locate a service center near you or use online services not requiring eAuthentication access, visit www.farmers.gov. For technical assistance, call the eAuthentication help desk at 1-800-457-3642.

New Feature on Farmers.gov
Farmers.gov just launched a new soil health page – farmers.gov/soilhealth. It’s the first of many topic pages which the site will feature, focusing on the needs of farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards. Visit the page and submit feedback to the farmers.gov team.

United States Drought Monitor/Illinois

Trump Administration Appoints William J. Graff to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Illinois

The National Office hosts a variety of Webinars regarding various subjects.

Below is a link that will connect you to the Webinars site. Feel free to participate and share these open webinars with anyone in your area that may be interested.

Outreach and Education Webinars

View Past Webinars here

Conduct USDA Business Online by creating an eAuthentication account

eAuthentication Account Registration

Introducing FSAfarm+ -- FSA’s Customer Self-Service Portal--

A fast and easy way to access your FSA farm information, plus a lot more!

Access your customer profile, farm records information and your maps.
Print your farm records information, including crop bases and yields.
Print your maps to use when reporting your annual crop acreage information.
Export your field boundaries as common land unit for sharing with your crop insurance agent.
Available to operators and owners with eAuth Level 2 access from USDA.

Contact your FSA County office for additional details and about obtaining eAuth Level 2 access to USDA.

Access FSAfarm+

eAuthentication Web Applications

To have news releases sent directly to your email go to the FSA subscription page.

Are you interested in FSA's Loan program and have questions.

Check out the FSA's Guide to Farm Loans.

This guidebook simplifies information on the types of farm loans available; how to apply for a guaranteed loan, direct loan, or land contract guarantee; what you can expect once you submit your application; and most importantly, your rights and responsibilities as an FSA customer.

Farm Loan Current Interest Rates

Farm Loan Program’s (FLP) new webpage has been launched! The new webpage is located at the following URL: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafl

FSA Offers New Loans for Portable Farm Storage and Handling Equipment
Can Help Producers Get Products to Market Quickly.

FSA provides a new financing option to help farmers purchase portable storage and handling equipment. The loans, which now include a smaller microloan option with lower down payments, are designed to help producers, including new, small and mid-sized producers, grow their businesses and markets. For more information, check out FSA's Farm Storage Facility Loan Program.

Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Current Interest Rates

Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)

Illinois Drought Information

Contact your local FSA Office for additional information and other USDA benefits.