USDA Seeks Input on New Grant Program to Strengthen Food Supply Chain, Reduce Irregular Migration, and Improve Labor Protections for Farmworkers

WASHINGTON, September 21, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is gathering input to help shape a recently announced planned grant program focused on improving the resiliency of our food and agricultural supply chain by addressing labor shortages in agriculture, reducing irregular migration through increased use of legal pathways, and improving labor protections for farmworkers. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will hold three virtual listening sessions on Sept.

Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs Receive 2018 Farm Bill One Year Extension, Farmers Can Now Enroll for the 2024 Crop Year

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year starting Dec. 18, 2023. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024.  

USDA Reminds Louisiana Producers to Complete Crop Acreage Reports

ALEXANDRIA, LA, May 7, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in Louisiana are currently open to phone and virtual appointments only but can still work with producers on timely filing crop acreage reports. FSA staff can provide assistance over the phone and by email.

The following acreage reporting date is applicable in Louisiana: 

July 15, 2020 - Most spring seeded crops 

USDA Designates Kossuth and Winnebago Counties as Disaster Areas Due to Drought

A Secretarial Disaster Designation has been issued for three (3) counties in Minnesota as primary disaster areas for drought. Additionally, two (2) Iowa counties are contiguous to the disaster area. This determination will allow the Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Loans to be made available to eligible family farmers with qualifying production and physical losses in the primary and the contiguous counties to the declared disaster area.

Secretarial Declaration Number: S5545

USDA Reports Record Enrollment in Key Farm Safety-Net Programs

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2020 – Producers signed a record 1.77 million contracts for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2019 crop year, which is more than 107 percent of the total contracts signed compared with a 5-year average. USDA also reminds producers that June 30 is the deadline to enroll in ARC and PLC for the 2020 crop year. 

El USDA ayuda a los agricultores, ganaderos y comunidades afectadas por el huracán Fiona

WASHINGTON, 27 de septiembre de 2022 - El Secretario de Agricultura, Tom Vilsack, ha ordenado al Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA) que ayude en los esfuerzos de recuperación de los agricultores, ganaderos y residentes afectados por el huracán Fiona. El personal del USDA en las oficinas de todo el país está listo para responder con una variedad de flexibilidades en el programa y otros tipos de asistencia a los productores y las comunidades que lo necesiten. 

Lee County Included In Recent USDA Disaster Designation

A Secretarial Disaster Designation has been issued for four (4) counties in Illinois as primary disaster areas for drought. Additionally, Lee County, Iowa is contiguous to the disaster area. This determination will allow the Farm Service Agency’s Emergency Loans to be made available to eligible family farmers with qualifying production and physical losses in the primary and the contiguous counties to the declared disaster area.

Secretarial Declaration Number: S5448

USDA Reminds Producers of Feb. 28 Deadline for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 28, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup to enroll by February 28, 2020. This signup is available to farmers and private landowners who are either enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling for another 10- to 15-year term.