USDA Designates Four South Dakota Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts.

USDA Announces Buy-Up Coverage Availability and New Service Fees for Noninsured Crop Coverage Policies

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2019 - USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that higher levels of coverage will be offered through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), a popular safety net program, beginning April 8, 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill also increased service fees and made other changes to the program, including service fee waivers for qualified military veterans interested in obtaining NAP coverage.

USDA Announces 2020 Upland Cotton Marketing Assistance Loan Rate

WASHINGTON, October 10, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced that the marketing assistance loan rate for 2020-crop base quality upland cotton is 52 cents per pound.

Marketing assistance loans provide interim financing to producers so that commodities can be stored upon harvest when market prices are typically low and sold later when price conditions are more favorable.

USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for September 2019

Contact: FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, September 3, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation today announced interest rates for September 2019, which are effective September 1-September 30, 2019. The Commodity Credit Corporation borrowing rate-based charge for September is 1.875 percent, down from 2.000 percent in August.

USDA Appoints David M. Warner Director of External Affairs for the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center

Contact: Sylvia.rainford@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2019 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Bill Northey today announced that David M. Warner was sworn in to serve as the Director of External Affairs for USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area.

USDA Designates Middlesex County, Connecticut, as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts.