Additional Commodities Eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, Applications for New Commodities Accepted Beginning July 13

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2020 – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced an initial list of additional commodities that have been added to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), and that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made other adjustments to the program based on comments received from agricultural producers and organizations and review of market data. Producers will be able to submit applications that include these commodities on Monday, July 13, 2020.

USDA Announces Updates for Honeybee Producers

Contact: FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced updates to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). These updates include changes required by the 2018 Farm Bill as well as discretionary changes intended to improve the administration of the program and clarify existing program requirements.

USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Signups for 2022

South Carolina, Feb. 2, 2022 – Agricultural producers and landowners can sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a cornerstone conservation program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a key tool in the Biden-Harris Administration effort to address climate change and achieve other natural resource benefits. The General CRP signup will run from Jan.

Secretarial natural disaster designation 9/12/23-01

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 to refinance certain debts.

Biden Administration Appoints Dr. Ronald Howell, Jr. to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Virginia

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2022— The Biden Administration recently appointed Dr. Ronald Howell, Jr. as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA Virginia Farm Service Agency (FSA). Dr. Howell joined the Virginia FSA team on Jan. 31, 2022. 

USDA Launches New Conservation Pilot Program for Prairie Pothole Producers to Plant Perennial Cover

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 25, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced a new pilot program that enables farmers in the Prairie Pothole region to receive payments for planting perennial cover for conservation use for three to five years. The new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP) pilot is available to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. The signup for this pilot starts March 30, 2020 and ends August 21.