Assistance includes $143 million for crop and forestry losses due to Hurricane Milton, $92 million to offset grazing losses due to drought and wildfire in 2022 (USDA-FSA/WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2024) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing payments this week to agricultural producers impacted by natural disasters, including $143 million in crop insurance indemnities for Florida producers impacted by …
USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers, and Communities Affected by Hurricane Debby
(USDA/WASHINGTON, August 7, 2024) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Debby, which continues its track up the East Coast. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and …
USDA Expands Insurance Options for Specialty and Organic Growers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is expanding crop insurance options for specialty and organic growers beginning with the 2025 crop year. The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding coverage options by allowing enterprise units by organic farming practice, adding enterprise unit eligibility for several crops, and making additional policy updates. This is the first of …
USDA Reminds Agricultural Producers to Report Damage or Losses Following Inclement Weather
During the spring time of the year we do see inclement weather conditions, something that has occurred quite a bit over the past few weeks across the country. Due to this, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) wants to remind agricultural producers to report damage or losses following inclement weather. In a release, Georgia FSA State Executive Director Arthur Tripp, Jr. said, …
FARMER Act Introduced to Help Agriculture and Beyond
New legislation aims to improve risk management in agriculture and supporters say it goes beyond the farm. Senator John Hoeven, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, this week introduced the Federal Agriculture Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience (FARMER) Act. Hoeven says the legislation will strengthen crop insurance and make …
Risk Management Tool for Specialty Crop Producers
The RMA is making it easier for specialty crop growers to find crop insurance agents. The Risk Management Agency says finding the right risk management tools for specialty crops and smaller-scale farmers can be daunting. RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger says the agency has developed a new searchable directory to make it easier for those producers to find the right agents. …
Crop Insurance Deadline Nears
Farmers not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year have until March 15, 2024?to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency, support farmers who?experience substantial declines?in crop prices or revenues for the 2024 crop year.? Producers can elect coverage and …
Hurricane Idalia Disaster Declaration Expanded in Georgia
(GDAC/Atlanta, GA/Nov. 8, 2023) — U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Tom Vilsack has issued a disaster declaration for 27 Georgia counties due to damage and losses caused by Hurricane Idalia on August 30, 2023. This declaration allows farmers, producers, and other eligible agricultural operations to apply for emergency disaster relief through the Farm Service Agency. “Hurricane Idalia caused significant …
Northwest Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(GDAC/Atlanta, GA/Nov. 6, 2023) — For the first time in four years, Georgia has been impacted by extreme drought conditions, negatively impacting our state’s agricultural industry. Last week, United States Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Tom Vilsack issued a natural disaster declaration for four Georgia counties for following a sustained period of drought. Impacted counties include Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, and Walker, which have sustained …
USDA Designates 11 Additional Alabama Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL/Oct. 31, 2023) – Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate announced that USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack has designated eleven Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas due to a recent drought. Additional counties were listed as contiguous disaster counties. “We recognize that the drought conditions have hit Alabama farmers hard and hope this disaster relief from USDA …