The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 can apply for disaster assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus. Richard Fordyce, administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency, explains who may be eligible for the new program. Fordyce also explains the disaster program’s payment limitation provisions. A list …
House Passes Continuing Resolution Allowing Aid Payments to Farmers
On a bipartisan vote of 301 to 123, the House passed a continuing resolution that funds the government through Nov. 21. The resolution includes a provision that will allow the ag department’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to continue to make aid payments to farmers. That includes Market Facilitation Payments to help make up for export sales lost in recent trade …
Barbour County, Alabama, Designated as a Primary Natural Disaster Area
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border State Also Available WASHINGTON, D.C. (USDA/FSA-Sept. 20, 2019) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated Barbour County, Alabama, as a primary natural disaster area. Producers who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. This natural disaster designation allows FSA to …
More Time Provided for Dairy Producers to Enroll in DMC Program
New Signup Deadline for Dairy Margin Coverage is September 27 WASHINGTON (USDA/FSA-Sept. 19, 2019) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the deadline to September 27 for dairy producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2019. The deadline had been September 20. Authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), …
New Tool Improves Beekeepers’ Overwintering Odds and Bottom Line
TUCSON, ARIZONA (ARS – September 18, 2019) — A new tool from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) can predict the odds that honey bee colonies overwintered in cold storage will be large enough to rent for almond pollination in February. Identifying which colonies will not be worth spending dollars to overwinter can improve beekeepers’ bottom line. Beekeepers have been losing …
USDA Resources Available for Farmers Hurt by 2018, 2019 Disasters
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AL (ACES-September 18, 2019) — Farmers and producers in 25 Alabama counties affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 can apply for assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) beginning Sept. 11. “Alabama agriculture has taken some body blows over the last two years from extreme weather,” said Jessica …
Executive Salaries of Organization Responsible for Dairy Checkoff Program a Concern
There has been some concern recently related to the salaries for executives at Dairy Management Incorporated, the organization responsible for the Dairy Checkoff Program. An article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel highlights IRS records which indicate that back in 2017 10 DMI executives we paid more than 8 million dollars. Many dairy farmers have voiced varying levels of concern through …
Tariff Increases Delayed as ‘Good Will’ Gesture
The tariff increases for Chinese imports that were scheduled to be implemented on Oct. 1 are now being delayed by two weeks, in what President Donald Trump is calling “a gesture of good will.” The announcement made via Twitter came on the heels of Chinese officials granting a one-year exemption on retaliatory tariffs on 16 American products. President Trump noted …
More Recovery Programs Available
Tyron Spearman has more information about recovery programs that are available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should your farming operation suffer from a natural disaster. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Other USDA Disaster-Recovery Assistance
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). But due to the fact grazing and livestock losses, other than milk losses, are covered by other disaster-recovery programs, those losses are not eligible for WHIP+. But …