Natural disasters can devastate family farms, wreaking havoc on infrastructure and affecting crops and livestock. An economist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) said the most significant threats come from hurricanes and their aftereffects. “The nature of their job means that farmers face inherent risks,” said Adam Rabinowitz, who is also an Auburn University assistant professor of agricultural economics. …
Signup Deadline for Pandemic Livestock Program Extended
The original signup deadline for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) was today, September 17. But, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they have extended that deadline until October 12, 2021. This extra time will allow livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing to apply for the PLIP. Producers can still apply for …
Livestock Pandemic Assistance Signup Ends Today
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind livestock producers interested in signing up for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) that today, September 17th, is the deadline to do so. PLIP is designed to help livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the Covid-19 pandemic due to insufficient access to processing. You can apply for assistance for those losses …
Be on the Lookout: New Form Required for Some NRCS Customers
If you are a producer or landowner who participates in USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) may be reaching out by mail with information about a form you’ll need to fill out. Starting this year, all producers and landowners participating or applying to participate in certain NRCS conservation programs must complete form CCC-902, Farm Operating …
Pandemic Assistance Available for Livestock Producers
It was two months ago when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP), designed to help livestock and poultry producers that suffered losses during the Covid-19 pandemic due to insufficient access to processing. You can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals. This is a reminder the deadline to …
Florida Producers Encouraged to Apply for USDA Pandemic Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced updates to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program-2 (CFAP-2), which includes expanded eligibility and increased flexibility. But a deadline of October 12, 2021 was set for eligible producers to apply or modify CFAP-2 applications. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) encourages eligible producers in Florida to review the program modifications and to apply via …
Climate-Smart Agriculture through CRP
Back in May, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced an initiative to quantify the climate benefits of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. The multi-year effort will enable USDA to better target CRP toward climate outcomes and improve existing models and conservation planning tools while supporting USDA’s goal of putting American agriculture and forestry at the center of climate-smart solutions to …
USDA Accepts 2.8 Million Acres for the CRP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they’ve accepted 2.8 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) this year. That brings the total accepted this year to almost 1.9 million acres through the General CRP Signup. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux says they have also accepted over …
Seven Georgia 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 …
USDA to Help Heirs Resolve Land Ownership and Succession Issues
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $67 million in competitive loans through the new Heirs’ Property Relending Program. The program aims to help producers and landowners resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues. “While those affected are in all geographic and cultural areas, many Black farmers and other groups who have experienced historic discrimination have inherited heirs’ property,” Vilsack said. “USDA …