EDWARDS COUNTY USDA SERVICE CENTER UPDATES
Producers in Edwards County are eligible to apply for 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, and improved pasture.
LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land or fire on federally managed land.
County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of qualifying drought or if a federal agency prohibits producers from grazing normal permitted livestock on federally managed lands due to qualifying fire.
You must complete a CCC-853 and the required supporting documentation no later than January 31, 2022, for 2021 losses.
For additional information about LFP, including eligible livestock and fire criteria, contact the Edwards County USDA Service Center at 830-683-2187 ext. 2.
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If you raise wool sheep, you may be eligible for loan deficiency payments (LDPs) from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
LDPs and marketing assistance loans (MALs) are marketing tools that are available during shearing.
MALs help producers meet cash flow needs without selling commodities when market prices are at shearing-time lows. Producers who are eligible for marketing loans, but choose to forgo the loan, are eligible for LDPs if the posted county price falls below the county loan rate.
Producers can purchase a commodity certificate that may be exchanged for the outstanding loan collateral. Daily LDP rates are available online at fsa.usda.gov.
Rules related to payment limitations, actively engaged in farming and cash-rent tenant no longer apply to LDPs.
For more information, contact your Edwards County USDA Service Center at 830-683-2187 ext. 2 or visit fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport.
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USDA released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP is for working lands, including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land, and agricultural land under Indian tribe jurisdiction.
Based on feedback from 600 comments on the interim rule, NRCS made the following changes in the final rule including:
• Added emphasis to enhancing soil health as a way that program participants can
achieve program goals.
• Allowed for more than one contract renewal but extend the two-year program
ineligibility period to include those who apply for renewal and are not selected.
• Increased payment rates for adoption of cover crop rotations.
• Introduced a new supplemental payment for advanced grazing management.
• Created a one-time payment for developing a comprehensive conservation plan.
• Provided specific support for organic and transitioning to organic production
activities.
NRCS state offices announce sign-up periods for CSP. Additionally, existing CSP participants may have an opportunity to renew their contracts in the first half of the fifth year of their five-year contract. For more information on how to sign up for CSP in your state, visit your state website from nrcs.usda.gov, or contact your local NRCS field office.
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USDA released the final rule for its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS provides producers with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement conservation practices through EQIP. Popular EQIP practices include cover crops, nutrient management, forest stand improvement, prescribed grazing, irrigation efficiency improvement, and water quality improvement practices. Implementing conservation practices can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil, and better wildlife habitat while improving agricultural operations.
Based on feedback from 600 comments on the interim rule, NRCS made the following changes in the final rule including:
• Revise its purpose statement to expressly include addressing resource concerns for
organic producers, avoiding the need for more regulatory programs, and helping
producers transition from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
• Authorize reduced matching requirements for Conservation Innovation Grant
projects aimed at helping historically underserved producers.
• Creating incentive contracts and payments for incentive practices to better support
locally led conservation needs.
• Requiring NRCS to offer an advance payment option for historically underserved
producers.
• Raising the payment cap for producers participating in the Organic Initiative to
$140,000 for contracts entered into for fiscal years 2019 through 2023. Previously, it
was $20,000 per year and $80,000 for any six-year period.
• Expanding the Conservation Innovation Grant program, which is funded through
EQIP, to include opportunities for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials and Soil
Health Demonstration Trials.
For a full list of updates, view the final rule on the Federal Register. Visit your state website from nrcs.usda.gov or contact your local NRCS field office to learn how to apply for EQIP.
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There are options for Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan customers during financial stress. If you are a borrower who is unable to make payments on a loan, contact your local FSA Farm Loan Manager at (830) 278-9197 to learn about your options.
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