In This Issue:
USDA is assisting in recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Ida. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and communities in need.
Risk management and disaster assistance for agricultural operations:
USDA offers several risk management and disaster assistance options to help producers recover after disasters. This includes tools for producers to manage their risk through the Federal Crop Insurance Program, a public-private partnership between USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) and private companies and agents. Already, producers in certain parishes and counties with coverage under Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index (HIP-WI) will receive $27 million in indemnity payments in the coming weeks. This is in addition to coverage provided through underlying policies, which will be processed in the coming months as claims are submitted and processed.
Additionally, in certain Louisiana parishes where HIP-WI triggered, RMA has provided flexibilities to provide additional time after the September 30 sales closing date for producers to make coverage adjustments in hardest hit parishes. Producers in these parishes will now have until October 29 to adjust coverage levels.
Producers who suffer losses and are signed up for Federal Crop Insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) are asked to report crop damage to their crop insurance agent or local FSA office, respectively, within 72 hours of discovering damage and follow up in writing within 15 days.
Producers can obtain NAP coverage for the next crop year through their local USDA Service Center, and historically underserved producers are able to enroll in basic NAP coverage at no charge.
Livestock and perennial crop producers often have more limited risk management options available, so there are several disaster programs for them. Key programs offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) include:
It is also critical that producers keep accurate records to document damage or loss and to report losses to their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible.
Additionally, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can provide financial resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources.
On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help producers and landowners determine program or loan options. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent. For FSA and NRCS programs, they should contact their local USDA Service Center.
Assistance for communities:
USDA is also assisting local government sponsors with the cost of recovery efforts like debris removal and streambank stabilization to address natural resource concerns and hazards through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Eligible sponsors include cities, counties, towns, or any federally recognized Native American tribe or tribal organization. Sponsors must submit a formal request (via mail or email) to the state conservationist for assistance within 60 days of the natural disaster occurrence or 60 days from the date when access to the sites become available. For more information, contact the NRCS office at the local USDA Service Center.
Elections for USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) County Committee are underway.
It is important that every eligible producer participate in these elections because FSA county committees are a link between the agricultural community and the USDA.
To be eligible to vote in the elections, a person must:
Meet requirement one (see explanation below) or meet requirement two, and requirement three (see explanation below).
Requirement One: Be of legal voting age and have an interest in a farm or ranch as either: an individual who meets one or more of the following; (a) is eligible and capable to vote in one’s own right, (b) is a partner of a general partnership, (c) is a member of a joint venture OR an authorized representative of a legal entity, such as: (a) a corporation, estate, trust, limited partnership or other business enterprise, excluding general partnership and joint ventures or (b) a state, political subdivision of a state or any state agency (only the designated representative may cast a vote for the entity).
Requirement Two: Not of legal voting age but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm.
Requirement Three: Participates or cooperates in an FSA program that is provided by law. A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation(s) but may not have applied or received FSA program benefits.
County committee election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters on Nov. 1, 2021. The last day to return completed ballots to the USDA Service Center is Dec. 6, 2021.
For more information on eligibility to serve on FSA county committees, visit: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
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While USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in New Jersey are currently open to a limited number of in person appointments we continue to offer phone and virtual appointments and are still working with producers on timely filing crop acreage reports. FSA staff can provide assistance over the phone, by email and through virtual meetings via Microsoft Teams. Those interested in in-person appointment must contact their local office to make an appointment.
The following acreage reporting dates are applicable in New Jersey:
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November 15 - Fall planted small grains including those intended for cover that may be harvested
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January 1 - Honey
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January 15 - Apples, blueberries, cranberries, peaches, grapes, & strawberries
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP-covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.
In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers must file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline. FSA staff are able to assist producers in completing acreage reports, including providing maps.
FSA county offices in New Jersey will be happy to provide maps to producers through mail, email or local pick-up with instructions for completing the maps. After planting is complete, producers should return completed maps and the acreage reporting sheet as directed by their local office.
After completed maps and all acreage reporting information is received, FSA will make software updates and provide producers the completed Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) to sign. Producers must return the signed form certifying their acreage report to the FSA office by the reporting deadline above.
The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:
- If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
- If a producer acquires additional acreage after the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendars days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.
Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were unable to plant. Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and USDA’s Risk Management Agency.
For questions, please contact your local FSA office. To locate your local FSA office visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.
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Small Business Administration loans are not just for businesses!
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters in New Jersey of the December 6 deadline to apply for physical damage disaster loans. Anyone in the declared counties with damages incurred by the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 1-3, 2021 should apply for the low-interest disaster loan program.
“Waiting to file an SBA application could cause unnecessary delays in receiving disaster assistance, and survivors may miss the application deadline,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA Field Operations Center East. “Submitting the loan application is an essential part of the disaster recovery process.” The disaster declaration covers Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union and Warren counties in New Jersey, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Only Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses and most nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Monmouth, Salem and Sussex in New Jersey; New Castle in Delaware; Bronx, New York, Orange, Rockland and Westchester in New York; and Bucks, Delaware, Monroe, Northampton and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a sump pump, elevation, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 2.855 percent for businesses, 2 percent for nonprofit organizations and 1.563 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Apart from aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers.
Farmers can also apply for Farm Service Agency Emergency Loans.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at http://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration #17143, not for the COVID-19 incident.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Dec 6, 2021. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 6, 2022.
 In spring, many of you shared with us photos and videos of the seeds and seedlings you sowed, and your hopes for the coming season. (View the storymap: https://arcg.is/0Lq1z5)
This fall as you reap the rewards of your work, we want to hear from you once again. Did the year go as you expected, or did you experience some surprises? Is your harvest bountiful, or were you impacted by conditions like drought, flood, or pests? Did our pandemic or farm programs benefit your operation this year? Did you try any new tactics or equipment, and if so, how did it go?
Send photos and videos of your operation’s harvest activities, along with a few sentences reflecting your thoughts on the above questions by October 27 to SM.FP.Social@usda.gov. You may be featured on FarmersGov national social media channels, a national storymap, and/or our wrap-up blog scheduled to publish in late October. For more details and examples, read our short blog story: https://go.usa.gov/xMUan.
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Full Time County Program Technician Position Open in Freehold
A permanent, full time County Program Technician position is now available at the Freehold, NJ office. The position is now posted on USAJobs and will close on November 5, 2021. Applicants must meet all of the conditions of employment outlined in the employment announcement.
Major responsibilities for this position are as follows:
- Carrying out office activities and functions pertaining to one or more of the program areas administered in the county.
- Interpreting and explaining procedures, program regulations and forms to producers and other agency personnel.
- Utilizing various web-based software applications to maintain producer data and processing automated forms.
- Using a high degree of initiative and judgment in planning and carrying out assigned tasks and resolving problems encountered.
Click on or copy and paste the link below to see the full vacancy announcement and to apply: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/617851200
If you need any assistance with applying, please contact Doreen Beruck at 609-438-3140 or doreen.beruck@usda.gov
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Student Trainee Position Now Available
The Farm Service Agency has also opened a paid student trainee position to be located at our State Office in Hamilton Square, New Jersey.
The position provides students an opportunity to explore a career with FSA while in school. Applications will be accepted through November 3, 2021.
Click on or copy and paste the link below to see the full vacancy announcement and to apply: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/PrintPreview/617272500
Farmers and ranchers rely on crop insurance to protect themselves from disasters and unforeseen events, but not all crops are insurable through the USDA’s Risk Management Agency. The Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides producers another option to obtain coverage against disaster for these crops. NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insured crops impacted by natural disasters that result in lower yields, crop losses, or prevents crop planting.
Commercially produced crops and agricultural commodities for which crop insurance is not available are generally eligible for NAP. Eligible crops include those grown specifically for food, fiber, livestock consumption, biofuel or biobased products, or be commodities such as value loss crops like Christmas trees and ornamental nursery, honey, maple sap, and many others. Contact your FSA office to see which crops are eligible in your state and county.
Eligible causes of loss include drought, freeze, hail, excessive moisture, excessive wind or hurricanes, earthquake, flood. These events must occur during the NAP policy coverage period, before or during harvest, and the disaster must directly affect the eligible crop. For guidance on causes of loss not listed, contact your local FSA county office.
Interested producers must apply for coverage using FSA form CCC-471, “Application for Coverage,” and pay the applicable service fee at the FSA office where their farm records are maintained. These must be filed by the application closing date. Closing dates vary by crop, so it is important to contact your local FSA office as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss an application closing date.
Upcoming Closing Dates:
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November 20 - Fruit trees, Caneberries, Grapes, and Blueberries
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December 1 - Honey
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December 31 - Many crops including: asparagus, greens, herbs, cabbages, peas, radishes, cauliflower, and broccoli - check with your office.
- Click here for a complete list of NAP closing deadlines, by closing date or by crop name.
At the time of application, each producer will be provided a copy of the NAP Basic Provisions, which describes how NAP works and all the requirements you must follow to maintain NAP coverage. NAP participants must provide accurate annual reports of their production in non-loss years to ensure their NAP coverage is beneficial to their individual operation.
Basic NAP coverage is free and buy-up coverage is 50% off for beginning, limited resource, minority and women farmers. This includes entities whose membership is at least 50% beginning, limited resource, minority and women farmers.
Producers are required to pay service fees which vary depending on the number of crops and number of counties your operation is located in. The NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per administrative county, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties. Premiums also apply when producers elect higher levels of coverage with a maximum premium of $15,750 per person or legal entity depending on the maximum payment limitation that may apply to the NAP covered producer. The service fee can be waived for beginning, qualifying veteran, and limited resource farmers and rancher. These farmers and ranchers can also receive a 50 percent reduction in the premium.
For more detailed information on NAP, download the NAP Fact Sheet. To get started with NAP, we recommend you contact your local USDA service center
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