In This Issue:
Greetings and Happy Fall!
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) believe farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners are the best stewards of our land. They are already leading the way in implementing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices that benefit us all. We know voluntary conservation works, and we are committed to working with farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and partners to leverage our resources to increase climate resilience, enhance agricultural productivity, and maintain critical environmental benefits through voluntary conservation efforts.
NRCS is encouraging agriculture producers and forest landowners to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year (FY)2024. We are accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). For FY2024, NRCS has Inflation Reduction Act funds to invest in climate-smart mitigation activities.
Additionally, for FY 2024, NRCS has Farm Bill funding available to producers for priorities like organic and urban agriculture, soil health, water quality and quantity and wildlife habitat development. This funding will be used to meet producer demand for our oversubscribed programs, maximize climate benefits and help producers address their natural resource challenges.
NRCS accepts producer applications for its conservation programs year-round. To apply for fiscal year 2024 funding, contacting your local NRCS office. See additional information on program application submission dates in the articles below.
NRCS will continue working with farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and partners to leverage our resources to increase climate resilience, sequester carbon, enhance agricultural productivity, and maintain critical environmental benefits through voluntary conservation efforts.
NRCS is here to provide one-on-one support to our customers at our 61 USDA Service Centers statewide. Farmers who work with us at their local USDA Service Center can:
- Verify eligibility for conservation programs
- Discuss their business and conservation goals
- Create a conservation plan
- Learn how to meet conservation compliance provisions
NRCS staff can help guide farmers to the best USDA assistance based on their conservation goals.
Important Dates to Remember:
Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Farmers and landowners in Arkansas have until December 8, 2023, to submit applications to receive financial assistance to implement conservation activities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2024 program year. Applicants can sign up at their local United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Service Center. NRCS accepts program applications continuously. However, to be considered for funding during this signup applications must be received by December 8. Applications received after this date will be considered in later funding periods, subject to funding availability. ACT NOW process will be used for some EQIP and CSP funding pools. Through ACT NOW, NRCS can immediately approve and obligate a ranked application when an eligible application meets or exceeds a determined minimum ranking score. More information and guidance will be forthcoming on ACT NOW ranking pools later.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program -Private landowners, tribes, land trusts and other groups wanting to restore and protect critical wetlands and protect agricultural lands and grasslands through the (ACEP) have until Nov. 30, 2023, to apply for funding consideration during the 2024 enrollment period. The deadline is for the Wetlands Reserve Easements and Agricultural Land Easements programs. NRCS accepts ACEP applications year-round, but applications are ranked and funded by enrollment period.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative - Farmers and landowners have until December 8, 2023, to apply for funding consideration during the Fiscal Year (FY)2024 USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) enrollment period. Producers in portions of White and Prairie counties will have the opportunity to apply for CSP in the MRBI Glade-Raft-White Oak Creek project area.
National Water Quality Initiative - Farmers and landowners have until December 8, 2023, to apply for funding consideration during the Fiscal Year (FY)2024 USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) National Water Quality Initiative. Producers in Lower Bayou Bartholomew (portions of Drew, Desha, and Ashley County) and Lower Little Red River (portions of White and Jackson County) will have the opportunity to apply. All applications will be evaluated for funding based on local, state and nationally developed criteria to optimize environmental benefits. Applications ranking highest in a funding category will be funded according to priority and is subject to availability of program funds.
EQIP MRBI - Farmers and landowners have until December 8, 2023, to apply for funding consideration during Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 in the Honey Cypress-Buffalo Creek (portions of Craighead and Mississippi Counties) and Lower Strawberry (portions of Lawrence, Sharp, and Independence Counties) Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) project areas to assist agricultural producers improve water quality in Arkansas. NRCS accepts program applications on a continuous basis but sets dates to batch and rank applications as funding allows. Farmers and landowners in Arkansas who submit applications to their local NRCS office by December 8, 2023, will be considered for this round of funding. Applications received after December 8, 2023, will be considered in later funding periods, subject to funding availability.
FY2024 Conservation Stewardship Program Payments
- Participants with active CSP contracts must notify NRCS when they would like to receive their payments
Payments received in calendar year 2023 must be approved by December 15, 2023
Greetings,
This month we recognize Veterans Day. This observance grants us the opportunity to acknowledge the service of those who answered the call to protect our Democracy. Please take a moment and express your appreciation for the selfless dedication and honorable service rendered by our veterans. We are grateful, to these remarkable men and women, for their service and sacrifice.
We’re inviting urban producers, innovative producers, and other stakeholders to virtually attend a public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on November 29 from 1-3 pm. Learn more and register visit the following: Urban and Innovative Producers, Public Invited to Attend November Meeting of Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (usda.gov)
Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin mailing ballots this week for the county county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAAs) for these committee members who make important decisions about how Federal farm programs are administered locally. Producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or have their ballots postmarked by Dec. 4, 2023, for those ballots to be counted.
This is a reminder that for both ERP 2022 tracks, all producers must have certain required forms on file with FSA within 60 days of the ERP 2022 deadline. Producers can apply for ERP 2022 starting Oct. 31, 2023. The application deadline has not yet been determined and will be announced at a later date. If not already on file, producers can update, complete and submit required forms to FSA at any time. ERP 2022 eligibility details and payment calculation factor tables are available on the emergency relief website, in the ERP Track 1 and ERP Track 2 fact sheets and through your local FSA county office.
Farmers in Arkansas can now access county specific farming data and USDA resources all in one place via the new farmers.gov local dashboard. Your new farmers.gov local dashboard includes farming data and USDA resources including USDA news, commodity pricing, weather forecasts, historical climate data, past storm events, USDA service center locator and additional state resources for Arkansas and your county. The dashboard transforms complex data sets into easy-to-read charts and graphs to help you quickly find information that matters to you. Additional information may be found at Farmers.gov Local Dashboard Expanded to 40 Additional States | Farmers.gov
To find your local FSA office, please visit farmers.gov/service-locator.
Visit www.farmers.gov to learn more about FSA Programs.
Our goal is to serve all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners; equitably; through the delivery of effective and efficient agricultural programs.
Until next time…
Farmers and landowners in Arkansas have until December 8, 2023, to submit applications to receive financial assistance to implement conservation activities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2024 program year. Applicants can sign up at their local United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Service Center.
CSP assists agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resource concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance - the higher the performance, the higher the payment. NOTE: unfunded Fiscal Year (FY)2024 CSP-Renewals will be automatically deferred to the FY2024 General CSP sign-up.
EQIP contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices to improve soil health, water quality, improve grazing and forest lands, and establish or improve wildlife habitat. EQIP can also help Arkansas farmers and landowners meet Federal, State, and local environmental regulations.
Inflation Reduction Act: This initial sign-up will include Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funded opportunities for all CSP and EQIP programs. Inflation Reduction Act applications will be accepted state-wide and must include Climate Smart Agricultural and Forestry (CSAF) activities. Supporting practices or activities may be requested to include in the IRA application but will only be included in a conservation plan if they facilitate a CSAF practice.
NRCS accepts program applications continuously. However, to be considered for funding during this sign-up, applications must be received by December 8, 2023. Applications received after this date will be considered in later funding periods, subject to funding availability.
Additionally, NRCS offers special initiatives, including:
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Organic Initiative - assists producers install conservation practices on certified organic operations or those working toward organic certification.
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On-Farm Energy Initiative - assists producers conserve energy on their operations.
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EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts (CIC) https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/eqip-conservation-incentive-contracts - provides financial assistance to address priority resource concerns, including sequestering carbon and improving soil health in high-priority areas. Through these contracts, NRCS works with producers to strengthen the quality and condition of natural resources on their operations using management practices that target resource concerns including degraded soil condition and soil erosion. The focus within Arkansas for CIC is to increase the adoption Prescribed Grazing and improving grazing systems on Pasture and Grazing lands. Conservation Incentive Contracts last five years.
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StrikeForce – additional assistance for Underserved Producers in 48 persistent poverty counties: Arkansas, Bradley, Chicot, Clark, Colombia, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Phillips, Randolph, Searcy, Sevier, St. Francis, Woodruff, Ashley, Clay, Conway, Craighead, Crittenden, Franklin, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Madison, Miller, Montgomery, Poinsett, Polk, Scott, Sebastian, Sharp, Stone, Union, and Van Buren.
- Strikeforce Healthy Forest (Keeping It In the Family) Initiative – additional assistance for underserved producers to improve forestlands with forestry conservation practices in 18 counties: Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Jefferson, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Sevier, and Union.
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Working Lands for Wildlife Initiative - provides financial and technical assistance to producers to enhance early successional habitat to aid in bobwhite quail recovery.
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Arkansas Groundwater Initiative (AGWI) - targeted approach to address critical groundwater decline issues in the Arkansas Delta, providing assistance to agricultural producers in seven counties: Arkansas, Prairie; and portions of Craighead, Cross, Lonoke, Poinsett, and St. Francis.
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National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Existing Projects – provides financial and technical assistance to improve water quality and aquatic habitats in priority watersheds with impaired streams. Projects include: Saline Headwaters – portions of Howard, Pike, and Polk counties, Upper Village Creek – portions of Lawrence and Randolph counties.
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Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) Existing Projects – provides assistance to improve water quality in the following project areas: Candy Creek – portions of St. Francis and Lee counties, Twin Creeks – portions of Cross, Woodruff, St. Francis counties, Izard Lower Strawberry – portions of Izard and Sharp counties, Canal 43 – portions of Desha, Drew, Chicot counties, County Line Strawberry – portions of Sharp and Lawrence counties, Flat Hills – portions of Poinsett and Cross counties, Glade-Raft-White Oak Creek – portions of White and Prairie counties, Lee County – portions of Lee, St Francis, and Phillips counties, Lower White-Bayou Des Arc – portions of Prairie county, West Craighead – portions of Lawrence, Greene, Craighead, and Jackson counties, Arkansas County Lower White – portion of Arkansas county, North Big Creek-Strawberry River – portions of Sharp and Izard counties.
All applications will be evaluated for funding based on local, state and nationally developed criteria to optimize environmental benefits. Applications ranking highest in a funding category will be funded according to priority and is subject to availability of program funds.
ACT NOW process will be used for some EQIP and CSP funding pools. Through ACT NOW, NRCS can immediately approve and obligate a ranked application when an eligible application meets or exceeds a determined minimum ranking score. More information and guidance will be forthcoming on ACT NOW ranking pools later.
Please visit your local USDA Service Center to determine eligibility; applicants are not eligible for USDA programs until they have ensured all Farm Bill eligibility requirements have been met. You can locate your local Field Service Center at USDA Service Center Locator.
Private landowners, tribes, land trusts and other groups wanting to restore and protect critical wetlands and protect agricultural lands and grasslands through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) have until November 30, 2023, to apply for funding consideration during the 2024 enrollment period. There will be a second cutoff date of February 29, 2024, also for funding consideration for Fiscal Year (FY)24. The deadline is for the Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) and Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) programs.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) authorized the use of ACEP funds for easements or interests in land most likely to reduce, capture, avoid, or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions on program-eligible land. Under this authority, there is also an IRA sign-up period for both ACEP-WRE and ACEP-ALE easements. This authority will have continuous enrollment, with an initial batching deadline of November 13, 2023.
“For over 25 years, NRCS has worked with landowners in Arkansas to protect their wetlands and agricultural lands,” said Mike Sullivan, NRCS state conservationist in Arkansas. “Conservation easements are important tools for people who are trying to improve soil health, water and air quality and wildlife habitat on their land.”
ACEP provides assistance to landowners and eligible entities helping conserve, restore and protect wetlands and productive agricultural lands and grasslands. NRCS accepts ACEP applications year-round, but applications are ranked and funded by enrollment period.
Wetland Reserve Easements
Through ACEP Wetland Reserve Easements, NRCS helps landowners and tribes restore, enhance and protect wetland ecosystems. NRCS and the landowner work together to develop a plan for the restoration and maintenance of the easement.
“Seventy-five percent of the nation's wetlands are situated on private and tribal lands,” Sullivan said. “Wetlands provide many benefits, including critical habitat for a wide array of wildlife species. They also store floodwaters, clean and recharge groundwater, sequester carbon, trap sediment and filter pollutants for clean water.”
Wetland conservation easements are either permanent, for 30 years, or the maximum extent allowed by state law. Tribal landowners have the added option of enrolling in 30-year non-easement restoration contracts. Eligible lands include:
- Farmed or converted wetlands that can successfully be restored;
- Croplands or grasslands subject to flooding; and
- Riparian areas that link protected wetland areas.
Agricultural Land Easements
Through ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ALE), NRCS provides funds to eligible entities to purchase easements on private working lands. This program helps keep working lands working, especially in areas experiencing development pressure.
Eligible cooperating entities include state or local agencies, non-profits and tribes. Landowners continue to own their property but voluntarily enter into a legal agreement with a cooperating entity to purchase an easement. The cooperating entity applies for matching funds from NRCS for the purchase of an easement from the landowner, permanently protecting its agricultural use and conservation values. Landowners do not apply directly to NRCS for funding under ALE.
Easements are permanent. Eligible lands include privately owned cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and forestlands.
Inflation Reduction Act Funded Agricultural Conservation Easements
Through the Inflation Reduction Act, authorized the use of ACEP funds for easements or interests in land most likely to reduce, capture, avoid, or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions on program-eligible land. This will allow for the possibility of additional funding for both ACEP-WRE easements and ACEP-ALE easements in Arkansas. This funding is nationwide and all applications will be ranked nationally for funding and then funding amounts will be determined at the state level based on the national funding availability. Priority areas include land that either meets one of the primary ACEP-WRE land eligibility categories or is eligible as adjacent land, and that will be restored and managed as native forest habitat.
More Information
ACEP remains a major part of the 2018 Farm Bill and program implementation will continue during fiscal year 2024.
Landowners and tribes interested in wetland reserve easements and partners interested in agricultural land easements should contact their local USDA service center.To learn about ACEP and other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS conservation programs, visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/get-started-with-nrcs or www.ar.nrcs.usda.gov .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced improvements to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) as well as an unprecedented $1 billion investment to advance partner-driven solutions to conservation on agricultural land through 81 projects. Arkansas projects will receive $50,650,000 in funding. RCPP leverages a voluntary approach to conservation that expands the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. Historic funding is made possible by both the Inflation Reduction Act, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, and the Farm Bill.
“The unprecedented demand for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, shows how much interest there is from producers and partners for voluntary conservation on the ground,” said Mike Sullivan, state conservationist in Arkansas for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “USDA is making historic investments and streamlining the program to make it work better for producers and partners. The combination of historic investments and streamlining actions will deliver conservation at a scale never before achieved through RCPP.”
RCPP Improvements
NRCS has identified ways to streamline and simplify RCPP, ease the burden on employees and partners, and help maximize flexibility for partners to leverage their investments with NRCS resources and capabilities. Through a concerted effort over the past eight months, using guidance, feedback and expertise from partners, employees, leadership and stakeholders, NRCS has identified several improvements that the agency will implement in the months and years ahead.
Improvements include:
- Streamlining RCPP agreements for fiscal year 2023 awards and moving to one programmatic agreement to begin implementing the RCPP projects awarded under the fiscal year 2024 notice of funding opportunity. This will allow partners to more quickly begin implementation of their RCPP projects.
- Entrusting program management and negotiation to the state conservationists, who lead NRCS programs in each state, further encouraging the locally-led process and ensuring the necessary technical needs and costs were realized before project proposal submission.
- Establishing parameters and expectations for easement negotiations, including availability of easement deed templates and established program processes to reduce partnership agreement negotiation and implementation timeframes.
- Improving RCPP guidance and training, ensuring RCPP policies and procedures are communicated in a uniform and consistent manner.
- Enhancing existing business tools to improve the user experience while beginning development of new business tools that, through integration and automation, will reduce the time required for agreement negotiation, processing obligations and making payments to partners.
For the full list of RCPP improvements NRCS has identified for future implementation, visit our website.
Once improvements have been implemented, NRCS estimated that the negotiation time of RCPP agreements with U.S.-held easement activities will be reduced from 15 months to three months, and from 19 months to three months with entity-held easement activities.
The RCPP improvements are coming at a critical time, as they will strengthen NRCS’s ability to implement the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which provided $4.95 billion in additional funding for the program over five years.
Unprecedented RCPP Funding
In Arkansas, projects include:
Expand and Evaluate Private Investment in Partnership with NRCS
Lead Partner: Restore the Earth Foundation, Inc. Project Type: Classic Funding Pool: Critical Conservation Area: Mississippi River Basin Lead State: Arkansas Total Funding Request: $25,000,000.00 Restore the Earth Foundation, Inc. (REF), in collaboration with four partners, will implement a $55 million public-private partnership, in which private sector funds will invest with NRCS to achieve environmental and social goals. The project targets the acquisition of US Held Easements to restore marginal cropland to its previous forested condition in Arkansas. The project has five objectives:
- Demonstrate that private sector investments in Agricultural Conservation Easement Program-Wetlands Reserve Easements can be profitable;
- Increase the number of acres of marginal lands in Arkansas restored to forest vegetation and protected via permanent easements;
- Improve environmental, social and economic conditions for local producers and communities;
- Document and account for the impacts and co-benefits resulting from restoration;
- Generate income from the sale of co-benefits, shared with participating producers and to fund future projects.
Protecting and Enhancing Wildlife Habitat and Water Quality of Conservation Reserve Program Tracts under Threat of Conversion in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Lead Partner: Mississippi River Trust Project Type: Classic Funding Pool: Critical Conservation Area: Mississippi River Basin Lead State: Arkansas Total Funding Request: $25,000,000.00 The Protecting Wildlife and Water Quality in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley project will convert approximately 7,500 acres of vulnerable bottomland hardwood and wetland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) tracts to permanently protected, U.S.-held conservation easements within the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley (LMAV) of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. These tracts could be cleared and prior USDA conservation investments lost. This project will target the protection and enhancement of high-quality forest habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, improve local water quality, support groundwater recharge, and increase sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
NWA Small and Urban Farm Preservation
Lead Partner: Northwest Arkansas Land Trust Project Type: Classic Funding Pool: State Lead State: Arkansas Total Funding Request: $650,000.00 This Northwest Arkansas Land Trust’s NWA Small and Urban Farm Preservation project will permanently protect 60 to 120 acres of small and urban farmland with prime soils, soils of statewide significance in addition to the farmland and grasslands within targeted parcels critical to access these important soils through Entity Held conservation easements. This project targets historically underserved farmers enabling them to grow and sustain viable farm enterprises, while we ensure future generations of farmers have access to working lands.
The Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act provided funding for this year’s RCPP projects.
With this $1.1 billion investment, NRCS has more than doubled the initial allocation for 2023 to capitalize on the unprecedented demand for RCPP and ensure project partners have the maximum amount of time to successfully implement conservation activities before funds expire in fiscal year 2031. Nationwide, there are:
- 77 climate-focused projects ($1.02 billion in funding).
- Twenty-two projects focused on water quantity and conservation (more than $338 million in funding).
- Three RCPP Classic projects are led by Tribes (more than $58 million in funding).
- Sixteen projects support the protection and restoration of wildlife corridors ($216 million in funding).
- Ten projects focus on urban agriculture ($123 million in funding).
For a full list of selected projects visit our website. Since inception, RCPP has made 717 awards involving over 4,000 partner organizations.
Inflation Reduction Act Boosts Voluntary Conservation Programs
Through the Inflation Reduction Act, USDA has enrolled more farmers and more acres in voluntary conservation programs than at any point in history, following a backlog that has existed for years. In 2023, USDA enrolled nearly 5,300 additional producers in conservation programs across all 50 states (above what otherwise would have been possible through Farm Bill and appropriations funding), which will provide significant climate mitigation benefits. This includes:
- $100 million through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP);
- $250 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP); and
- $250 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
In total, the Inflation Reduction Act provides $19.5 billion over five years to support USDA’s oversubscribed conservation programs, and it represents the single largest investment in climate and clean energy solutions in American history.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov, visit http://www.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/ or contact the local your local USDA Service Center
The USDA Arkansas Farm Service Agency (FSA) is committed to educating producers on available programs and loans. FSA representatives will be available at the following workshops and conferences. Producers interested in attending these conferences/workshops should follow the registration or RSVP instructions listed below.
Nov 29th – Dec 1st – Arkansas Farm Bureau 89th Annual State Convention and Tradeshow
Arkansas Farm Bureau is hosting their Annual State Convention and Tradeshow at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. FSA will have an information booth. The conference will be held on November 29 – December 1, 2023. For more information and to register online, please visit 89th Annual Convention :: Events | Arkansas Farm Bureau (arfb.com).
Dec. 16th – 17th – National Black Growers Council (NBGC) Annual Meeting
NBGC is hosting their Annual Meeting and Conference at the Hilton Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. The conference will be held on December 12-15, 2023. For more information and to register online, please visit https://nationalblackgrowerscouncil.com/. Early registration ends November 15th. Regular registration is from November 16th – December 11th. Deadline to book hotel rooms is November 30th. Please use the code BG12. Booking link follows: Available Rooms - Hilton Memphis
Jan 25th -27th – Arkansas Grown Conference and Expo
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Arkansas Grown program is partnering with Arkansas agriculture associations and organizations to host the Arkansas Grown Conference & Expo! The Arkansas Grown Conference & Expo will be held January 25-27, 2024. FSA will present as well as have an informational Booth. The conference and expo will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Please visit Arkansas Grown Conference & Expo - Arkansas Grown for additional information.
Ask USDA is now available as a tool for FSA customers to ask questions about FSA programs and services.
Ask USDA, available at ask.usda.gov is similar to AskFSA, which was decommissioned Sept. 21, but it also provides information for all USDA programs. Ask USDA allows USDA customers to search for and read answers about FSA programs and services in the same location as they read about other USDA programs and services.
Customers are able to submit questions through email, chat, and phone if they need more information. This improved customer service approach provides a one-stop shopping experience that covers all of USDA’s many programs.
The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $3 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2022. Eligible impacted producers can apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. The program will help offset the financial impacts of crop yield and value losses from qualifying disasters occurring in 2022.
Background
On Dec. 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) that provides about $3.7 billion in financial assistance for agricultural producers impacted by eligible natural disasters that occurred in calendar year 2022.
ERP 2022 covers losses to crops, trees, bushes and vines due to qualifying, calendar year 2022 natural disaster events including wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought and related conditions.
ERP 2022 program benefits will be delivered to eligible producers through a two-track process. FSA intends to make both tracks available to producers at the same time. This two-track approach enables USDA to:
- Streamline the application process.
- Reduce the paperwork burden on producers.
- Proactively include provisions for underserved producers who have not been well served by past emergency relief efforts.
- Encourage producer participation in existing risk management programs to mitigate the impacts of future severe weather events.
It’s important to note that disaster-impacted producers may be eligible for ERP 2022 assistance under one or both tracks. To avoid duplicative benefits, if a producer applies for both tracks, the Track 2 payment calculation will take into account any payments received through Track 1.
ERP 2022 Application Process – Track 1
ERP 2022 Track 1 leverages existing federal crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) data as the basis for calculating payments for eligible crop producers who received indemnities through these risk management programs.
Although FSA is sending pre-filled ERP 2022 Track 1 application forms to producers who have crop insurance and NAP data already on file with USDA, producers indemnified for losses resulting from 2022 natural disasters do not have to wait to receive the application before requesting ERP 2022 assistance. Effective Oct. 31, 2023, producers can apply for ERP 2022 benefits whether they have received the pre-filled application or not. Receipt of a pre-filled application is not confirmation that a producer is eligible to receive an ERP 2022 Track 1 payment.
USDA estimates that ERP Track 1 benefits will reach more than 206,000 producers who received indemnities for losses covered by federal crop insurance and more than 4,500 producers who obtained NAP coverage for the 2022 crop year.
ERP 2022 Application Process – Track 2
Track 2 is a revenue-based certification program designed to assist eligible producers who suffered an eligible decrease in revenue resulting from 2022 calendar year disaster events when compared with revenue in a benchmark year using revenue information that is readily available from most tax records. In cases where revenue does not reasonably reflect a normal year’s revenue, Track 2 provides an alternative method for establishing revenue. Likewise, Track 2 affords producers of crops that are used within an operation and do not generate revenue from the sale of the crop a method for establishing revenue for the purpose of applying for ERP 2022 benefits. Producers are not required to submit tax records to FSA unless requested by the County Committee if required for an FSA compliance spot check.
Although not required when applying for ERP 2022 Track 2, applicants might find the following documents useful to the process:
- Schedule F (Form 1040)
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Profit or Loss from Farming or similar tax documents for tax years 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
Track 2 targets gaps in emergency relief assistance for eligible producers whose eligible losses were not covered by crop insurance or NAP including revenue losses too small (shallow loss) to be covered by crop insurance.
Producers interested in applying for ERP 2022 Track 2, should contact their local FSA county office. Additional reference resources can be found on FSA’s emergency relief website.
Additional Required Forms
For both ERP 2022 tracks, all producers must have certain required forms on file with FSA within 60 days of the ERP 2022 deadline. Producers can apply for ERP 2022 starting Oct. 31, 2023. The application deadline has not yet been determined and will be announced at a later date. If not already on file, producers can update, complete and submit required forms to FSA at any time.
Required forms:
- Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
- Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
- Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable).
- Form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs (if applicable).
- Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, if applicable, for the 2022 program year.
- A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC) and wetland conservation certification (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification) for the ERP producer and applicable affiliates.
Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms can contact their local FSA county office.
Future Insurance Coverage Requirements
All producers who receive ERP 2022 payments must purchase crop insurance, or NAP coverage where crop insurance is not available, in the next two available crop years as determined by the Secretary. Purchased coverage must be at the 60/100 coverage level or higher for insured crops or at the catastrophic coverage level or higher for NAP crops.
More Information
ERP 2022 eligibility details and payment calculation factor tables are available on the emergency relief website, in the ERP Track 1 and ERP Track 2 fact sheets and through your local FSA county office.
Using the correct signature when doing business with FSA can save time and prevent a delay in program benefits.
The following are FSA signature guidelines:
- A married woman must sign her given name: Mrs. Mary Doe, not Mrs. John Doe
- For a minor, FSA requires the minor's signature and one from the minor’s parent
Note, by signing a document with a minor, the parent is liable for actions of the minor and may be liable for refunds, liquidated damages, etc.
When signing on one’s behalf the signature must agree with the name typed or printed on the form or be a variation that does not cause the name and signature to be in disagreement. Example - John W. Smith is on the form. The signature may be John W. Smith or J.W. Smith or J. Smith. Or Mary J. Smith may be signed as Mrs. Mary Joe Smith, M.J. Smith, Mary Smith, etc.
FAXED signatures will be accepted for certain forms and other documents provided the acceptable program forms are approved for FAXED signatures. Producers are responsible for the successful transmission and receipt of FAXED information.
Spouses may sign documents on behalf of each other for FSA and CCC programs in which either has an interest, unless written notification denying a spouse this authority has been provided to the county office.
Spouses cannot sign on behalf of each other as an authorized signatory for partnerships, joint ventures, corporations or other similar entities. Likewise, a spouse cannot sign a document on behalf of the other in order to affirm the eligibility of oneself.
Any member of a general partnership can sign on behalf of the general partnership and bind all members unless the Articles of Partnership are more restrictive. Spouses may sign on behalf of each other’s individual interest in a partnership, unless notification denying a spouse that authority is provided to the county office. Acceptable signatures for general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, estates, and trusts must consist of an indicator “by” or “for” the individual’s name, individual’s name and capacity, or individual’s name, capacity, and name of entity.
For additional clarification on proper signatures contact your local FSA office.
If you have experienced delays in receiving Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments, Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) and Market Gains on Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs), it may be because you have not filed form CCC-941, Adjusted Gross Income Certification.
If you don’t have a valid CCC-941 on file for the applicable crop year you will not receive payments. All farm operator/tenants/owners who have not filed a CCC-941 and have pending payments should IMMEDIATELY file the form with their recording county FSA office. Farm operators and tenants are encouraged to ensure that their landowners have filed the form.
FSA can accept the CCC-941 for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Unlike the past, you must have the CCC-941 certifying your AGI compliance before any payments can be issued.
FSA offers direct farm ownership and direct farm operating loans to producers who want to establish, maintain, or strengthen their farm or ranch. Direct loans are processed, approved and serviced by FSA loan officers.
Direct farm operating loans can be used to purchase livestock and feed, farm equipment, fuel, farm chemicals, insurance, and other costs including family living expenses. Operating loans can also be used to finance minor improvements or repairs to buildings and to refinance some farm-related debts, excluding real estate.
Direct farm ownership loans can be used to purchase farmland, enlarge an existing farm, construct and repair buildings, and to make farm improvements.
The maximum loan amount for direct farm ownership loans is $600,000 and the maximum loan amount for direct operating loans is $400,000 and a down payment is not required. Repayment terms vary depending on the type of loan, collateral and the producer's ability to repay the loan. Operating loans are normally repaid within seven years and farm ownership loans are not to exceed 40 years.
Please contact your local FSA office for more information or to apply for a direct farm ownership or operating loan.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has several loan programs to help you start or continue an agriculture production. Farm ownership and operating loans are available.
While all qualified producers are eligible to apply for these loan pro
grams, FSA has provided priority funding for members of targeted underserved applicants.
A targeted underserved applicant is one of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of his or her identity as members of the group without regard to his or her individual qualities.
For purposes of this program, targeted underserved groups are women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
FSA loans are only available to applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements and are unable to obtain the needed credit elsewhere.
USDA announced a new crop insurance program designed for agricultural producers who use controlled environments in their operations. The new Controlled Environment program from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is specifically for plants grown in fully enclosed controlled environments and provides coverage against plant diseases subject to destruction orders. Available beginning in the 2024 crop year, the Controlled Environment program provides a risk management resource for urban, specialty crop, and organic producers who often use controlled environments as a major part of their operations.
The Controlled Environment program is a dollar plan of insurance, which bases the insured’s guarantee on inventory values reported by the producer, and provides coverage against plant diseases when the plants must be destroyed under a federal or state destruction order.
The Controlled Environment program adds to two other federal insurance products available to nursery and innovative agricultural producers by providing benefits that are not available under the other programs, such as:
- Offer coverage for all Controlled Environment plants, including cuttings, seedlings, and tissue culture.
- Offer crop insurance coverage through a streamlined application and policy renewal process.
- Offer new crop insurance coverage specific to the disease risk to plants in Controlled Environment operations.
- Offer insurance for producer-selected plant categories for Controlled Environment that are not in other nursery insurance program.
- Allow Controlled Environment operations to have single peril Controlled Environment insurance to be purchased as a standalone policy or in conjunction with other nursery insurance.
The first sales closing date is Dec. 1, 2023.
The Controlled Environment program will be available in select counties in Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
RMA is holding virtual and in-person informational sessions this month. Learn more.
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting your RMA Regional Office.
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