New Jersey State FSA Newsletter - May 2024

View as a webpage / Share

US Department of Agriculture

New Jersey State FSA Newsletter  - May 2024


In This Issue:


Marketing Assistance Loan Deadline May 31st

Grain Bins

May 31 - MAL and LDP Deadline for prior year harvested corn, soybeans and other oilseeds, grain sorghum, and pulse crops

Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) provide financing and marketing assistance for wheat, feed grains, soybeans, and other oilseeds, pulse crops, rice, peanuts, cotton, wool and honey. MALs provide you with interim financing after harvest to help you meet cash flow needs without having to sell your commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows. A producer who is eligible to obtain a loan, but agrees to forgo the loan, may obtain an LDP if such a payment is available.

FSA is now accepting requests for MALs and LDPs for 2023 harvested corn, soybeans and other oilseeds, grain sorghum, and pulse crops through May 31, 2024 and 2024 wool, mohair and unshorn pelts through January 31, 2025. Requests for loans and LDPs shall be made on or before the final availability date for the respective commodities.

Commodity certificates are available to loan holders who have outstanding nonrecourse loans for wheat, upland cotton, rice, feed grains, pulse crops (dry peas, lentils, large and small chickpeas), peanuts, wool, soybeans and designated minor oilseeds. These certificates can be purchased at the posted county price (or adjusted world price or national posted price) for the quantity of commodity under loan, and must be immediately exchanged for the collateral, satisfying the loan. MALs redeemed with commodity certificates are not subject to Adjusted Gross Income provisions.

To be considered eligible for an LDP, you must have form CCC-633EZ, Page 1 on file at your local FSA Office before losing beneficial interest in the crop. Pages 2, 3 or 4 of the form must be submitted when payment is requested.

Marketing loan gains (MLGs) and loan deficiency payments (LDPs) are no longer subject to payment limitations, actively engaged in farming and cash-rent tenant rules.

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) provisions state that if your total applicable three-year average AGI exceeds $900,000, then you’re not eligible to receive an MLG or LDP. You must have a valid CCC-941 on file to earn a market gain of LDP. The AGI does not apply to MALs redeemed with commodity certificate exchange.

Click here for additional information: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/mal_ldp_fact_sheet.pdf


USDA Reminds Producers of Climate-Smart Opportunities Using Farm Loan Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds agricultural producers that Farm Loan Programs can be used to support a variety of climate-smart agriculture practices, which build on many practices that farmers and ranchers already use, like cover cropping, nutrient management and conservation tillage.

Climate-smart agricultural practices generate significant environmental benefits by capturing and sequestering carbon, improving water management, restoring soil health and more. Farm loan funding complements other tools to help producers adopt climate-smart practices, such as FSA’s Conservation Reserve Program, crop insurance options that support conservation, and conservation programs offered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

FSA offers multiple types of loans to help farmers and ranchers start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. These loans can provide the capital needed to invest in climate-smart practices and equipment including the establishment of rotational grazing systems, precision agriculture equipment or machinery for conversion to no-till residue management. Additionally, for programs like Conservation Reserve Program and NRCS conservation programs where USDA and the producer share the implementation cost, a farm loan could be used for the producer’s share, if consistent with the authorized loan purpose.

Some additional ways farm loans can be leveraged to invest in climate-smart agriculture practices or equipment include:

  • Precision Agriculture Equipment - Eligible producers could use a Term Operating Loan to purchase equipment like GPS globes, monitors, or strip till fertilizer equipment.
  • Cover Crops - Eligible producers could use an Annual Operating Loan for seed costs.
  • No/Reduced Till - Eligible producers could use a Term Operating Loan to purchase equipment.
  • Livestock Facility Air Scrubber or Waste Treatment - Eligible producers could use a Farm Ownership Loan for capital improvements to livestock facilities.
  • Cross Fencing - Eligible producers could use an Annual or Term Operating Loan to purchase fencing and installation equipment.

Visit the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry webpage on farmers.gov to learn more and see detailed examples of how an FSA farm loan can support climate-smart agriculture practices.


Opportunity to Request a Referendum: Soybean Promotion, Research, and Information Program

soybean

Dates to Request Referendum: May 6, 2024, and ending May 31, 2024.


Summary:
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that soybean producers may request a referendum to determine whether producers want the Secretary to  conduct a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order), as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act). Participation in the request for referendum is voluntary. Producers should participate only if they wish to request a referendum on the program.

If at least 10 percent, not to exceed 1/5 of producers from any one State, of the 515,008 eligible producers determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) participate in the request for referendum, a referendum will be held within one year from that determination. If results of the request for referendum indicate that a referendum is not supported, a referendum will not be conducted. The results of the request for referendum will be published in a notice in the Federal Register.

To Request Referendum:
Soybean producers may request a referendum during the 4-week period beginning May 6, 2024, and ending May 31, 2024.

To be eligible to participate in the request for referendum, producers must certify that they or the producer entity they are authorized to represent paid an assessment at any time between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023.

Form LS-51-1, Soybean Promotion and Research Order Request for Referendum, can be obtained from May 6, 2024, to May 31, 2024, by mail, FAX, or in person from Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Offices, or can be downloaded from https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/soybean. Completed forms and supporting documentation must be returned to the appropriate FSA County Office:

  • By FAX or in person no later than COB on May 31, 2024.
  • By mail postmarked by midnight on May 31, 2024, and must be
    received in the FSA County Office by COB on June 7, 2024.

Contact:
Notice of the Request for Referendum was published in the February 2, 2024, Federal Register. For more information, contact Jeana Harbison, Research and Promotion Division; Livestock and Poultry Program, AMS, USDA; STOP 0249 - Room 2092-S; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, D.C. 20250-0249; tel. (202) 720-5705; or via the Internet at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/soybean .


Second Round Announced for NJ Underserved Farmers Mini-Grant Program

Controlled Environment Greenhouse

New Deadline May 31, 2024

Last Friday, the NJDA closed the Request for Proposals (RFP) period for our Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program. Due to a recent increase in interest in the program, they have decided to extend a second RFP window to members of our specialty crop community who qualify. The second RFP will be open to the public starting May 10th, with the final application deadline now May 31st at 5PM.

Applicants from the first RFP period can expect a funding decision following the NJ Board of Agriculture meeting on May 22nd. Applicants who apply during the second RFP period can expect a decision following the June 26th NJ Board of Agriculture meeting.

For those interested in learning more about this program, the NJDA will be hosting a webinar (Webinar link: Program Webinar) to promote the Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program on Friday, May 10th at 11 am EDT. Please join us to learn more about the program guidelines, eligibility, and application process. Q&A will follow the presentation.

Registration is not required. A recording of the webinar will be available for those who are unable to attend. 

More program information can be found on the program website at https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/grants/ufngrants.html


Foreign Investors Must Report U.S. Agricultural Land Holdings

Cover crops grow on a crisp fall day at an upland New Hampshire farm.

You must file with your county office within 90 days of land transactions

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds foreign investors with an interest in agricultural land in the United States that they are required to report their land holdings and transactions to USDA.

The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) requires foreign investors who buy, sell or hold an interest in U.S. agricultural land to report their holdings and transactions to the USDA. Foreign investors must file AFIDA Report Form FSA-153 with the FSA county office in the county where the land is located.  Large or complex filings may be handled by AFIDA headquarters staff in Washington, D.C.

According to CFR Title 7 Part 781, any foreign person who holds an interest in U.S. agricultural land is required to report their holdings no later than 90 days after the date of the transaction.

Foreign investors should report holdings of agricultural land totaling 10 acres or more used for farming, ranching or timber production, and leaseholds on agricultural land of 10 or more years.  Tracts totaling 10 acres or less in the aggregate, and which produce annual gross receipts in excess of $1,000 from the sale of farm, ranch, forestry or timber products, must also be reported.  AFIDA reports are also required when there are changes in land use, such as from agricultural to nonagricultural use. Foreign investors must also file a report when there is a change in the status of ownership.

Penalties:

Any foreign person who violates the reporting obligation as described in paragraph (a) of this section shall be subject to the following penalties:

  • Late-filed reports: One-tenth of one percent of the fair market value, as determined by the Farm Service Agency, of the foreign person's interest in the agricultural land, with respect to which such violation occurred, for each week or portion thereof that such violation continues, but the total penalty imposed shall not exceed 25 percent of the fair market value of the foreign person's interest in such land.
  • Submission of an incomplete report or a report containing misleading or false information, failure to submit a report or failure to maintain a submitted report with accurate information: 25 percent of the fair market value, as determined by the Farm Service Agency, of the foreign person's interest in the agricultural land with respect to which such violation occurred.

The information from AFIDA reports is used to prepare an annual report to Congress.  These annual reports to Congress, as well as more information, are available on the FSA AFIDA webpage. .

Assistance in completing the FSA-153 report may be obtained from your local FSA office


USDA Partners with FarmRaise to Offer Educational Tools and Resources to Promote Financial Access and Equity for Agricultural Producers

FarmRaise

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled a new, online Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) Decision Tool and farm loan resources available to agricultural producers and cooperators who help producers access USDA disaster assistance, farm loans and other federal farm programs. The new LIP tool and the farm loan informational video resources were developed in partnership with FarmRaise and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). These tools are now available at www.farmraise.com/usda-fsa.

In addition to the new LIP Decision Tool, the FarmRaise educational hub offers several, easily navigated farm loan programs how-to videos designed to introduce producers to FSA’s many farm loan programs options and guide them through the application process.  

More FSA program resources and tools will soon be added to the FarmRaise educational hub. Cooperators and agricultural producers are encouraged to visit the FarmRaise educational hub often to access all available resources.  

Learn more here: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/news-releases/2024/usda-partners-with-farmraise-to-offer-educational-tools-and-resources-to-promote-financial-access-and-equity-for-agricultural-producers


Acreage Reporting Time has Started. Did You Receive Your Acreage Reporting Maps?

Young Broccoli

Agricultural producers in New Jersey should complete their crop acreage reports after planting and should make appointments with their Farm Service Agency (FSA) office before the applicable deadline.

We encourage producers to report farms as they are planted and avoid waiting until the deadline. 

An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits.

Deadlines - The following acreage reporting dates remain in New Jersey for 2024:

  • May 31 - 2025 nursey crops
  • July 15 - corn, soybeans, spring feed grains, forage, CRP, hemp & most other crops                   
  • August 15 - processing beans

Exceptions - 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 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.
  • 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 above or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins

Information you'll need - To file a crop acreage report, you will need to provide:

  • Crop and crop type or variety.
  • Intended use of the crop.
  • Number of acres of the crop.
  • Map with approximate boundaries for the crop.
  • Planting date(s).
  • Planting pattern, when applicable.
  • Producer shares.
  • Irrigation practice(s).
  • Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable.
  • Other information as required

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.


Join the first RFN-NJ Farmer Network Tour for 2024 at Mountain Top Farm in Phillipsburg, NJ!

RNJ NJ
  • Date and Time: Wednesday, May 15th from 3-5pm
  • Location: Mountain Top Farm, 503 Montana Road, Phillipsburg, NJ

Are you interested in improving the soil health and water quality on your farm? There are cost-share opportunities available to help farmers do that! Join us for an Regenerative Farm Network (RFN) - NJ Farmer Tour at Mountain Top Farm with owner Mitchell Jones, learn about funding opportunities that are available, and see projects that Mitchell has implemented on his farm through those opportunities.

We’ll have representatives from NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service), SADC (State Agriculture Development Committee), and NJ RC&D (North Jersey RC&D) to talk and answer questions about their programs and the process of working with them. 

Some practices we'll see include waterways/diversions and tile outlets on Mitchell's hay and grain farm. This farm tour is for anyone interested in learning about NRCS, SADC, and NJ RC&D cost-share and grant opportunities. And as always, come to network with your fellow NJ farmers!

Some walking may be necessary within fields but we'll take a hay wagon tour or drive of the farm between fields as they are spread out.

Sign up here: https://www.northjerseyrcd.org/events/rfn-nj-farmer-network-tour-mitchell-jones


USDA seeks feedback from producers about 2024 crops, stocks, inventories, and values

NASS Logo

Over the next several weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will contact more than 5,000 producers across the northeast to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2024.

“The June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey are two of the most important and well-known surveys NASS conducts,” said Charles Butler, Acting Director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Office. “When producers respond to these surveys, they provide essential information that helps determine the expected acreage and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2024 crop year. The results are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers, and others to inform a wide range of decisions.”

Producers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online at agcounts.usda.gov, by phone, or mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops and grain stocks. For the June Area Survey, agency representatives will interview farm and ranch operators in randomly selected segments over the phone and in person. Producers will be asked to provide information on crop acreage, grain stocks, livestock inventory, land values, and value of sales.

“NASS safeguards the privacy of respondents by keeping all individual information confidential and publishing the data in aggregate form only to ensure that no operation or producer can be identified,” said Butler. “We recognize that this is a hectic time for farmers, but the information they provide helps U.S. agriculture remain viable and capable. I urge them to respond to these surveys and thank them for their participation.”

NASS will publish the data in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage and quarterly Grain Stocks reports on June 28, 2024. These data also contribute to NASS’s monthly and annual Crop Production reports, the annual Small Grains Summary, annual Farms and Land in Farms and Land Values reports, various livestock reports, including Cattle, Sheep and Goats, and Hogs and Pigs, and USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

These and all NASS reports are available at nass.usda.gov/Publications/. For more information, call the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office at (800) 498-1518.


Farm Service Agency Annual Policy Reminders

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) works hard to get information to you in a timely manner regarding our programs and policies. This news bulletin, sent April 23, 2024, provides a list of important FSA annual policy reminders. Many of these reminders include important information that will assist you in maintaining federal farm program eligibility for your operation. Sending all program reminders in a nationally issued news bulletin places all the annual reminders in one location, providing a single reference for maintaining USDA program eligibility. 

Read the Bulletin here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFARMERS/bulletins/3961670

If you have any questions, please contact your local FSA office. You can find contact information at Farmers.gov/service-center-locator. For more information visit the FSA website fsa.usda.gov or ask a specific question online at ask.usda.gov. 


USDA Seeks Members for Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.

FAC Nominees

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for four positions on the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. USDA will accept nominations from May 7, 2024, to July 7, 2024. The 12-member Committee, which first convened in March 2022, is part of USDA’s efforts to increase support for urban agriculture and innovative production. Members of the Committee provide input on policy development and help identify barriers to urban agriculture as USDA works to promote urban farming and the economic opportunities it provides in cities across the country.  

Read more here: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/New-Jersey/news-releases/2024/usda-seeks-members-for-federal-advisory-committee-for-urban-agriculture-and-innovative-production-


Have You Enrolled? Emergency Relief Program for 2022 Disasters

NEW: ERP 2022 (Track 1) Delivery Snapshot of New Jersey
 

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.

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.  

Read more here: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/New-Jersey/news-releases/2023/usda-to-provide-more-than-3-billion-to-commodity-and-specialty-crop-producers-impacted-by-2022-natural-disasters-

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.


NJ Cal QR Code

Subscribe to the New Jersey Farm Service Agency Calendar to receive USDA program deadlines and related information automatically on the calendar app on your device.
To subscribe just scan the QR code above or click here.
There is no cost to subscribe and you can unsubscribe at anytime.

More Information  

For more information on any of the items in this newsletter producers can contact their local FSA office at  USDA Service Center.    



New Jersey

Farm Service Agency

State Executive Director 

Bob Andrzejczak 609-587-0104 
Bob.Andrzejczak@usda.gov

FSA Communications Coordinator

Gabi Grunstein 848-482-7724
Gabor.Grunstein@usda.gov

 


USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).