Delaware FSA June News

View as a webpage / Share

Delaware FSA  Newsletter  - June, 2024


USDA Reminds Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports 

Agricultural producers in Delaware should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline after planting is complete.

An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch, its intended use and location. 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.

How to File a Report

July 15, 2024                                            Perennial Forage, Spring Seeded Crops    

Acreage reporting dates vary by crop and by county. Contact your local FSA office for a list of acreage reporting deadlines by crop.

To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide: 

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

 Acreage Reporting Details 

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 crop harvesting begins. 

Prevented Planted Acreage 

Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant but were unable to because of a natural disaster, including drought. Prevented planted 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 (RMA).  

FSA recently updated policy that applies to prevented planted acreage due to drought. To certify prevented planted acreage due to drought, all of the following must apply:  

  • The area that is prevented from being planted has insufficient soil moisture for seed germination on the final planting date for non-irrigated acreage.
  • Prolonged precipitation deficiencies that meet the D3 or D4 drought intensity level as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor. 
  • Verifiable information must be collected from sources whose business or purpose is recording weather conditions as determined by FSA. 

Continuous Certification Option for Perennial Forage 

Agricultural producers with perennial forage crops have the option to report their acreage once, without having to report that acreage in subsequent years, as long as there are no applicable changes on the farm. Interested producers can select the continuous certification option after FSA certifies their acreage report. Examples of perennial forage include mixed forage, birdsfoot trefoil, chicory/radicchio, kochia (prostrata), lespedeza, perennial peanuts and perennial grass varieties.  

Once the continuous certification option is selected, the certified acreage will roll forward annually with no additional action required by the producer in subsequent years unless the acreage report changes.   

Farmers.gov Portal 

Producers can access their FSA farm records, maps, and common land units through the farmers.gov customer portal. The portal allows producers to export field boundaries as shapefiles and import and view other shapefiles, such as precision agriculture boundaries within farm records mapping.  Producers can view, print and label their maps for acreage reporting purposes. Level 2 eAuthentication or login.gov access that is linked to a USDA Business Partner customer record is required to use the portal.  

Producers can visit farmers.gov/account to learn more about creating an account. Producers who have authority to act on behalf of another customer as a grantee via an FSA-211 Power of Attorney form, Business Partner Signature Authority or as a member of a business can now access information for the business in the farmers.gov portal.  

More Information 

For questions, producers should call their FSA county office. To find their FSA county office, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.  

Updates to Acreage Reporting and Prevented Planted Acres

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) made several policy updates to acreage reporting and prevented planted acres.

Prevented Planted Acres

In order to certify prevented planted acreage due to drought, all of the following must apply:

  • The area that is prevented from being planted has insufficient soil moisture for germination of seed on the final planting date for non-irrigated acreage
  • Prolonged precipitation deficiencies that meet the D3 o4 D4 level as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor
  • Verifiable information must be collected from sources whose business or purpose is recording weather conditions as determined by FSA and the sources include, but are not limited to:
  • S. National Weather Service
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Local irrigation authorities responsible for water allocations
  • State Department of Water Resources
  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • Other sources responsible for the collection of water data or regulation of water resources (water allocations).

FSA reminds producers to report prevented planted and failed acres in order to establish or retain FSA program eligibility for some programs. You should report crop acreage you intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were prevented from planting. 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 the Risk Management Agency (RMA).

Late-Filed Acreage Reports

FSA can now accept late-filed acreage reports without a field visit if the producer can provide proof of existence and disposition.  Producers are required to pay the late filed fee.

Proof of existence of the crop includes, but is not limited to:

  • seed receipts showing the amount, variety, and date purchased;
  • receipts for cleaning, treating, etc., for seed planted on the farm;
  • a written contract or documentation of an oral contract to produce a specific crop;
  • evidence that was accepted and approved by the RMA or another USDA agency;
  • precision planting, spraying, or harvesting geospatial data or maps;
  • drone photos with location and notable physical boundaries;
  • other aerial or ground imagery with the ability to determine date, acres, and crop.

Proof of disposition of the crop includes, but is not limited to:

  • receipts showing number and units sold if the sale can be positively identified as sale of the crop for the farm for the year represented;
  • a written contract or documentation of an oral contract to produce a specific crop;
  • records showing the crop was fed to livestock;
  • documentation of payment for custom harvesting indicating acreage, location, and crop year;
  • evidence that was accepted and approved by another USDA agency.

Save Time – Make an Appointment with FSA

Producers are encouraged to call their local FSA office to schedule an appointment to ensure maximum use of their time and to make sure FSA staff is available to tend to their important business needs. Please call your local FSA office ahead to set an appointment and to discuss any records or documentation that might be needed during your appointment. To find your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator. Or call one of our local offices at:

New Castle:  (302)-832-3100 Ext 2 (Wednesdays & Thursdays)

Kent/New Castle:  (everyday) (302)-741-2600 Ext 2

Sussex:  (302)-856-3990 Ext 2


Farm Service Agency Seeking Nominations for Farmers and Ranchers to Serve on Local County Committees

2024 Elections Graphic

Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2024 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2024.    

“Serving on a Farm Service Agency county committee is your chance to ensure that other producers who share your interests, your production practices, and your perspective are represented. County committee service is a unique opportunity in the federal government for citizen stakeholders to participate in the implementation of policy and programs at the local level,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Nominations are now open, and elections will begin in November; don’t miss this chance to help FSA serve all producers.”  

Elections for committee members will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA). LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction and may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.  

Customers can locate their LAA through a geographic information system locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections and determine if their LAA is up for election by contacting their local FSA office.  

Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee if they:

  • Participate or cooperate in a USDA program.
  • Reside in the LAA that is up for election this year.   

A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits.   

Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages minority, women, urban and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote and hold office.  

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members are vital to how FSA carries out disaster recovery, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as making decisions on county office employment and other agricultural issues. 

Urban and Suburban County Committees    

The 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to form urban county committees and make other advancements related to urban agriculture, including the establishment of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. FSA established county committees specifically focused on urban agriculture that work to encourage and promote urban, indoor and other emerging agricultural production practices. Additionally, the county committees may address food access, community engagement, support of local activities to promote and encourage community compost and food waste reduction.  

Urban committee members are nominated and elected to serve by local urban producers in the same jurisdiction. Urban county committee members provide outreach to ensure urban producers understand USDA programs, serve as the voice of other urban producers and assist in program implementation that support the needs of the growing urban community.      

The 27 cities with urban county committees are listed at fsa.usda.gov/elections and farmers.gov/urban. Of these, ten urban county committees will hold an inaugural election this cycle.  

More Information    

Producers should contact their local FSA office today to register and find out how to get involved in their county’s election, including if their LAA is up for election this year. To be considered, a producer must be registered and sign an FSA-669A nomination form. This form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.      

All nomination forms for the 2024 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by the Aug.1, 2024, deadline. Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters in November 2024.  

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.


USDA Now Accepting Farm Loan Payments Online

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that most farm loan borrowers will soon be able to make payments to their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov in early February. Pay My Loan is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, especially for producers who may have limited time during the planting or harvest seasons to visit a local FSA office; modernize and improve customer service; provide additional customer self-service tools; and expand credit access to assist more producers. 

On average, local USDA Service Centers process more than 225,000 farm loan payments each year. Pay My Loan gives most borrowers an online repayment option and relieves them from needing to call, mail, or visit a Service Center to pay their loan installment. Farm loan payments can now be made at the borrower’s convenience, on their schedule and outside of FSA office hours. 

Pay My Loan also provides time savings for FSA’s farm loan employees by minimizing manual payment processing activities. This new service for producers means that farm loan employees will have more time to focus on reviewing and processing new loans or servicing requests.

The Pay My Loan feature can be accessed at farmers.gov/loans. To use the payment feature, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication (“eAuth”) account or a Login.gov account. This initial release only allows individuals with loans to make online payments. For now, borrowers with jointly payable checks will need to continue to make loan payments through their local office.

FSA has a significant initiative underway to streamline and automate the Farm Loan Program customer-facing business process. For the over 26,000 producers who submit a direct loan application annually, FSA has made various improvements including: 

  • The Online Loan Application, an interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet, and build a farm operating plan.
  • The Loan Assistance Tool that provides customers with an interactive online, step-by-step guide to identifying the direct loan products that may be a fit for their business needs and to understanding the application process. 
  • A simplified direct loan paper application, which reduced loan applications by more than half, from 29 pages to 13 pages. 

Are You Prepared for the 2024 Hurricane Season?

Hurricane season is quickly approaching, officially starting June 1 and lasting until November 30. Researchers are predicting that the 2024 hurricane season is going to be extremely active. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) predicts above-normal hurricane activity in 2024, with 17 to 25 named storms.  

USDA encourages producers to prepare and protect their family and agricultural operations. 

  1. Develop an Emergency Plan - Ensure your household and employees know your hurricane plan, including meeting points, emergency contact lists, and alternate evacuation routes in case infrastructure is damaged. 
  2. Remove Debris and Secure Large Objects - Clean out culverts, ditches, and other drainage areas, especially before and during peak hurricane season to reduce water damage. Most injuries to animals, people, or structures during a hurricane are caused by flying objects. To lessen the risk, minimize the presence of equipment, supplies, and debris that may become airborne during high winds or encountered in floodwaters. 
  3. Secure Important Records and Documents - Pre- and post-hurricane documentation is extremely important for insurance compensation and recovery assistance. You’ll want to have thorough records of damages and losses sustained on your farm as well as documentation of your cleanup and recovery efforts. 
  • It is critical to document inventory of farm buildings, vehicles, equipment, and livestock before a disaster occurs. Take photos, videos, or make written lists with descriptions. Keep copies of this inventory in multiple places: computer, off-site in a safe location, and on a cloud-based server where information is transmitted and saved weekly. 
  • Know Your Insurance Options - Regularly review your insurance policies with your agent to be sure you have adequate coverage, including flood insurance, for your facilities, vehicles, farm buildings, crops and livestock. Note, there are limitations on how soon insurance coverage will take effect. Generally, insurance policies will not cover damage if the policy was not in place before a disaster. 
  • Gather Supplies - Have drinking water, canned food, a generator, batteries, a flashlight, and fuel available in case you lose power. For widespread outages, credit and debit cards may not work, so have cash handy. 
  • Access Real-time Emergency Information - Download the Federal Emergency Management Agency smartphone app for free on the App Store and Google Play for safety tips on what to do before, during, and after disasters. Subscribe to our text message and email service to receive real-time, local operational and recovery information from the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Risk Management Agency.
  • On farmers.gov, the Hurricane Webpage, Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance 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


    Interest Rates for June 2024

    2024 June Interest Rates


    Upcoming Dates FSA Offices are closed.

    All Delaware FSA offices will be closed these dates:

    Thursday - July 4, 2024 - Independence Day


    Dates to Remember

    March 15                                                         ARC/PLC contract enrollment deadline   

    March 15   

     Application closing date to purchase NAP on the following crops: asparagus, beans, broccoli, cabbage, canary melons, cantaloupes, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, greens, hemp, honey dew, lettuce, peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squash, & tomatoes.  

         

    May 15

    Peas and potato reporting deadline to FSA. 

    July 15

    Spring planted crop reporting deadline to FSA.

     

    August 15

     

     

    September 1

     

    FCIC processing beans crop reporting deadline to FSA

     

    Application closing date to purchase NAP on mixed forage.

    September 30

     

     

    October 6

    Application closing date to purchase NAP on Mollusk

     

    Emergency loan application deadline

    November 20th

    Application closing date to purchase NAP on the following crops: Apples, Blueberries, & Peaches.

    December 15

     

     

    December 31

    Cover Crop & Small Grain crop reporting deadline to FSA.

     

    Application closing date to purchase NAP on Honey.

     

    **Any crops planted after the deadline have 15 calendar days from the day of planting to report to the county office.**

     

    Delaware Farm Service Agency

    1221 College Park Dr., Suite 201
    Dover, DE 19904

    Phone: 302-678-4250
    Fax: (855) 389-2246

    Robin L Talley, State Executive Director
    302-678-4250
    robin.talley@usda.gov

    Joseph Scott, Farm Loan Chief
    443-482-2760
    joseph.scott@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).