The sun is up and shining bright in the early mornings, the dew on the grass greets you as you walk out the door, and you can just see the growth of the corn and soybeans daily. Yes – it’s July in Indiana!

Your local FSA office employees have met with many of you (hopefully) to certify your 2024 planted crops. If you have not yet done this, you have until close of business on July 15 to complete this task. It is also the time of year when nominations are being accepted for farmers to serve on FSA County Committees. These committees make critical decisions about the federal farm programs and how they are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2024 election must be postmarked or received in a local FSA office by August 1.

The Emergency Livestock Assistance Program has begun accepting applications to provide financial assistance to dairy producers who incur milk losses due to H5N1 infections in their dairy herds. Dairy producers that have a positive H5N1 test through a National Veterinary Services Laboratory should contact their local office to apply for assistance. As of this writing, Indiana has had no positive tests, but we are monitoring this closely and working with our friends at the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

As many of you are in the heat (literally) of county fairs, I wish you and your 4-Hers much success in and outside of the show arena. May the lessons learned, work ethic instilled, and relationships gained be something that lasts a lifetime for our youth – our future leaders.

Cheers to a great summer!

In Agriculture,

USDA is expanding the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program to include medium-sized businesses. 

Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. Producers can now apply for assistance on their calendar year 2024 expenses. Deadline to apply for 2024 expenses is January 31, 2025. For program year 2025, the application period will be January 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. 

Program Details  

FSCSC assists specialty crop operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety certification and expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety. FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing its certification, as well as a portion of related expenses.  

Eligible FSCSC applicants must be a specialty crop operation; meet the definition of a small or medium-size business and have paid eligible expenses related to certification.  

• A small business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops sold by the applicant during the three-year period preceding the program year of no more than $500,000. 
• A medium size business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the three-year period preceding the program year of at least $500,001 but no more than $1,000,000.  

Specialty crop operations can receive the following cost assistance:  

• Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification.  
• Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan.  
• Food safety certification.  
• Certification upload fees.  
• Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water.  

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each eligible cost category. Details about payment rates and limitations are available at farmers.gov/food-safety.  

Applying for Assistance  

Interested applicants have until January 31, 2025, to apply for assistance for 2024 eligible expenses. FSA will issue payments as applications are processed and approved. For program year 2025, the application period will be January 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. FSA will issue 50% of the calculated payment for program year 2025 following application approval, with the remaining amount to be paid after the application deadline. If calculated payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated. 

Specialty crop producers can apply by completing the FSA-888-1, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) for Program Years 2024 and 2025 application. The application, along with the AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet and SF-3881, ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form, if not already on file with FSA, can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. Alternatively, producers with an eAuthentication account can apply for FSCSC online. Producers interested in creating an eAuthentication account should visit farmers.gov/sign-in. 

Specialty crop producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with an FSA employee ready to assist. Visit farmers.gov/food-safety for additional program details, eligibility information and forms needed to apply. 

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1, in dairy cattle in 12 states. To protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by HPAI H5N1 USDA is taking actions with our federal partners.   

On April 24, APHIS announced a federal order that includes mandatory testing for interstate movement of dairy cattle and mandatory reporting of influenza A detections in livestock. In addition to the Federal Order mandates, USDA provides several voluntary testing and monitoring options, including the HPAI Dairy Herd Status Program announced on May 31, 2024. APHIS has released a list of requirements and recommendations that apply to interstate moving of lactating dairy cattle, testing guidance for livestock, and answers to frequently asked questions. Producers are encouraged to visit the APHIS HPAI Livestock Detection website for information about these programs and requirements, as well as the most comprehensive and timely updates about this rapidly evolving situation.  

Assistance for Milk Loss 

Confirmed H5N1 Positive Test Results Required for Recovery Assistance   

Producers who incur milk losses in their dairy herds due to HPAI H5N1 can now apply for financial assistance through the USDA’s updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP policy through the rule-making process to assist with financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds having a confirmed positive H5N1 test. Positive tests must be confirmed through the USDA’s APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). 

To apply, producers need to submit the following to FSA:  

• Proof of herd infection through a confirmed positive H5N1 test (based on USDA’s APHIS H5N1 case definition) on individual animal or bulk tank samples confirmed by APHIS’ NVSL;   
• A notice of loss indicating the date when the loss is apparent, which is the sample collection date for the positive H5N1 test; and  
• An application for payment certifying the number of eligible adult dairy cows removed from production, the month the cows were removed from production, and the producer’s share in the milk production.   

The final date to file a notice of loss and application for payment for eligible losses is 30 days after the end of the prior calendar year, which is January 30. 

To determine livestock and producer eligibility for ELAP H5N1 assistance, to submit an application or if you’ve not previously conducted business with FSA, contact your local FSA county office for details. Find your local office. Other online resources include frequently asked questions, a fact sheet and this Ask the Expert: A Q&A with Dr. Julie Gauthier about Avian Influenza, Dairy Cows, and the Importance of Testing.  

Loans for Biosecurity Implementation  

FSA also provides direct and guaranteed loans for farmers to assist with implementation of biosecurity measures for their operations. Loans can assist with:    

• Installing physical barriers to facilitate quarantine, to prevent livestock interaction with wildlife, and to prevent unauthorized access by visitors,  
• Purchase of disinfectant, footbaths, and disposable footwear and clothing.
• Veterinary costs related to vaccination and general animal health. 
• Testing of feed and water sources for toxins and other disease.  
• Costs associated with responsible manure disposal and management.
• Costs associated with cleaning and disinfecting livestock transportation equipment. 
• Other biosecurity measures recommended by USDA or other applicable agencies.  

Learn More

To learn more about loans, producers can use the:   

• Loan Assistance Tool– helps producers better navigate the farm loan process. The online Loan Assistance Tool provides producers needing agricultural financing with an interactive, step-by-step guide.  
• Farm Loans Overview Factsheet– provides an overview of all FSA direct and guaranteed loans, and eligibility requirements.  
• Farm Loans Homepage– gives in-depth farm loan information, including fact sheets, for those who don’t want to use the online Loan Assistance Tool.   

To learn more about ELAP or farm loans, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center.   

To learn more about APHIS requirements and resources, visit APHIS’ Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Livestock webpage.  

For Indiana updates about the disease and the current situation, visit the BOAH website at: BOAH: H5N1 Influenza in Cattle. You may also subscribe to receive future email updates from BOAH. 

Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program provides low-interest financing to help you build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment and storage and handling trucks.

Eligible commodities include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities, floriculture, hops, maple sap, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). 

Qualified facilities include grain bins, hay barns, bulk tanks, cold storage facilities and storage and handling trucks for eligible commodities.  

Loans up to $50,000 can be secured by a promissory note/security agreement, loans between $50,000 and $100,000 may require additional security, and loans exceeding $100,000 require additional security.

You do not need to demonstrate the lack of commercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products, and underserved producers.

For more information, contact your local USDA Service Center, read the Ask the Expert: A Q&A on Farm Storage Facility Loans with Toni Williams, view the FSFL fact sheet or visit fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport. 

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