USDA Montana Newsletter - August 2024
In This Issue:
USDA in Montana reminds agricultural producers of important Farm Service Agency (FSA) program dates. Contact your local service center to apply and with any questions. Visit online at farmers.gov and fsa.usda.gov/mt.
August 1, 2024: Deadline to request a farm reconstitution or farm transfer for 2024.
August 1, 2024: Final Date to return nomination forms for the 2024 County Committee Election Cycle to the Count Offices or for nominations to be post marked.
August 14, 2024: ERP 2022 Track 1 and Track 2 deadline to submit applications to FSA is COB August 14, 2024. This deadline includes applications that are postmarked by this date.
Sept. 2, 2024: Office Closure for Labor Day federal holiday.
Sept. 3, 2024: NAP application closing date for fall and spring seeded Canola and all Value Loss Crops.
September 30, 2024: Acreage Reporting Date for Value-loss and controlled environment crops (except nursery).
Sept. 30, 2024: NAP application closing date for all annual & perennial grass & mixed forage, garlic, rye, speltz, triticale & wheat. Please note that the acreage reporting date for your NAP covered crops is the earlier of the established FSA acreage reporting date for the crop or 15 calendar days before the onset of harvest or grazing of the specific crop acreage being reported.
Oct:14, 2024: Office closure for Columbus Day federal holiday
Oct. 31, 2024: OCCSP signup is open now until October 31, 2024.
Jan. 31, 2025: The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program to now include medium-sized businesses in addition to small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. The program has also been expanded to include assistance for 2024 and 2025 expenses. Producers can apply for assistance on their calendar year 2024 expenses beginning July 1, 2024, through Jan. 31, 2025. For program year 2025, the application period will be Jan. 1, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2026. Read the full news release here: USDA Expands Funding Opportunities for Specialty Crop Growers to Help Offset On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for 2024 and 2025
*Note for ELAP Notice of Loss- If you are hauling feed/livestock/water due to a qualifying drought during the 2024 grazing period, a new NOL is required - even if you already submitted a NOL prior to the 2024 grazing period.
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Farmers and ranchers know all too well that natural disasters can be a common, and likely a costly, variable to their operation. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has emergency assistance programs to provide assistance when disasters strike, and for some of those programs, a disaster designation may be the eligibility trigger. When natural disaster occurs, there is a process for requesting a USDA Secretarial disaster designation for a county. You can play a vital role in this process.
If you have experienced a production loss as a result of a natural disaster, you may submit a request to your local FSA county office for your county to be evaluated for a Secretarial disaster designation. Once a request is received, the county office will collect disaster data and create a Loss Assessment Report. The County Emergency Board will review the Loss Assessment Report and determine if a recommendation is sent forward to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for the designation.
For more information on FSA disaster programs and disaster designations, contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/disaster.
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What are moisture conditions like where you live or work? Are you being impacted by drought? The Montana Drought Impact Reporter is an online tool that enables producers, outdoor enthusiasts, natural resources professionals, citizen scientists—anyone interested—to submit local observations and upload photos relating to moisture conditions and drought. Information gathered from this questionnaire provides local, boots-on-the-ground insight during times of drought. The questionnaire may be completed more than once to report impacts in another location or to report changing conditions. Regular submissions (e.g., monthly) are encouraged to track deteriorating or improving moisture conditions and can be submitted any time of year, wet or dry. Reports are reviewed weekly by Montana’s drought monitoring team and are critical for developing accurate drought assessments to inform the US Drought Monitor.
This is a Montana version of a nation-wide service called Condition Monitoring Observations and Reports (CMOR) provided by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC). Reports submitted to the Montana version are automatically included in the national CMOR database, so, regardless of which form is used, you are helping monitor drought in Montana! Please note that the Drought Impact Reporter is not part of the application process for drought-related assistance. Questions? Please email the Montana State Library at geoinfo@mt.gov or the NDMC at DIRinfo@unl.edu.
Submit a Montana drought impact report: https://nris.mt.gov/droughtsurvey
View drought impact reports: https://nris.mt.gov/drought/
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program to now include medium-sized businesses in addition to small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. The program has also been expanded to include assistance for 2024 and 2025 expenses. Producers can apply for assistance on their calendar year 2024 expenses beginning July 1, 2024, through Jan. 31, 2025. For program year 2025, the application period will be Jan. 1, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2026.
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20 MT Counties Triggered; U.S. Drought Monitor Updated Weekly
Livestock producers in 20 Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2024 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass, and forage sorghum. LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or leased land, or fire on federally managed land. County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of qualifying drought, or if a federal agency prohibits producers from grazing normal permitted livestock on federally managed lands due to qualifying fire. The following 20 Montana counties have triggered the 2024 LFP drought criteria: Beaverhead, Cascade, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Glacier, Granite, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Pondera, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow and Teton
Producers must complete a CCC-853 and provide required supporting documentation no later than January 30, 2025, for 2024 losses.
Producers in Beaverhead, Broadwater, Cascade, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Granite, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Pondera, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow and Teton counties are eligible to apply for benefits under the 2024 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses relating to feed transportation, livestock transportation and water transportation costs. The deadline for filing a notice of loss under ELAP will be the same as the final date to submit an application for payment, which is 30 calendar days following the program year of which the loss occurred. Applications for payment and notices of loss must be completed no later than January 30, 2025, for 2024 losses.
For additional information about ELAP and LFP, including eligible livestock and fire criteria, contact the local USDA Service Center and/or visit www.farmers.gov and/or fsa.usda.gov/mt.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 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 including Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. To protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by HPAI H5N1 USDA is taking a number of 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.
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Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm loans are considered progression lending. Unlike loans from a commercial lender, FSA loans are intended to be temporary in nature. Our goal is to help you graduate to commercial credit, and our farm loan staff is available to help borrowers through training and credit counseling.
The FSA team will help borrowers identify their goals to ensure financial success. FSA staff will advise borrowers on developing strategies and a plan to meet your goals and graduate to commercial credit. FSA borrowers are responsible for the success of their farming operation, but FSA staff will help in an advisory role, providing the tools necessary to help you achieve your operational goals and manage your finances.
For more information about FSA Loan programs, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov.
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Farm Service Agency (FSA) is committed to providing our farm loan borrowers the tools necessary to be successful. FSA staff will provide guidance and counsel from the loan application process through the borrower’s graduation to commercial credit. While it is FSA’s commitment to advise borrowers as they identify goals and evaluate progress, it is crucial for borrowers to communicate with their farm loan staff when changes occur. It is the borrower’s responsibility to alert FSA to any of the following:
- Any proposed or significant changes in the farming operation
- Any significant changes to family income or expenses
- The development of problem situations
- Any losses or proposed significant changes in security
If a farm loan borrower can’t make payments to suppliers, other creditors, or FSA on time, contact your farm loan staff immediately to discuss loan servicing options.
For more information on FSA Loan programs, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov.
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Intertribal Agriculture Council - Farm Journal Foundation - ESMC - Yield Lab Institute
This 3-year project is designed to help Native American producers implement new or expanded climate-smart agriculture practices. In return, producers will receive direct financial incentives, technical support, and opportunities to support the development of new and/or expanded markets seeking to buy and sell Native American beef.
Montana IAC Points of Contact:
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Join us for a tour of the Northern Cheyenne Buffalo range. Learn about the stock water system, regenerative grazing and fencing for rangeland management, and the power of buffalo to restore lands.
The event includes a free lunch and networking time.
- August 6, 2024, 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Northern Cheyenne Buffalo Pasture
- Crazy Head Spring, Lame Deer MT 59043
- Led by Herd Manager and ACAM Conservation Steward Brandon Small
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NRCS and the Forest Service are now accepting proposals for Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership projects for fiscal year 2025. Applications are due on September 13, 2024.
Joint Chiefs' project proposals are developed at the local level through a collaborative process between NRCS, Forest Service and partners. Past partners have included county, state, non-governmental, Tribal, utilities or private individual stakeholders. The collaboration process and partnerships will depend on the specific community needs of each project. Proposals are submitted by the local NRCS and Forest Service offices to the national agency offices. Proposals are reviewed and vetted at multiple levels in the agencies based on local, state, Tribal and regional priorities.
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USDA is accepting applications for Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year 2024. The cooperative agreements are jointly administered by USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production – led by NRCS – and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Selected projects will develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. Local and tribal governments and eligible groups can apply by September 4, 2024.
Cooperative agreements support projects led by local and tribal governments, schools or other eligible entities that:
- Generate compost.
- Increase access to compost for agricultural producers.
- Reduce reliance on and limit the use of fertilizer.
- Improve soil quality.
- Encourage waste management and permaculture business development.
- Increase rainwater absorption.
- Reduce municipal food waste.
- Divert food waste from landfills.
OUAIP will prioritize projects that anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits; incorporate plans to make compost easily accessible to farmers, including community gardeners; integrate other food waste strategies, including food recovery efforts, and collaborate with multiple partners.
Get the full grant announcement at Grants.gov.
A pre-recorded webinar will provide an overview of the cooperative agreements’ purpose, project types, eligibility and basic requirements for submitting applications. The webinar is posted at usda.gov/urban.
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USDA NASS will be conducting the August Ag Yield Survey. This survey asks producers opinion of their current yield expectations as producers are starting harvest.
NASS will also be visiting grain elevators and producers to collect grain samples for the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee Wheat and Barley Quality Survey.
Enumerators will also be finishing collecting Wheat plot samples.
Thank you, producers, for taking the time to share your story. To find results of NASS surveys please visit https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Montana/index.php
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Eric Sommer State Statistician, Montana at 1-800-392-3202.
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Montana
USDA Farm Service Agency PO Box 670 Bozeman, MT 59771
Phone: 406.587.6872 Fax: 855.546.0264 Web: www.fsa.usda.gov/mt
State Executive Director: MAUREEN WICKS
State Committee Members: RYAN LANKFORD CASEY BAILEY JAKE MERKEL TRACEY L. PETERSON LOLA RASK
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FSA Policy Reminders: 2024 Annual Notification to FSA Customers
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USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
10 East Babcock Street, Room 443 Bozeman, MT 59715-4704 Phone: 406-587-6811 Fax: 855-510-7028 Web: nrcs.usda.gov/montana
State Conservationist: TOM WATSON
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USDA Risk Management Agency-Billings Regional Office
3490 Gabel Road, Suite 100 Billings, MT 59102-7302 Phone: 406-657-6447 Fax: 406-657-6573 Email: rsomt@rma.usda.gov Web: https://www.rma.usda.gov
Regional Director: ERIC BASHORE
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