In This Issue:
Happy July!
We have had a lot of intense storms with damaging winds, heavy rain and even a few confirmed tornadoes throughout the state. We are also getting reports of dry weather devastating crops. We want to remind our producers of the importance of reporting those weather events and damages as soon as possible. Damage reports may be used by staff to evaluate losses for disaster designations. Additional loan servicing options and low interest Emergency Loans may be available to eligible affected producers. Furthermore, if you have Non-Insured Crop Disasters Assistance Program (NAP) coverage, please remember to file a Notice of Loss (also called Form CCC-576) within 15 days of loss becoming apparent, except for hand-harvested crops, which should be reported within 72 hours.
The county offices are wrapping up a busy season as many of you completed annual acreage reporting. Thank you for making it a priority to timely certify your crops and for reviewing and updating any necessary farm operating paperwork for program eligibility.
I’m having a fulfilling summer as I continue to travel our state, connecting with and listening to producers. It is my priority to hear from all areas of the farming community that represent Pennsylvania agriculture. If I haven’t yet had the opportunity to speak with you in person, I’d like to invite you to stop and talk with me at Ag Progress Days this year. On Tuesday, August 13 from 1-3 pm, State Committee members and I will be at the FSA booth located inside the main entrance of Horizon Farm Credit Building. As we break down barriers, I encourage you to contribute your stories and experiences with us so that we can continue to make advancements in program accessibility and administration. Your voice matters and we look forward to visiting with you--plan to stop by!
Another reminder to have your voice heard—serve on your local county committee! August 1 is the deadline for those interested in serving on their FSA County Committee to turn in their nomination forms. County committee members are local farmers elected by their peers to serve in a role that advises the activities of their county FSA office. It’s a great way to “be the link” and give back to your local agricultural community. Check out a featured county committee member from Philadelphia. For more information on FSA county committee elections, contact your local FSA office or visit fsa.usda.gov/elections.
I hope that you are all enjoying a fruitful summer!
From my farm gate to yours,
Heidi Secord
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Nomination Applications Due by Aug. 1
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Training
FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each eligible cost category. Details about payment rates and limitations are available at farmers.gov/food-safety.
USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities effort is expanding markets for America’s climate-smart commodities, leveraging the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and providing direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers. Learn more about expanded markets, premiums and incentives for producing climate-smart commodities as well as cost share and technical assistance to implement climate-smart practices. Find a project near you and get started today!
The new customer kiosks from USDA’s Farm Service Agency are now available at every county office nationwide. These kiosks help to streamline your visit to your local county office and easily access a variety of features such as signing FSA documents, utilizing the Loan Assistance Tool, browsing USDA programs, accessing the internet, accessing necessary personal information, and signing up for a Login.gov account, which provides access to farmers.gov level two features and other USDA and U.S. Government web resources. Future kiosk functionality enhancements include a customer check-in application, self-service option for FSA program applications and documents, financial inquiries and more.
Learn more about how FSA is modernizing our customer experience.
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