Burt-Washington Co. USDA Service Center Newsletter - August 16, 2024
In This Issue:
With several key FSA program deadlines behind us, and fall field work ahead for many of you, now is a good time to contact our office regarding any recent changes you may have made to your farm or ranch operation that would be important to update in your FSA business records. Examples of the types of changes we are talking about include the addition of a farm/ranch by lease or purchase, changes in shares or lease terms, new tenants, changes in land ownership, or creation of an entity. This also includes changes to customer address, zip code, phone number, email address or an incorrect name or business name on file.
FSA program payments are issued electronically into customer bank accounts, and in order to make timely payments, customers should notify FSA of changes to banking information (such as if a financial institution merges or is purchased or if an account is closed or changed). Payments can be delayed if FSA is not notified of changes to account and bank routing numbers.
Producers participating in FSA and NRCS programs also are required to timely report, as an update to their CCC-902 Farm Operating Plan, changes to their contributions of land, capital, equipment, labor or management to the operation.
These things are all important for FSA to know so your program eligibility is maintained and program payments, if applicable, can be issued. Just a reminder that, if you aren’t already registered, you can sign up to receive brief, timely information about important program deadlines through our text message service. To sign up, use your cell phone to simply text NEBurt or NEWashington to FSANOW (372-669). No more than two messages will be sent per month. We use this text option from time to time to help remind you of critical program information.
That’s all for August. Talk to you next month.
--Lindsey Hansen
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Producers enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs must protect all cropland and noncropland acres on the farm from wind and water erosion and noxious weeds. Producers who sign ARC county or individual contracts and PLC contracts agree to effectively control noxious weeds on the farm according to sound agricultural practices. If a producer fails to take necessary actions to correct a maintenance problem on a farm that is enrolled in ARC or PLC, the County Committee may elect to terminate the contract for the program year.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants are responsible for ensuring adequate, approved vegetative and practice cover is maintained to control erosion throughout the life of the contract after the practice has been established. Participants also must control undesirable vegetation, weeds (including noxious weeds), insects and rodents that may pose a threat to existing cover or adversely impact other landowners in the area.
All CRP maintenance activities, such as mowing, burning, disking and spraying, must be conducted outside the primary nesting or brood rearing season for wildlife, which for Nebraska is May 1 through July 15. Annual mowing of CRP for generic weed control, or for cosmetic purposes, is prohibited at all times.
For reference, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture has designated 12 weeds in the state as noxious: Canada thistle, leafy spurge, musk thistle, plumeless thistle, purple loosestrife, spotted and diffuse knapweeds, saltcedar, phragmites, sericea lespedeza, Japanese knotweed, Bohemian knotweed and giant knotweed. Producers can learn more about these weeds, and how to control them, by clicking on the pictures found at this link. In addition, producers are encouraged to discuss control options with their local county weed control superintendent, who can be found by typing www.neweed.org into a web browser and clicking on “Control Authorities” or contact representatives within their county Extension office.
County FSA offices will complete field visits and spot-checks of ARC/PLC and CRP acreage and will consult with county weed authorities as necessary. This effort usually begins the latter part of May and continues through the summer months.
There are options for Farm Service Agency loan customers during financial stress. If you are a borrower who is unable to make payments on a loan, contact your local FSA Farm Loan Manager to learn about the options available to you.
Farmers and ranchers also can access assistance through other entities in Nebraska that offer services during financially challenging times. The Rural Response Hotline provides referral and support services for farmers, ranchers and rural residents and their families. The number to call is (800) 464-0258 or visit the website at https://farmhotline.com. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture manages the Negotiations Program, which offers mediation services for agricultural borrowers, creditors and USDA program participants. Through this program, participants also can access free one-on-one education on agricultural financial and legal matters. For information, call (402) 471-4876 or visit the website at https://negotiations.nebraska.gov/.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with Oregon Tilth and Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) to strengthen organic expertise for conservation programs and expand relationships among producers wanting to transition to organic. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing $5 million in these five-year partnerships, which are part of USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), a Department-wide effort to support agricultural producers interested in transitioning to organic. Additionally, NRCS encourages organic and transitioning producers to apply for assistance through its conservation programs that currently have boosted funding from the OTI as well as the Inflation Reduction Act.
These OTI partnerships were part of a broader organic announcement made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on May 15, 2024, which also included the Organic Market Development Grant program and Organic Certification Cost Share Program.
The OTI partnerships include seven new staff positions. An OFRF organic research specialist will disseminate the latest in organic research and national training to NRCS staff and Oregon Tilth will establish six organic specialists across the country who will develop regional networks, provide hands-on organic training for producers, and support NRCS staff who assist farmers transitioning to organic. The organic specialist positions will be filled by staff from Oregon Tilth working with organic partners including Marbleseed, California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation, and Organic Agronomy Training Service.
Conservation Assistance
As part of OTI, NRCS introduced a new organic management standard in 2023 to allow producers flexibility to get assistance and education, such as attending workshops or requesting help from experts or mentors. The management standard supports conservation practices required for organic certification and may provide foregone income reimbursement for dips in production during the transition period.
In 2023, NRCS allocated $12 million in 22 states, signing 112 contracts with transitioning producers.
In addition to the new standard, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help with conservation plans supporting organic transition and organic management, cover cropping and crop rotation, field borders and hedgerows, high tunnels, irrigation practices, nutrient management, mulching and pest management. Many of these practices are NRCS’ Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Activities and eligible for Inflation Reduction Act funding.
Higher payment rates and other options are available for underserved producers including socially disadvantaged, beginning, veteran, and limited resource farmers and ranchers.
Producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to organic certification are encouraged to apply at their local USDA Service Center. If a state deadline is missed, applications will be considered for the next fiscal year.
More Information
These NRCS partnerships are part of the OTI’s multi-agency effort to support organic and transitioning producers including farmer-to-farmer mentoring, direct support for crop insurance in 2023, and market development projects.
OTI complements existing assistance for organic producers, including the Farm Service Agency’s Organic Certification Cost Share Program, (OCCSP) that provides cost share for producers who obtain or renew their organic certification. Sign-up for 2024 OCCSP begins on May 15 and runs through October 31.
For more information on organic agriculture, visit farmers.gov/organic or contact your local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.
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September 2 - Offices closed for Labor Day
OPERATING/OWNERSHIP
Farm Operating Loans (Direct): 5.375%
Farm Ownership Loans (Direct): 5.625%
Farm Ownership Loans (Direct, Joint Financing): 3.625%
Farm Ownership Loans (Down Payment): 1.625%
Emergency Loan (Amount of Actual Loss): 3.750%
FARM STORAGE
Farm Storage Facility Loan 3-year term: 4.375%
Farm Storage Facility Loan 5-year term: 4.250%
Farm Storage Facility Loan 7-year term: 4.250%
Farm Storage Facility Loan 10-year term: 4.250%
Farm Storage Facility Loan 12-year term: 4.375%
MARKETING ASSISTANCE
Commodity Loan (less than one year disbursed): 6.000%
USDA Service Center
Burt Co. Service Center Washington Co. Service Center
539 S 13th St 1060 Wilbur St
Tekamah, NE 68061 Blair, NE 68008
Phone:402-374-1920 Phone: 402-426-2625
Fax: 855-794-9514 Fax: 855-794-9514
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FSA Farm Loan Manager
Burt County
Monica Bruning 402-375-2453
monica.bruning@usda.gov
NRCS Resource Conservationist
Burt County
Ryan Johnson 402-374-1920, ext. 3
ryan.johnson2@usda.gov
Burt County Committee
Jay Johnson, Chair
Dan Kahlandt, Vice Chair
Sandy Brummond, Member
Next COC Meeting:
Sept 5th @ 9am
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FSA Farm Loan Manager
Washington County
Ray Soto 402-721-8455
ray.soto@usda.gov
NRCS Resource Conservationist
Washington County
Robert Hall 402-426-2625 ext. 106
robert.hall2@usda.gov
Washington County Committee
Ethan Geisler, Chair
Betty Andreasen, Vice Chair
Matthew Mathiesen, Member
Next COC Meeting:
Sept 12th @ 9am
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Enroll in Texting Service: Text NEBurt or NEWashington to 372669
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