New Jersey State FSA Newsletter - September 2024
In This Issue:
 Through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will cover up to 75% of organic certification costs at a maximum of $750 per certification category. FSA is now accepting applications, and organic producers and handlers should apply for OCCSP by the Oct. 31, 2024, deadline for eligible expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024. FSA will issue payments as applications are received and approved.
OCCSP was 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 Transition Initiative.
Eligible Applicants, Expenses and Categories
OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of organic agricultural commodities for expenses incurred obtaining or maintaining organic certification under USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible OCCSP applicants include any certified organic producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent.
Cost share assistance covers expenses including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, inspector travel expenses, user fees, sales assessments and postage. OCCSP pays a maximum of $750 per certification category for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling, and state organic program fees (California only).
How to Apply
To apply, producers and handlers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center and be prepared to provide documentation of organic certification and eligible expenses. OCCSP applications can also be submitted through participating state departments of agriculture. For more information, visit the OCCSP webpage.
More Information
USDA offers other assistance for organic producers, including the Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), which includes direct farmer assistance for organic production and processing and conservation. For more information on organic agriculture, visit farmers.gov/organic.
To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.
 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Debt Consolidation Tool, an innovative online tool available through farmers.gov that allows agricultural producers to enter their farm operating debt and evaluate the potential savings that might be provided by obtaining a debt consolidation loan with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) or a local lender.
A debt consolidation loan is a new loan used to pay off other existing operating loans or lines of credit that might have unreasonable rates and terms. By combining multiple eligible debts into a single, larger loan, borrowers may obtain more favorable payment terms such as a lower interest rate or lower payments. Consolidating debt may also provide farmers and ranchers additional cash flow flexibilities.
 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has extended the application deadline to September 27, 2024 for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). New Jersey agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forestland who have suffered losses from recent severe storms, that occurred Jan. 1 through June 30, 2024, should contact their local FSA Service Center. The previous statewide signup deadline for both ECP and EFRP was Aug. 28, 2024.
These programs may also be able to address damage from ash trees that were killed by emerald ash borer beetles.
“Recovering from the impacts of natural disasters is never easy, but there’s no need to go it alone,” said Robert Andrzejczak, State Executive Director for FSA in New Jersey. “If you have an immediate need to clean up and restore your farm and forestland and need assistance, we’re ready to help but it’s imperative that you call our office for to determine program eligibility and restoration practice approval before you take any action.”
Additional Important Information
Myth: I can complete restoration after a natural disaster and later request ECP/EFRP assistance to receive cost-share.
Fact: Cropland and forestland owners whose land has been damaged by a natural disaster should contact their local FSA County Office to inquire about applying for ECP/EFRP as soon as possible after the natural disaster occurs. FSA and/or its partners (such as the U.S. Forest Service or state forestry agencies) will need to perform an on-site inspection to document damage, identify needed restoration activities, and and develop a forest restoration plan for EFRP applicants. Any restoration activities done before a producer applies for the program may not be reimbursed, unless:
- The natural disaster created a situation that required immediate emergency action to prevent further losses.
- A waiver is requested by the applicant and approved by FSA.
An ECP/EFRP application is submitted within a reasonable amount of time after the start of the enrollment period.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service in New Jersey (NRCS-NJ) is currently accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and 2018 Farm Bill funding through the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program (ACEP). This includes eligible parcels for both Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) for this sign-up period.
While applications for ACEP-ALE and ACEP-WRE are taken on a continuous basis, the batching dates to be considered for Fiscal Year 2025 funding are Oct. 4, 2024, for the first round of applications batching, and Dec. 20, 2024, for the second round of applications batching. NRCS-NJ may be offering additional signup dates for ALE.
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden has announced that USDA is accepting applications for loans and grants to expand access to new and better markets for rural small business owners and entrepreneurs.
The Department is making approximately $22 million available in funding through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP).
Rural businesses with 10 or fewer full-time employees are eligible for RMAP loans and technical assistance. USDA also provides RMAP funding to non-profits, Tribes, colleges and universities to create revolving loan programs and support training and hands-on support for rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises. USDA is particularly interested in applications that will advance Biden-Harris Administration priorities to:
- Reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
- Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD-funded projects; and
- Help rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.
Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development New Jersey State Office where the project is located no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the following dates:
- First Quarter: Sept. 30, 2024
- Second Quarter: Dec. 31, 2024
- Third Quarter: March 31, 2025
- Fourth Quarter: June 30, 2025
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact their local USDA Rural Development State Office well in advance of the application deadline to ask questions about their project, the program or the application process.
Additional information is available on page 67411 of the Aug. 20, 2024, Federal Register.
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The Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) helps you manage risk through coverage for both crop losses and crop planting that was prevented due to natural disasters. The eligible or “noninsured” crops include agricultural commodities not covered by federal crop insurance.
You must be enrolled in the program and have purchased coverage for the eligible crop in the crop year and county in which the loss incurred to receive program benefits following a qualifying natural disaster.
The next closing deadline for New Jersey is September 30th for Aquaculture, Christmas Trees, Flowers, Grass (SOD), Garlic, Grass (Hay), Mixed Forage, Rye, Teff. New Jersey coverage deadlines: by closing date or by crop .
NAP Buy-Up Coverage Option
NAP offers higher levels of coverage, from 50 to 65 percent of expected production in 5 percent increments, at 100 percent of the average market price. Buy-up levels of NAP coverage are available if the producer can show at least one year of previously successfully growing the crop for which coverage is being requested.
Producers of organics and crops marketed directly to consumers also may exercise the “buy-up” option to obtain NAP coverage of 100 percent of the average market price at the coverage levels of between 50 and 65 percent of expected production.
NAP basic coverage is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50 percent of expected production.
Buy-up coverage is not available for crops intended for grazing.
NAP Service Fees
For all coverage levels, the NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per county, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties.
NAP Enhancements for Qualified Military Veterans
Qualified veteran farmers or ranchers are eligible for a service fee waiver and premium reduction, if the NAP applicant meets certain eligibility criteria.
Beginning, limited resource and targeted underserved farmers or ranchers remain eligible for a waiver of NAP service fees and premium reduction when they file form CCC-860, “Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource and Beginning Farmer or Rancher Certification.”
For NAP application, eligibility and related program information, contact your USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/nap
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 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awarded an additional $9.7 million for 13 grant projects through the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program, bringing the total amount awarded through the program to $85 million. These projects will support the development of new and existing organic markets to increase the consumption of domestic organic agricultural products. The projects funded through this program, are anticipated to benefit over 119 million producers, buyers, and consumers.
Don’t know much about Federal crop insurance, but you want to learn more?
Crop insurance is a risk management strategy that farmers use to protect their livelihoods. By purchasing a policy through a crop insurance agent, farmers are financially protected if there are losses due to a covered cause of loss. It’s not so different from car or homeowners insurance.
Start your journey out right by reading RMA’s Beginners Guide to Crop Insurance.
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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.
Disaster Declarations in New Jersey can be found on our state webpage by clicking here: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/New-Jersey/index#Disaster_Designations
For more information on FSA disaster programs and disaster designations, contact your local county office.
Click on the box below to submit a report. Please make sure to include:
- Your county
- Disaster type
- Disaster date(s)
- Crops impacted
- Impacted acreage
- Contact number (optional)
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Emergency Loans
One of the programs that rely on disaster declarations are Emergency loans. Emergency Loans help you recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding and other natural disasters or quarantine.
You have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. You can borrow up to 100 percent of actual production or physical losses, to a maximum amount of $500,000.
Want to know if you are currently in a county that is eligible for an Emergency Loans? Visit our state webpage to find out: New Jersey Disaster Declarations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) beginning with the 2025 crop year. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is expanding coverage options to additional crops as well as increasing premium support to make the policy more affordable for producers.
ECO is currently approved for 36 crops and RMA is expanding coverage options to almonds, apples, blueberries, grapes, and walnuts for the 2025 crop year and to citrus crops where the Supplemental Coverage Option is currently available in California and Arizona for the 2026 crop year.
Additionally, RMA is increasing premium support for all crops covered by ECO to 65% to make the policy more affordable.
ECO provides additional area-based coverage for a portion of a producer’s underlying crop insurance policy deductible. ECO can be purchased as an endorsement to Yield Protection, Revenue Protection, Revenue Protection with the Harvest Price Exclusion or Actual Production History. ECO offers producers a choice of 90 or 95% trigger levels. Trigger is the percentage of expected yield or revenue at which a loss becomes payable.
ECO coverage is unaffected by participation in USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage program for the same crop, on the same acres. Producers may select ECO regardless of FSA farm program election.
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting their RMA Regional Office.
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