Adams/Webster USDA Service Center Newsletter - August 23, 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 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 NEADAMS and/or NEWEBSTER 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.
~~Deidra Werner
|
Top of page
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that most farm loan borrowers can make payments on their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov. Pay My Loan is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, especially for producers who may have limited time during the planting or harvest seasons to visit a local FSA office.
On average, local USDA Service Centers process more than 225,000 farm loan payments each year. Pay My Loan gives most borrowers an online repayment option and relieves them from needing to call, mail, or visit a Service Center to pay their loan installment. Farm loan payments can be made at the borrower’s convenience, on their schedule and outside of FSA office hours.
The Pay My Loan feature can be accessed at farmers.gov/loans. To use the payment feature, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication (“eAuth”) account or a Login.gov account. This initial release only allows individuals with loans to make online payments. For now, borrowers with jointly payable checks will need to continue to make loan payments through their local office. For more information on this online option, visit https://www.farmers.gov/loans.
|
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.
Top of page
Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program that contracts with landowners to place environmentally sensitive agricultural land into long-term conservation practices. In return landowners receive annual rental payments, as well as certain incentive payments and cost-share assistance. CRP contracts are for a period of 10-15 years. There are contract provisions that landowners should keep in mind if they are considering transferring their CRP acres to another party:
- A CRP contract is associated with specific acres and the provisions within the contract remain associated with those acres should the acres be sold to another party.
- Landowners may choose to terminate a CRP contract at any time, however, landowners who choose this option are required to pay back the value of rental payments, incentive payments, and cost-share assistance that have been earned during the life of the contract to the date of the termination request and pay any liquidated damages. Landowners who are considering selling CRP contract acres, and landowners considering purchasing CRP contract acres, both should be mindful of this.
- There are land management requirements associated with CRP contract acres, such as general weed control and management practices to ensure the overall quality of the CRP cover. These contract requirements remain in place and become the responsibility of the new landowner should the CRP acres be sold.
Individuals interested in learning more about CRP contract provisions can contact the Webster County FSA office at (402) 746-2204, extension 2.
Top of page
Adams USDA Service Center
2727 W 2nd St. Ste 103
Hastings, NE 68901
Phone: 402-463-6771
FSA Staff: nehastings-fsa@usda.gov
|
Webster USDA Service Center
20 N Webster St.
Red Cloud, NE 68970
Phone: 402-746-2204
FSA Staff: neredcloud-fsa@usda.gov
|
|
FSA County Executive Director
Deidra Werner
deidra.werner@usda.gov
FSA Farm Loan Manager
Kayla Hintze
kayla.hintz@usda.gov
|
|
NRCS Resource Conservationist
Michael Perry
michael.perry2@usda.gov
Adams FSA County Committee Kimberly Hermann, Chairperson
William Rathje, Vice-Chairperson
Ronald King, Member
|
NRCS Resource Conservationist
Krystal Zimmerman
krystal.zimmerman@usda.gov
Webster FSA County Committee Norbert Pokorny, Chairperson
Shirley Ewing, Vice-Chairperson
Larry Tietjen, Member
|
|
Enroll in texting service: Text NEADAMS or NEWEBSTER to 372669.
|
|
