In This Issue:
 Pictured above left to right are: Sara Halpin (SED’s wife); Scott Halpin-SED; Jean French-AO; Amanda Wayman-Sangamon County CED; Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Gloria Montano-Greene; and Norma Miller – Farm Loan Resolution Specialist in the FSA State Fair booth.
With schools starting and the summer coming to an end, I would like to first mention the unusually cool temperatures we experienced in August. What a nice break from the extreme hot temperatures we had in July and the first few days of August. The cool weather rolled in just in time for the 2024 Illinois State Fair. This year was a little different at the state fair, with none of my children exhibiting any livestock, I instantly became just a livestock show spectator. I enjoyed cheering on my friends who had 4Her’s exhibiting at the fair, however it is just not quite the same as being front and center with your own 4Her. It’s all a part of the growing process I know. As much as some wish, we can’t be 4Her’s forever.
The spring and summer months have been somewhat of a challenge with the over generous rainfalls that were accompanied by some wicked storms that rolled across various areas of the state causing tornadoes, high winds and flooding.
Several Administrator’s Physical Loss Notifications (APLN) have been approved for producers with physical losses in Illinois.
Emergency loans may be made available to any applicant with a severe physical loss in the counties approved. Physical loss loans through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay. Recently counties have been receiving requests for fence repairs and tree clean up in creek lines and pastures. Please contact your local county FSA Office for more information, before you begin any clean up.
All in all, the U.S. crop report is predicting a good crop for both corn and soybeans this year, but not promising any price increases.
On Thursday, August 8th I had the great pleasure of attending and addressing the FSA employees at the NASCOE Convention at the River Center in Davenport, IA. It was so nice to see such a large group from so many states in attendance. I would like to commend the IASCOE Board and the FSA employees that volunteered and put in an incredible amount of extra time and effort to host such an extremely successful event. I continue to receive praise from other states and national leadership on the job-well-done by Illinois.
On Friday, August 9th I attended Ag Day at the 2024 Illinois State Fair started off with a breakfast buffet compliments of the Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello and his Illinois Department of Agriculture staff. Director Costello emceed the event as the crowd of Ag partners and stakeholders were greeted by Governor JB Pritzker as well as other dignitaries.
Tuesday, August 13th started off with the State Emergency Board meeting held on the IDOA Director’s lawn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The day continued with the presentation of awards to Illinois FSA employees that were recognized by their peers in several categories. It was an honor to present awards to these well-deserving employees. Congratulations to all the award winners! We welcomed USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Programs and Conservation (FPAC- Gloria Montano-Greene. It was great to have her attend both the NASCOE Convention and the FSA Family BBQ Picnic and speak to the FSA employees and their families.
FSA added something extra to our normal information booth in the IDOA tent at the state fair this year. The Family Beekeepers of Illinois (FBI) from Christian County took the stage daily in the IDOA tent to share the process of beekeeping with fairgoers. Following the beekeepers presentation the State Office Price Support Section were front and center sharing the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) making others aware of the disaster assistance program available to eligible beekeepers. The ELAP program provides eligible producers with compensation for feed and grazing losses. In order to participate in the ELAP program, producers are required to complete a notice of loss and a payment application to their local FSA office no later than the annual program application deadline, January 30, 2025, for 2024 calendar year losses.
The observations for the month of August are: Back to School Month National Water Quality Month National Sandwich Month National Farmer’s Market Week – August 4-10 National Aviation Week – August 19-25
August 1 – Homemade Pie Day August 6th – Farm Worker Appreciation Day August 7th – National Purple Heart Day August 10th – Herbert Hoover Day August 17th – World Honeybee Day August 21st – National Senior Citizens Day
If anyone knows anyone who may be experiencing an extra load of stress this fall please share this:
Free - Confidential - 24/7 Staffed - Farm Crisis Lifeline CALL OR TEXT 1-833-FARM-SOS (1-833-327-6767) Illinois Agricultural Mental Health Voucher Program - University of Illinois Extension
As we move forward into harvest, please take that extra step, to slow down, and add a 15 minute daily break, that may help keep you safe on and around the farm!
Sincerely,
Scott Halpin
State Executive Director
Illinois Farm Service Agency
Severe weather events create significant challenges and often result in catastrophic loss for agricultural producers. Despite every attempt to mitigate risk, your operation may suffer losses. USDA offers several programs to help with recovery.
Risk Management
For producers who have risk protection through Federal Crop Insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), we want to remind you to report crop damage to your crop insurance agent or the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office.
If you have crop insurance, contact your agency within 72 hours of discovering damage and be sure to follow up in writing within 15 days. If you have NAP coverage, 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.
Disaster Assistance
USDA also offers disaster assistance programs, which is especially important to livestock, fruit and vegetable, specialty and perennial crop producers who have fewer risk management options.
First, the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) reimburses producers for a portion of the value of livestock, poultry and other animals that died as a result of a qualifying natural disaster event or for loss of grazing acres, feed and forage. And, the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides assistance to producers of grazed forage crop acres that have suffered crop loss due to a qualifying drought. Livestock producers suffering the impacts of drought can also request Emergency Haying and Grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres.
Next, the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) provides cost share assistance to rehabilitate and replant tree, vines or shrubs loss experienced by orchards and nurseries. This complements NAP or crop insurance coverage, which cover the crop but not the plants or trees in all cases.
For LIP and ELAP, you will need to file a Notice of Loss for livestock and grazing or feed losses by the application deadline for each program. For TAP, you will need to file a program application within 90 days.
Documentation
It’s critical to keep accurate records to document all losses following this devastating cold weather event. Livestock producers are advised to document beginning livestock numbers by taking time and date-stamped video or pictures prior to after the loss.
Other common documentation options include:
- Purchase records
- Production records
- Vaccination records
- Bank or other loan documents
- Third-party certification
Other Programs
The Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program can assist landowners and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to restore damaged farmland or forests.
Additionally, FSA offers a variety of loans available including emergency loans that are triggered by disaster declarations and operating loans that can assist producers with credit needs. You can use these loans to replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed, or refinance farm-related debts, and other needs.
Meanwhile, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources. Assistance may also be available for emergency animal mortality disposal from natural disasters and other causes.
Additional Resources
Additional details – including payment calculations – can be found on our NAP, ELAP, LIP, and TAP fact sheets. On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help you determine program or loan options.
While we never want to have to implement disaster programs, we are here to help. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center. All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including those that restrict in-person visits or require appointments because of the pandemic.
Farm Service Agency (FSA) program payments are issued electronically into your bank account. In order to receive timely payments, you need to notify your FSA servicing office if you close your account or if your bank information is changed for any reason (such as your financial institution merging or being purchased). Payments can be delayed if FSA is not notified of changes to account and bank routing numbers.
For some programs, payments are not made until the following year. For example, payments for crop year 2019 through the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage program aren’t paid until 2020. If the bank account was closed due to the death of an individual or dissolution of an entity or partnership before the payment was issued, please notify your local FSA office as soon as possible to claim your payment.
 USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has implemented pre-authorized debit (PAD) for Farm Loan Program (FLP) borrowers. PAD is a voluntary and alternative method for making weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments on loans.
PAD payments are pre-authorized transactions that allow the National Financial and Accounting Operations Center (NFAOC) to electronically collect loan payments from a customer’s account at a financial institution.
PAD may be useful if you use nonfarm income from regular wages or salary to make payments on loans or adjustment offers or for payments from seasonal produce stands. PAD can only be established for future payments.
To request PAD, customers, along with their financial institution, must fill out form RD 3550-28. This form has no expiration date, but a separate form RD 3550-28 must be completed for each loan to which payments are to be applied. A fillable form can be accessed on the USDA Rural Development (RD) website at rd.usda.gov/publications/regulations-guidelines. Click forms and search for “Form 3550-28.”
If you have a “filter” on the account at your financial institution, you will need to provide the financial institution with the following information: Origination ID: 1220040804, Agency Name: USDA RD DCFO.
PAD is offered by FSA at no cost. Check with your financial institution to discuss any potential cost. Preauthorized debit has no expiration date, but you can cancel at any time by submitting a written request to your local FSA office. If a preauthorized debit agreement receives three payment rejections within a three-month period, the preauthorized debit agreement will be cancelled by FSA. The payment amount and due date of your loan is not affected by a cancellation of preauthorized debit. You are responsible to ensure your full payment is made by the due date.
For more information contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov.
In order to claim a Farm Service Agency (FSA) payment on behalf of a deceased producer, all program conditions for the payment must have been met before the applicable producer’s date of death.
If a producer earned a FSA payment prior to his or her death, the following is the order of precedence for the representatives of the producer:
· administrator or executor of the estate
· the surviving spouse
· surviving sons and daughters, including adopted children
· surviving father and mother
· surviving brothers and sisters
· heirs of the deceased person who would be entitled to payment according to the State law
For FSA to release the payment, the legal representative of the deceased producer must file a form FSA-325 to claim the payment for themselves or an estate. The county office will verify that the application, contract, loan agreement, or other similar form requesting payment issuance, was signed by the applicable deadline by the deceased or a person legally authorized to act on their behalf at that time of application.
If the application, contract or loan agreement form was signed by someone other than the deceased participant, FSA will determine whether the person submitting the form has the legal authority to submit the form.
Payments will be issued to the respective representative’s name using the deceased program participant’s tax identification number. Payments made to representatives are subject to offset regulations for debts owed by the deceased.
FSA is not responsible for advising persons in obtaining legal advice on how to obtain program benefits that may be due to a participant who has died, disappeared or who has been declared incompetent.
Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) provide financing and marketing assistance for wheat, feed grains, soybeans, and other oilseeds, pulse crops, rice, peanuts, cotton, wool and honey. MALs provide you with interim financing after harvest to help you meet cash flow needs without having to sell your commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows. A producer who is eligible to obtain a loan, but agrees to forgo the loan, may obtain an LDP if such a payment is available. Marketing loan provisions and LDPs are not available for sugar and extra-long staple cotton.
FSA is now accepting requests for 2024 MALs and LDPs for all eligible commodities after harvest. Requests for loans and LDPs shall be made on or before the final availability date for the respective commodities.
Commodity certificates are available to loan holders who have outstanding nonrecourse loans for wheat, upland cotton, rice, feed grains, pulse crops (dry peas, lentils, large and small chickpeas), peanuts, wool, soybeans and designated minor oilseeds. These certificates can be purchased at the posted county price (or adjusted world price or national posted price) for the quantity of commodity under loan, and must be immediately exchanged for the collateral, satisfying the loan. MALs redeemed with commodity certificates are not subject to Adjusted Gross Income provisions.
To be considered eligible for an LDP, you must have form CCC-633EZ, Page 1 on file at your local FSA Office before losing beneficial interest in the crop. Pages 2, 3 or 4 of the form must be submitted when payment is requested.
Marketing loan gains (MLGs) and loan deficiency payments (LDPs) are no longer subject to payment limitations, actively engaged in farming and cash-rent tenant rules.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) provisions state that if your total applicable three-year average AGI exceeds $900,000, then you’re not eligible to receive an MLG or LDP. You must have a valid CCC-941 on file to earn a market gain of LDP. The AGI does not apply to MALs redeemed with commodity certificate exchange.
For more information and additional eligibility requirements, contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov.
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 October 31, 2024, deadline for eligible expenses incurred from October 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.
Borrower training is available for all Farm Service Agency (FSA) customers. This training is required for all direct loan applicants, unless the applicant has a waiver issued by the agency.
Borrower training includes instruction in production and financial management. The purpose is to help the applicants develop and improve skills that are necessary to successfully operate a farm and build equity in the operation. It aims to help the producer become financially successful. Borrower training is provided, for a fee, by agency approved vendors. Contact your local FSA Farm Loan Manager for a list of approved vendors.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is asking for public input on how best to implement the SUSTAINS Act, which authorizes USDA to accept private contributions to channel through several existing USDA conservation programs. The public should submit comments to the Request for Information via the Federal Register by September 16, 2024.
“Agriculture is at the forefront of the nation’s effort to conserve our natural resources, and we want to hear from people on the ground how to implement this legislation to maximize its benefits, promote equity and assist all producers,” said USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby.
The SUSTAINS Act, signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, provides USDA with the authority to accept contributions of private funds that can be channeled through its existing conservation programs and provides additional guidelines for those contributions. Specifically, the SUSTAINS Act provides an opportunity for the private sector to partner with USDA to engage farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in supporting conservation initiatives, including to expand implementation of conservation practices to sequester carbon, improve wildlife habitat, protect sources of drinking water and address other natural resource priorities.
NRCS is asking for public input and recommendations to determine how the agency can utilize private funds to target specific natural resource concerns associated with agricultural production. NRCS is interested in supporting program implementation and improving program delivery, including by effectively leveraging additional funds to increase outreach and expand access to financial and technical assistance for underserved producers. NRCS will use the input to determine the next steps to implement this legislation, which could include a proposed rule.
Public comments should be submitted through this Federal Register notice by September 16, 2024.
Anyone with questions can contact NRCS by sending an email to: NRCS.SUSTAINS.Input@usda.gov. Please specify the Docket ID: NRCS-2024-0014 in the subject line.
More Information
To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their 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. Producers without an account can sign up today.
For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat.
NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. Now, with additional funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, NRCS is working to get even more conservation practices on the ground while ensuring access to programs for all producers. For more information, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/il.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.
· Wheat and oats county estimate survey questionnaires were mailed on August 1st. Phoning for the survey questionnaires continues to October 4th. Results will be completed in December.
· County cash rents were released on August 23rd.
· September Crop Production, with updates on corn and soybean yields, will be released on September 12th. Questionnaires will be mailed in late August. Field counts and measurements began August 24th.
· September quarterly acreage and grain stocks survey will be mailed in late August. Phoning for those surveys begins August 30th and ends September 13th. Results will be released on September 30th.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, subtype H5N1, in dairy cattle in 12 states. To protect our livestock industry from the threat posed by H5N1, USDA is taking a number of actions with our federal partners—one of them being a significant update to the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP).
Those of you who incur milk losses in their dairy herds due to H5N1 can now apply for financial assistance through ELAP. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP policy through the rule-making process; this expansion assists with financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cows are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds with a confirmed positive H5N1 test. Positive tests must be confirmed through APHIS’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).
So, in this Ask the Expert, Dr. Julie Gauthier – Executive Director of Veterinary Services’ Field Operations and Policy Liaison for the dairy cattle HPAI response, answers questions about H5N1 in the United States, its current effects in our dairy industry, and the process and importance of testing your cows to help protect them, your operation, and the dairy industry as a whole. Read full interview here
Farm Operating Loans - Direct 5.375%
Farm Ownership Loans - Direct 5.625%
Farm Ownership Loans - Direct, Joint Financing 3.625%
Farm Ownership Loans - Direct Down Payment, Beginning Farmer or Rancher 1.625%
Emergency Loans - 3.750%
Farm Storage Facility Loans
3 years - 4.375%
5 years - 4.250%
7 years - 4.250%
10 years - 4.250%
12 years - 4.375%
Commodity Loans - 6.000%
 September 1 - Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) 2024 Premium Balance Due
September 2 - Labor Day Holiday - FSA Offices Closed
September 30 - Final Date to File Acreage Report for Aquaculture (surface acres of water)
Ongoing - FSFL Application
Ongoing - Update Your Records
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