Ohio FSA State Newsletter - December 11, 2024
In This Edition of the Ohio FSA State Newsletter:
As we prepare to spend Christmas with loved ones, we hope that everyone takes some time to rest, reflect with family and friends and enjoy some time with those who mean the most to us. Our STO staff would like to take a moment and express our appreciation to all our FSA employees for their devotion to serving Ohio producers, and our appreciation for all our farmers and producers.
USDA has extended the deadline for the 2024 Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) to December 13, 2024. ODMAP helps to mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry. Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats, and sheep. To apply, producers should contact their FSA County office.
With the holidays quickly approaching, we encourage everyone to pay attention to several upcoming deadlines. December 16 is the deadline to report the fall-seeded crops for fall barley, fall wheat and all other fall-seeded small grains.
Many of our offices have assisted producers to sign up for the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for eligible 2024 year losses. If you have not contacted your County FSA office to apply or schedule an appointment, you should do so by the Jan. 30, 2025, deadline.
As a reminder, FSA provides marketing assistance loans (MALs) and loan deficiency payments (LDPs) for wool and mohair to eligible producers who produce and shear wool and mohair from live sheep and goats for 2024 crop year. The LDP program is also available to eligible producers of nongraded wool in the form of unshorn pelts. Our FSA County offices are in the process of completing a direct mailing to participants that have previously participated in wool, mohair, and unshorn pelt programs. Producers interested in learning more about MALs and LDPs, should contact their FSA County office for additional details or questions.
For most agricultural producers, activities over the winter months tend to slow down. This is an opportune time to take look at your farming operation and determine if there are areas that could benefit from the establishment of one or more conservation practices. FSA and NRCS offers several conservation program options for producers and landowners who are looking to support soil health, control soil erosion, improve water quality and conserve wildlife habitats. NRCS and FSA conservation programs are incentive based and provide financial assistance to implement conservation practices. NRCS also offers free conservation technical assistance to help producers plan practices. NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round, but applications are ranked and funded by funding cycle, which have state-specific application dates. FSA program application periods vary by program. Producers interested in assistance are encouraged to contact their County USDA Service Center.
Our FSA farm loan team continues to stay busy as they work with producers who are in need of farm operating loans for the 2025 production season. If this is something you are considering, it’s better to contact us sooner rather than later. FSA offers direct operating and ownership loans as well as guaranteed loans in partnership with your local lender. To assist customers, USDA launched a Loan Assistance Tool (LAT) on farmers.gov to provide farm loan applicants with an interactive online, step-by-step guide through the farm loan process. Use the Loan Assistance Tool to check your eligibility for FSA Loans, discover FSA loan types, learn about FSA Loan requirements, and walk through the easy-to-understand instructions when completing the forms. If interested in an FSA loan, contact your FSA farm loan team to begin the conversation.
Additional program details and more in-depth information is provided in our newsletter. Please don’t hesitate to contact your County FSA office for questions about our programs, loans and information that is included in this newsletter edition.
On behalf of FSA employees across Ohio, we wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
USDA is extending the application deadline for the 2024 Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) to Dec.13, 2024. This extension gives organic dairy producers two additional weeks to apply for the program. Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats and sheep.
ODMAP 2024 helps mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry. Specifically, through ODMAP 2024, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is assisting organic dairy operations with projected marketing costs in 2024 calculated using their marketing costs in 2023.
ODMAP 2024 Program Improvements
Dairy producers who participate in ODMAP 2024 will benefit from improvements to provisions outlined in the program. Specifically, ODMAP 2024 provides a payment rate increase to $1.68 per hundredweight compared to the previous $1.10 per cwt. Additionally, the production cap has increased to nine million pounds compared to the previous five million pounds.
How ODMAP 2024 Works
FSA is providing financial assistance for a producer’s projected marketing costs in 2024 based on their 2023 costs. ODMAP 2024 provides a one-time cost-share payment based on marketing costs on pounds of organic milk marketed in the 2023 calendar year or estimated 2024 marketing costs for organic dairy operations that have increased milk production.
ODMAP 2024 provides financial assistance that immediately supports certified organic dairy operations during 2024 keeping organic dairy operations sustainable until markets return to more normal conditions.
How to Apply
FSA is now accepting applications through Dec. 13. To apply, producers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center. To complete the ODMAP 2024 application, producers must certify pounds of 2023 milk production, show documentation of their organic certification and submit a completed application form.
Organic dairy operations are required to provide their USDA certification of organic status confirming operation as an organic dairy in 2024 and 2023 along with the certification of 2023 milk production or estimated 2024 milk production in hundredweight.
ODMAP 2024 complements other assistance available to dairy producers, including Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), with more than $36 million in benefits paid for the 2024 program year to date. Learn more on the FSA Dairy Programs webpage.
More Information
To learn more about USDA programs, producers can contact their County FSA office. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and other programs by logging into their farmers.gov account. Producers without an account can sign up today.
All producers are reminded that the acreage reporting date for fall seeded crops has changed and the acreage reporting date is Dec. 16, 2024. This applies to all fall seeded crops including fall barley, fall wheat and all other fall-seeded small grains. Please call to schedule an appointment to certify your crops.
Recent severe natural disaster events may have damaged forested, agricultural, and urban landscapes. CRP recently authorized cost share assistance for the re-establishment of the tree cover caused by natural disaster events.
Ohio CRP participants who experienced damage from Hurricane Helene or other natural disaster events should contact their USDA FSA County office to alert the office of the damage and to discuss replanting options.
USDA Makes $2 Billion Available to Support Expansion of Current and Development of New Markets
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) $2 billion Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, aimed at helping specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs, is now accepting applications from Dec. 10, 2024 through Jan. 8, 2025. Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, MASC was announced in November alongside the $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program for facilities impacted by 2024 natural disasters.
MASC helps specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to:
- Perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursey crops and herbs;
- Specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control;
- Packaging to prevent damage;
- Moving perishables to market quickly; and
- Higher labor costs.
MASC Eligibility
To be eligible for MASC, a producer must be in business at the time of application, maintain an ownership share and share in the risk of producing a specialty crop that will be sold in calendar year 2025.
MASC covers the following commercially marketed specialty crops:
- Fruits (fresh, dried);
- Vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed);
- Tree nuts;
- Nursery crops, Christmas trees, and floriculture;
- Culinary and medicinal herbs and spices; and
- Honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass and grass seed.
Applying for MASC
Eligible established specialty crop producers can apply for MASC benefits by completing the FSA-1140, Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program Application, and submitting the form to any FSA county office by Jan. 8, 2025. When applying, eligible specialty crop producers must certify their specialty crop sales for calendar year 2023 or 2024.
New specialty crop producers are required to certify 2025 expected sales, submit an FSA-1141 application and provide certain documentation to support reported sales i.e., receipts, contracts, acreage reports, input receipts, etc. New producers are those who began producing specialty crops in 2023 or 2024 but did not have sales due to the immaturity of the crop, began producing specialty crops in 2024 but did not have a complete year of sales or will begin growing specialty crops in 2025.
MASC applicants, established and new, must also submit the following information to FSA if not already on file at the time of application:
- Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.
- Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.
- Form CCC-941, Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information.
- Form FSA-942, Certification of Income from Farming, Ranching and Forestry Operations, if applicable, for the producer and members of entities.
- A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC) and wetland conservation certification (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification) for the ERP producer and applicable affiliates.
- Other Documentation if requested by FSA to support reported specialty crop sales.
Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms or producers who may be new to conducting business with FSA, can contact their local FSA county office. For MASC program participation, eligible specialty crop sales only include sales of commercially marketed raw specialty crops grown in the United States by the producer. The portion of sales derived from adding value to a specialty crop (such as sorting, processing, or packaging) is not included when determining eligible sales. Further explanation of what is considered by FSA for specialty crop sales as well as an online MASC decision tool and applicable program forms, are available on the MASC program webpage.
MASC Payments
For established specialty crop growers, those who certify crop sales in 2023 or 2024, FSA will calculate MASC payments based on the producer’s total specialty crop sales for the calendar year elected by the producer. Payments for new producers will be based on their expected 2025 calendar year sales. Payment calculation details and examples are available on the MASC webpage or related questions can be directed to local FSA county office staff.
FSA will issue MASC payments after the end of the application period. If demand for MASC payments exceeds available funding, MASC payments may be prorated, and the payment limitation of $125,000 may be lowered. If additional funding is available after MASC payments are issued, FSA may issue an additional payment.
Specialty crop producers interested in applying for MASC benefits, are encouraged to review the program fact sheet for detailed information on program eligibility, required documentation, payment calculations and more.
More Information
Additional information on MASC is available in the Notice of Funding Availability, which went on public inspection in the Federal Register on Dec. 9, 2024.
Livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land may be eligible for the 2024 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) have until Jan. 30, 2025, to complete a notice of loss and a payment application to their local FSA office for 2024 calendar year losses.
To participate in LFP producers must own, cash or share lease, or contract grow eligible livestock, provide pasture or grazing land to eligible livestock on the beginning date of the qualifying drought, certify that they suffered a grazing loss due to drought, and submit an acreage report to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for all grazing land for which a grazing loss is being claimed.
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides eligible producers with compensation for above normal costs of hauling water and feed to livestock as well as transporting livestock to other grazing acres. For ELAP, 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, Jan. 30, 2025, for 2024 calendar year losses. ELAP also assists commercial apiarists who experience a loss of feed due to drought conditions that may need to purchase short-term feed to sustain the honeybees until additional natural feedstock becomes available.
Producers interested in assistance are encouraged to contact their County USDA Service Center.
Out of an office in suburban Ravenna, Ohio, the Cleveland USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) serves a community that is two counties away. Cleveland’s USDA Urban Service Center was announced in fall of 2023 as part of USDA’s effort to broaden agriculture opportunities in large cities. It was one of 17 announced at that time.
Since then, Tristam Mizak, the Urban County Executive Director for the Cleveland office, has been operating from an office in neighboring Ravenna, as officials work to secure appropriate space in the heart of Cleveland. But that hasn’t stopped Tristam from reaching out to potential urban customers.
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The Distressed Borrower Set-Aside Program (DBSA) provides USDA FSA direct loan borrowers the opportunity to set-aside one loan payment to the end of the loan term if they are unable to make their scheduled installment. DBSA results in the borrower accruing significantly reduced interest and allows them to become current on their loans and continue farming. The program is authorized under Section 331A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
When a borrower indicates they are in financial distress or when they become 90 days past due on an FSA direct loan, they will be notified of the availability of the Distressed Borrower Set-Aside Program (DBSA).
Borrowers can request DBSA assistance at any time. A complete application for DBSA consists of the following items:
- A written request for DBSA signed by all parties liable for the debt;
- Production, income, and expense records for the current and upcoming production cycles (unless the FSA already has this information); and
- Other items as required to establish repayment ability and set-aside feasibility, based on the individual application.
Eligibility to receive the DBSA will primarily be determined based on the following criteria:
- The loan receiving the DBSA was outstanding as of September 25, 2024.
- The borrower is unable to pay all family living and farm operating expenses, payments to FSA and other creditors;
- The borrower must have acted in good faith and complied with written agreements with FSA;
- The borrower must not be in nonmonetary default;
- The borrower must be current or not more than 150 days past due on any FSA loan when the DBSA application is completed.
- No loan to be set-aside may have a remaining term of less than two years;
- DBSA cannot be used with a concurrent Primary Loan Servicing action;
- Loans must not be accelerated;
- After the DBSA is completed, the borrower will be current on all FSA loans;
- The amount set aside will not exceed one year’s payment on the FSA loan;
- No loan may have more than one active set-aside at a time; and
- The borrower must be able to develop a positive cash-flow projection for the coming year.
Each payment set-aside must be repaid prior to the final maturity of the note. Any principal set-aside will continue to accrue interest at a reduced rate of 0.125% until it is repaid or restructured.
For additional information on the Distressed Borrower Set-Aside Program, borrowers should contact their USDA FSA Farm Loan official to setup an appointment.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expanded 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.
FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each eligible cost category. Details about payment rates and limitations are available at farmers.gov/food-safety.
Applying for Assistance
Interested applicants have until Jan. 31, 2025, to apply for assistance for 2024 eligible expenses. FSA will issue payments as applications are processed and approved. For program year 2025, the application period will be January 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. FSA will issue 50% of the calculated payment for program year 2025 following application approval, with the remaining amount to be paid after the application deadline. If calculated payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated.
Specialty crop producers can apply by completing the FSA-888-1, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) for Program Years 2024 and 2025 application. The application, along with the AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet and SF-3881, ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form, if not already on file with FSA, can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. Alternatively, producers with an eAuthentication account can apply for FSCSC online. Producers interested in creating an eAuthentication account should visit farmers.gov/sign-in.
Specialty crop producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a FSA employee ready to assist. Visit farmers.gov/food-safety for additional program details, eligibility information and forms needed to apply.
More Information
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. Producers without an account can sign up today.
Farm Operating Loans, Direct -- 4.750%
Farm Ownership Loans, Direct -- 5.250%
Limited Resource Loans -- 5.000%
Farm Ownership Loans, Down Payment -- 1.500%
Farm Ownership – Joint Financing -- 3.250%
Emergency Loans -- 3.750%
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 3 year -- 4.125%
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 5 year -- 4.125%
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 7 year -- 4.250%
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 10 year -- 4.375%
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 12 year -- 4.375%
Sugar Storage Facility Loans, 15 year -- 4.500%
Commodity Loans -- 5.250%
December 16 --- Deadline to report the 2025 Fall Seeded Crops for fall barley, fall wheat and all other fall-seeded small grains.
December 25 --- Christmas Day Holiday. USDA Service Center is Closed.
January 1 ------- Elected Committee Members and alternates take office.
January 1 ------- New Year's Day Holiday. USDA Service Center is Closed.
January 2 ------ Deadline to report honeybees for 2025 FSA program eligibility (ELAP, NAP) programs.
January 2 ------ Deadline to report honey and maple sap to FSA.
January 8 ----- Deadline for specialty crop producers to apply for Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program, aimed at helping specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs.
January 15 ---- Deadline to report apples and grapes to FSA.
January 20 ---- Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday. USDA Service Center is Closed.
January 30 ---- Deadline for the 2024 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) including water hauling and hay/feed transportation application for payment and all supporting documentation.
January 30 ---- Deadline for the 2024 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) Application and all supporting documentation.
January 31 ---- The 2024 LDPs Deadline for wool and unshorn lamb pelts.
January 31 ---- The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) application deadline for 2024.
March 1 --- The deadline to file a notice of loss and application for payment for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) which is 60 calendar days after the calendar year in which the eligible loss condition occurred.
Top of page
Ohio FSA State Office
200 North High Street, Room 540
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-255-2441
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Visit the Ohio FSA website at: www.fsa.usda.gov/oh
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State Executive Director:
Dr. John Patterson
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Deputy State Executive Director:
Traci Garza
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Administrative Officer:
Stephanie Moran
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Conservation Chief:
Brandi Koehler
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Farm Loan Chief:
Darren Metzger
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Price Support Chief:
Trevor Kerr
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Production Adjustment / Compliance and Risk Management Chief:
Matt Kleski
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Ohio FSA State Committee Members
Theodore Finnarn, Chairperson
Fred Deel
Tracy Hundley
Thomas Jackson, Jr.
Mark Mechling
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