New Mexico FSA State Newsletter - February 2025
In This Issue:
 Hello and Happy New Year!
My name is Brenda Archuleta, Acting State Executive Director for New Mexico Farm Service Agency.
As we begin the new year, there is a lot of exciting news to share. The most important is the news that the American Relief Act, 2025 extended authorization for many Farm Bill programs for another year, including ARC, PLC and DMC, until September 30, 2025. There is the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) (ARC/PLC) enrollment period that began on Tuesday, January 21 and ends on April 15. Also, the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) enrollment period began on January 29 running through March 31. As other program information is released, FSA will use all media to share the information.
As a reminder, if you are foreign investor who hold a significant interest or substantial control in U.S. agricultural land, either through ownership or a 10 year or longer lease, please contact your local FSA office to file Form FSA-153, Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act Report. This reporting is required by the 1978 Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA). For more information on AFIDA filing, please visit, https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-analysis/afida.
Before closing this month’s newsletter, I wanted to share Former SED Jonas Moya farewell message:
Happy New Year! As I close this chapter with the New Mexico Farm Service Agency, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude for the incredible experiences I’ve had over the past few years. Since starting with the FSA in October 2021, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside passionate, dedicated individuals both within the agency and in the farming and ranching community.
I’m incredibly thankful to the FSA staff and to the farmers and ranchers who welcomed me into their world. Your hard work and commitment to New Mexico’s agricultural future have been truly inspiring, and I’ve learned more than I could have imagined.
Though I’m moving on from my role at FSA, I am not done with New Mexico or New Mexico agriculture. The future is bright, and I’m excited to continue working toward making our state an even better place to live and thrive. Thank you all for your support, and I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.
Jonas Moya, Former New Mexico State Executive Director
Be reminded that FSA is here to serve you. Visit farmers.gov service center locator to obtain your local FSA County Office information.
Thank you,
Brenda Archuleta
Acting State Executive Director
OFFICE CLOSURE
- Washington's Birthday – February 17
- Memorial Day – May 26
- Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19
- Independence Day – July 4
- Labor Day – September 1
- Columbus Day – October 13
- Veterans Day – November 11
- Thanksgiving Day – November 27
- Christmas Day – December 25
IMPORTANT DATES (Please check with your local office for other deadlines that may apply to your particular situation) Service Center Locator
For crops covered by NAP, the acreage reporting is the earlier of the acreage reporting date of 15 calendar days before harvest or the onsite of grazing.
- 2025 Acreage Reporting Date
- March 15, Pistachios, Pecans (crop)
- May 15, Spring Barley, Onions, Pecans (trees), Potatoes (for Curry, Lea, and Roosevelt Counties only), Spring Wheat
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2025 Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (ARC/PLC)
- April 15, Election and Enrollment ends
- 2025 Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) Application Closing Dates
- March 15: Beans, Dry Peas, Corn, Cotton, Guar, Millet, Potatoes, Sorghum, Soybeans, Squash, Sunflowers, Tomatoes
- 2025 Dairy Market Contract
- March 31, Enrollment Period ends
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2024 Livestock Forage Program (LFP) Last day to submit Application
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2024 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish (ELAP) Last day to submit Application
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2024 Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) Last day to submit Application
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting enrollments and elections for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) for 2025 from Jan. 21 to April 15. ARC and PLC provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms. The American Relief Act, 2025 extended many Farm Bill-authorized programs for another year, including ARC and PLC.
Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County (ARC-CO) or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual (ARC-IC), which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2025 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Also, if a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm it will continue for 2025 unless an election change is made.
If producers do not submit their election revision by the April 15 deadline, their election remains the same as their 2024 election for commodities on the farm from the prior year. Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the cropland.
Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.
USDA also reminds producers that ARC and PLC elections and enrollments can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products including Supplemental Coverage Option, Enhanced Coverage Option and, for cotton producers, the Stacked Income Protection Plan (commonly referred to as STAX).
For more information on ARC and PLC, producers can visit the ARC and PLC webpage or contact your local County USDA Service Center.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications for Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for the 2025 coverage year from Jan. 29 to March 31. DMC is a voluntary risk management program that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. The American Relief Act, 2025 extended many Farm Bill-authorized programs for another year, including DMC.
DMC offers different levels of coverage, even an option that is free to producers, minus a $100 administrative fee. The administrative fee is waived for dairy producers who are considered limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged or a military veteran.
DMC payments are calculated using updated feed and premium hay costs, making the program more reflective of actual dairy producer expenses. These updated feed calculations use 100% premium alfalfa hay. For more information on DMC, visit the DMC webpage or contact your local County USDA Service Center.
FSA offers direct farm ownership and direct farm operating loans to producers who want to establish, maintain, or strengthen their farm or ranch. Direct loans are processed, approved and serviced by FSA loan officers.
Direct farm operating loans can be used to purchase livestock and feed, farm equipment, fuel, farm chemicals, insurance, and other costs including family living expenses. Operating loans can also be used to finance minor improvements or repairs to buildings and to refinance some farm-related debts, excluding real estate.
Direct farm ownership loans can be used to purchase farmland, enlarge an existing farm, construct and repair buildings, and to make farm improvements.
The maximum loan amount for direct farm ownership loans is $600,000 and the maximum loan amount for direct operating loans is $400,000 and a down payment is not required. Repayment terms vary depending on the type of loan, collateral and the producer's ability to repay the loan. Operating loans are normally repaid within seven years and farm ownership loans are not to exceed 40 years.
Please contact your local FSA office for more information or to apply for a direct farm ownership or operating loan.
FSA guaranteed loans allow lenders to provide agricultural credit to farmers who do not meet the lender's normal underwriting criteria. Farmers and ranchers apply for a guaranteed loan through a lender, and the lender arranges for the guarantee. FSA can guarantee up to 95 percent of the loss of principal and interest on a loan. Guaranteed loans can be used for both farm ownership and operating purposes.
Guaranteed farm ownership loans can be used to purchase farmland, construct or repair buildings, develop farmland to promote soil and water conservation or to refinance debt.
Guaranteed operating loans can be used to purchase livestock, farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel, farm chemicals, insurance and other operating expenses.
FSA can guarantee farm ownership and operating loans up to $2,251,000. Repayment terms vary depending on the type of loan, collateral and the producer's ability to repay the loan. Operating loans are normally repaid within seven years and farm ownership loans are not to exceed 40 years.
For more information on guaranteed loans, contact your local USDA Service Center at or visit fsa.usda.gov.
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