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Mitchell County USDA Updates - January 2025

In This Issue:

• Mitchell County FSA Announces County Committee Election Results
• Local Work Group Meeting--January 29th
• Change in Farming Operation
• Reminders for FSA Direct and Guaranteed Borrowers with Real Estate Security
• USDA Announces Strategy to Uphold its Federal Trust Responsibilities to Increase Support for Conservation on Tribal Lands

Upcoming Dates and Deadline Reminders:

Livestock Forage Program (LFP) January 30th deadline to apply and submit all required documents. Emergency Livestock Assistance Program    (ELAP) January 30th deadline to apply and submit all required documents. NRCS Local Work Group Meeting:  January 29, 2025 at 12:00 pm- 1401 East 6th St Trafficway, Concordia, KS  785-738-5172, RSVP by January 24th. Mitchell County Conservation District Annual Meeting:  January 26th at Fort Hays Tech North Central, Severance Student Union Building--doors open at 5:30 pm and meal starts at 6:00 pm

NOTE:   The Mitchell County FSA will be sending out scheduled appointment cards for the ARC/PLC sign up for fiscal year 2025. 

 Please watch your mail.  

Mitchell County FSA Announces County Committee Election Results

Mitchell County USDA and FSA announces that the County Committee election was completed on December 12th and all ballots have been counted.  

Skilar Winder was elected to represent Local Administrative Area (LAA) 2.

The Mitchell County Committee for fiscal year 2025 is as follows:
Rodney Albert, Chairperson
Christopher Bell, Vice Chairperson
Skilar Winder, Member

Local Work Group Meeting--January 29th

Your chance to voice your opinions on what conservation practices and activities are needed to have the highest priority for the county.  

Change in Farming Operation

Please report any changes in your farm operation, like the addition of land, as soon as possible. You should also report any changes to your operation in which you reorganize to form a Trust, LLC or other legal entity. Update signature authorization when changes in the operation occur.

If you have bought or sold land, or if you have picked up or dropped rented land from your operation, make sure you report the changes to the office as soon as possible. You need to provide a copy of your deed or recorded land contract for purchased property.

Failure to maintain accurate records with FSA on all land you have an interest in can lead to possible program ineligibility and penalties.

Producers are reminded to contact the office if there is a change in operations on a farm so that records can be kept current and accurate.

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Reminders for FSA Direct and Guaranteed Borrowers with Real Estate Security

Farm loan borrowers who have pledged real estate as security for their Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct or guaranteed loans are responsible for maintaining loan collateral. Borrowers must obtain prior consent or approval from FSA or the guaranteed lender for any transaction that affects real estate security. These transactions include, but are not limited to:

• Leases of any kind
• Easements of any kind
• Subordinations
• Partial releases
• Sales

Failure to meet or follow the requirements in the loan agreement, promissory note, and other security instruments could lead to nonmonetary default which could jeopardize your current and future loans.

It is critical that borrowers keep an open line of communication with their FSA loan staff or guaranteed lender when it comes to changes in their operation. For more information on borrower responsibilities, read Your FSA Farm Loan Compass.

USDA Announces Strategy to Uphold its Federal Trust Responsibilities to Increase Support for Conservation on Tribal Lands

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has released a new Tribal Relations Strategy, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to honoring its federal trust relationship with the 574 federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native Villages that have sovereign interest in more than 119 million acres of land across the United States.

The strategy was based on feedback from Tribal Nations, including recommendations made to Chief Cosby at the 2021, 2022, and 2023 National Tribal Consultations, and in-depth collaboration that took place at seven Regional Tribal Conservation Advisory Council meetings. Its six action items include:

1. Hiring a Tribal Relations Director to establish an NRCS Office of Tribal Relations within the Office of the Chief.
2. Filling positions dedicated to tribal conservation.
3. Providing housing assistance on tribal lands (in partnership with the Department of the Interior).
4. Implementing a tribal knowledge training plan.
5. Creating an advanced tribal development program.
6. Recording correctly tribal conservation data.

This strategy builds on many years of listening, working and consulting with tribes to address their natural resources concerns. NRCS is committed to carrying out its federal trust responsibilities by ensuring that the agency has tribal operations built into its organizational structure.

NRCS plans to announce a new national Tribal Relations Director in the coming months. Tribal organizations can reach out to their State Conservationist for more information and submit a request for assistance.

More Information
In addition to NRCS, USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency are also supporting Tribal Nations. Learn more on the Partnerships with Tribal Nations webpage on farmers.gov.

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