Colorado USDA Newsletter - March 10, 2025
In This Issue:
The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) provides technical and financial assistance to owners of nonindustrial private forestland whose forestland was damaged by a qualifying natural disaster event.
EFRP can provide crucial assistance to producers after a natural disaster, but there are a few “myths” about the program that we want to dispel.
Myth: EFRP assists landowners with removal of a dead or damaged tree in their yard.
Fact: EFRP helps with the removal of dead or damaged trees as part of a reforestation project and must be on land that meets the definition of nonindustrial private forestland, is at least 120 feet wide, one acre in size, and at least 10% covered by live trees of any size. If the landowner’s yard does not meet these criteria, then the land is not eligible for EFRP. EFRP requires a landowner to incur at least $1,000 in forest restoration costs to be eligible for assistance. (Minimum restoration costs may be set at a higher level by the FSA State Committee). Finally, eligible forestland must have damage to natural resources caused by the natural disaster event that, if not treated, would impair natural resources on the land and materially affect the future use of the land. For example, damage to natural resources on nonindustrial private forestland could include trees that have died or were damaged by the natural disaster event and where it’s determined that removal and restoration is needed to restore forest health and future use of the land.
To read the full blog visit farmers.gov/blog/myth-busters-learn-facts-about-emergency-forest-restoration-program.
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 .
Don’t know much about Federal crop insurance, but you want to learn more?
Crop insurance is a risk management strategy that farmers use to protect their livelihoods. By purchasing a policy through a crop insurance agent, farmers are financially protected if there are losses due to a covered cause of loss. It’s not so different from car or homeowners insurance.
Start your journey out right by reading RMA’s Beginners Guide to Crop Insurance.
Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPGs) help agricultural producers generate new products, create, or expand marketing opportunities, and diversify revenue. Some examples of value-added activities are jams and jellies made from produce grown on your farm, textiles woven from fleece harvested on your ranch, and more. Eligible applicants include independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.
Applications accepted thru April 17, 2025
***New This Year: All applications must be submitted through the VAPG Portal
For more information on the program in Colorado visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants-7.
Got questions, contact Bill Chester, william.chester@usda.gov or Robert McElroy, robert.mcelroy@usda.gov
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) updates to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs are officially in effect. These changes, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, are designed to increase financial flexibility for agricultural producers, allowing them to grow their operations, boost profitability, and build long-term savings.
These program updates reflect USDA’s ongoing commitment to supporting the financial success and resilience of farmers and ranchers nationwide, offering critical tools to help borrowers manage their finances more effectively.
What the new rules mean for you:
- Low-interest installment set-aside program: Financially distressed borrowers can now defer up to one annual loan payment at a reduced interest rate. This simplified option helps ease financial pressure while keeping farming operations running smoothly.
- Flexible repayment terms: New repayment options give borrowers the ability to increase their cash flow and build working capital reserves, allowing for long-term financial planning that includes saving for retirement, education, and other future needs.
- Reduced collateral requirements: FSA has lowered the amount of additional loan security needed for direct farm loans, making it easier for borrowers to leverage their existing equity without putting their personal residence at risk.
These new rules provide more financial freedom to borrowers. By giving farmers and ranchers better tools to manage their operations, we’re helping them build long-term financial stability. It’s all about making sure they can keep their land, grow their business, and invest in the future.
If you’re an FSA borrower or considering applying for a loan, now is the time to take advantage of these new policies. We encourage you to reach out to your local FSA farm loan staff to ensure you fully understand the wide range of loan making and servicing options available to assist with starting, expanding, or maintaining your agricultural operation.
To conduct business with FSA, please contact your local USDA Service Center.
Top of page
USDA Service Center
Colorado State Office
1 Denver Federal Center, Bld 56
Denver, CO 80225
Phone: 720-544-2876
Fax: 844-860-8238
|
|
Farm Service Agency
|
|
|
Communications Specialist
Elizabeth Thomas
720.544.2879
Elizabeth.Thomas1@usda.gov
|
|
Natural Resource Conservation Service
|
|
