Rhode Island Service Center Newsletter - May 12, 2025
In This Issue:
June 2, 2025 - Deadline to submit application for coverage for nursery crops for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).
June 2, 2025 - Deadline to report acreage for nursery crops.
July 15, 2025 - Deadline to report acreage for perennial crops, annual crops, mixed forage, and all other crops.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a second round of payments coming this week for specialty crop producers through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, providing up to $1.3 billion in additional program assistance. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) already delivered just under $900 million in first round payments to eligible producers.
About MASC
First announced in December 2024, MASC authorized $2 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds to assist specialty crop growers with rising input costs and aid in the expansion of domestic markets. In January 2025, in response to stakeholder feedback and program demand, funding for MASC was increased to $2.65 billion. The MASC application period closed on Jan. 10, 2025.
MASC is designed to help specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to:
- perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery 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 covers the following commercially marketed specialty crops:
- fruits (fresh, dried);
- vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed);
- tree nuts;
- and other specialty crops.
For more information contact the RI FSA Office at (401) 828-3120 (ext. 1) or email Lillian Toth at Lillian.Toth@usda.gov.
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FSA accepting offers for both the General and Continuous CRP starting today
USDA today announced several Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment opportunities for agricultural producers and landowners. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting offers for both the General and Continuous CRP today through June 6, 2025.
CRP, USDA’s flagship conservation program, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. For four decades, CRP has provided financial and technical support to agricultural producers and landowners who place unproductive or marginal cropland under contract for 10-15 years and who agree to voluntarily convert the land to beneficial vegetative cover to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and support wildlife habitat. The American Relief Act, 2025, extended provisions for CRP through Sept. 30, 2025.
Learn More...
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Maps are now available at the Rhode Island County FSA Office for acreage reporting purposes. If you wish to receive your maps by e-mail, please call our office or email Lillian Toth at Lillian.Toth@usda.gov.
Please see the following acreage reporting deadlines for Rhode Island:
- June 2, 2025: Nursery Crops
- July 15, 2025: Perennial crops, mixed forage, all other crops
- September 30, 2025: Value Loss Crops
- January 2, 2026: Honey and maple sap
In order to maintain program eligibility and benefits, you must file timely acreage reports. Failure to file an acreage report by the crop acreage reporting deadline may cause ineligibility for future program benefits. FSA will not accept acreage reports provided more than a year after the acreage reporting deadline.
Producers are encouraged to file their acreage reports as soon as planting is completed.
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If you’re enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, you must protect all cropland and noncropland acres on the farm from wind and water erosion and noxious weeds. By signing ARC county or individual contracts and PLC contracts, you agree to effectively control noxious weeds on the farm according to sound agricultural practices. If you fail to take necessary actions to correct a maintenance problem on your farm that is enrolled in ARC or PLC, the County Committee may elect to terminate your contract for the program year.
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Using the correct signature when doing business with FSA can save time and prevent a delay in program benefits.
The following are FSA signature guidelines:
- Married individuals must sign their given name.
- Example—Mary Doe and John Doe are married. When signing FSA forms, each must use their given name, and may not sign with the name of their spouse. Mrs. Mary Doe may not sign documents as Mrs. John Doe. For Farm Loan Purposes, spouses may not sign on behalf of the other as an authorized signatory, a signature will be needed for each. For a minor, FSA requires the minor's signature and one from the minor’s parent. There are certain exceptions where a minor’s signature may be accepted without obtaining the signature of one of the parents. Despite minority status, a youth executing a promissory note for a Youth Loan will incur full personal liability for the debt and will sign individually.
Note: By signing a document with a minor, the parent is liable for actions of the minor and may be liable for refunds, liquidated damages, or other penalties, etc.
When signing on one’s behalf the signature must agree with the name typed or printed on the form or be a variation that does not cause the name and signature to be in disagreement. Example - John W. Smith is on the form. The signature may be John W. Smith or J.W. Smith or J. Smith. Or Mary J. Smith may be signed as Mrs. Mary Joe Smith, M.J. Smith, Mary Smith, etc.
FAXED signatures will be accepted for certain forms and other documents provided the acceptable program forms are approved for FAXED signatures. Producers are responsible for the successful transmission and receipt of FAXED information.
Examples of documents not approved for FAXED signatures include:
- Promissory note
- Assignment of payment
- Joint payment authorization
- Acknowledgement of commodity certificate purchase
Spouses may sign documents on behalf of each other for FSA and CCC programs in which either spouse has an interest, unless written notification denying a spouse this authority has been provided to the county office.
Spouses cannot sign on behalf of each other as an authorized signatory for partnerships, joint ventures, corporations or other similar entities. Likewise, a spouse cannot sign a document on behalf of the other in order to affirm the eligibility of oneself.
Any member of a general partnership can sign on behalf of the general partnership and bind all members unless the Articles of Partnership are more restrictive. Spouses may sign on behalf of each other’s individual interest in a partnership, unless notification denying a spouse that authority is provided to the county office. Acceptable signatures for general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, estates, and trusts must consist of an indicator “by” or “for” the individual’s name, individual’s name and capacity, or individual’s name, capacity, and name of entity.
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On Friday, May 23rd, eleven teams of about 55 Rhode Island students from six Rhode Island middle and high schools will show how much they know about the environment at the 31st annual Rhode Island Envirothon.
Rhode Island Envirothon is an exciting environmental program, perfect for middle and high school students who love the outdoors, animals, and plants, or who are just curious about the world we live in. Throughout the year, Envirothon students attend hands-on workshops that inspire learning about our natural environment and instill an appreciation of nature and the delicate environmental balances that make life possible. After studying with experts on all aspects of the environment, the program culminates each May in a one-day battle of environmental minds!
The outdoor competition will be held at the Kent County YMCA, at 900 Centerville Road (Route 117) in Warwick, where the teams will rotate through five stations to answer written questions and engage in hands-on activities like soil analysis, wildlife habitat assessment, tree identification, and water quality sampling. At the last station, they will deliver a 12-15-minute presentation on this year’s Environmental Issue, “Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change” to a panel of judges.
For more information, contact the Rhode Island Envirothon Coordinator at 401-500-0399 or president@rienvirothon.org.
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 On April 27, 1935, Congress established the Soil Conservation Service, which would later become the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), as a permanent agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make critical investments in their operations and local communities to keep working lands working and boost agricultural production, while at the same time improving the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitats.
See our compilation of videos, stories and resources here. To learn about NRCS programs in Rhode Island, contact the Rhode Island USDA Service Center at 401-828-1300 or visit www.RI.nrcs.usda.gov.
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 When flood disasters strike, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the USDA agency to lead recovery by providing crucial technical and financial assistance to affected communities. Saving lives and protecting property is the core mission of the USDA NRCS Watershed Programs Branch.
Property buyouts are often the best solution—providing a balanced approach that is strategic and cost-effective for reducing flood risk and protecting flood-prone areas. NRCS Watershed Programs works with local sponsors to purchase inundated properties to prevent future damage and convert them to open space.
Through the NRCS Watershed Programs, the Rhode Island Association of Conservation Districts (RIACD) is working with the City of East Providence, City of Cranston and Town of Johnston to offer relief to homeowners of flood-prone homes through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program and the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program. Both programs offer buyouts for flood-prone properties as part of a broader watershed conservation effort when it proves to be the best option to mitigate future flooding in low-lying neighborhoods. Currently, RIACD is working to acquire three key areas impacted by Hurricane Ida in 2021 that are also flood prone.
Discover how NRCS and the Rhode Island Association of Conservation Districts is providing relief to flood-prone communities in the Ocean State.
Learn more...
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Mulching and composting are two of the most simple and beneficial practices for home lawns, gardens and farms.
Mulching is a protective layer of material that is spread on top of the soil. Mulches can be either organic –grass clippings, straw, bark chips and similar materials – or inorganic –stone, brick chips and plastics.
The benefits of mulching include:
- Protecting soil from erosion;
- Reducing compaction from animal and vehicle traffic;
- Conserving moisture, reducing the need for frequent watering;
- Maintaining a more even soil temperature;
- Preventing weed growth;
- Keeping fruits and vegetables clean;
- Keeping feet clean, allowing access to gardens even when damp; and
- Providing a “finished” look to the garden.
Meanwhile, compost also has ample benefits to the home garden and farm. Compost largely consists of decayed organic matter and is used to add nutrients and condition the soil. Compost is blended with the soil to improve its structure and nutrients so the roots of the plants or crops can more easily penetrate down. This way your plantings will get more nutrients and more access to water.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service can help you use compost and mulch in many ways. For more information, contact the Rhode Island USDA Service Center at 401-828-1300 or visit www.RI.nrcs.usda.gov.
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USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) encourages producers to attend a webinar to learn how the Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index (HIP-WI) and the Tropical Storm Option (TS) work following a qualifying storm.
Event Details
- Hurricane and Tropical Storm Insurance Webinar
- Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Eastern
- Online
HIP-WI and TS are crop insurance tools to help deliver prompt assistance to producers in hurricane prone areas. These innovative options for coverage add to a farmer’s underlying policy with no additional paperwork or loss adjustment needed. HIP-WI and TS generally pay within weeks following a hurricane or tropical storm. Learn more about the event and how to join on RMA’s website.
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USDA – Rhode Island
60 Quaker Lane
Warwick, RI 02886
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Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
State Conservationist - Brunilda Velez (Acting)
401-828-1300 | www.RI.nrcs.usda.gov
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Eastern RI – Serving Newport and Bristol counties
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NRCS Field Office
Kat Zuromski, District Conservationist (Acting)
401-786-1389
Kathryn.Zuromski@usda.gov
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Conservation District Office
401-934-0842/ info@easternriconservation.org
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Northern RI – Serving Providence County
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NRCS Field Office
Ghyllian Alger, District Conservationist (Acting)
401-822-8835/ Ghyllian.Alger@usda.gov
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Conservation District Office
401-934-0840/ mallard.nricd@gmail.com
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Southern RI – Serving Kent and Washington counties
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NRCS Field Office
Jameson Long, District Conservationist
401-822-8837/ Jameson.Long@usda.gov
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Conservation District Office
401-661-5761/ sricd.info@gmail.com
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RI FSA County Office, Suite 49
RI FSA Farm Loan Team, Suite 62
RI FSA State Office, Suite 62
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401-828-3120 Option 1
401-828-3120 Option 2
401-828-3120 Option 3
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County Committee
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Gilbert Rathbun Jr., Chairperson
John Sousa, Member
Howard Tucker III, Member
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Erin Cabot, Vice Chairperson
William Coulter, Member
Dawn M Spears, SDA Member
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