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Atchison County, MO USDA Service Center Bulletin - May 16, 2025

In This Issue:

• Atchison County FSA Updates
• Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment Now Open
• Prescribed Burn Workshop at Hundley Whaley MU Extension Center in Albany
• Applying for Beginning Farmer Loans
• Save Time - Make an Appointment with NRCS

Atchison County FSA Updates

Hello everyone and thank you for taking a moment to read our Atchison County FSA Updates. We have started to see a handful of producers coming by the office to certify their spring planted acres, and amongst conversation are hearing of several others wrapping up their planting season. As a reminder, we ask that you try your best to make an appointment or give us a heads-up phone call, so we may prepare your folders, before coming to certify these acres. The deadline is July 15th; however, we have a few programs going on and will be a little shorter staffed this summer with an employee on maternity leave, so we do appreciate the earlier crop reports.  We have now entered the Primary Nesting Season for CRP, which is important for producers who currently have ground enrolled in CRP.  From now through July 15, there should be no disturbance (disking, spraying, burning, or rotary mowing) to CRP acreage. Should you notice an invasive weed like serecia lespedeza, which will negatively affect your CRP cover if left untreated, you may request permission with FSA to spot-treat the affected area.  CRP signup has been announced, so please see the next article for information if that interests you. Also, if you are a producer with an expiring contract in 2025 - please contact our office to visit about the potential re-enrollment options that may be available, and to discuss the condition of your current CRP acreage.  Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFL) are currently available if you are looking to get a hay shed, grain bin, or some updated equipment to handle commodities such as a bale bed, grain trailer, auger, or grain cart. Rates do change monthly but once approved; rates are fixed on a 3–12-year term, dependent upon the amount financed. Rates currently range from 3.875-4.375% for May. Emma Lance Atchison County Executive Director   Important Dates: May 1 - July 15 - CRP Primary Nesting Season May 12 - General CRP Signup 64 & Continuous CRP Signup 63 Begin  May 15 - Acreage Reporting Deadline for Spring Oats May 26 - Office Closed in Observance of Memorial Day June 6 - CRP Signup Closes June 19 - Office Closed in Observance of Juneteenth July 15 - Acreage Reporting Deadline (corn, soybeans, hay, pasture, CRP) August 15 - ECAP Signup Deadline

Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment Now Open

USDA 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 May 12, 2025, through June 6, 2025.  

CRP, USDA’s flagship conservation program, celebrates its 40^th 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. 

General CRP (Signup 64)   

Agricultural producers and landowners submit offers for General CRP through a competitive bid process. Offers are ranked and scored, by FSA, using nationally established environmental benefits criteria. USDA will announce accepted offers once ranking and scoring for all offers is completed. In addition to annual rental payments, approved General CRP participants may also be eligible for cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.  

Continuous CRP (Signup 63) 

Unlike General CRP, Continuous CRP offers are not subject to a competitive bid process. To ensure enrolled acres do not exceed the current statutory cap of 27 million acres, FSA is accepting Continuous CRP offers on a first-come, first-served basis through June 6. However, should allotted CRP acreage remain available following the June 6 deadline, FSA will accept continuous CRP offers from interested landowners through July 31, 2025, and may be subsequently considered for acceptance, in batches, if it’s determined that the offered acres support USDA’s conservation priorities.  

Continuous CRP participants voluntarily offer environmentally sensitive lands, typically smaller parcels than offered through General CRP including wetlands, riparian buffers, and varying wildlife habitats. In return, they receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetative cover.  

Continuous CRP enrollment options:  

• State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative: Restores vital habitat in order to meet high-priority state wildlife conservation goals. 

• Highly Erodible Land Initiative: Producers and landowners can enroll in CRP to establish long-term cover on highly erodible cropland that has a weighted erodibility index greater than or equal to 20. 

• Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative: Prioritizes water quality practices on the land that, if enrolled, will help reduce sediment loadings, nutrient loadings, and harmful algal blooms. The vegetative covers also contribute to increased wildlife populations.   

• CLEAR30 (a component of the CLEAR Initiative): Offers additional incentives for water quality practice adoption and can be accessed in 30-year contracts.  
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: Addresses high priority conservation objectives of states and Tribal governments on agricultural lands in specific geographic areas.  

Grassland and Expiring CRP Acres 

FSA will announce dates for Grassland CRP signup in the near future.  

Additionally, landowners with acres enrolled in CRP set to expire Sept. 30, 2025, can offer acres for re-enrollment beginning today. A producer can offer to enroll new acres into CRP and also offer to re-enroll any acres expiring Sept. 30, 2025. 

For more information on CRP participant and land eligibility, approved conservation practices and detailed program fact sheets, visit FSA’s CRP webpage.  

More Information   

Interested producers should apply through the FSA at their local USDA Service Center. 

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest voluntary private-lands conservation programs in the United States. Originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production, the program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits.     

Prescribed Burn Workshop at Hundley Whaley MU Extension Center in Albany

The Missouri Department of Conservation will hold a burn workshop on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the MU Research Center located in Albany, MO.

Prescribed burning can be a valuable tool for managing native plant diversity and controlling undesirable vegetation, but it can be dangerous and ineffective when not used properly. This workshop will provide basic information about how to plan and execute a prescribed burn for grassland management.

This in person workshop will be held at the Hundley Whaley MU Extension center in Albany, MO- 1109 S Birch Street, Albany MO 64402. The online "Official Missouri Prescribed Burn Course" must be completed before attending this event. You can register for the online portion here: https://www.hunter-ed.com/prescribedburn The online course has a $25 charge to a third-party host (not MDC) and can be completed in approximately 2 – 4 hours. Please bring your certificate of completion to the Demonstration Field Day. We will be conducting a prescribed burn if weather permits so, please dress accordingly with leather boots, leather gloves, cotton pants, cotton long sleeve shirt, and safety glasses. Participants will learn about burn equipment, burn line installation, safe weather parameters, ignition operations, and other techniques to safely conduct a prescribed burn. If inclement weather, you will be notified by the instructor by email of any changes. Registration confirmation can take up to 5 days to process from the event system. Please allow 5 days to receive an email confirming your registration.

Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation Compliance

Landowners and operators are reminded that in order to receive payments from USDA, compliance with Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions are required. Farmers with HEL determined soils are reminded of tillage, crop residue, and rotation requirements as specified per their conservation plan. Producers are to notify the USDA Farm Service Agency prior to breaking sod, clearing land (tree removal), and of any drainage projects (tiling, ditching, etc.) to ensure compliance. Failure to update certification of compliance, with form AD-1026, triggering applicable HEL and/or wetland determinations, for any of these situations, can result in the loss of FSA farm program payments, FSA farm loans, NRCS program payments, and premium subsidy to Federal Crop Insurance administered by RMA

Applying for Beginning Farmer Loans

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) assists beginning farmers to finance agricultural enterprises. Under these designated farm loan programs, FSA can provide financing to eligible applicants through either direct or guaranteed loans. FSA defines a beginning farmer as a person who:

o Has operated a farm for not more than 10 years

o Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm

o Does not own a farm in excess of 30 percent of the county’s average size farm.

Current Loan Rates are below:

• Farm Ownership Regular: 5.625%
• Farm Ownership Participation: 3.625%
• Farm Ownership Beginning Farmer Down Payment: 1.625%
• Operating Loans 5.125%

Please contact Brett Henggeler at the Nodaway County FSA office for more information or to apply for a direct farm ownership or operating loan. 660-582-7423, ext. 2.

Save Time - Make an Appointment with NRCS

Producers are encouraged to call their local NRCS office to schedule an appointment to ensure maximum use of their time and to make sure NRCS staff is available to tend to their important business needs. Please call your local NRCS office ahead to set an appointment and to discuss any records or documentation that might be needed during your appointment.

For more information on SWCD and NRCS programs, contact your Atchison County USDA Service Center at 660-744-5328, ext. 3.

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