South Dakota USDA Newsletter - September 12, 2025
In This Issue:
Greetings from the South Dakota FSA State Office,
Cool mornings, pleasant afternoons, it must be September! Moving into fall means the beginning of school, sports activities and changing of daily schedules. This is also one of the most dangerous times on the farm. Silage cutting and preparation for harvest are in full swing now. Livestock producers are working and weaning cattle with fall calving well underway. I want to continue to ask everyone to practice safety as you work on equipment and bring in this fall’s harvest. Many areas in the state have experienced surplus rainfall that will make harvest even more difficult!
FSA’s staff across the state have experienced a busy summer with CRP signup, acreage reporting and administering disaster programs. I know everyone has their eyes on commodity prices. Our current farm economy combined with the expectation of high yields is causing a lot of uncertainty in the row crop sector. FSA’s Marketing Assistance Loans give producers marketing flexibility to sell their crops when prices are more favorable, freeing up cash in the short term. MALs are a short-term loan on eligible commodities with terms up to nine months, using the harvested commodity as collateral. MALs are repaid at the lesser of the loan rate plus interest or the posted county price. Producers can also forfeit the commodity as full payment for the loan at maturity.
This past week I was able to see and tour High Plains Processing on the south side of Mitchell. This facility will offer processing of South Dakota soybeans, sunflowers and other oil producing crops. The more facilities we continue to build within the state ultimately help all producers and communities in our state! I also was able to travel to Fargo recently to visit FSA Administrator Bill Beam. I was one of three FSA state directors that discussed struggles and opportunities in this region!
I look forward in the upcoming months to traveling to many of the county FSA offices to visit with staff and hopefully meet up with many of you. Wishing you a safe and productive fall season.
Sincerely,
Roger Chase
State Executive Director, South Dakota FSA
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Greetings,
The past month has been filled with strong conservation partnerships and public engagement. A few highlights are the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV) field tour and meeting and the Party on the Prairie event in Sioux Falls hosted by the South Dakota Grassland Coalition , where many conservation leaders came together to discuss shared priorities for habitat and wetland protection. My visit to the State Fair in Huron for Value Added Agriculture Day hosted by the South Dakota Specialty Producers made way for great conversations with both the public and producers surrounding innovative regenerative agriculture and how we can continue fostering our connections with partner agencies and organizations.
In Fiscal Year 2025, our South Dakota producers met with NRCS staff for technical support and voluntarily enrolled over 1.2 million acres into conservation planning and contracts with the NRCS programs: Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), both Agricultural Land Easements (ALE), and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE), obligating over $128.7 million for conservation activities in SD while benefiting local economies!
Recognizing there are many partners throughout the state, I encourage folks to visit the Dakota Conservation Network website, which brings together informational resources and partners with services or financial assistance to one searchable location. Whether you are part of a multi-generational grain farm, just acquired a tribal land lease, or growing specialty crops, please visit your local NRCS office to discuss your goals and learn how an NRCS specialist or program can support your efforts.
Thank you to all South Dakota farmers, ranchers, land managers, landowners, and conservation partners who are moving the needle of conservation in our state.
Sincerely,
Tony Sunseri
State Conservationist, South Dakota NRCS
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September 30, 2025 - Final day to purchase NAP coverage on Winter Rye
October 3, 2025 – Application deadline for FY2026 NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
October 10, 2025 – Application deadline for Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
October 13, 2025 - Federal Holiday - USDA Service Centers Closed
October 31, 2025 - Deadline to apply for Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW). See article below.
November 17, 2025 - Acreage Reporting Deadline for 2026 Crop Year Fall-Seeded Small Grains
September 2025
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Farm Operating Loans — Direct
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4.875% |
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Farm Ownership Loans — Direct
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5.875% |
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Farm Ownership Loans — Direct Down Payment, Beginning Farmer or Rancher
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1.875% |
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Emergency Loans
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3.750% |
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Farm Storage Facility Loans (7 years)
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4.000% |
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced eligible livestock producers will receive disaster recovery assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire in calendar years 2023 and 2024. The program is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in recovery benefits. Sign-up begins on Monday, September 15. Livestock producers have until October 31, 2025, to apply for assistance.
Qualifying Disaster Events
To streamline program delivery, FSA has determined eligible counties with qualifying floods and qualifying wildfires in 2023 and 2024. For losses in these counties, livestock producers are not required to submit supporting documentation for floods or wildfires. A list of approved counties is available at fsa.usda.gov/elrp
For losses in counties not listed as eligible, livestock producers can apply for ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW but must provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that a qualifying flood or qualifying wildfire occurred in the county where the livestock were physically located or would have been physically located if not for the disaster event. FSA county committees will determine if the disaster event meets program requirements.
Acceptable documentation includes:
- Photographs documenting impact to livestock, land, or property
- Insurance documentation
- Emergency declaration reports
- News articles
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration storm event database records
- Other FSA disaster program participation records
- Other documentation determined acceptable by the FSA county committee
Livestock and Producer Eligibility
For ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW, FSA is using covered livestock criteria similar to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) which includes weaned beef cattle, dairy cattle, beefalo, buffalo, bison, alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, and sheep.
Wildfire assistance is available on non-federally managed land to participants who did not receive assistance through LFP or the ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire program delivered to producers in July of this year.
When producers submit their application, they must provide documentation to support eligible livestock inventories as of the beginning date of the qualifying disaster event.
Livestock producers can receive assistance for one or both years, 2023 and 2024, and for multiple qualifying disaster events, if applicable. However, producers cannot exceed three months of assistance per producer, physical location county, and program year.
Payment Calculation
Eligible producers can receive up to 60% of one month of calculated feed costs for a qualifying wildfire or three months for a qualifying flood using the same monthly feed cost calculation that is used for LFP.
ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire and ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW have a combined payment limit of $125,000 for each program year. Producers who already received the maximum payment amount from ELRP 2023 and 2024 for drought and wildfire will not be eligible to receive an additional payment under ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW. Eligible producers may submit form FSA-510, Request for an Exception to the $125,000 Payment Limitation for Certain Programs, to be considered for an increased payment limit of $250,000.
Supplemental Disaster Assistance Timeline
USDA is fully committed to expediting remaining disaster assistance provided by the American Relief Act, 2025. On May 7, we launched our 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance public landing page where the status of USDA disaster assistance and block grant rollout timeline can be tracked. The page is updated regularly and accessible through fsa.usda.gov. Contact your local FSA county office for more information.
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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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In order to claim a Farm Service Agency (FSA) payment on behalf of a deceased producer, all program conditions for the payment must have been met before the applicable producer’s date of death.
If a producer earned an FSA payment prior to his or her death, the following is the order of precedence for the representatives of the producer:
- administrator or executor of the estate
- the surviving spouse
- surviving sons and daughters, including adopted children
- surviving father and mother
- surviving brothers and sisters
- heirs of the deceased person who would be entitled to payment according to the State law
For FSA to release the payment, the legal representative of the deceased producer must file a form FSA-325 to claim the payment for themselves or an estate. The county office will verify that the application, contract, loan agreement, or other similar form requesting payment issuance, was signed by the applicable deadline by the deceased or a person legally authorized to act on their behalf at that time of application.
If the application, contract or loan agreement form was signed by someone other than the deceased participant, FSA will determine whether the person submitting the form has the legal authority to submit the form.
Payments will be issued to the respective representative’s name using the deceased program participant’s tax identification number. Payments made to representatives are subject to offset regulations for debts owed by the deceased.
FSA is not responsible for advising persons in obtaining legal advice on how to obtain program benefits that may be due to a participant who has died, disappeared or who has been declared incompetent.
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The USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Direct Farm Ownership loans can help farmers and ranchers become owner-operators of family farms, improve and expand current operations, increase agricultural productivity, and assist with land tenure to save farmland for future generations.
There are three types of Direct Farm Ownership Loans: regular, down payment and joint financing. FSA also offers a Direct Farm Ownership Microloan option for smaller financial needs up to $50,000.
Joint financing allows FSA to provide more farmers and ranchers with access to capital. FSA lends up to 50 percent of the total amount financed. A commercial lender, a state program or the seller of the property being purchased, provides the balance of loan funds, with or without an FSA guarantee. The maximum loan amount for a joint financing loan is $600,000, and the repayment period for the loan is up to 40 years.
The operation must be an eligible farm enterprise. Farm Ownership loan funds cannot be used to finance nonfarm enterprises and all applicants must be able to meet general eligibility requirements. Loan applicants are also required to have participated in the business operations of a farm or ranch for at least three years out of the 10 years prior to the date the application is submitted. The applicant must show documentation that their participation in the business operation of the farm or ranch was not solely as a laborer.
For more information about farm loans, contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov.
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Options Help More Beginning, Small and Urban Producers Gain Access to Credit
Producers can apply for a streamlined version of USDA guaranteed loans, which are tailored for smaller scale farms and urban producers EZ Guarantee Loans use a simplified application process to help beginning, small, underserved, and family farmers and ranchers apply for loans of up to $100,000 from USDA-approved lenders to purchase farmland or finance agricultural operations.
A new category of lenders will join traditional lenders, such as banks and credit unions, in offering USDA EZ Guarantee Loans. Microlenders, which include Community Development Financial Institutions and Rural Rehabilitation Corporations, will be able to offer their customers up to $50,000 of EZ Guaranteed Loans, helping to reach urban areas and underserved producers. Banks, credit unions and other traditional USDA-approved lenders, can offer customers up to $100,000 to help with agricultural operation costs.
EZ Guarantee Loans offer low interest rates and terms up to seven years for financing operating expenses and 40 years for financing the purchase of farm real estate. USDA-approved lenders can issue these loans with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) guaranteeing the loan up to 95 percent.
For more information about the available types of FSA farm loans, contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/farmloans.
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Water can be tricky, especially in the farming community, there always seems to be either too much or not enough. But what if you had the ability to actively control the water on your farm?
Drainage Water Management (DWM) may be your answer. DWM is a conservation practice that allows farmers to manage the timing and amount of water leaving their fields through the subsurface drainage system. Instead of allowing water to flow freely through the drainage system, farmers can strategically manage it using water control structures, which slows or stops the outflow of water when drainage is not needed. This simple yet powerful adjustment can have far-reaching benefits for both the farm’s productivity and the community’s environmental wellbeing.
At its core, DWM involves placing a water control structure, typically a series of adjustable boards or gates, at the outlet of a drainage system. By strategically raising or lowering these boards, farmers can manage the water table in their fields. During the growing season or periods of heavy precipitation, boards can be removed to promote proper drainage for planting and field access. In contrast, during the non-growing season or drought, boards can be installed to hold water in the soil profile. This stored water can reduce nutrient loss, especially nitrates, by slowing the movement of water through the soil and keeping valuable nutrients in place for future crops.
One of the primary benefits of DWM for farmers is reduced nutrient loss. This is achieved by reducing the total drainage volume and associated nutrient loads from the drainage system. Additionally, in times of drought or inconsistent rainfall, fields with managed drainage may retain more moisture, improving crop yields. This contributes to better water quality downstream, helping protect rivers, lakes and other local waterbodies from nutrient loading and harmful algal blooms.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers support to farmers interested in implementing DWM. Through technical planning and financial assistance programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), NRCS can help landowners design and install appropriate water control structures tailored to their fields. NRCS staff work directly with producers to evaluate the landscape, determine the feasibility of the practice and develop a site-specific drainage water management plan, where appropriate. With the right tools, planning and support, this practice can make a real difference on your farm and beyond.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers that the final date to apply for or make changes to their existing crop insurance coverage is quickly approaching for fall planted crops. Sales closing dates vary by crop and location, but the next major sales closing date is Sept. 30.
Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2026 crop year. Crop insurance coverage decisions must be made on or before the applicable sales closing date. The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) lists sales closing dates in the Actuarial Information Browser, under the “Dates” tab.
Producers can also access the RMA Map Viewer tool to visualize the insurance program date choices for acreage reporting, cancellation, contract change, earliest planting, end of insurance, end of late planting period, final planting, premium billing, production reporting, sales closing, and termination dates, when applicable, per commodity, insurance plan, type, and practice. Additionally, producers can access the RMA Information Reporting System tool to specifically identify applicable dates for their operation, using the “Insurance Offer Reports” application.
Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Producers may select from several coverage options, including yield coverage, revenue protection, and area risk plans of insurance.
Crop insurance options include Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm. Whole-Farm Revenue Protection provides a risk management safety net for all commodities on the farm under one insurance policy and is available in all counties nationwide. Micro Farm aims to help direct market and small-scale producers that may sell locally, and this policy simplifies record keeping and covers post-production costs such as washing and value-added products.
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available online at the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting their RMA Regional Office. RMA’s Basics for Beginners provides information for those new to crop insurance.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) made significant enhancements to federal crop insurance programs by expanding benefits for beginning farmers and ranchers, increasing coverage options, and making crop insurance more affordable and accessible across multiple insurance programs.
Putting American Farmers First with Enhanced Support for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Beginning farmers and ranchers will receive substantially increased premium support during their first decade of farming operations, making crop insurance more affordable for the next generation of American agricultural producers. The enhanced benefits mean beginning farmers and ranchers will now receive:
- 15 percentage points additional subsidy for the first two crop years
- 13 percentage points for the third crop year
- 11 percentage points for the fourth crop year
- 10 percentage points for years five through ten
These benefits build upon existing support that waives administrative fees and provides base premium subsidies. A beginning farmer or rancher is now defined as an individual who has not actively operated and managed a farm or ranch for more than 10 crop years.
Making Crop Insurance More Accessible with Expanded Coverage Options
Improvements to area-based crop insurance programs include:
- Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) maximum coverage level increase from 85% to 90%, providing producers with enhanced protection for diversified operations.
- Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) premium support increase from 65% to 80%, making this valuable gap coverage more affordable. Additionally, producers can now purchase SCO regardless of their Area Risk Coverage (ARC) elections with the Farm Service Agency, dramatically increasing accessibility.
- Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) and similar programs including Margin Coverage Option (MCO), Hurricane Insurance Protection Wind Index (HIP-WI), and Fire Insurance Protection Smoke Index (FIP-SI) will also receive the increased 80% in premium support, making comprehensive coverage more affordable than ever.
- SCO coverage will also expand to a coverage level of 90% (from 86%). Producers will have access to this option in 2026 via the ECO product, which has identical coverage at the same cost and premium support levels. USDA will then change the SCO policy for the 2027 crop year.
These changes will be effective for all crops with sales closing dates on or after July 1, 2025.
RMA will provide additional guidance on other provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as implementation details are finalized. Producers should contact their local crop insurance agent or visit the RMA website for more information about how these changes may affect their coverage options.
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USDA in South Dakota
200 4th Street SW
Huron, SD 57350
FSA Phone: (605) 352-1160
NRCS Phone: (605) 352-1200
RMA Phone: (406) 651-8450
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Get Started at Your USDA Service Center
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Farm Service Agency
State Executive Director:
Roger Chase
Deputy State Executive Director:
Ryan Vanden Berge
Administrative Officer:
Theresa Hoadley
Program Managers:
Owen Fagerhaug - Conservation
Logan Kopfmann - Disaster Relief
Donita Garry - Program Delivery
Bridget Weber - Farm Loan Program,
Acting
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Natural Resources Conservation
Service
State Conservationist:
Tony Sunseri
Assistant State Conservationists:
Jessica Michalski - Ecological Sciences
James Reedy - Engineering
Nathan Jones - Soils
Val Dupraz - Programs
Colette Kessler - Partnerships
Deke Hobbick - Compliance
Denise Gauer - Management & Strategy
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South Dakota Farm Service Agency
South Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service
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