USDA - Missouri State Office Newsletter - December 22, 2025
In This Issue:
As we approach the end of the year and holidays, I want to take a moment to remind you of some upcoming program deadlines. We’re all very busy at this time of year. I want to make sure you’re on the right track when it comes to applying for program assistance.
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently announced the new Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program that provides a one-time bridge payment to American farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. This program is based on FSA reported planted acres. Commodity-specific payment rates will be released by the end of December and we’re expecting pre-filled applications to go out to eligible producers during the week of Feb. 23 to meet the target of FBA payments processing by Feb. 28, 2026. We continue to work on FBA policies and provisions for specialty crop producer assistance. We understand you have questions. Producers, including specialty crop producers and stakeholder groups, can submit questions to farmerbridge@usda.gov. I will provide FBA updates as details unfold.
Sign-up is underway for Stage 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP), which covers eligible crop, tree, bush and vine losses that were not covered under Stage 1 program provisions, including non-indemnified (shallow losses), uncovered, and quality losses. Producers have until April 30, 2026, to apply for both Stage 1 and Stage 2 assistance. I strongly encourage you to use the
FSA is also delivering additional disaster assistance through the Milk Loss Program (MLP) for dumped milk and the On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program (OFSCLP), which both have a Jan. 23, 2026, signup deadline.
2025 Overview – Missouri FSA is Delivering on Our Promise to Put Farmers First
Over the past year, the Trump Administration and FSA have demonstrated our commitment to putting Missouri Farmers First.
Since March 2025, FSA has supported farmers and ranchers in Missouri through supplemental disaster assistance including $380.6 million through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, $106.9 million through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program and more than $162.7 million in SDRP Stage 1 payments to date.
Last month FSA provided $14.3 million in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage (ARC/PLC) payments as well as $99 million in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) annual rental payments to producers and landowners in Missouri. These payments came at a critical time as I know many of you are booking inputs and planning for the 2026 crop year.
This year, FSA also provided $4.6 billion to producers nationwide through the Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) program, which provides a short-term loan on eligible commodities that gives producers marketing flexibility to sell their crops when prices are more favorable.
In addition to farm program payments, FSA farm loan staff continue to see strong interest in our direct and guaranteed ownership and operating loans, which offer loans with flexible terms and favorable loan rates. Over the last fiscal year FSA obligated a total of $116 million in direct loans and $208.2 million in guaranteed loans across Missouri. These loans help borrowers start or expand their agricultural operations, pay family living expenses and fund day-to-day operating expenses.
I’m proud of the support that the FSA staff in Missouri have provided to our producers. We recognize the challenges that producers continue to face and I look forward to working on behalf of the Trump Administration and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to ensure the success of the agriculture industry across the state.
Read more about how The Trump Administration has been working around the clock since January 20th to put American Farmers First.
As a reminder, all FSA offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in accordance with President Trump’s Dec. 18 Executive Order and in observance of Dec. 25, Christmas Day, an official federal holiday.
It’s an honor to serve the farmers and ranchers in the great state of Missouri.
Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season.
Ronnie Russell
FSA State Executive Director, Missouri
FSA and NRCS program applicants for benefits are required to submit a completed CCC-902 Farming Operation Plan and CCC-941 Average Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information for FSA to determine the applicant’s payment eligibility and establish the maximum payment limitation applicable to the program applicant.
Participants are not required to annually submit new CCC-902s for payment eligibility and payment limitation purposes unless a change in the farming operation occurs that may affect the previous determination of record. A valid CCC-902 filed by the participant is considered to be a continuous certification used for all payment eligibility and payment limitation determinations applicable for the program benefits requested.
Participants are responsible for ensuring that all CCC-902 and CCC-941 and related forms on file in the county office are updated, current, and correct. Participants are required to timely notify the county office of any changes in the farming operation that may affect the previous determination of record by filing a new or updated CCC-902 as applicable.
Changes that may require a new determination include, but are not limited to, a change of:
- Shares of a contract, which may reflect:
- A land lease from cash rent to share rent
- A land lease from share rent to cash rent (subject to the cash rent tenant rule
- A modification of a variable/fixed bushel-rent arrangement
- The size of the producer’s farming operation by the addition or reduction of cropland that may affect the application of a cropland factor
- The structure of the farming operation, including any change to a member's share
- The contribution of farm inputs of capital, land, equipment, active personal labor, and/or active personal management
- Farming interests not previously disclosed on CCC-902 including the farming interests of a spouse or minor child
- Certifications of average AGI are required to be filed annually for participation in an annual USDA program. For multi-year conservation contracts and NRCS easements, a certification of AGI must be filed prior to approval of the contract or easement and is applicable for the duration of the contract period.
Participants are encouraged to file or review these forms within the deadlines established for each applicable program for which program benefits are being requested.
Payment Limitation
Program payments may be limited by direct attribution to individuals or entities. A legal entity is defined as an entity created under Federal or State law that owns land or an agricultural commodity, product or livestock.
Through direct attribution, payment limitation is based on the total payments received by a person or legal entity, both directly and indirectly.
Payments and benefits under certain FSA programs are subject to some or all of the following:
- payment limitation by direct attribution (including common attribution)
- payment limitation amounts for the applicable programs
- substantive change requirements when a farming operation adds persons, resulting in an increase in persons to which payment limitation applies
- actively engaged in farming requirements
- cash-rent tenant rule
- foreign person rule
- average AGI limitations
- programs subject to AGI limitation
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering more than $16 billion in total Congressionally approved disaster relief. FSA is now accepting applications for assistance through the second stage of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) from agricultural producers who suffered eligible non-indemnified, uncovered or quality crop losses due to qualifying natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.
Stage Two covers eligible crop, tree, bush and vine losses that were not covered under Stage One program provisions, including non-indemnified (shallow loss), uncovered and quality losses. Although the majority of payments from the first stage are already in the hands of producers helping them prepare for and invest in the next crop year, Stage One assistance, announced in July, remains available to producers who received an indemnity under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for eligible crop losses due to qualifying 2023 and 2024natural disaster events.
The deadline to apply for both Stage One and Stage Two assistance is April 30, 2026.
Additionally, FSA is taking applications for assistance from producers who had to dump or remove milk from the commercial market and who incurred losses of eligible farm stored commodities due to qualifying disaster events in 2023 and 2024.
SDRP Stage Two Program Details
SDRP Stage Two provides assistance for eligible crop, tree, bush and vine losses not covered under Stage One, including:
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Non-Indemnified Losses (Including Shallow Losses)
- Insured losses through federal crop insurance that did not trigger a crop insurance indemnity.
- Losses with NAP coverage that did not trigger a NAP payment.
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Uncovered Losses (Uninsured Losses)
- Includes losses that were not insured through federal crop insurance or NAP.
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Quality Losses
- Includes quality losses to commodities indicated by:
- A decrease in value based on discounts due to the physical condition of the crop supported by applicable grading factors
- A decline in the nutritional value of forage crops supported by documented forage tests.
- Producers will certify to an SDRP quality loss percentage.
FSA is establishing block grants with Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, and Massachusetts that cover crop losses; therefore, producers with losses on land physically located in these states are not eligible for SDRP program payments.
For information on program eligibility and to download an application checklist, visit fsa.usda.gov/sdrp.
More information will be provided in early 2026 regarding a separate enrollment period for quality losses covered by SDRP Stage One as well as for insured producers in Puerto Rico who were not included in Stage One because data was not available when pre-filled applications were mailed.
Milk and On-Farm Stored Crop Loss Assistance
The Milk Loss Program provides up to $1.65 million in payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market because of a qualifying natural disaster event in 2023 and/or 2024.
Producers who suffered losses of eligible harvested commodities while stored in on-farm structures in 2023 and/or 2024 due to a qualifying natural disaster event may be eligible for assistance through the On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program, which provides for up to $5 million to impacted producers.
The deadline to apply for milk and on-farm stored commodity losses is Jan. 23, 2026. Information and reference resources for both programs are available online at Information and fact sheets for both programs are available online at fsa.usda.gov/mlp for milk loss and fsa.usda.gov/ofsclp for on-farm stored commodity losses.
To make an appointment to apply, call your local USDA Service Center.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to conserve farmland for future generations while providing habitat for wildlife, reducing soil erosion, and improving water quality. Regular maintenance on CRP acres is needed to ensure the acreage continues to provide conservation benefits and remains in compliance with the CRP contract.
Regular Maintenance
Producers with CRP contracts are required to control all weeds, insects, pests, and other undesirable species to the extent necessary to ensure that the approved conservation cover is adequately protected and to ensure there is no adverse impact on surrounding land. Mowing is one of the allowable practices for weed control, but mowing for aesthetic purposes is never permitted. The Conservation Plan states the required weed control methods for each site.
Once a stand has been certified as fully established, participants are required to maintain plant diversity and stand density according to the Conservation Plan and offer (CRP-2) for the life of the contract. Stands that do not meet practice specific plant diversity or density requirements may be considered non-compliant. Refer to your conservation plan or contact FSA if you have any questions or concerns about the vegetative cover requirements.
Maintenance activities cannot occur during the primary nesting season for birds without written prior approval from the local county office. The primary nesting season in Missouri is May 1st through July 15th.
Mid-Contract Management
Regular maintenance for weed and pest control is separate from the Mid-Contract Management (MCM) requirement. MCM ensures plant diversity and wildlife benefits while ensuring protection of the soil and water resources. Such activities are site-specific and are for the purpose of enhancing the approved cover.
MCM must be completed between years four and six of a 10-year contract and between years seven and nine of a 15-year contract. The Conservation Plan will state what year MCM must take place.
Noncompliance with Maintenance Requirements
Failure to adequately maintain the stand may result in noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the CRP contract. Noncompliance can result in adverse actions up to and including termination of the CRP contract. Contracts that are out of compliance are ineligible to re-enroll, unless the stand is brought back into compliance prior to the enrollment deadline.
For general information about CRP, visit the Conservation Reserve Program webpage. For information about specific contracts, reach out to the local FSA office.
When natural disasters occur, USDA is here to support your operation as you recover. Disaster assistance program payments provide critical support and peace of mind following an extreme weather event, but there are also tax considerations producers should keep in mind. If your farm experiences a disaster there may be special tax provisions that apply to you that are known as “casualty losses”.
USDA has partnered with experts to bring producers important tax information on farm tax topics. In the first of a two-part Ask the Expert series on taxes and dealing with disasters, Dr. Tamara Cushing answers questions about defining and determining casualty losses for tax purposes.
Learn how USDA disaster payments may impact your taxes.
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Join NRCS Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt as she “Dishes the Dirt” on the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree, “Silver Belle” with Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. For the past 55 years, a tree from American public lands is harvested and transported to the U.S. Capitol – this year, the tree traveled 3,000-miles from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada.
As an advocate for private forest owners and Christmas tree producers alike, NRCS is proud to be one of the sponsors of this year’s Capitol Christmas tree. Tree farmers can access NRCS financial and technical assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program to implement a number of practices to improve the economic and environmental resilience of their operation.
Watch the video.
Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans require applicants to have a satisfactory credit history. A credit report is requested for all FSA direct farm loan applicants. These reports are reviewed to verify outstanding debts, see if bills are paid timely and to determine the impact on cash flow.
Information on your credit report is strictly confidential and is used only as an aid in conducting FSA business.
Our farm loan staff will discuss options with you if you have an unfavorable credit report and will provide a copy of your report. If you dispute the accuracy of the information on the credit report, it is up to you to contact the issuing credit report company to resolve any errors or inaccuracies.
There are multiple ways to remedy an unfavorable credit score:
- Make sure to pay bills on time
- Setting up automatic payments or automated reminders can be an effective way to remember payment due dates.
- Pay down existing debt
- Keep your credit card balances low
- Avoid suddenly opening or closing existing credit accounts
FSA’s farm loan staff will guide you through the process, which may require you to reapply for a loan after improving or correcting your credit report.
For more information on FSA farm loan programs, contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov.
Mulching is one of the most accessible and effective conservation practices available to small-scale and urban farmers. Fundamentally, mulching involves covering the soil surface with a protective layer of organic or inorganic material. This layer can be made up of natural materials such as straw, wood chips, shredded leaves or cover crop residue as well as synthetic materials like plastic mulch or landscape fabric. While it may seem like a modest step in farm management, mulching with organic materials has powerful implications for soil health, crop productivity, water conservation and weed suppression, making it a key practice in sustainable farming systems.
For farmers working in smaller or urban spaces, where soil quality may already be compromised due to previous development, compaction or limited access to soil amendments, mulching can offer immediate and long-lasting benefits. One of the most significant advantages is the decrease in soil temperature fluctuations and retention of moisture. Mulch acts as a protective blanket over the soil, reducing heat from the sun’s rays and water loss from evaporation while promoting maximum root growth. In cooler months, dark colored mulch can warm the soil and promote spring crop germination or help insulate young transplants from frost.
Mulching also plays a critical role in weed suppression. By blocking sunlight from reaching the soil surface, mulch helps prevent the germination and growth of unwanted plants. This can dramatically cut down on the labor and time small-scale farmers must dedicate to weeding, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their land.
Urban soils are often low in organic matter and biological diversity, which can limit crop yields and soil resilience. Organic mulches break down over time, gradually contributing to soil organic matter and enhancing soil structure, microbial activity and nutrient cycling. This function supports the development of a healthy soil ecosystem by providing habitat and food for beneficial organisms like earthworms and microorganisms. These soil lifeforms play a crucial role in breaking down additional organic matter, improving nutrient availability and enhancing overall soil fertility. As such, mulching becomes more than just a surface treatment, it becomes an integral part of soil regeneration.
Erosion control is another important function of mulch. In areas with limited vegetative cover or sloped terrain, precipitation can quickly wash way topsoil, carrying nutrients with it. A well-applied layer of mulch protects the soil from the impact of raindrops and reduces runoff, helping to maintain the integrity of the land and the productivity of the garden or farm plot.
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recognizes mulching as a key conservation practice and offers technical assistance to help farmers implement it effectively. Through programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), eligible small-scale and urban producers may also qualify for financial assistance to support the use of natural mulch material (synthetic materials are not covered under EQIP) and complimentary conservation activities like cover crops and reduced tillage. Local NRCS field offices can work with producers to develop a conservation plan tailored to their specific needs, ensuring that mulching and other practices are applied in a way that maximizes their benefits.
In short, mulching is a simple, high impact tool for building healthy, productive soils in small-scale and urban farm settings. With support from NRCS, even the smallest growers can apply this practice to grow food while increasing resiliency on their farm.
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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MISSOURI - USDA
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Service Center Locator
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FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA)
601 Business Loop 70 West, Suite 225 Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: 573-876-0925
Fax: 855-830-0680
fsa.usda.gov
State Executive Director
Ronnie Russell
Deputy State Executive Director
Jeremy Mosley
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NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)
601 Business Loop 70 West, Suite 250 Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: 573-876-0901
Fax: 855-865-2188
nrcs.usda.gov
State Conservationist
Scott Edwards
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
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