View as a webpage / Share

Nevada February USDA Newsletter 

In This Issue:

• Message from the NV FSA State Executive Director
• Creating a Farmers.gov Account Makes Receiving USDA Assistance Easy, Efficient
• USDA Opens Enrollment for Dairy Margin Coverage for 2026
• USDA Offers Disaster Assistance for Producers Facing Inclement Weather
• USDA Launches New Regenerative Pilot Program
• USDA Microloans Help Farmers Purchase Farmland and Improve Property
• USDA Announces March 6 Batching Deadline for Major NRCS Conservation Programs
• USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grants Application Window is Open

Message from the NV FSA State Executive Director

Creating a Farmers.gov Account Makes Receiving USDA Assistance Easy, Efficient

Are you interested in working with USDA to start or grow your farm, ranch, or private forest operation, but don’t know where to start? 

Whether you’re looking to access capital or disaster assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) or address natural resource concerns on your land with assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a great place to start is farmers.gov.

Farmers.gov is a one-stop shop for information about the assistance available from FSA and NRCS. The site also offers many easy-to-use tools for farmers, ranchers, and private forestland owners, whether you are reaching out for the first time or are a long-term customer with a years-long relationship with USDA.

With a farmers.gov account you can:

• Complete an AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet, prior to your first meeting with FSA and NRCS.
• View farm loan payments history from FSA.
• View cost share assistance received and anticipated from NRCS conservation programs.
• Request conservation assistance from NRCS as well as view and track your conservation plans, practices, and contracts.
• View, print, and export detailed farm records and farm/tract maps for the current year, which are particularly useful when fulfilling acreage reporting requirements.
• Print FSA-156 EZ, Abbreviated Farm Record and your Producer Farm Data Report for the current year.
• Pay FSA debt using the “Make an FSA Payment” feature.
• Apply for a farm loan online, view information on your existing loans, and make USDA direct farm loan payments using the Pay My Loan feature.

Learn how to create a farmers.gov account today!

USDA Opens Enrollment for Dairy Margin Coverage for 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the enrollment period for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for the 2026 coverage year, an important safety net program that provides producers with price support to help offset milk and feed price differences. Dairy producers can enroll in DMC from January 12, 2026, to February 26, 2026.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed by President Donald J. Trump on July 4, 2025, reauthorized DMC for calendar years 2026 through 2031 and provided substantial program improvements, including establishing new production history and increasing Tier 1 coverage.

The OBBBA DMC’s increased Tier 1 coverage level from five million pounds to six million pounds. All dairy operations that elect to enroll in DMC for 2026 will establish a new production history.

• Existing dairy operations that started marketing milk on or before January 1, 2023, will use the higher of milk marketings for the years of 2021, 2022, or 2023.
• New dairy operations starting after January 1, 2023, will use their first year of monthly milk marketings, even for a partial year.
• Milk marketing statements or production evidence are required to establish a production history. 

Dairy operations also have the option to lock-in coverage levels for six years (2026-2031) with premium fees discounted by 25%. 

DMC offers different levels of coverage, including an option that is free to producers, minus a $100 administrative fee. To determine the appropriate level of DMC coverage for a specific dairy operation, producers can use the online dairy decision tool.  

For more information visit the DMC webpage or contact your local USDA Service Center.

USDA Offers Disaster Assistance for Producers Facing Inclement Weather

Severe weather events create significant challenges and often result in catastrophic loss for agricultural producers. Despite every attempt to mitigate risk, your operation may suffer losses. USDA offers several programs to help with recovery. 

Risk Management 

For producers with coverage through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), we want to remind you to report crop damage to your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. You will need to file a Notice of Loss (also called Form CCC-576) within 15 days of loss becoming apparent, except for hand-harvested crops, which should be reported within 72 hours. 

If you have Federal Crop Insurance, contact your crop insurance agent within 72 hours of discovering damage and be sure to follow up in writing within 15 days. 

Disaster Assistance 

USDA also offers disaster assistance programs, which is especially important to livestock, fruit and vegetable, specialty and perennial crop producers who have fewer risk management options. 

First, the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) reimburses producers for a portion of the value of livestock, poultry and other animals that died as a result of a qualifying natural disaster event or for loss of grazing acres, feed and forage. And, the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides assistance to producers of grazed forage crop acres that have suffered crop loss due to a qualifying drought.  Livestock producers suffering the impacts of drought can also request Emergency Haying and Grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres. 

Next, the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) provides cost share assistance to rehabilitate and replant tree, vines or shrubs loss experienced by orchards and nurseries. This complements NAP or crop insurance coverage, which cover the crop but not the plants or trees in all cases. 

For LIP and ELAP, you will need to file a Notice of Loss for livestock and grazing or feed losses by the application deadline for each program. For TAP, you will need to file a program application within 90 days. 

Documentation 

It’s critical to keep accurate records to document all losses following this devastating cold weather event. Livestock producers are advised to document beginning livestock numbers by taking time and date-stamped video or pictures prior to after the loss. 

Other common documentation options include: 

• Purchase records 
• Production records 
• Vaccination records 
• Bank or other loan documents 
• Third-party certification 

Other Programs 

The Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program can assist landowners and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to restore damaged farmland or forests. 

Additionally, FSA offers a variety of loans available including emergency loans that are triggered by disaster declarations and operating loans that can assist producers with credit needs.  You can use these loans to replace essential property, purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed, or refinance farm-related debts, and other needs. 

Meanwhile, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources. Assistance may also be available for emergency animal mortality disposal from natural disasters and other causes. 

Additional Resources 

Additional details – including payment calculations – can be found on our NAP, ELAP, LIP, and TAP fact sheets. On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help you determine program or loan options. 

USDA Launches New Regenerative Pilot Program

USDA recently announced a $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program to help American farmers adopt practices that improve soil health, enhance water quality, and boost long-term productivity, all while strengthening America’s food and fiber supply.

Administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), this new Regenerative Pilot Program delivers a streamlined, outcome-based conservation model—empowering producers to plan and implement whole-farm regenerative practices through a single application.

In FY 2026, the Regenerative Pilot Program will focus on whole-farm planning that addresses every major resource concern—soil, water, and natural vitality—under a single conservation framework. USDA is dedicating $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to fund this first year of regenerative agriculture projects.

Learn more about the Regenerative Pilot Program.

Watch NRCS Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt outline how the agency is helping producers cut through red tape to plan and implement whole-farm regenerative practices through the new Regenerative Pilot Program on this VIDEO

USDA Microloans Help Farmers Purchase Farmland and Improve Property

Farmers can use USDA farm ownership microloans to buy and improve property. These microloans are especially helpful to beginning or underserved farmers, U.S. veterans looking for a career in farming, and those who have small and mid-sized farming operations. Microloans have helped farmers and ranchers with operating costs, such as feed, fertilizer, tools, fencing, equipment, and living expenses since 2013.

Microloans can also help with farmland and building purchases and soil and water conservation improvements. FSA designed the expanded program to simplify the application process, expand eligibility requirements and expedite smaller real estate loans to help farmers strengthen their operations. Microloans provide up to $50,000 to qualified producers and can be issued to the applicant directly from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).

To learn more about the FSA microloan program, contact your County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/microloans.

USDA Announces March 6 Batching Deadline for Major NRCS Conservation Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces a March 6, 2026, batching deadline to submit applications for conservation programs in Nevada. This batching date allows producers to sign up to participate in programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA). This also includes the new NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program, which provides targeted Farmer First assistance through EQIP and CSP.  

With more than $5 million in CSP funding available in 2026, there are more opportunities for farmers and ranchers to take advantage of the program to implement additional conservation activities that expand on the benefits of cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving agricultural operations. 

Applications for NRCS programs are accepted year-round on a continuous basis with batching periods announced so that they can be ranked and funded. Application selection is subject to funding availability.

USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grants Application Window is Open

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps U.S. agricultural producers enter into value-added activities that:

• Generate new products from raw agricultural commodities
• Create and expand marketing opportunities
• Increase producer income through enhanced product value and market reach

These grants support either:

• Planning activities (e.g., feasibility studies, business and marketing plans)
• Working capital needs (e.g., processing, packaging, advertising, inventory, and salaries)

Eligible applicants include:

• Agricultural producers (including harvesters and steering committees)
• Agricultural producer groups
• Farmer- or rancher-cooperatives
• Majority-controlled producer-based business ventures

Applicants must demonstrate that they:

• Own and produce more than 50% of the raw commodity
• Will retain greater revenue from the value-added product than from the raw commodity alone

How to Apply

Visit the official VAPG program website for detailed instructions, eligibility requirements, and access to the Grant Application Portal. A VAPG Self-Assessment Survey is available to help applicants determine eligibility before starting an application.

FSA/NRCS Contacts

Nevada State Office 

300 Booth Street, Suite 2081 Reno, NV 89509
775-857-8500

###

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender