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Ohio FSA State Newsletter - February 25, 2026

In This Edition of the Ohio FSA State Newsletter:

• A Message from the Ohio FSA State Executive Director
• USDA Enrollment for Dairy Margin Coverage for 2026 - Sign up Ends February 26
• USDA to Open Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment for 2026
• Ohio Livestock Producers Reminded to Report Forage Losses by March 2
• FSA Now Accepting Applications for Second Stage of Crop Disaster
• USDA Reminds Producers of Spring Application Deadlines for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
• USDA Announces Commodity Payment Rates for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
• USDA Launches New Online Portal for Reporting Foreign-Owned Agricultural Land Transactions
• Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) Borrowers Reminded to Retain Beneficial Interest
• Submit Loan Requests for Financing Early
• Communication Is Key in Lending
• February 2026 Loan and Interest Rates
• Dates to Remember

A Message from the Ohio FSA State Executive Director

USDA Enrollment for Dairy Margin Coverage for 2026 - Sign up Ends February 26

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 through 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 increased DMC’s Tier 1 coverage level increased 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 to Open Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment for 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the enrollment periods for agricultural producers and landowners to submit offers for the Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s FSA is accepting offers for Continuous CRP starting Feb. 12, 2026, through March 20, 2026. Enrollment for General CRP will run from March 9, 2026, through April 17, 2026. FSA will announce dates for Grassland CRP signup in the near future.

CRP is USDA’s flagship conservation program, providing 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 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, extends FSA’s authority to administer CRP through Sept. 30, 2026.  

Continuous CRP (Signup 65)  

FSA will batch Continuous CRP offers submitted by interested agricultural producers and landowners. Offers to re-enroll expiring CRP continuous acreage will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. New acreage offered in continuous CRP practices will be considered for acceptance on a first-come, first-serve basis if they support USDA conservation priorities including but not limited to practices that address water quality, such as filter strips and grass waterways, and practices that restore native ecosystems or target specific resource concerns.

The first Continuous CRP batching period ends on March 20, 2026. Offers submitted after this date will be considered for acceptance in subsequent batching periods if acreage remains available.

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 include:   

• 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.   
• Highly Erodible Land Initiative (HELI): 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.
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP):Addresses high priority conservation objectives of states and Tribal governments on agricultural lands in specific geographic areas.   
• State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative (SAFE):Restores vital habitat in order to meet high-priority state wildlife conservation goals.

General CRP (Signup 66)  

General CRP offers are submitted through a competitive bid process. After the enrollment period closes, General CRP 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.

Producers and landowners interested in participating in CRP should contact their local FSA County office.

Ohio Livestock Producers Reminded to Report Forage Losses by March 2

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ohio Farm Service Agency reminds livestock producers who suffered grazing losses that occurred throughout 2025 due to the drought to report their losses timely and to enroll in the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) by March 2, 2026. The corrected 1099 forms for the Livestock Forage Program payments will be sent in February 2026. Current 1099 forms do not include LFP payments.

LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately-owned or cash-leased land. Producers in Allen, Auglaize, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Huron, Jefferson, Lucas, Mercer, Monroe, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Wood, and Wyandot Counties are eligible to apply for 2025 LFP benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass or forage sorghum.  Livestock producers are encouraged to contact their FSA County Office with any questions regarding specific forage crops that are eligible.

Livestock eligible for LFP include alpacas, beef cattle, bison, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, ostriches, reindeer, or sheep that have been or would have been grazing the eligible grazing land or pastureland. Recently, FSA updated LFP policy to expand program eligibility to include additional income producing grazing animals, like horses and ostrich, that contribute to the commercial viability of an agricultural operation. Livestock used for hunting and consumption by the owner and horses and other animals that are used or intended to be used for racing and wagering remain ineligible.

As a reminder, producers who want to participate in many USDA programs including disaster assistance programs like LFP, must file timely acreage reports by filling out the FSA-578 form to remain eligible for program benefits. Livestock producers interested in applying for LFP should contact their FSA County office with any questions about the eligibility of specific livestock and forage crops.

Contact your FSA County Office to schedule an appointment for LFP or to find a local FSA office, visit FSA County office.

FSA Now Accepting Applications for Second Stage of Crop Disaster

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 2024 natural 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:

• 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.
• Uncovered Losses (Uninsured Losses)
  • Includes losses that were not insured through federal crop insurance or NAP.
• 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.

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.

Producers are encouraged to make an appointment to apply, by contacting their FSA County office.

USDA Reminds Producers of Spring Application Deadlines for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

The FSA reminds producers of approaching application deadlines for purchasing risk coverage for some crops through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops impacted by natural disasters that result in lower yields, crop losses, or prevented crop planting. 

NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no permanent federal crop insurance program is available, including forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, floriculture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass and more.  

Upcoming application deadlines for NAP coverage in Ohio for the 2026 production season include: 

• March 15, 2026, is the deadline for 2026 NAP coverage on forage sorghum, oats, potatoes, Soybeans, Sunflowers and all spring planted specialty crops grown for food.

NAP basic coverage is available at 55% of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50% of expected production. Buy-up coverage is available in some cases. NAP offers higher levels of coverage, ranging from 50% to 65% of expected production in 5% increments, at 100% of the average market price. Producers of organic crops and crops marketed directly to consumers also may exercise the “buy-up” option to obtain NAP coverage of 100% of the average market price at coverage levels ranging between 50% and 65% of expected production. Buy-up coverage is not available for crops intended for grazing. 

For all coverage levels, the NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per county, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties. Premiums apply for buy-up coverage. 

If a producer has a Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification (form CCC-860) on file with FSA, it may serve as an application for basic coverage for all eligible crops beginning with crop year 2022. These producers will have all NAP-related service fees for basic coverage waived.  These producers may also receive a 50% premium reduction if higher levels of coverage are elected on form CCC-471, prior to the application closing date for each crop.  

To learn more about NAP visit fsa.usda.gov/nap or contact your FSA County office for more information.

Crop Insurance Deadline Nears for Spring Planted Crops, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds agricultural producers that the final date to apply for or make changes to their existing crop insurance coverage is quickly approaching for spring planted crops, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, Micro Farm and some specialty crops. Sales closing dates vary by crop and location, but the next major sales closing dates are Feb. 28, March 15 and April 15.  

Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the upcoming crop year. Crop insurance coverage decisions must be made on or before the applicable sales closing date. 

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency 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 risk and strengthen the rural economy. Producers may select from several coverage options, including yield coverage, revenue protection and area risk plans of insurance.  

Crop insurance options to manage revenue risks 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 like washing and value-added products.  

More Information   

RMA secures the future of agriculture by providing world class risk management tools to rural America through Federal crop insurance and risk management education programs. RMA provides policies for more than 130 crops and is constantly working to adjust and create new policies based on producer needs and feedback. 

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. 

USDA Announces Commodity Payment Rates for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program

USDA announced the next phase in the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA), the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates. In 2026, $12 billion will be paid to American farmers. Of that amount, $11 billion consists of one-time FBA program payments.

Eligible Row Crop Commodities and Payment Rates: 

Below are the payment rates for the FBA eligible commodities that triggered a payment.

Eligibility, Program Applications, and Crop Insurance Linkage 

FBA payments are based on 2025 planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production, and the World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate Report. Double crop acres, including all initial and subsequently planted crops, are eligible. Prevent plant acres are not eligible. 

All intended row crop uses are eligible for FBA except grazing, volunteer stands, experimental, green manure, crops left standing and abandoned or cover crops. 

Crop insurance linkage is not required; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new risk management tools provided for in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) to best protect against future price risk and volatility. The OBBBA federal crop insurance improvements include expanding benefits for beginning farmers and ranchers, increasing coverage options, and making crop insurance more affordable. 

Specialty Crop Assistance 

Of the $12 billion being provided by the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, up to $11 billion is being directed to eligible row crop producers and the remaining $1 billion of the $12 billion in assistance is reserved for specialty crops and sugar. Timelines for payments to producers of these crops are still under development and require additional understanding of market impacts and economic needs.

Producers, including specialty crop producers and stakeholder groups, can submit questions to farmerbridge@usda.gov. 

More information on FBA is available online at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/fba or you can contact your local USDA FSA county office. 

USDA Launches New Online Portal for Reporting Foreign-Owned Agricultural Land Transactions

The USDA is launching a new online portal to streamline reporting of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land by foreign persons, which can include businesses and governments, under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). The new online portal is part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement and protect American farmland as USDA continues its implementation of the National Farm Security Action Plan.  

The new online portal is available at afida.landmark.usda.gov. Users can access the portal with Login.gov, a sign in service that provides secure online access to participate in certain government programs and reporting requirements.  

The new digital portal will gather the same information found on the current form FSA-153 and those subject to filing may still file using the current FSA-153 hard copy form if desired. However, filers should not duplicate filings by using both submission options.  

About the National Farm Security Action Plan  

One of the key tenets of USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan (PDF, 1.2 MB) is strengthening processes around disclosure of foreign persons who have an interest in U.S. farmland. This historic plan, announced in July 2025, calls for aggressive implementation of reforms to the AFIDA process including improved verification and monitoring of collected AFIDA data. In addition to the new portal, USDA published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for AFIDA in December 2025. 

About AFIDA  

The new portal is part of USDA’s efforts to streamline its process for electronic submission and retention of AFIDA disclosures, as initially required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Today USDA also shared its annual AFIDA report for 2024 with Congress, which is available online. The report lists foreign holdings of U.S. agricultural land as 46 million acres, as of December 31, 2024 and includes a section on land held and acquired by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea in recent years. The data obtained from AFIDA disclosures are used in the preparation of an annual report to Congress, which is published online. 

The AFIDA regulations define the term “foreign person” and specifies the information that must be included in the report.  AFIDA focuses on foreign persons who hold direct or indirect interest in the agricultural land, provided those foreign persons with an indirect interest have “significant interest or substantial control” in the direct interest holder.  

Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) Borrowers Reminded to Retain Beneficial Interest

Producers are reminded that the Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) program is available, but you must retain beneficial interest in the commodity for the duration of the nine-month loan term.  The MAL program, administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides loans to producers of eligible commodities to help manage cash flow needs and provide marketing flexibility.  By using harvested commodities as collateral, producers can obtain interim financing and delay the sale of crops until market prices improve. MALs help stabilize agricultural income and ensure that farmers have the financial resources to continue operations.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for a MAL, a producer must:

• Comply with conservation and wetland protection requirements;
• Submit an acreage report for all cropland on all farms as applicable;
• Have and retain beneficial interest in the commodity until the MAL is repaid or the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) takes title to the commodity.

Beneficial Interest

Beneficial interest in the commodity is retained if you retain both:

• Control of the commodity - ability to make all decisions affecting the commodity, including movement, sale and the request for an MAL or LDP.
• Title to the commodity - you have not sold or delivered the commodity or warehouse receipt to the buyer. If delivered, the title may be considered as transferred before you receive payment for the commodity.

Example: title is considered transferred if a producer executes an option to purchase without a provision stating that title and control remain with the producer until the buyer exercises the option to purchase, and the option to purchase expires at the earlier of:

1. The maturity of any CCC loan secured by such commodity;
2. The date CCC claims title to such commodity; or
3. Another date is provided in the option.

Once beneficial interest in the commodity is lost, the commodity loses eligibility for an MAL and remains ineligible even if you later regain beneficial interest.

If you’re interested in an MAL, reach out to your FSA County office for information and loan rates.

Submit Loan Requests for Financing Early

The Ohio Farm Loan teams throughout the state are already working on operating loans for spring 2026 and FSA asks potential borrowers to submit their requests early so they can be timely processed. The farm loan team can help determine which loan programs are best for applicants. 

FSA offers a wide range of low-interest loans that can meet the financial needs of any farm operation for just about any purpose. The traditional farm operating and farm ownership loans can help large and small farm operations take advantage of early purchasing discounts for spring inputs as well expenses throughout the year. 

Microloans are a simplified loan program that will provide up to $50,000 for both Farm Ownership and Operating Microloans to eligible applicants. These loans, targeted for smaller and non-traditional operations, can be used for operating expenses, starting a new operation, purchasing equipment, and other needs associated with a farming operation.  Loans to beginning farmers and members of underserved groups are a priority.

Other types of loans available include:

Marketing Assistance Loans allow producers to use eligible commodities as loan collateral and obtain a 9-month loan while the crop is in storage. These loans provide cash flow to the producer and allow them to market the crop when prices may be more advantageous.  

Farm Storage Facility Loans can be used to build permanent structures used to store eligible commodities, for storage and handling trucks, or portable or permanent handling equipment. A variety of structures are eligible under this loan, including bunker silos, grain bins, hay storage structures, and refrigerated structures for vegetables and fruit. A producer may borrow up to $500,000 per loan.

Communication Is Key in Lending

Farm Service Agency (FSA) is committed to providing our farm loan borrowers the tools necessary to be successful. FSA staff will provide guidance and counsel from the loan application process through the borrower’s graduation to commercial credit. While it is FSA’s commitment to advise borrowers as they identify goals and evaluate progress, it is crucial for borrowers to communicate with their farm loan staff when changes occur. It is the borrower’s responsibility to alert FSA to any of the following:

• Any proposed or significant changes in the farming operation
• Any significant changes to family income or expenses
• The development of problem situations
• Any losses or proposed significant changes in security

If a farm loan borrower can’t make payments to suppliers, other creditors, or FSA on time, contact your farm loan staff immediately to discuss loan servicing options.

For more information on FSA farm loan programs, contact your FSA County office.

February 2026 Loan and Interest Rates

Farm Operating Loans, Direct                   -- 4.625% 
Farm Ownership Loans, Direct                  -- 5.750%
Limited Resource Loans                            -- 5.000% 
Farm Ownership Loans, Down Payment   -- 1.750% 
Farm Ownership – Joint Financing            -- 3.750%
Emergency Loans                                      -- 3.750% 
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 3 year            -- 3.625%
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 5 year            -- 3.750%
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 7 year            -- 4.000%
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 10 year          -- 4.125% 
Farm Storage Facility Loan, 12 year          -- 4.375%
Sugar Storage Facility Loans, 15 year       -- 4.625%
Commodity Loans                                      -- 4.500%

Dates to Remember

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