Nebraska FSA and NRCS State Office
Electronic Newsletter - March 27, 2026
In This Issue:
As we near the end of March, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the recent celebration of National Ag Week and share our appreciation for you, the farmers and ranchers who bring us the quality and abundance of food, fuel and fiber we have here in the United States. Your hard work, commitment and grit do not go unnoticed. Thanks for all you do.
I also want to share that our hearts are with our Nebraska ranchers and farmers who have been impacted by the recent devastating wildfires. I had the opportunity to visit with USDA Secretary Rollins during her recent tour of impacted areas in our state. I appreciate her commitment to providing support for our FSA response. Individuals can visit this fact sheet for an overall awareness of FSA and other USDA agency resources. We also have published this newsletter highlighting additional information on FSA and NRCS key wildfire response programs. Please stay in touch with your FSA county office on resource needs. We will issue more information as it becomes available.
We know producers are getting busy with planting season preparations and other warm weather tasks, but before you get too bogged down, please be sure you are caught up with necessary business at your local FSA office.
The Farmer Bridge Assistance program remains open for application through Friday, April 17, 2026. We’ve seen early and steady traffic for this important financial assistance program. Many of you have navigated the Login.gov/farmers.gov account creation process to access, certify and submit your FBA application online. We hope you found this option quick and convenient. There will be more online opportunities in the future, as FSA works to streamline and facilitate customer service in our busy, modern world.
The Trump Administration continues to put Farmers First by streamlining programs like FBA to ensure producers like you spend more time in the field and less time on paperwork. The goal is to make life easier, more profitable and more rewarding for American farmers.
For those of you who still appreciate face-to-face interaction, our FSA County Office staff is happy to be there to assist with your Farmer Bridge Assistance application and for all your FSA business needs.
One of the things I appreciate most about you, our Nebraska farmers and ranchers, is your commitment to conservation on our 43.9 million acres of agricultural land. This is a reminder the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup for 2026 is open, with contract offers due on Friday, April 17, 2026. If you are interested in this program, please contact your county office for more information soon so they have adequate time to assist you with your paperwork. Grassland CRP signup will be announced in the near future, so for those with grazing acres and an interest in this program, stay tuned.
Please take the time to glance at the headlines below for other important FSA information. Take care as you go about your early spring routines.
Farm Service Agency is reminding livestock producers who lease or sublease grazing land that written or verbal lease agreements are an important requirement to establish or maintain eligibility for program benefits. This includes financial support available through the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP).
LFP triggers for livestock producer assistance based on qualifying drought conditions, on a county by county basis, during the grazing season. An LFP qualifying drought is determined by using the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is published weekly. The grazing season in Nebraska, for FSA program purposes, begins on May 1 and runs through Oct. 31. Livestock producers who are leasing or subleasing grazing land, and who want to maintain eligibility for LFP, should ensure they have their lease or sublease, either written or verbal, in place prior to LFP triggering in the county or counties where they graze their livestock. Due to current U.S. Drought Monitor conditions, LFP could trigger in Nebraska as soon as May 1.
Producers are reminded that some leases contain language that prohibit subleasing without the lessor’s prior written consent. In such cases, producers without a timely-approved subleasing agreement may not be eligible for program benefits on those acres. Additionally, verbal agreements must be supported by submitting a CCC-855, Annual Lease Agreement Certification Statement as required supporting documentation.
Producers with questions regarding LFP eligibility should contact the county FSA office.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, providing $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop producers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. The FBA enrollment period opened Feb. 23 and closes April 17, 2026.
These bridge payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and are administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Bridge payments are intended in part to aid farmers until historic investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including reference prices which are set to increase between 10-21% for major covered commodities and will reach eligible farmers after Oct. 1, 2026.
How to Apply
Pre-filled applications are available online to producers with a Login.gov account who timely filed their 2025 crop acreage report for eligible commodities. Producers who have a Login.gov account can access and submit their pre-filled application from fsa.usda.gov/fba.
Producers can also request their pre-filled FBA application from their FSA county office. April 17, 2026, is the deadline to submit completed FBA applications. Producers can complete FBA applications online or submit to their FSA county office.
Login.gov
Login.gov is the public’s one account for government. Producers can use one account and password for secure, private access to participating government agencies, including FSA.
To apply for FBA online, producers can start by visiting fsa.usda.gov/fba. to create their Login.gov account. Producers who have an existing Login.gov account, can work with FSA using their existing account.
With a secure Login.gov account, producers can be amongst the first to apply for FBA allowing them to view, certify, and submit their application as well as track their application and payment status.
For assistance creating a Login.gov account, visit https://login.gov/help/.
Eligibility
The following commodities are eligible for FBA: Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower.
All intended uses for FBA eligible commodities are eligible excluding grazing, experimental, green manure, left standing, or cover crops. Initial acres, double crop acres, and subsequently planted acres, are eligible. Prevent plant acres are not eligible.
Crop insurance linkage is not required; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new risk management tools provided for in OBBBA to best protect against future price risk and volatility.
Payment Calculation
In December, USDA released the payment rates by commodity. FBA payment rates are based on 2025 planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production, and the World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate Report.
More information on FBA is available online at fsa.usda.gov/fba. Producers can also contact their local FSA county office
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the enrollment periods for agricultural producers and landowners to submit offers for the Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) accepted offers for Continuous CRP starting Feb. 12, 2026, through March 20, 2026; offers will continue to be accepted and considered in batches. 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 ended 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:
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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.
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CLEAR30 (a component of the CLEAR Initiative): Offers additional incentives for water quality practice adoption and can be accessed in 30-year contracts.
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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.
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Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP): Addresses high priority conservation objectives of states and Tribal governments on agricultural lands in specific geographic areas.
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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.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering more than $16 billion in total Congressionally approved disaster relief. FSA is 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 2025, 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.
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.
For information on program eligibility and to download an application checklist, visit fsa.usda.gov/sdrp.
Farm loan borrowers who have pledged real estate as security for their Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct or guaranteed loans are responsible for maintaining loan collateral. Borrowers must obtain prior consent or approval from FSA or the guaranteed lender for any transaction that affects real estate security. These transactions include, but are not limited to:
- Leases of any kind
- Easements of any kind
- Subordinations
- Partial releases
- Sales
Failure to meet or follow the requirements in the loan agreement, promissory note, and other security instruments could lead to nonmonetary default which could jeopardize your current and future loans.
It is critical that borrowers keep an open line of communication with their FSA loan staff or guaranteed lender when it comes to changes in their operation. For more information on borrower responsibilities, read Your FSA Farm Loan Compass.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Debt Consolidation Tool, an innovative online tool available through farmers.gov that allows agricultural producers to enter their farm operating debt and evaluate the potential savings that might be provided by obtaining a debt consolidation loan with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) or a local lender.
A debt consolidation loan is a new loan used to pay off other existing operating loans or lines of credit that might have unreasonable rates and terms. By combining multiple eligible debts into a single, larger loan, borrowers may obtain more favorable payment terms such as a lower interest rate or lower payments. Consolidating debt may also provide farmers and ranchers additional cash flow flexibilities.
The Debt Consolidation Tool is a significant addition to FSA’s suite of improvements designed to modernize its Farm Loan Programs. The tool enhances customer service and increases opportunities for farmers and ranchers to achieve financial viability by helping them identify potential savings that could be reinvested in their farming and ranching operation, retirement accounts, or college savings accounts.
Producers can access the Debt Consolidation Tool by visiting farmers.gov/debt-consolidation-tool. The tool is built to run on modern browsers including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or the Safari browser. Producers do not need to create a farmers.gov account or access the authenticated customer portal to use the tool.
USDA encourages producers to reach out to their local FSA farm loan staff to ensure they fully understand the wide range of loan and servicing options available to assist with starting, expanding, or maintaining their agricultural operation. To conduct business with FSA, please contact your local USDA Service Center.
Agricultural operations in Nebraska were significantly impacted by recent wildfires. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from adverse natural disaster events.
Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is available to provide technical assistance during the recovery process through planning and implementation of conservation practices on farms, ranches and working forests impacted by natural disasters. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) can also provide financial assistance to help producers implement conservation practices on land impacted by natural disasters.
A special emergency sign-up is open for EQIP for those impacted by the wildfires across the state of Nebraska beginning March 25, 2026. The core conservation practices offered include: Grazing Management, Cover Crops, Fencing, Mulching, Annual Forages for Grazing Systems, and Emergency Animal Mortality Management. A ranking threshold of 10 or greater must be met for eligible applicants.
Impacted producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center for program applications and practice requirements.
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April 17, 2026 - FSA deadline for Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program applications
April 17, 2026 – FSA deadline for CRP General Signup 66 contract offers
April 30, 2026 – FSA deadline for applications to the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, Stages 1 and 2
***Please note any above NAP calendar reference may not be inclusive for all NAP-covered crops; NAP participants should contact their County FSA Office to confirm important program deadlines.
OPERATING/OWNERSHIP
Farm Operating: 4.75%
Farm Ownership: 5.875%
Farm Ownership - Joint Financing: 3.875%
Farm Ownership - Down Payment: 1.875
Emergency - Actual Loss: 3.75%
FARM STORAGE FACILITY LOAN
3-year term: 3.625%
5-year term: 3.75%
7-year term: 4%
10-year term: 4.25%
12-year term: 4.375%
MARKETING ASSISTANCE
Commodity Loan: 4.5%
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Nebraska FSA and NRCS State Office
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Farm Service Agency
1121 Lincoln Mall Suite 330
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 437-5581
Fax: (844) 930-0237
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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
1121 Lincoln Mall Suite 360
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 437-5300
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Hilary Maricle, FSA
State Executive Director
hilary.maricle@usda.gov
FSA State Office
Tim Divis, Deputy SED
Cathy Anderson, Product. & Compliance
Pat Lechner, Price Support & Conserv.
Mark Wilke, Farm Loans
Nick Elting, Administrative Officer
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James Huntwork, NRCS
Acting State Conservationist
james.huntwork@usda.gov
FSA State Committee
Scott Spilker, Chair, Beatrice
Crystal Klug, Member, Columbus
Brent Robertson, Member, Elsie
Rylee Wagner, Member, Winnetoon
John Walvoord, Member, Waterloo
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Find your local USDA Service Center at farmers.gov.
Visit the Nebraska FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/ne.
Visit the Nebraska NRCS website at www.nrcs.usda.gov/ne.
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