Virginia June Newsletter Articles and Updates - June 2026
In This Issue:
As Virginia’s farms work through the height of the growing season, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is calling on agricultural producers across the Commonwealth to take part in a process vital to the delivery of federal farm programs: the nomination and election of FSA County Committee members.
County Committees serve as the local link between USDA and the agricultural communities they support. These committees play a key role in ensuring fair, accurate, and responsive administration of farm programs by reflecting the on‑the‑ground realities and priorities of producers in each county.
Just as every farm has people who keep operations running, FSA depends on knowledgeable, dedicated producers who understand agriculture in their communities. “These committee members are the eyes and ears of the producers who elect them.
Across the nation, nearly 7,700 producers serve on more than 2,200 County Committees, each comprising three to eleven elected members serving staggered three‑year terms. Their responsibilities include: • Sharing information about FSA opportunities within local communities • Considering producer appeals • Supporting local administration of commodity price support and conservation programs • Hiring County Executive Directors • Guiding disaster program decisions
FSA emphasizes that broad producer participation is essential, noting that elections influence both the equity and effectiveness of USDA programs. All eligible agricultural producers—from large commercial operations to small farms and forestry owners—are encouraged to vote and consider nominating themselves or others.
Key Election Dates • Aug. 3, 2026 – Last day to file nomination forms • Early Nov. 2026 – Ballots mailed to eligible voters • Dec. 7, 2026 – Deadline to return completed ballots to USDA Service Centers • Jan. 1, 2027 – Newly elected committee members take office
We remind producers that strong community engagement helps ensure USDA programs continue to benefit local farm families and support resilient agricultural communities across Virginia.
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.
. Visit the farmers.gov Account page to log in or learn how to create an account.
All producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office for more information on the final planting date for specific crops. The final planting dates vary by crop, planting period and county so please contact your local FSA office for a list of county-specific planting deadlines. The timely planting of a crop, by the final planting date, may prevent loss of program benefits.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced payment rates and the enrollment period for the Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers (ASCF) program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue $1.625 billion in payments to eligible specialty crop producers in response to elevated input costs and market disruptions resulting from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impeded specialty crop exports. Producers who have a Login.gov account can access and submit their pre-filled application starting June 1, 2026. Producers who do not have a Login.gov account or prefer to enroll in person at their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office can request their prefilled application beginning June 8, 2026. The ASCF enrollment period closes on Aug. 7, 2026.
These payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and are administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Specialty crop payments are intended to provide financial support to allow producers to pay for production and marketing inputs in the face of significant market disruptions during the 2025 growing season.
How to Apply
Pre-filled applications will be available online to producers with a Login.gov account who timely filed their 2025 crop acreage report for eligible specialty crops. Starting on June 1, 2026, producers who have a Login.gov account can access and submit their pre-filled application from fsa.usda.gov/ascf. Beginning June 8, 2026, producers can request their pre-filled ASCF application from their FSA county office.
The deadline to submit completed ASCF applications is Aug. 7, 2026. Producers can complete their applications online or submit them to their FSA county office. Payments will be issued as applications are submitted and approved, beginning as early as the first week of signup.
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 ASCF online, producers can start by visiting fsa.usda.gov/ascf 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 ASCF, allowing them to view, complete, certify, and submit their application as well as track their application and payment status. For assistance creating a Login.gov account, visit login.gov/help.
Eligibility
Specialty crop acres of eligible crops reported to FSA as an initial, double crop, repeat crop, or subsequent crop by April 24, 2026, will be used to determine ASCF program payments. Acreage that is reported as a cover crop, prevented planted, or with an intended use of grazing, left standing, green manure, silage, forage, volunteer, or experimental will not be used to determine ASCF program payments.
For a list of eligible specialty crops visit fsa.usda.gov/ascf. Specialty crops grown in a controlled environment are not eligible, except for mushrooms.
Crop insurance linkage is not required; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new risk management tools provided in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, to best protect against future price risk and volatility.
Payment Calculation
FSA used national average revenue per crop as a metric for developing the ASCF program payment categories and payment rates listed below. For a full list of eligible crops under each category, visit fsa.usda.gov/ascf.
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Tier 1 - $650 per acre Includes eligible specialty crops with an average annual revenue of more than $10,000 per acre.
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Tier 2 - $225 per acre Includes eligible specialty crops with an average annual revenue of more than $2,300 per acre and up to $10,000 per acre.
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Tier 3 - $65 per acre Includes eligible specialty crops with an average annual revenue of up to $2,300 per acre.
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Beans and Peas - $25 per acre Includes all types of beans and peas that were not eligible for the FBA program.
The ASCF payment limitation is $250,000.
More information on ASCF is available online at fsa.usda.gov/ascf. Producers can also contact their local FSA county office.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers disaster assistance and low-interest loan programs to assist you in your recovery efforts following drought. Available programs and loans include:
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Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) - provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters including qualifying drought (includes native grass for grazing).
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Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) – provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land
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Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) - offers payments to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather. Drought is not an eligible adverse weather event, except when associated with anthrax, a condition that occurs because of drought and directly results in the death of eligible livestock.
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Tree Assistance Program (TAP) – provides assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers for qualifying tree, shrub and vine losses due to natural disasters including excessive wind and qualifying drought.
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Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) - provides emergency relief for losses due to feed or water shortages, disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, which are not adequately addressed by other disaster programs.
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Emergency Loan Program – available to producers with agriculture operations located in a county under a primary or contiguous Secretarial Disaster designation. These low interest loans help producers recover from production and physical losses.
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Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) - provides emergency funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate land severely damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.
To establish or retain FSA program eligibility, you must report prevented planting and failed acres (crops and grasses). Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form FSA-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and Risk Management Agency (RMA).
For more information on these programs, contact your County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/disaster.
In this Ask the Expert, Jack Carlile, Farm Loan Manager for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), answers questions about farm operating loans and when producers should apply in order to secure funds for the current crop year.
As the Farm Loan Manager for the Cherokee County Service Center, Jack is responsible for managing the loan making and loan servicing activities for five counties in northeast Oklahoma. His office provides services for over 650 farm loan customers. Jack was raised on a cross bred cow/calf operation that his grandparents started. Over the years, each generation has added to the operation by purchasing additional pasture. The operation also grows and bales their own hay. Jack’s agriculture background and degree in agriculture economics from Oklahoma State University help him better understand the financing needs of his producers.
Who can apply for FSA Farm Loans?
Anyone can apply for FSA’s loan programs. Applications will be considered on basic eligibility requirements. To apply for a loan, you must meet the following general eligibility requirements including:
- Be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien.
- Operator of a family farm or ranch.
- Have a satisfactory credit history.
- Unable to obtain credit elsewhere at reasonable rates and terms to meet actual needs.
- Not be delinquent on any federal debts.
To read the full blog visit farmers.gov/blog/ask-the-expert-farm-operating-loan-qa-with-jack-carlile.
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.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of Colton L. Buckley as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the nation’s primary private lands conservation agency. Buckley, who was serving as NRCS’ associate chief, brings extensive leadership experience in conservation and agriculture policy to the role. He replaces Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt in the agency’s top position.
As Bettencourt’s associate chief, Buckley supervised the agency’s financial and technical assistance programs, management and strategy, science and technology, soil science and resource assessment deputy areas and partnerships. Previously, he served as NRCS’ chief of staff and as CEO of the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils.
Raised on his grandparents’ cattle ranch outside Gatesville, Texas, Buckley has deep roots in production agriculture and advocacy for practical, producer-led conservation solutions. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural services and development from Tarleton State University in Texas and a Master of Arts degree in communication from Liberty University in Lynchburg. His career includes roles at national and local conservation organizations, rural economic development entities and service on multiple advisory boards — including the Texas A&M University System’s Board of Regents.
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90-Day Treasury Bill
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3.75%
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Farm Operating Loans — Direct
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5.000%
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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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4.250%
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Commodity Loans 1996-Present
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4.750%
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Virginia FSA State Office
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 138
Richmond, VA 23229
Phone: 804-287-1503 Fax: 855 -621-5866
Office Hours 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Virginia/index
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Wilmer N. Stoneman, III
State Executive Director
Sherina Logan
Deputy State Executive Director
Telicia Berry
Administrative Officer
Lauren Vaughan
Actiing, Chief Farm Programs
Rodney Young
Chief Farm Programs
Evan Harver
Acting, Chief Farm Loan Programs
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State Committee
Margaret Ann Smith
Chairperson
James D. Jennings
Member
Steven Kyle Sturgis
Member
Hunter B. Richardson Member
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