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As we get closer to celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it reminds us that our Founding Fathers believed that agriculture production was one of our greatest strengths. The commitment of President Trump and Secretary Rollins echoes that same belief 250 years later.
The Trump administration continues to put Farmers First and is committed to ensuring the economic strength of our specialty crop operations as we continue opening new markets abroad and strengthening demand domestically for American produce. Building on the success of the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, we are using an expedited program application and payment process through the One Farmer, One File system to ensure specialty crop producers also receive the necessary financial assistance as quickly as possible, while we work to build a more robust market with lower input costs and more opportunities.
This was emphasized last month at the Allied Potato Farm in Bakersfield at an event that I attended where Secretary Rollins met with Central Valley agricultural leaders and announced a $1.625 billion relief program for specialty crop producers. The Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers Program (ASCF) provides 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. Payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and payments are based on reported 2025 planted acres. Pre-filled applications are available online from fsa.usda.gov/ascf to producers with a Login.gov account who timely filed their 2025 crop acreage report for eligible specialty crops. Producers can also request their pre-filled ASCF application from their FSA county office. The deadline to apply is August 7, 2026.
Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2026 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 3, 2026.
As we enter the busy summer months, I want to wish each of you the very best. I know how much hard work lies ahead, and I truly appreciate your dedication to a successful season.
Thank you for the vital role you play in feeding the nation and the world.
Sincerely,
Connie Conway, FSA State Executive Director, California
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.
Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2026 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 3, 2026.
Elections for committee members occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA). LAAs are FSA committee elective areas in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction and may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.
Producers interested in serving on the FSA county committee can locate their LAA at fsa.usda.gov/coc and determine if their LAA is up for election by contacting their local FSA office.
Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee if they:
- Participate or cooperate in a USDA program.
- Reside in the LAA that is up for election this year.
A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits.
Individuals can nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations can also nominate candidates. USDA encourages all eligible producers to nominate, vote and hold office.
Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agriculture community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members play a key role in how FSA delivers disaster recovery, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as making decisions on county office employment and other agricultural issues.
Producers should contact their local FSA office today to learn more about their county’s election. To be considered, a producer must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. This form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/coc.
All nomination forms for the 2026 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by the Aug. 3, 2026, deadline. Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters in November 2026.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is maximizing disaster assistance support for producers by issuing a second Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) payment to eligible producers who have approved program applications for losses due to natural disasters in calendar years 2023 and 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided $6.7 billion in SDRP payments to eligible producers. Additionally, USDA is extending the program deadline to give producers and FSA more time to address any program application changes that could impact payments. The original April 30 deadline has been extended to Aug. 12, 2026, for SDRP Stage 1 and Stage 2.
Initial SDRP payments were factored at 35%, but after further analysis, USDA is increasing the payment factor to 70%, meaning producers with approved applications will receive an additional 35% of their calculated SDRP payment. Future SDRP payments will also be made using a 70% payment factor.
Over the past year, the Trump administration and USDA, under the leadership of Secretary Rollins, have supported U.S. farmers and ranchers with over $17.9 billion in supplemental disaster assistance mandated by Congress in the American Relief Act, 2025. To date, USDA has provided over $6.7 billion in SDRP payments, $9.3 billion through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program and nearly $1.9 billion through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program.
Additionally, through recent efforts to provide economic relief as the Trump administration works to open new markets, FSA has made over $10 billion in payments, to date, through the Farmers Bridge Assistance program with more assistance on the way for specialty crop producers. Since 2025, through permanent programs, FSA has provided over $2.0 billion in disaster assistance, $5.3 billion in commodity price support, $3.1 billion in safety net assistance, and $685 million through conservation programs.
All in all, this administration has put Farmers First with over $39.1 billion in economic support needed to recover from market and weather-related financial hardships beyond their control, protect our natural resources and keep their operations moving forward.
SDRP Stage 1
The first stage, 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.
SDRP Stage 2
Stage 2 of SDRP 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.
Eligibility
Eligible losses must be the result of natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and/or 2024. These disasters include wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, and related conditions.
To qualify for drought related losses, the loss must have occurred in a county rated by the U.S. Drought Monitor as having a D2 (severe drought) for eight consecutive weeks, D3 (extreme drought), or greater intensity level during the applicable calendar year.
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.
More Information
For more information on SDRP, please visit fsa.usda.gov/sdrp
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USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers disaster assistance and low-interest loan programs to assist you in your recovery efforts following wildfires or other qualifying natural disasters.
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 excessive wind and qualifying drought (includes native grass for grazing).
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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.
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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 Presidential or 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; includes fence loss.
For more information on these programs, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/disaster.
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The U.S. Government announced that approximately 39.2 acres in Glenn County will sell by sealed bid on Thursday , July 9 at 1:00 p.m. in Tehama County USDA Service Center. The United States government holds a security interest in this 39.2 acre (more or less) [i.e. property]. The appraised value of the property is $624,000.
The legal description of the property is described as follows:
4721 Country Road L, Orland, CA 95963
LOT 13 IN SUBDIVISION 4 OF THE UNITED STATES IRRIGATION DISTRICT OF ORLAND, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL MAP THEREOF FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF THE COUNTY OF GLENN, RECORDED ON OCTOBER 8, 1908 IN BOOK 1 OF THE MAPS, AT PAGE 184. Actual legal description is available upon request.
Terms of sale:
Sale is subject to the covenants, conditions, restrictions, rights of way and easements, if any, contained in the deed of trust and other documents forming the chain of title to the property. Property is sold “AS IS” with no warranties. All rights, title, and interest in any crops being raised on the premises will be the property of the purchaser upon possession of the deed to the property. Also subject to accrued and accruing real estate taxes and existing real estate tax liens of record. It is the responsibility of any potential purchaser to contact the local taxing authority to determine whether any real estate taxes are owed on the property.
For more information, contact the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) at (530)527-2667 x2. This property is listed on the USDA Resale Website: resales.usda.gov/
The U.S. Government announced that approximately 110 acres in Tehama County will sell by sealed bid on Wednesday, July 8 at 10:00 a.m. in Tehama County Service Center. The United States government holds a security interest in this 110 acre (more or less) [i.e. property]. The appraised value of the property is $330,000.
The legal description of the property is described as follows:
LOTS 3 THROUGH 11, 17 AND 18, BLOCK H, CORNING FARMS, AS THE SAME ARE SHOWN ON THE MAP FILED IN THE TEHAMA COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE, OCTOBER 7, 1913 IN BOOK F OF MAPS, AT PAGES 4, 5 AND 6.
EXCEPTING THEREFROM FROM LOT 4, ALL MINERAL RIGHTS AS CONVEYED TO BILL FLOURNOY BY DEED RECORDED JANUARY 20, 1972 IN BOOK 585, PAGE 229, OFFICIAL RECORDS.
Terms of sale:
A bidder’s deposit for no less than 10 percent of the sales price shall be paid at the sale by money order or cashier’s check made payable to Farm Service Agency. Settlement must be paid by cashier’s check or certified check within (30) days of the sale. No cash or personal checks will be accepted.
Sale is subject to the covenants, conditions, restrictions, rights of way and easements, if any, contained in the deed of trust and other documents forming the chain of title to the property. Property is sold “AS IS” with no warranties. All rights, title, and interest in any crops being raised on the premises will be the property of the purchaser upon possession of the deed to the property. Also subject to accrued and accruing real estate taxes and existing real estate tax liens of record. It is the responsibility of any potential purchaser to contact the local taxing authority to determine whether any real estate taxes are owed on the property.
For more information, contact the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) at (530)527-2667 x2. This property is listed on the USDA Resale Website: resales.usda.gov/
Whether you rent or own your land, a conservation plan is critical to maintain and improve farm productivity. Plans of any kind are important as they set goals and outline how to reach them. Conservation plans are roadmaps for improving your operation while conserving natural resources. They provide proven strategies that landowners can use to solve identified natural resource concerns and take advantage of conservation opportunities.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service can help you develop a conservation plan. This technical assistance from NRCS is free, and it can help you reduce soil loss from erosion, solve issues with soil, air and water quality, reduce potential damage from excess water and drought, enhance the quality of wildlife habitat, address waste management concerns, and improve the long-term sustainability of the country’s natural resources.
How does conservation planning work? You’ll meet with a planner from NRCS for a science-based evaluation of your problems and opportunities on your land. The NRCS staff member, often a district conservationist or conservation planning technician, then analyzes the findings and recommends the best strategies to address your problems and achieve valuable opportunities.
If you’re interested in conservation planning, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit nrcs.usda.gov.
Irrigation management is a vital part of successful farming, particularly in areas where rainfall is inconsistent or insufficient to meet crop needs. At its core, it is the process of applying the right amount of water at the right time and the right application rate to achieve optimal crop production all while conserving water, energy and protecting soil and water quality. When done properly, this practice supports plant health, reduces input costs and promotes long-term sustainability of agricultural operations.
For farmers, effective irrigation management offers a wide range of benefits. First and foremost, it improves water use efficiency. By tailoring water applications to the specific needs of the crops, taking into account weather conditions, soil types and field variability, farmers can avoid overwatering or underwatering. This leads to healthier crops, reduced disease pressure and ultimately higher yields. Additionally, managing irrigation wisely helps reduce labor costs and energy usage, especially for systems that rely on pumps. Less water applied means less energy needed, which can result in significant cost savings.
Beyond economic gains, good irrigation practices also play an important role in environmental stewardship. Over-irrigation can lead to surface water runoff, which may carry field nutrients, pesticides and sediments into nearby waterbodies. These pollutants can have negative impacts on water quality and aquatic ecosystems. By applying water more efficiently, farmers help protect these natural resources and support the long-term health of the land.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers valuable support for farmers looking to improve their irrigation systems and water management practices. Through technical and financial assistance, NRCS works directly with producers to assess their current systems and identify opportunities for improvement. Conservation practices like irrigation water management (practice 449), irrigation pipeline (practice 430), micro irrigation (practice 441) and sprinkler system (practice 442) can be personalized to each operation’s needs.
When a farmer partners with NRCS, the process begins with a conservation plan that evaluates soil, water, crops and existing infrastructure. From there, NRCS conservationists can recommend practical steps to optimize irrigation efficiency. These might include adjusting application schedules or pressures, upgrading to a more efficient system or installing tools to monitor soil moisture and weather conditions. In many cases, financial assistance is available through programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewards Program (CSP), making it more affordable for producers to invest in upgrades that benefit both their bottom line and the environment.
Ultimately, irrigation water management is about making the most out of every drop. As weather patterns become more unpredictable and water resources face increasing environmental pressures, it is now more important than ever for farmers to take a thoughtful, proactive approach to how they water their crops. With the support of NRCS, producers can build more resilient operations while increasing their productivity and protecting their valuable farmland.
Login.gov is the public’s one account for government engagement. Producers can use one account and password for secure, private access to participating government agencies, including FSA. Producers who have an existing Login.gov account can work with FSA using their existing account. For assistance creating a login.gov account, visit https://login.gov/help/.
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