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West of the Pecos July Newsletter  -  August 14, 2026

In This Issue:

• County Office News
• USDA Reminds Producers of Fall Application Deadlines for Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
• RMA Reminds Producers of Upcoming Crop Insurance Deadlines for Fall Planted Crops
• Update Your Records
• Double-Cropping
• Ask the Expert: A Q&A on RMA’s Weaned Calf Risk Protection Program with Cody McCann
• FSA Offers a Joint Financing Option on Direct Farm Ownership Loans

County Office News

We would like to remind producers that we are currently taking applications for the 2026 Livestock Forage Program in all five of our West Texas counties. Don't miss out on this opportunity to get some financial relief on your 2026 drought conditions.

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FSA can begin taking your 2027 NAP applications for coverage and certifying your native grass acreage for next year. The December 1 deadline will be here before we know it, so get this out of the way before Fall works begin.

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Producers are encouraged to call their local FSA or NRCS office to schedule an appointment to ensure maximum use of their time and to make sure staff is available to tend to their important business needs. Please call your local office ahead to set an appointment and to discuss any records or documentation that might be needed during your appointment. To find your local office, visit farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator.

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Our FSA staff will be in training the week of August 24-28. Farm Program assistance will be limited during this week as only the Fort Stockton office will have FSA personnel on site. Please plan accordingly if you have program needs prior to September 1, especially with the upcoming base acre and NAP deadlines.

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FSA and NRCS program payments are issued electronically into your bank account. In order to receive timely payments, you need to notify your servicing office if you close your account or if your bank information is changed for any reason (such as your financial institution merging or being purchased). Payments can be delayed if we are not notified of changes to account and bank routing numbers.

If the bank account was closed due to the death of an individual or dissolution of an entity or partnership before the payment was issued, please notify your local USDA office as soon as possible to claim your payment.

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UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES 

Base Acre allocations - August 31
2027 Small Grain NAP coverage - September 1
SDRP enrollment deadline- September 30

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

USDA Farm Service Agency (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 Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos, Presidio and Terrell Counties for the 2027 production season include: 

• Small grains (wheat, oats, triticale): September 1
• Grasses,mixed forage and alfalfa: December 1

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 local USDA Service Center.

Fort Stockton serving Pecos & Terrell Counties - 432-336-5206 ext 2
Alpine serving Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio Counties - 432-837-2325 ext 2

RMA Reminds Producers of Upcoming Crop Insurance Deadlines for Fall Planted Crops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers that the final date to apply for or make changes to their existing crop insurance coverage is quickly approaching for fall planted crops. Sales closing dates vary by crop and location, but the next major sales closing dates are Sept. 1 and Sept. 30.  

Producers are encouraged to visit their crop insurance agent soon to learn specific details for the 2027 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 revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Producers may select from several coverage options, including yield coverage, revenue protection and area risk plans of insurance. 

Crop insurance options 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 such as washing and value-added products.  

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. 

Update Your Records

FSA is cleaning up our producer record database and needs your help. Please report any changes of address, zip code, phone number, email address or an incorrect name or business name on file to our office. You should also report changes in your farm operation, like the addition of a farm by lease or purchase. You should also report any changes to your operation in which you reorganize to form a Trust, LLC or other legal entity. 

FSA and NRCS program participants are required to promptly report changes in their farming operation to the County Committee in writing and to update their Farm Operating Plan on form CCC-902. To update your records, contact your County USDA Service Center.

Fort Stockton serving Pecos & Terrell Counties - 432-336-5206 ext 2
Alpine serving Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio Counties - 432-837-2325 ext 2

Double-Cropping

Each year, state committees review and approve or disapprove county committee recommended changes or additions to specific combinations of crops.

Double-cropping is approved when two specific crops have the capability to be planted and carried to maturity for the intended use, as reported by the producer, on the same acreage within a crop year under normal growing conditions. The specific combination of crops recommended by the county committee must be approved by the state committee.

The following double-cropping combinations are approved in Pecos County:

• wheat followed by watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew, peppers, pumpkins or sorghum forage
• barley followed by watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew, peppers, pumpkins or sorghum forage
• rye followed by watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew, peppers, pumpkins or sorghum forage

A crop following a cover crop terminated according to termination guidelines is approved and these combinations do not have to be approved by the state committee.

Know your Final Planting Dates

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.

Ask the Expert: A Q&A on RMA’s Weaned Calf Risk Protection Program with Cody McCann

In this Ask the Expert, Cody McCann answers questions about the Risk Management Agency’s Weaned Calf Risk Protection program that provides a new insurance option for livestock producers.

What is the Weaned Calf Risk Protection Program?

Weaned Calf Risk Protection is a new insurance pilot program for 2024. The program provides beef cow/calf producers protection from revenue losses on their calves up to weaning age.

What states are eligible through the pilot program?

Right now, RMA is piloting Weaned Calf Risk Protection in all counties in Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Texas.

To read the full blog, visit: Farmers.gov Blog: Stories from Producers and USDA Experts | Farmers.gov

FSA Offers a Joint Financing Option on Direct Farm Ownership Loans

The USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Direct Farm Ownership loans can help farmers and ranchers become owner-operators of family farms, improve and expand current operations, increase agricultural productivity, and assist with land tenure to save farmland for future generations.

There are three types of Direct Farm Ownership Loans: regular, down payment and joint financing. FSA also offers a Direct Farm Ownership Microloan option for smaller financial needs up to $50,000.

Joint financing allows FSA to provide more farmers and ranchers with access to capital. FSA lends up to 50 percent of the total amount financed. A commercial lender, a state program or the seller of the property being purchased, provides the balance of loan funds, with or without an FSA guarantee. The maximum loan amount for a joint financing loan is $600,000, and the repayment period for the loan is up to 40 years.

The operation must be an eligible farm enterprise. Farm Ownership loan funds cannot be used to finance non-farm enterprises, and all applicants must be able to meet general eligibility requirements. Loan applicants are also required to have participated in the business operations of a farm or ranch for at least three years out of the 10 years prior to the date the application is submitted. The applicant must show documentation that their participation in the business operation of the farm or ranch was not solely as a laborer.

For more information about farm loans, contact your Pecos County USDA Service Center at 432-336-5206 or visit fsa.usda.gov.