Spring has sprung

Ideal planting conditions kicked spring into high gear. Forages and pastures show visible growth daily. Fruit trees are blooming. Crop conditions are good. It is easy to be optimistic right now for good reason. Remember to record all your planting dates; this will help simplify the crop reporting process with the Farm Service Agency. We challenge you to attempt to accomplish the crop reporting process before the first cutting of hay. History has proven we see a lot fewer mistakes from producers when it is fresh on their minds. This will also keep your crop insurance agent much happier. Call your local office for an appointment.

Tidbits from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ announcement May 7, 2025:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is putting farmers first and reprioritizing customer service. USDA’s Emergency Commodity Assistance Program was the quickest, most effective rollout of emergency payments in the history of the program. To date, 487,177 farmers across 49 states have received over $7.3 billion in payments. To ensure total transparency, USDA updates the portal every Monday so the American people can track payment totals. President Trump and Secretary Rollins understand how important customer service is to the American people. That is why, in direct contrast to the Biden Administration, USDA stood up the ECAP program in three months as opposed to an average of 13 months, and in one case, 19 months it took to release ad hoc assistance programs under Secretary (Thomas) Vilsack. These unnecessary delays cause real harm on the farm.

Following several natural disasters that deeply impacted farms and ranches across the country, Secretary Rollins announced plans to expedite $21 billion in disaster assistance. Farmers receiving livestock relief for drought and wildfire can expect to receive payments as early as the end of this month. While we aim to move all payments out expeditiously and cut timelines where possible, it is important to note that some elements of the Congressionally appropriated assistance are more specific and labor intensive and were also not statutorily required; therefore, they will take a bit more time.

Disaster assistance program timeline

Emergency livestock relief program – drought/wildfire

May 23 – Release to Federal Register for publication.

May 28 – Final rule on public display.

May 29 – Payment processing on Thursday night.

May 30 – County offices sign and certify payments.

Supplemental Disaster Relief Program – previously indemnified loss

June 30 – Release to Federal Register for publication.

July 3 – Final rule on public display.

July 7 – SDRP signup begins.

Emergency Livestock Relief Program – flooding includes Commodity Loss Assistance program, Milk Loss Program – combined final rule

August 13 – Sent to Federal Register for publication.

August 15 – Final Rule on public display.

August 18 – ELRP flooding, CLA and MLP signup begins.

SDRP – uncovered loss

September 10 – Sent to Federal Register for publication.

September 12 – Final Rule on public display.

September 15 – SDRP signup targeted.

Farm Service Agency is an equal opportunity lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., 20250. Visit www.fsa.usda.gov for application forms and updates on USDA programs.