News
USDA Accepting Proposals for State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement InitiativeNews Release
LINCOLN, Nebraska, May 13, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now accepting new or modified proposals from state governments for its State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative. Through SAFE, vital habitat is restored to meet high-priority state wildlife conservation goals. The deadline to submit…
USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative ProductionNews Release
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $3 million for grants through its new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects…
Farm Service Agency Highlights 2020 Spring Crop Acreage Reporting ProcessNews Release
LINCOLN, Nebraska, May 5, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in Nebraska currently are open to phone and virtual appointments only but can still work with producers on timely filing crop acreage reports. FSA staff can provide assistance over the phone, by email and through virtual meetings via a software program called Microsoft Teams…
FSA Reminds Producers of Ongoing Disaster Assistance Program SignupNews Release
WHIP+ Payments Have Started for Producers Impacted by Drought, Excess MoistureWASHINGTON, May 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started making payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) to agricultural producers who suffered eligible losses because of drought or excess moisture in 2018 and…
USDA Reports Record Enrollment in Key Farm Safety-Net ProgramsNews Release
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2020 – Producers signed a record 1.77 million contracts for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2019 crop year, which is more than 107 percent of the total contracts signed compared with a 5-year average. USDA also reminds producers that June 30…
USDA Announces Loan Maturity for Marketing Assistance Loans Now Extended to 12 MonthsNews Release
Provides Producers with Marketing Flexibilities Amid COVID-19 UncertaintiesWASHINGTON, April 9, 2020 – Agricultural producers now have more time to repay Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The loans now mature at…
USDA Announces More Than 3.4 Million Acres Selected for General Signup Conservation Reserve ProgramNews Release
Lincoln, Nebraska, March 30, 2020 – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue late last week announced the acceptance of more than 3.4 million acres in the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup recently completed, the first general signup enrollments since 2016. County offices will begin notifying producers with accepted offers no later than…
FSA Makes Changes to Farm Loan, Disaster, Conservation and Safety Net Programs to Make It Easier for Customers to Conduct BusinessNews Release
FSA Services Available by Phone Appointment OnlyLincoln, Nebraska, March 27, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices are open in Nebraska by phone appointment only until further notice, and FSA staff are available to continue helping agricultural producers with program signups, loan servicing and other important actions.…
USDA Service Centers Open for Business by Phone Appointment OnlyNews Release
LINCOLN, Nebraska, March 22, 2020 - U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Centers are encouraging visitors to take proactive protective measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.USDA Service Centers in Nebraska will continue to be open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing…
USDA to Open Signup March 16 for Conservation Reserve Program GrasslandsNews Release
LINCOLN, Nebraska, March 11, 2020 – Farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup beginning March 16. The signup runs through May 15. “Through this CRP Grasslands signup, farmers and ranchers can protect grasslands, rangelands and pastures, while maintaining the land as working…