California Ag Network

Category: Non-Video

  • Legislation to Help California Dairy Producers Impacted by Flooding

    Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Emergency Assistance for Dairy Producers Act. This legislation aims to ensure dairy producers impacted by California’s historic storms this year can qualify for Commodity Credit Corporation emergency assistance funds.

    “This year’s storms and flooding had a severe impact on parts of the Central Valley. Ensuring our communities have the resources needed to recover has continued to be one of my top priorities,” said Congressman Valadao. “Property damage, feed losses, and transportation costs from moving livestock during the flooding were devastating to Central Valley dairy farmers, but there are limited options for them to be reimbursed for these costs. The Emergency Assistance for Dairy Producers Act will ensure California’s dairy farmers can access available federal dollars to help offset some of these losses.”

    “We commend Representative David Valadao for authoring the Emergency Assistance for Dairy Producers Act. California dairy farm families endured major challenges this year from storms that displaced families and cattle, damaged farms and feed supplies, and severely impacted crops being grown to feed the state’s dairy cows. Nobody understands these unique challenges better than Rep. Valadao, whose legislation points the way toward providing needed emergency resources to help California dairy producers recover from their losses,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation.

    Milk Producers Council of California strongly supports and endorses the “Emergency Assistance for Dairy Producers Act.” This legislation can’t come soon enough for our producers who experienced catastrophic losses due to the historic flooding in the Tulare Lake Basin in 2023. Time is of the essence to get financial support to individual dairy farmers who have lost years of feed supplies due to flooding, and are buying corn, wheat, alfalfa and other total mixed ration (TMR) ingredients on the open market,” said Kevin Abernathy, General Manager, Milk Producers Council of California.

    Background:

    California’s agriculture industry was hit hard by this year’s historic storms, with the total cost of damage and losses still yet to be realized. Currently, there are limited avenues available to assist dairy producers impacted by natural disasters. The Emergency Assistance for Dairy Producers Act aims to address this gap by amending the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to authorize the use of Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for emergency assistance to dairy producers in the case of livestock relocation and feed crop losses due to natural disasters and ensures the Secretary of Agriculture has the proper explicit authorities to assist dairy producers using CCC funds.

    Read the full text of the bill here.

  • International Research Conference on Huanglongbing VII Coming March 2024

    The California Citrus Research Board (CRB) and the Conference Steering Committee are pleased to share the International Research Conference on Huanglongbing VII (IRCHLB VII) will return March 26-29, 2024, to Riverside, California.

    The Conference is being produced by the CRB with the support of California’s citrus industry partners and guidance of the international Steering Committee. The California citrus industry is excited to welcome researchers, regulators, and citrus industry members from around the world to the Golden State. The Conference was previously held in Riverside in 2019 and welcomed more than 500 attendees, representing over 22 countries.

    The IRCHLB VII will feature presentations and poster sessions detailing the global status of Huanglongbing (HLB), highlight ongoing research efforts, and share how research can move toward field solutions. A select group of keynote speakers will provide insight on innovative HLB research with a variety of perspectives and methodologies, including both domestic and international approaches.

    HLB has affected hundreds of thousands of citrus trees in Florida and around the world and continues to be one of the biggest threats facing California’s citrus industry.

    “It has been nearly four years since the HLB research community has met to discuss their findings on strategies to manage the devastating effects of citrus greening disease,” said MaryLou Polek, Ph.D., Chair of the IRCHLB Steering Committee. “I am looking forward to the IRCHLB VII to hear about research progress made by scientists from around the world.”

    Registration for the conference is now open and additional information can be found at www.irchlb.com. The early bird registration rate of $425 is available through December 31, 2023 and will increase to the regular registration rate of $550 on January 1, 2024.

    About the IRCHLB VII Conference

    The International Research Conference on Huanglongbing VII is organized by the Citrus Research Board in collaboration with numerous citrus industry, state and federal government, and university partners. Learn more at www.irchlb.com.

    About the Citrus Research Board

    The Citrus Research Board administers the California Citrus Research Program, the grower-funded and grower-directed program established in 1968 enabling the state’s citrus producers to sponsor and support needed research. More information about the Citrus Research Board may be found at www.citrusresearch.org.

  • Scholarship Opportunities Offered by California Table Grape Growers

    Three categories of scholarships, offered by California table grape growers, are available to graduating high school seniors from the table grape growing regions of California.

    Of the three categories of scholarships, two are available to field workers and their families. The first category is a Bridge Scholarship for $14,500 and is available to graduating seniors who will attend two years of a community college and transfer to a four-year university. The second category is a $25,000 scholarship for graduating seniors who will attend a four-year university.

    The third category of scholarship is a $25,000 Agricultural Scholarship available to students residing in the Coachella or San Joaquin valleys who will attend a four-year university and are interested in a field of study applicable to the table grape industry.

    Three scholarships from each category are available. Applicants for all scholarships must plan to attend a California college or university. The deadline to apply for all scholarships is Friday, February 9, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

    Since 1985, California table grape growers have aided nearly 200 students in attending college. To hear recent scholarship recipients in their own words, please visit: https://www.grapesfromcalifornia.com/community-outreach/scholarship-recipients/

    For more information on the scholarship program, please visit: https://www.grapesfromcalifornia.com/community-outreach/ or email: Scholarships@grapesfromcalifornia.com.

  • Blue Diamond Growers 113th “Growing Together” Annual Meeting Highlights a Year of Resilience

    At the 113th Blue Diamond Growers “Growing Together” Annual Meeting on Nov. 15 in Modesto, Blue Diamond Growers’ CEO, Kai Bockmann, reflected on his first ten months in the leadership role by acknowledging significant challenges faced by growers and the world’s largest almond cooperative.

    In Bockmann’s remarks – along with those of Blue Diamond Growers’ Board Chairman, Dan Cummings – both pointed to remarkable headwinds for the almond industry, including higher input costs and inflationary pressures, depressed market prices, shifts in consumer shopping patterns, unfavorable weather conductions, and reduced crop sizes. To help counter these challenges, Blue Diamond Growers is advancing an aggressive strategic growth plan to navigate the marketplace conditions and drive substantial growth.

    “Volatility is our new normal, but our destination is set – and it is one of growth,” said Bockmann. “While this past year brought many challenges for our growers, no challenge is insurmountable. We have a rich history, an exceptional brand, and the right people and culture to deliver against our ambitious growth plan.”

    In laying out the plan, Bockmann shared with the annual meeting audience that what has helped bring the cooperative to where it is today, will not get it to where it is going in terms of growth and market expansion. The new growth plan prioritizes expansion into the massive foodservice channel and strategically selected international markets, while strengthening the value-added business, doubling down on product innovation, and driving for operational efficiencies.

    “Foodservice is a trillion dollar industry that represents a significant growth opportunity for Blue Diamond, and we will directly target that sector as a strategic priority,” said Bockmann. “Additionally, we will diversify and innovate our product portfolio beyond our flagship Blue Diamond Snack Almonds® and Almond Breeze® brands. We will build on the tremendous success of these products – which are both the #1 brands in America for almonds and almondmilk.”

    Bockmann shared that flavor-focused product innovation remains a top priority commenting that “no one does flavor like Blue Diamond” as evidenced by the widely popular Chilé N Lime flavored snack nuts. The flavor was launched as a limited time offer at Costco and won the “Best Nuts” award in PEOPLE Magazine’s 2023 Food Awards.

    The Blue Diamond Research & Development team will continue to innovate with new flavors, while advancing new and existing categories, including plant-based yogurt, chocolate, baking, beverages and plant-based cheese. On the foodservice front, the strategic growth plan focus is already delivering results. The Blue Diamond International Consumer and R&D teams worked closely with Maeil Dairies in the past year to develop Almond Breeze® Barista Blend, which was introduced in 6,500 Starbucks across China earlier this year.

    “I’m confident that Blue Diamond Growers is poised to thrive in the years to come because we are stronger together,” said Bockmann. “We are excited to grow together as we bring our strategic plan and collective vision to life.”

    Supporting Grower Success and Advancing Sustainability

    In addition to tackling the marketplace challenges with strategy, innovation, and expansion, Blue Diamond Growers also concepted and launched a new grower-focused buying coalition. To help connect growers with trusted, well-known suppliers and build local, long-term relationships, the Blue Diamond Growers Connect Marketplace aims to reduce production costs for farmers by negotiating better discounts with suppliers via Group Purchasing Organizations and the co-ops’ own internal platform. The goal of the marketplace is to reduce growers’ costs by 5-15%.

    Additionally, a notable highlight from the year is Blue Diamond Growers’ advancement in sustainability. To continue growing the cooperative’s commitment to stewardship, Blue Diamond’s Member Relations team held several online webinars, including hosting the Almond Board of California Almond Stewardship Platform and the Pollinator Partnership to discuss and educate growers on Bee-Friendly Farming.

    Along with the offered webinars, growers were encouraged to participate in Blue Diamond’s Orchard Stewardship Incentive Program (OSIP), a program where growers can earn financial incentives for implementing best practices related to orchard management, environmental issues, occupational health and safety, and community investment.

    In July of this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded Blue Diamond a five-year, $45 million “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities” grant, a program designed to help farmers implement “climate-smart” practices on their land. The program offers growers no-cost cover crop seed and a financial incentive to plant cover crops and/or conservation cover on their land. These practices notonly work toward taking carbon out of the atmosphere, but they also enhance orchard biodiversity and improve soil health. The USDA grant complements
    Blue Diamond’s OSIP by lowering the cost of initiating the pollinator-friendly practices required to receive Bee-Friendly Farming certification.

    “Without question it has been a challenging year, but the loyalty and leadership demonstrated by our board – combined with the resilence of our growers and dedication of Blue Diamond employees – will allow us to overcome the challenges together,” said Cummings. “I’m confident Blue Diamond will deliver great prosperity and a sustainable future for our growers, employees, their families, and the communities we call home.”

    Blue Diamond Annual Report Now Available

    In conjunction with the Annual Meeting, the Blue Diamond Growers 2023 “Growing Together” Annual Report is now available on the Blue Diamond website at www.bluediamond.com.

    About Blue Diamond

    Blue Diamond Growers, a grower-owned cooperative representing approximately 3,000 of California’s almond growers, is the world’s leading almond marketer and processor. Established in 1910, it created the California almond industry and opened world markets for almonds. Blue Diamond is dedicated to delivering the benefits of almonds around the world and does so by providing high-quality almonds, almond ingredients, and branded products. Headquartered in Sacramento, the company employs more than 1,800 people throughout its processing plants, receiving stations and gift shops. To learn more about Blue Diamond Growers, visit www.bluediamond.com.

  • Congressman Valadao Joins McCarthy, Schweikert to Introduce Bill to Combat Valley Fever

    Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) joined Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-01) and Speaker Emeritus Kevin McCarthy (CA-20) to introduce the Finding Orphan-disease Remedies with Antifungal Research and Development (FORWARD) Act. This legislation supports various research and development programs with the goal of developing new drugs, treatments, and vaccines to combat Valley Fever.

    “Valley Fever has a huge impact on our neighbors and communities in the Central Valley, and we must prioritize the development of new treatments and vaccines to combat the spread of this disease and save lives,” said Congressman Valadao. “The FORWARD Act is an important step towards finding a cure for Valley Fever, and I’m proud to support it. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Valley Fever Task Force to move this critical legislation forward.”

    “I’m pleased to reintroduce the FORWARD Act this Congress as our Valley Fever Task Force makes significant progress in improving care, treatment, and research into this terrible disease that has devastated so many lives in our communities,” said Congressman Schweikert. “As we’ve seen Valley Fever cases rise across the western United States over the last decade, it’s critical that we continue to prioritize the delivery of medical breakthroughs that will help treat our family members and their beloved pets. This bipartisan legislation helps to combat Valley Fever by providing resources to further close the scientific gap in understanding this disease, support research, and accelerate vaccine development that will hopefully eradicate it once and for all.”

    Background

    Congressman Valadao is a member of the Valley Fever Task Force alongside Congressman Schweikert and Speaker Emeritus McCarthy. The bipartisan Task Force, which was founded in 2013, is committed to raising awareness and advancing policies to combat Valley Fever. Congressman Valadao has been a member since its founding.

    Earlier this year, Congressman Valadao participated in a Valley Fever Roundtable hosted by the Task Force to discuss ongoing treatment and vaccine developments. The roundtable included medical experts, researchers, and advocates focused on combatting Valley Fever.

    The FORWARD Act:

    • Establishes a working group at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to advise on strategies that confront gaps in science that can help detect, treat, and eradicate Valley fever.
    • Encourages the development of Valley fever vaccines, cures, and treatments by directing the FDA to include Valley fever in its priority review voucher program.
    • Provides additional resources to support research efforts and add antifungal development to the existing CARB-X program.

  • U.S. Ag Exporters Can Now Apply to Participate in South Korea Trade Mission

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis Taylor, will lead the agribusiness trade mission to Seoul, South Korea on March 25 – 28, 2024. USDA is currently inviting U.S. exporters who wish to participate in this trade mission to submit their application.

    “North Asian markets are a source of stability for U.S. exports and an opportunity for market share expansion due to its heavy reliance on food imports and underlying macroeconomic growth,” said Taylor. “While the Republic of Korea is already one of our top export markets, we see tremendous potential for growth as the demand for health and fitness, ready-to-eat, and convenience products is growing, providing a great opportunity for U.S. exporters to expand their sales in the region.”

    The trade mission will offer U.S. agribusinesses the potential to increase or expand their food and agricultural exports to the region. While in Seoul, participants will engage in two days of business-to-business meetings with potential importers, processors and distributors. Additionally, attendees will receive in-depth market briefings from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and industry trade experts to better understand market dynamics and consumer trends, as well as participate in site visits and other networking opportunities.

    With a population of roughly 52 million people and limited arable land, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) relies on imports to satisfy consumer demand for food variety, lower prices and greater convenience. In 2022, South Korea imported approximately $41.1 billion worth of agricultural goods, and the United States was the leading supplier with $10.4 billion in agricultural exports. The United States is South Korea’s top overall supplier and its leading source for an array of farm products, including beef, almonds, fresh cherries, fresh oranges, hides and skins, soybeans, dried distillers grains (DDGS), ethanol and wheat. The United States and the Republic of Korea implemented the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) in 2012.

    As a result of the pandemic, as well as demographic and economic trends in South Korea, the market has seen a boom in e-commerce. In addition to traditional hypermarkets and retail markets, e-commerce platforms can be important to increasing sales in Korea. The market has been trending to higher demands for products of convenience, such as ready-to-eat foods, home meal kits and smaller portion-size packages. There has also been an emphasis on health and fitness products due to general healthy lifestyle changes as well as an aging population.

    U.S. exporters who wish to participate in this agribusiness trade mission must apply by December 18, 2023. Click to apply online.

    For those U.S. companies selected, USDA highly recommends purchasing travel insurance and checking with the airline on their cancellation/adjustment policies and flexibility. We recognize the global travel situation remains fluid and uncertain. USDA will continue to monitor the situation carefully and will keep participants apprised of any changes to entry requirements.

  • USDA Now Accepting Applications for Farm Loans Online

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers. More than 26,000 customers who submit a Direct Loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet and build a farm operating plan. This tool is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, improve customer service, and expand credit access.

    “The Biden Administration is working hard to make it easier for farmers and ranchers to get the loans they need to keep growing food, fiber, and fuel for our country,” said Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. “Online services are commonplace in commercial lending, and with USDA Farm Service Agency’s new online loan application feature, it is now easier for producers to get the financing they need to start, expand, or maintain their farming and ranching operations.”

    The online farm loan application replicates the support an applicant would receive when completing a loan application in person with an FSA Farm Loan Officer, while continuing to provide customers with one-on-one assistance as needed.  This tool and other process improvements allow farmers and ranchers to submit complete loan applications and reduce the number of incomplete and withdrawn applications.

    Through a personalized dashboard, borrowers can track the progress of their loan application. It can be accessed on farmers.gov or by completing FSA’s Loan Assistance Tool at farmers.gov/loan-assistance-tool. To use the online loan application tool, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication (“eAuth”) account or a Login.gov account. For the initial stage, the online application tool is only available for producers who will be, or are currently, operating their farm as an individual. FSA is expanding the tools availability to married couples applying jointly and other legal entities in 2024.

    Farm Loan Improvement Efforts

    FSA has a significant initiative underway to streamline and automate Farm Loan Program customer-facing business processes. For the over 26,000 producers who submit a Direct Loan application to FSA annually, and its 85,000 Direct Loan borrowers, FSA has made improvements this year, including:

    More Information

    FSA continues to accept and review individual requests for assistance from qualifying borrowers who took certain extraordinary measures to avoid delinquency on their direct FSA loans or those who were unable to make a recent installment or are unable to make their next scheduled installment for installments through January 15, 2024. All requests for assistance must be received by Dec. 31, 2023. For more information, or to submit a request for assistance, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center or visit farmers.gov/inflation-reduction-investments/assistance.

    The Inflation Reduction Act, a historic, once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for agricultural communities, provided $3.1 billion for USDA to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain FSA direct and guaranteed loans and to expedite assistance for those whose agricultural operations are at financial risk. Since October 2022, USDA has provided approximately $1.6 billion in assistance to more than 27,000 distressed direct and guaranteed FSA loan borrowers.

  • Six Barriers to Expanding Soil Health Practices in California

    Soil health is at once the foundation of productive farmland and a tool for conserving California’s valuable water resources. Our climate pendulum of extreme drought and floods means sustainable agriculture practices must be part of our solutions toolbox – especially in the state’s most water-restricted regions.

    To help growers, water managers, and policymakers understand the direct and measurable positive impact of healthy soils on water sustainability, Sustainable Conservation published “Collaborative Solutions for California’s Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Harnessing the Water- Related Benefits of Soil.”

    Six Barriers to Adoption

    This report blends an in-depth literature review with an extensive grower survey that pinpoints six key, actionable barriers to widespread adoption of healthy soil practices.

    By marrying research insights with on-the-ground perspectives, the report unveils the pivotal role soil health can play in building a more resilient water and climate future — while protecting California agriculture’s viability.

    Soil Health is Our Health

    Why “soil health” if Sustainable Conservation focuses on water? In our work to enhance water quantity, quality, and ecosystem health for all, soils are critical to each of these goals. Healthy soils not only improve water use efficiency and capture and store more water when it’s available, but also improve the quality of the water that our ecosystems and communities rely on.

    Despite these benefits, and the momentum around soil health for carbon sequestration and human health, relatively little has been done to better understand and leverage the soil-water nexus.

    Cultivating a Resilient Future

    With only 5% of California’s arable land applying compost, planting cover crops, or reducing tillage, the potential impact of these practices at scale is enormous. This report is just one step on the road to a resilient water, climate, and agricultural future. Sustainable Conservation’s Solutions in our Soils program is dedicated to finding innovative solutions, furthering our collective learning, and overcoming barriers to promote and incentivize soil health.

    The next steps will be taken together as we incorporate healthy soils’ water benefits into the great work of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and local Resource Conservation Districts. Only by working across sectors, with partners new and old, and using the most up-to-date science, will we be able to make soil health practices accessible in California.

    The Sustainable Conservation Solutions in our Soil team acknowledges the invaluable input from partners, growers, researchers, and interviewees that made the report possible.

    About Sustainable Conservation

    Founded in San Francisco in 1993, Sustainable Conservation helps California thrive by uniting people to solve the toughest challenges facing our land, air, and water. A sustainable water future for California that supports a thriving economy is achievable. But a future in which nature and people have access to clean, affordable, and reliable water is possible only by working with – not against – each other.

    Every day, we bring together business, landowners, scientists, government, nonprofits and community representatives to steward the resources that we all depend on in ways that are just and make economic sense. For more information and to connect with Sustainable Conservation, visit suscon.org.

  • California Almond Acreage Drops Again in 2023

    California’s total almond acreage dropped again in 2023, this time by about 74,000 acres, making two years in a row that acreage has decreased, something that has not happened since at least 1995, according to a new report from Land IQ to the Almond Board of California (ABC).

    Total acreage dropped from just under 1.64 million acres last year to about 1.56 million in 2023, even though bearing acres – orchards producing almonds and planted in 2020 or earlier – increased slightly to 1.37 million acres compared with 1.34 million acres at this time last year. But the amount of non-bearing acreage – new orchards planted in 2021, 2022 or 2023 – sank about 105,000 acres from 294,000 acres in 2022 to 189,000 acres in 2023, according to the Land IQ 2023 Standing Acreage Final Estimate.

    “The latest Land IQ California almond acreage analysis continues to point to a reduction in total acreage driven by fewer new plantings and an increase in orchard removals,” said Richard Waycott, ABC president and CEO. “The 1.37 million bearing acreage in 2023 established a new record, reflecting plantings in 2020 or earlier, but going forward, the analysis points to a lowering of bearing acreage in 2024.”

    Orchard removals increased again in 2023 to about 83,000 acres as of Aug. 31, compared with 60,400 acres removed in 2022 and continuing a trend of an increasing pace of removals that started in 2021, according to the accompanying Land IQ 2023 Removal Update. That contributes to the analysis pointing to fewer acres next year and possibly beyond, Waycott said.

    In addition, nearly 41,000 acres are classified as either stressed or abandoned. They were included in the standing acreage total because the orchards “may have the ability to recover,” Land IQ said.

    The estimates come from multiple lines of evidence, including agronomic and remote sensing knowledge, robust on-the-ground verification, customized image analysis, artificial intelligence and more. Land IQ said the 2023 standing acreage estimate is 98.8 percent accurate.

    Land IQ’s acreage estimates are commissioned by ABC to provide statistical transparency and a robust picture of California almonds to industry stakeholders around the world. In 2018, ABC first commissioned Land IQ, a Sacramento-based agricultural and environmental scientific research and consulting firm, to develop a comprehensive, living map of California almonds. The map is the result of more than a decade of research.

  • December USDA Lending Rates for Ag Producers

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for December 2023, which are effective Dec. 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.

    “I encourage our lenders and borrowers alike to work with our local offices and our cooperators to capitalize fully on the existing flexibilities in these important programs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux.

    Operating, Ownership and Emergency Loans

    FSA offers farm ownership, operating and emergency loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers, whether multi-generational, long-time, or new to the industry, obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation.   For many loan options, FSA sets aside funding for underserved producers, including, beginning, women, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic farmers and ranchers.

    Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for December 2023 are as follows:

    FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders.

    To access an interactive online, step-by-step guide through the farm loan process, visit the Loan Assistance Tool on farmers.gov.

    Commodity and Storage Facility Loans

    Additionally, FSA provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade on-farm storage facilities and purchase handling equipment and loans that provide interim financing to help producers meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are low.  Funds for these loans are provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and are administered by FSA.

    Simplified Direct Loan Application

    FSA developed a new, simplified direct loan application for producers seeking a direct farm loan. The new application, reduced from 29 to 13 pages, provides an improved customer experience for producers applying for loans and enables them to complete a more streamlined application. Producers now also have the option to complete an electronic fillable form or a traditional paper application for submission to their local FSA service center.

    Disaster Support

    FSA also reminds rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by the past year’s winter storms, drought, hurricanes and other natural disasters that USDA has programs that provide assistance. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared to deliver a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to agricultural producers and impacted communities. Many programs are available without an official disaster designation, including several risk management and disaster recovery options.

    Inflation Reduction Act Assistance for Distressed Producers

    The Inflation Reduction Act, a historic, once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for the agricultural communities, provided $3.1 billion for USDA to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain FSA direct and guaranteed loans and to expedite assistance for those whose agricultural operations are at financial risk. Since October 2022, USDA has provided approximately $1.7 billion in immediate assistance to more than 30,000 financially distressed direct and guaranteed FSA loan borrowers.

    FSA recently announced additional automatic assistance to qualifying, economically distressed guaranteed farm loan program and Emergency Loan borrowers who face financial risk.

    FSA is also accepting and reviewing individual requests for assistance from borrowers who took certain extraordinary measures to avoid delinquency on their direct FSA loans or those who missed a recent installment or who are unable to make their next scheduled installment.

    For more information, or to submit a request for assistance, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center or visit farmers.gov/inflation-reduction-investments/assistance.

    More Information

    To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other fam records data and customer information by logging in their farmers.gov account. Producers without an account can sign up today.