Producer Resources

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FSA Sign Up Deadlines Approaching

Several key Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs have deadlines quickly approaching in January, February, and March, including disaster assistance programs and Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage election and enrollment.

Several key Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs have deadlines quickly approaching in January, February, and March, including disaster assistance programs and Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage election and enrollment. Contact your local FSA office for specific details.

• Disaster Assistance programs: Two disaster programs have a Jan. 31 deadline for producers to turn in final application paperwork. The Livestock Forage Program (LFP) is a disaster assistance program for eligible producers of grazing livestock who also have grazing land that was impacted by drought in 2021. Sixteen Nebraska counties triggered for LFP in the northeast, southwest and Panhandle areas. Those same counties also triggered for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), and USDA in 2021 extended ELAP policy to help cover the cost of transporting feed due to grazing losses related to the drought. ELAP also is available for assisting with the cost of transporting water, above normal expenses, in areas of D2 or greater on the U.S. Drought Monitor. In addition, ELAP may be available for other disaster-related losses not covered by other programs, so ask about it at your FSA office ahead of the deadline.
• Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program: DMC enrollment for the 2022 production season is open through Feb. 18. This program provides a financial safety net for dairy producers when the margin (difference between the price of milk and price of feed) falls below a certain level selected by the producer. The catastrophic coverage level is available for the cost of a $100 administrative fee, and buy-up coverage is available. Producers will also want to ask about Supplemental DMC enrollment, which was announced in December as part of the DMC application period.
• Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC)/Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Election and Enrollment: The ARC/PLC programs are the main commodity crop safety net programs, designed to mitigate fluctuations in either revenue or price. At this time, producers can make an “election” or choose between ARC or PLC on their commodity crop base acres for the 2022 production season. Current “elections” in place will roll over if no new selection is made, but a new contract, or “enrollment,” is required each year to maintain eligibility for payments. The deadline for 2022 election and enrollment is March 15, there are many producers to get through this process, so please contact your county FSA office regarding ARC/PLC as soon as possible.
• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): NAP provides a financial safety net option for some crops not covered by federal crop insurance. The application closing date is March 15 for 2022 coverage on most annual fruits and vegetables, millet, oats, dry peas, hemp, and a few other crops. Producers who raise these crops or others without commercial insurance coverage should ask about NAP ahead of the March 15 deadline.

In addition to these important programs, FSA offices are continuing to accept applications for the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP), which is designed to assist hog producers who sold animals through a negotiated or negotiated formula sale from April 16, 2020, to Sept. 1, 2020.