fsa

Late last week, the USDA designated Yakima County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area for Drought.  The designation allows FSA to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from drought through emergency loans.  Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certa

The National Farmers Union and the USDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address staffing levels and improve customer service at Farm Service Agency county-level offices. NFU and USDA say they will work together to gather feedback on the experiences of family farmers and ranchers when interacting with FSA staff and the programs they deliver...

FSA has designated half a dozen Washington counties as primary natural disaster areas due to drought.  The designation allows for the FSA to send emergency credit through emergency loans to producers in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Okanagan and Skagit counties.  According to the ...

The USDA launched a new Debt Consolidation Tool that allows producers to enter their farm operating debt and evaluate the potential savings that might come from debt consolidation.  That consolidation could come from either a local lender or the Farm Service Agency.   “...

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is inviting producers impacted by wildfire in Umatilla and Morrow counties to an informational meeting where agencies will answer questions.  Participants will learn about resources available for residents, landowners, livestock and agricultural producers.   ...

Enrollment is now open for qualified Idaho farmers and ranchers interested in the Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership.  This program led by the University of Idaho offers technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers interested in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices while also seeking to create market opportunities for resulting commodities.  Applica... Read Mor

Shyla Lisenbee has been hired as the new Latah County FSA County Executive director.  Lisenbee replaces long time director Jim Knecht who retired.  She was the County Executive Director in Benewah/Kootenai/Shoshone counties and Bonner/Boundary counties before moving to Latah County.   Lisenbee, ...

Last week, the USDA announced a new way of doing business through FSA farm loan programs.  The Department said these changes will increase flexibility and resiliency for Ag producers/borrowers.   “I think that these changes to the terms are really transformative," said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux.  "We're really proud of ...

“What really underpinned our efforts at USDA is to improve equity and keep all farmers farming," noted Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack as he recently announced that USDA is making scores of changes in every single agency in an effort to boost equity and fairness.  Vilsack ...

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced the Producer and Agricultural Credit Enhancement (PACE) Act, legislation to improve farmers and ranchers’ access to credit by modernizing loan limitations for U.S. Department of Agriculture loan programs.