Zach Ducheneaux

The USDA announced the 2025 enrollment periods for key safety-net programs, including Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, as well as Dairy Margin Coverage.  Producers can submit applications to USDA’s Farm Service Agency for ARC and PLC for the 2025 crop year from January 21 to April 15. DMC appli...

Who knew agricultural statistics needed to be advised?    “People go, what it is?” according to Joe Prusacki  it is NASS’ Advisory Committee on Ag Statistics.    “Back in the day when the Census Bureau did the Census of Agriculture, they had advisory committee,” Prusacki noted.  “And so when USDA took over the Census of Agricultur...

USDA will issue more than $2.14 billion in payments to eligible agricultural producers and landowners, providing much-needed support through conservation and farm safety-net programs.  Producers should soon receive payments from the Farm Service Agency for their participation in these programs aimed at conserving natural resources and keeping family farms economically viable.  Program...

The Department of Agriculture announced an additional $250 million in automatic payments for distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers under Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act.   With the assistance more than 4,600 producers across the country will see another production season, said Zach Ducheneaux, Farm Service Agency administrator.   Roug...

USDA announced an additional $250 million in automatic payments for distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers.  This step continues USDA’s commitment to keeping farmers and ranchers financially viable and supporting agricultural companies.   “USDA ...

Late last week, USDA announced $58 million available for marketing assistance to eligible organic dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) 2024 to help expand the market for organic dairy and increase the consumption of organic dairy.  ...

The USDA has launched the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, an initiative designed to provide support to financially distressed farmers and ranchers across the nation.  Through a series of Cooperative Agreements, this national network will connect distressed borrowers with individualized assistance to help them stabilize and regain financial footing.   “...

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...

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.   “...

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 ...