Federal

Sept. 30 deadline to update safety net program crop yields

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farm owners that they have a one-time opportunity to update Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program yields for covered commodities on the farm. The deadline is Sept. 30, 2020, to update yields, which are used to calculate the PLC payments for 2020 through 2023. Additionally, producers who elected Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) should also consider ... Read More »

Ag, rural issues raised

Presidential candidates respond to questions from Farm Bureau From DTN Responding to questions from the American Farm Bureau Federation, President Donald Trump’s campaign points to the administration’s support for farmers and agriculture in regulations, trade and labor, while former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign counters a Biden presidency would repair some of the trade relations that have affected agriculture the ... Read More »

NAWG applauds House, Senate COVID-19 wheat letters to USDA

Last week, 26 U.S. representatives and 21 U.S. senators from wheat producing states issued letters to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue asking that he use existing funds through the CARES Act to begin covering 2020 crop losses and to include all classes of wheat. “NAWG is grateful for Congressman Frank Lucas’s (R-Okla.) leadership on this important effort to ... Read More »

Farm Service Agency call center can quickly set you on the right path

From USDA Farmers and ranchers can now contact a call center to receive one-on-one assistance from USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) employees ready to help. By calling 877-508-8364, customers can ask questions about FSA programs – including to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) – and get a jump start on program applications. The call center was created in response ... Read More »

US, China reaffirm commitment to Phase 1 trade deal in phone call

From Reuters Top U.S. and Chinese trade officials reaffirmed their commitment to a Phase 1 trade deal, which has seen China lagging on its obligations to buy American goods, giving a boost to financial markets on Tuesday. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

USDA tightens eligibility rules for farm subsidies

From agriculture.com Loopholes remain, but the USDA is tightening its crop subsidy rules by limiting who can collect a payment for managing a farm, historically one of its most porous definitions. The new regulation, to be published soon, requires people to perform at least 500 hours of management or at least 25 percent of the management work required annually to ... Read More »

Congressman meets with wheat growers to discuss issues

By Trista Crossley “With travel being curtailed during the pandemic, it has been more difficult for us to meet in person with our legislators, so we want to thank Rep. Newhouse for coming to Ritzville to sit down with us,” said Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG). “We also want to thank those growers ... Read More »

Some win, some don’t, as USDA spreads COVID relief

From the Capital Press The USDA on Tuesday extended COVID-19 relief to nurseries, sheep ranchers and producers of dozens of other farm goods, while turning down aid to dozens of other commodities. Washington hop and wheat farmers were among those who were denied. USDA said there wasn’t evidence their prices slumped by 5% or more between mid-January and mid-April as ... Read More »

USDA’s latest CFAP announcement still doesn’t include all classes of wheat

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced yesterday that additional commodities will now be covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to Sept. 11. Unfortunately, USDA did not extend eligibility to any additional classes of wheat. ... Read More »

Quality loss option now available

Producers can help protect APH with new crop insurance rule By Trista Crossley Wheat farmers now have another tool in their arsenal when it comes to utilizing crop insurance to safeguard their livelihoods. Beginning with the 2021 crop year, growers will be able to elect a quality loss option that protects their 10-year actual production history (APH), especially in cases ... Read More »