Important Dates

July 15 — Deadline to submit 2020 Crop Acreage Report   

July 15 — Deadline to submit ARC-Individual Farm Yields

July 15 — Deadline to submit 2019 NAP production

August 1 — Deadline to submit COC nominations

August 21 — Deadline to sign-up for CRP SHIPP

August 28 — Deadline to apply for CFAP 

August 31 — CRP Managed Haying/Grazing ends

September 7 — Office closed for Labor Day

September 30 — Deadline to update ARC PLC Yields

Report Notice of Loss within 15 days of occurrence for all crops and grasses

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) sign-up began May 26th.  Information and the application form can be found at http://www.farmers.gov/cfap. Sign-up ends August 28, 2020.

The deadline to complete 2020 acreage reports for corn, soybeans, sunflowers, spring wheat, CRP, and other spring seeded crops is July 15, 2020.  Although current operating procedures do not allow customers to enter the Edmunds County USDA Service Center, our staff is still ready to assist you in timely filing a crop acreage report.

CRP WEED CONTROL:   Control of weeds on CRP Contracts is a requirement for all active CRP Contracts.  If you wish to complete Weed Control during the primary nesting season you need to contact the office. You can either request weed control by calling or emailing the office.   Primary nesting season in South Dakota is May 1-August 1, 2020.

FSA 2020 County Committee Nomination Period Begins

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages all farmers, ranchers, and FSA program participants to take part in the 2020 county committee election nomination process.

FSA’s county committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA and allow grassroots input and local administration of federal farm programs.

Committees are comprised of locally elected agricultural producers responsible for the fair and equitable administration of FSA farm programs in their counties. Committee members are accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. If elected, members become part of a local decision making and farm program delivery process.

A county committee is composed of 3 to 11 elected members from local administrative areas (LAA). Each member serves a three-year term. One-third of the seats on these committees are open for election each year.

County committees may have an appointed advisor to further represent the local interests of underserved farmers and ranchers. Underserved producers are beginning, women and other minority farmers and ranchers and landowners and/or operators who have limited resources.

All nomination forms for the 2020 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by Aug. 1, 2020 (or next business day). For more information on FSA county committee elections and appointments, refer to FSA fact sheets online at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

New Farmers.gov Feature Helps Producers Find Farm Loans that Fit Their Operation

A new online tool can help farmers and ranchers find information on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) farm loans that may best fit their operations. USDA has launched the new Farm Loan Discovery Tool as the newest feature on farmers.gov, the Department’s self-service website for farmers.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers a variety of loan options to help farmers finance their operations. From buying land to financing the purchase of equipment, FSA loans can help. Compared to this time last year, FSA has seen an 18 percent increase in the amount it has obligated for direct farm ownership loans, and through the 2018 Farm Bill, has increased the limits for several loan products.

USDA conducted field research in eight states, gathering input from farmers and FSA farm loan staff to better understand their needs and challenges.

How the Tool Works

Farmers who are looking for financing options to operate a farm or buy land can answer a few simple questions about what they are looking to fund and how much money they need to borrow. After submitting their answers, farmers will be provided information on farm loans that best fit their specific needs. The loan application and additional resources also will be provided.

Farmers can download application quick guides that outline what to expect from preparing an application to receiving a loan decision. There are four guides that cover loans to individuals, entities, and youth, as well as information on microloans. The guides include general eligibility requirements and a list of required forms and documentation for each type of loan. These guides can help farmers prepare before their first USDA service center visit with a loan officer.

Farmers can access the Farm Loan Discovery Tool by visiting farmers.gov/fund and clicking the “Start” button. Follow the prompts and answer five simple questions to receive loan information that is applicable to your agricultural operation. The tool is built to run on any modern browser like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or the Safari browser, and is fully functional on mobile devices. It does not work in Internet Explorer.