FSA Outreach Focus

strawberry in school garden

2022 Ag Census Deadline is February 6!

The deadline for response is Feb. 6, 2023. NASS will release the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture in 2024.

Survey codes and questionnaires were mailed to all known agriculture producers in November and December. Any producer who has not responded can complete the ag census at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.

To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus.

USDA Issues Additional Pandemic Assistance Payments for Underserved Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is currently making automatic Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) top-up payments to underserved farmers and ranchers. Payments will be based on the 2020 program certification on form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification.

Producers who have not previously certified to their underserved status for the 2020 program year have until Feb. 10, 2023, to submit form CCC-860 to be eligible for the additional payments. Contact your local USDA Service Center for more information.

2022 Census of Agriculture is Underway

The Census of Agriculture remains the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and U.S. territory. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2022, are included in the ag census. The data inform decisions about policy, programs, rural development, research, and more. The Census of Agriculture is the producer’s voice in the future of American agriculture.

Survey codes and questionnaires were mailed to all known agriculture producers in November and December. Any producer who has not responded can complete the ag census at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.

The deadline for response is Feb. 6, 2023. NASS will release the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture in 2024.

To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus.

Rolling Out Revenue Based Disaster and Pandemic Assistance Programs

Starting Jan 23, agricultural producers became able to apply for two new important programs for revenue losses, from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic. Both programs equitably fill gaps in earlier assistance.

Producers may be eligible for assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two if they experienced revenue losses from eligible natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. ERP Phase Two is for producers who didn’t receive assistance from ERP Phase One.

Producers may also be eligible for the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP)if they experienced revenue losses in calendar year 2020. PARP is addressing gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses.

Applications for both new programs are due June 2, 2023.  Producers can apply for both programs during the same appointment with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Historically, FSA programs have been designed to make direct payments to producers based on a single disaster event or for a single commodity loss. For many, this may be the first revenue-based program that they’ve applied for with FSA.

In preparation for enrollment, producers should gather supporting documentation including:

  • Schedule F (Form 1040); and
  • Profit or Loss from Farming or similar tax documents for tax years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 for ERP and for calendar years 2018, 2019 and 2020 for PARP.

Producers should also have, or be prepared to have, the following forms on file for both ERP and PARP program participation:

  • Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet (as applicable to the program participant);
  • Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity;
  • Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable); and
  • Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.  
  • Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, as certain existing permanent and ad-hoc disaster programs provide increased benefits or reduced fees and premiums.

Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center.

RMA Workshops on Crop Insurance for Specialty Crop, Organic Producers

Want to learn more about crop insurance options, including those designed for agricultural producers who grow specialty and organic crops?

Join USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) for free in-person and virtual workshopon February 25th. The workshops will cover the ins and outs of the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm programs, which are great insurance options for specialty crop, organic, urban, and other producers with diverse operations. RMA subject matter experts will provide an in-depth look at these policies.

Learn more

1890 National Scholars Program & New Electronic Application Available Now Thru March 15th

The 1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership program between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and 1890 Land-Grant Universities which provides full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to 4 years to selected students.

Review the applicant guidebook for detailed instructions on how to create an account and apply – USDA 1890 National Scholars Application Applicant Guide (PDF, 992 KB)

To view the new 2023 E-application, please open the following link – 2023 E-application for the 1890 National Scholars Program

For any questions regarding the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program, please contact:

Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement Telephone Number: (202) 720-6350 Email: 1890init@usda.gov

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program

The Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program promotes and strengthens the ability of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) to carry out higher education programs in the food and agricultural sciences. This is a competitive grants program that promotes the ability of HSIs to carry out higher education programs to attract, retain and graduate outstanding students capable of enhancing the nation’s food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences professional and scientific work force. This grant program aligns the efforts of HSIs to support academic development and career attainment of underrepresented groups. This grant program closes March 31. Go online to read the funding opportunity.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) provides grants to organizations for education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers in the Untied States. BFRDP provides beginning farmers or ranchers with unique educational, training, mentoring and technical assistance programs. These programs enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. This program closes April 27. Go online to read the BFRDP funding opportunity.

Upcoming Webinars

Wednesday, February 22, 3 p.m. Eastern: Farm and Ranch Tax Strategies 2023. There is a strategy to managing your taxes and now is the time to start planning.  Join USDA and Bob Rhea, University of Illinois Tax School, to learn about tax management options for 2023.   Register here.

Wednesday, March 22, 3 p.m. Eastern: Schedule F (Profit or Loss From Farming).   The Schedule F is used to report taxable income earned from farming, ranching, and agricultural activities.  Join USDA and Guido van der Hoeven, President, Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation, Inc. (LGUTEF), for a line-by-line review of this tax form.   Register here.

In Case You Missed It

November Tax Education Webinar – Form 1099 Information Returns – YouTube

FSA National Outreach Office (OO)

1400 Independence Ave SW Stop 0511 Rm 3086
Washington, DC 20250-0511

FSA Outreach Webpage

Linda Cronin, Outreach Director                          Email:  fsaoutreach@usda.gov