Featured News
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Stopgap spending bill approved to avoid a government shutdown
Update: January 19, 2024 | Congress has approved a stopgap spending bill into early March 2024 in place of a government shutdown. This means that the government will stay open while budget negotiations occur. NAU Country will continue to keep you informed as we learn more about the situation. November 22, 2023 -
Crop Insurance for Specialty and Organic Crops Grow as Options Improve and Expand
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to add crop insurance options for specialty crop and organic producers, including rolling out new and expanded options based on feedback from America’s agricultural producers. To achieve this, the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is hosting in-person and virtual roadshows and making investments in risk management education. These improvements are meant to improve risk management tools for producers and organic markets. October 17, 2023 -
Short-term spending bill approved to avoid a government shutdown
With just a few hours to spare, Congress approved a 45-day spending bill to keep the government open while budget negotiations continue. October 02, 2023
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USDA Announces New Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board Members
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed two new members of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors, which oversees the Federal crop insurance program available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Chris Bardenhagen and Howard James will serve four-year terms beginning this month on the board, which guides USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) on administering crop insurance. May 18, 2023 -
Agriculture Committee's "Four Corners" meet with President Biden
On Thursday, May 11, 2023, the "four corners" of the Agriculture Committees met with President Biden and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on the upcoming Farm Bill. After the meeting, the four lawmakers issued a joint statement. May 18, 2023 -
NAU Country President Jim Korin's Testimony at recent U.S. Senate Committee Hearing - Advocating for Crop Insurance
NAU Country President Jim Korin spoke on the importance of the crop insurance industry at a U.S. Senate Committee hearing. Watch the hearing or view a copy of Jim's testimony. May 04, 2023 -
USDA Expands Margin Protection for Corn and Soybean Farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its Margin Protection insurance plan, adding more than a thousand counties to the insurance option that provides coverage against an unexpected decrease in operating margin for corn and soybean producers. This expansion, which is in direct response to growing interest among producers, will be available by June 30, 2023. Interested producers will need to purchase their coverage by Sept. 30, 2023, to be eligible for the 2024 crop year. March 31, 2023 -
USDA Announces Major Program Improvements, Progress, and Investments to Benefit American Farmers, Ranchers, and Producers
USDA is announcing two new programs that wrap-up and fill remaining gaps in previous natural disaster and pandemic assistance. The Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 2 and Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) application period is open from January 23 through June 2, 2023. January 11, 2023 -
ERP Phase II Announced - USDA Previews Crop and Revenue Loss Assistance for Agriculture Producers
The USDA is preparing to roll out the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two as well as the new Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP), which are two programs to help offset crop and revenue losses for producers. USDA is sharing early information to help producers gather documents and train front-line staff on the new approach. November 15, 2022 -
USDA to Provide up to $20 Million for Construction of On-Farm Grain Storage Facilities in Areas Impacted by Recent Natural Disasters
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the USDA will make available $20 million in cost-share assistance to help agricultural producers in Kentucky, Minnesota, South Dakota and surrounding areas to rebuild storage facilities damaged by devastating natural disaster events in 2021 and 2022. This assistance will help producers who were hard-hit by disasters and are currently struggling with a lack of available grain storage have the resources they need as they head into the 2022 crop harvest. October 13, 2022 -
USDA to Mail Additional Applications to Producers Impacted by 2020-21 Disasters
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced another installment (phase) in assistance to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021. More than 18,000 producers will soon receive new or updated pre-filled disaster applications to offset eligible crop losses. Approximately $6.4 billion has already been distributed to 165,000 producers through USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Emergency Relief Program (ERP). August 19, 2022 -
Streamlined Delivery of Emergency Relief Programs Is Win-Win for USDA and Agricultural Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has processed more than 255,000 applications for the new Emergency Relief Program (ERP). USDA has made approximately $6.1 billion, to date, in payments to commodity and specialty crop producers to help offset eligible losses from qualifying 2020 and 2021 natural disasters. By breaking-down agency barriers, using existing data across USDA and pre-filled applications, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in cooperation with the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has been able to expediently provide economic relief and save producers and staff over a million hours of time. August 08, 2022 -
Deadline Extended and More Pre-Filled Forms For 2020 and 2021 Disasters on the Way
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will indefinitely extend the deadline for producers to return the pre-filled applications for Phase One of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). A new deadline will be announced after the last Phase One applications are mailed and provide at least 30 days following the mailing. August 05, 2022
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