Cooperative Extension: Agriculture

Producers Can Now Hay, Graze and Chop Cover Crops Anytime and Still Receive Full Prevented Planting Payment Agricultural producers with crop insurance can hay, graze or chop cover crops for silage, haylage or baleage at any time and still receive 100% of the prevented planting payment. Previously, cover crops could only be hayed, grazed or […]

USDA Reminds Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports WASHINGTON, June 16, 2021 – Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office before the applicable deadline. July 15 is a major deadline for most crops, but acreage reporting deadlines […]

USDA Announces Additional Aid to Ag Producers and Businesses in Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative WASHINGTON, June 15, 2021 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today additional aid to agricultural producers and businesses as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Earlier this year, Secretary Vilsack announced plans to use available pandemic assistance […]

USDA to Invest $15 Million in the Future of Conservation Through Innovation Grants Program USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing up to $15 million to support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. This year, funded […]

USDA to Begin Loan Payments to Socially Disadvantaged Borrowers Under American Rescue Plan Act The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides funding and authorization for USDA FSA to pay up to 120 percent of direct and guaranteed loan outstanding balances as of January 1, 2021, for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as defined […]

USDA Announces June 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating and Ownership Loans FSA offers farm ownership and operating loans to eligible agricultural producers. For […]

Producers with Crop Insurance to Receive Premium Benefit for Cover Crops Agricultural producers who have coverage under most crop insurance policies are eligible for a premium benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) if they planted cover crops during this crop year. The Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP), offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency […]

Developing Risk Management and Marketing Plans Virtual Workshop Series For Beginning, Women, and Shellfish Growers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts (Open to Maine Growers) Join us for a virtual workshop on risk management and marketing. This workshop will be delivered through nine zoom sessions and will be accompanied by homework assignments, and individualized counseling sessions […]

USDA Improves Livestock Crop Insurance Policies with New Options The U.S. Department of Agriculture is updating livestock insurance policies to improve options for producers and to create additional opportunities for producers to participate. USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) updates to the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) and Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) policies will be effective for the […]