Important Announcements & Deadlines
Thank you for reading another edition of the Terry County USDA News Bulletin. We have a few important announcements to share with you.
- Livestock producers who have incurred additional feed transportation costs, water transportation costs or livestock transportation costs due to the drought are encouraged to visit the Terry County FSA Office to file a notice of loss for the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP).
- The County Office is continuing to accept Phase 1 ERP (Emergency Relief Program) applications. Operators & landlords who filed a NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program) claim in 2020 & 2021 have been mailed an additional Phase 1 ERP application with insurance unit entries prefilled in Part D. Check the boxes in sections 22 & 23 appropriately, and sign/title/date in part E. Return the completed application to your recording County Office listed on the application. If you did not receive an application by mail and believe you are eligible, please contact the office and we’ll be happy to check on it for you.
Important Dates:
September 30, 2022 – Deadline to make changes to 2022 ARC/PLC contracts to match 2022 FSA-578.
January 15, 2023 – Deadline to report small grains and grapes on the FSA-578 acreage report.
January 31, 2023 – Deadline to apply for 2022 Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP)
ELAP Covers Losses from Additional Cost of Transporting Water to Livestock
If you’ve incurred additional operating costs for transporting water to livestock due to an eligible drought, assistance may be available to you through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).
An eligible drought means that part or all of your county is designated D3 (extreme drought) or higher as indicated by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Eligible livestock must be adult or non-adult dairy cattle, beef cattle, buffalo and beefalo, as well as alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer, or sheep. Additionally, the livestock must have been owned 60 calendar days prior to the beginning of the drought and be physically located in the county designated as a disaster area due to drought. Adequate livestock watering systems or facilities must have existed before the drought occurred and producers are only eligible if they do not normally transport water to the livestock.
Livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot are not eligible for transporting water. ELAP covers the additional cost of transporting water and does not cover the cost of the water itself.
You must file a notice of loss on form CCC-851 the earlier of 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent to you or by Jan. 31, 2023. Additionally, the deadline to submit an application for payment for 2022 ELAP assistance is Jan. 31, 2023.
You’ll have to provide documentation to FSA that shows the method used to transport the water, the number of gallons of water transported and the number of eligible livestock to which water was transported.
To make an appointment to sign up for ELAP and to learn more about eligibility, application and documentation requirements, contact your Terry County USDA Service Center at 806-637-7666 or visit fsa.usda.gov.
Change to Policy on Filing a Notice of Loss for Grazed Forage Producers with NAP Coverage
For the 2022 crop year, NAP forage producers with the intended use of grazing who elect to use independent assessments or other approved alternative loss percentage methods to establish their loss are no longer required to file a CCC-576 Notice of Loss with FSA. However, a CCC-576 Application for Payment form must be submitted to FSA no later than 60 calendar days after the coverage period ends. If an independent assessment is used to determine the loss, producers have 180 days to file an application for payment.
Producers that elect to have the grazing loss determined using similar mechanically harvested units still must timely file a CCC-576 Notice of Loss within 15 days of the disaster event or damage to the crop first becomes apparent or within 15 days of harvest.
Double-Cropping
Each year, state committees review and approve or disapprove county committee recommended changes or additions to specific combinations of crops.
Double-cropping is approved when two specific crops have the capability to be planted and carried to maturity for the intended use, as reported by the producer, on the same acreage within a crop year under normal growing conditions. The specific combination of crops recommended by the county committee must be approved by the state committee.
The following double-cropping combinations are approved in Terry County:
| First Crop | Intended uses | Final Planting Date | Practices | Second crop | Final Planting Date |
| Rye | GR-Grain, GZ- Grazing, FG-Haying, GM- Green Manure, LS- Left Standing | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Watermelons | 06/15 |
| Triticale | GR-Grain, GZ- Grazing, FG-Haying, GM- Green Manure, LS- Left Standing | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Watermelons | 06/15 |
| Wheat | GR-Grain, GZ- Grazing, FG-Haying, GM- Green Manure, LS- Left Standing | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Watermelons | 06/15 |
| Rye | GR-Grain, FG-Haying, GM-Green Manure | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Pumpkins | 06/15 |
| Triticale | GR-Grain, FG-Haying, GM-Green Manure | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Pumpkins | 06/15 |
| Wheat | GR-Grain, FG-Haying, GM-Green Manure | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Pumpkins | 06/15 |
| Rye | (Planting period #21)-Grazing Only | 10/1 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Triticale | (Planting period #21)-Grazing Only | 10/1 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Wheat | (Planting period #21)-Grazing Only | 10/1 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Oats | (Planting period #21)-Grazing Only | 10/1 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Rye | Planting Period #41)- Grazing Only | 11/15 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Triticale | Planting Period #41)- Grazing Only | 11/15 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Wheat | Planting Period #41)- Grazing Only | 11/15 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Oats | Planting Period #41)- Grazing Only | 11/15 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Rye | Green Manure Only- GM | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Triticale | Green Manure Only- GM | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Wheat | Green Manure Only- GM | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
| Oats | Green Manure Only- GM | 11/30 | Both Crops must be Irrigated | Squash- Planting Period #2 | 06/1 |
A crop following a cover crop terminated according to termination guidelines is approved double cropping and these combinations do not have to be approved by the state committee.
USDA Announces New Opportunities to Improve Nutrient Management
USDA welcomed the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which will deliver $19.5 billion in new conservation funding to support climate-smart agriculture. This historic funding will bolster the new steps that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced to improve opportunities for nutrient management. NRCS will target funding, increasing program flexibilities, launch a new outreach campaign to promote nutrient management’s economic benefits, in addition to expanding partnerships to develop nutrient management plans. This is part of USDA’s broader effort to address future fertilizer availability and cost challenges for U.S. producers.
Through USDA’s conservation programs, America’s farmers and ranchers will have streamlined opportunities to improve their nutrient management planning, which provides conservation benefits while mitigating the impacts of supply chain disruptions and increased input costs.
Specifically, NRCS efforts include:
- Streamlined Nutrient Management Initiative – A streamlined initative will incentivize nutrient management activities through key conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts, and the Conservation Stewardship Program. The initiative will use a ranking threshold for pre-approval and include a streamlined and expedited application process, targeted outreach to small-scale and historically underserved producers, and coordination with FSA to streamline the program eligibility process for producers new to USDA. In addition to otherwise available funding at the state level, NRCS is targeting additional FY23 funds for nutrient management. NRCS is also announcing a streamlined funding opportunity for up to $40 million in nutrient management grant opportunities through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
- Nutrient Management Economic Benefits Outreach Campaign – A new outreach campaign will highlight the economic benefits of nutrient management planning for farmers. The potential net savings to farmers who adopt a nutrient management plan is estimated to be an average of $30 per acre for cropland. It is estimated that there are 89 million acres of cropland (28% of total U.S. cropland) currently exceeding the nitrogen loss threshold; and if all those acres implemented a nutrient management plan, the average net savings would be $2.6 billion. NRCS staff develop nutrient management plans to help producers use nutrient resources effectively and efficiently to adequately supply soils and plants with necessary nutrients while minimizing transport of nutrients to ground and surface waters. Producer information is available at farmers.gov/global-food-security.
- Expanded Nutrient Management Support through Technical Service Providers Streamlining and Pilots – New agreements with key partners who have existing capacity to support nutrient management planning and technical assistance will expand benefits and serve as a model to continue streamlining the certification process for Technical Service Providers (TSPs). NRCS is also developing new opportunities to support partner training frameworks, nutrient management outreach and education, and new incentive payments through TSP partners for nutrient management planning and implementation.
Alongside the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act provides once-in-a-generation investment in rural communities and their infrastructure needs, while also responding to the climate crisis. The bill invests $40 billion into existing USDA programs promoting climate smart agriculture, rural energy efficiency and reliability, forest conservation, and more.
Approximately $20 billion of this investment will support conservation programs that are oversubscribed, meaning that more producers will have access to conservation assistance that will support healthier land and water, improve the resilience of their operations, support their bottom line, and combat climate change. This includes:
- $8.45 billion for EQIP
- $4.95 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
- $3.25 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
- $1.4 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
For more information and resources for nutrient management planning, visit farmers.gov/global-food-insecurity. Contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center to get assistance with a nutrient management plan for your land.
USDA Announces New Opportunities to Improve Nutrient Management
USDA welcomed the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which will deliver $19.5 billion in new conservation funding to support climate-smart agriculture. This historic funding will bolster the new steps that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced to improve opportunities for nutrient management. NRCS will target funding, increasing program flexibilities, launch a new outreach campaign to promote nutrient management’s economic benefits, in addition to expanding partnerships to develop nutrient management plans. This is part of USDA’s broader effort to address future fertilizer availability and cost challenges for U.S. producers.
Through USDA’s conservation programs, America’s farmers and ranchers will have streamlined opportunities to improve their nutrient management planning, which provides conservation benefits while mitigating the impacts of supply chain disruptions and increased input costs.
Specifically, NRCS efforts include:
- Streamlined Nutrient Management Initiative – A streamlined initative will incentivize nutrient management activities through key conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts, and the Conservation Stewardship Program. The initiative will use a ranking threshold for pre-approval and include a streamlined and expedited application process, targeted outreach to small-scale and historically underserved producers, and coordination with FSA to streamline the program eligibility process for producers new to USDA. In addition to otherwise available funding at the state level, NRCS is targeting additional FY23 funds for nutrient management. NRCS is also announcing a streamlined funding opportunity for up to $40 million in nutrient management grant opportunities through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
- Nutrient Management Economic Benefits Outreach Campaign – A new outreach campaign will highlight the economic benefits of nutrient management planning for farmers. The potential net savings to farmers who adopt a nutrient management plan is estimated to be an average of $30 per acre for cropland. It is estimated that there are 89 million acres of cropland (28% of total U.S. cropland) currently exceeding the nitrogen loss threshold; and if all those acres implemented a nutrient management plan, the average net savings would be $2.6 billion. NRCS staff develop nutrient management plans to help producers use nutrient resources effectively and efficiently to adequately supply soils and plants with necessary nutrients while minimizing transport of nutrients to ground and surface waters. Producer information is available at farmers.gov/global-food-security.
- Expanded Nutrient Management Support through Technical Service Providers Streamlining and Pilots – New agreements with key partners who have existing capacity to support nutrient management planning and technical assistance will expand benefits and serve as a model to continue streamlining the certification process for Technical Service Providers (TSPs). NRCS is also developing new opportunities to support partner training frameworks, nutrient management outreach and education, and new incentive payments through TSP partners for nutrient management planning and implementation.
Alongside the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act provides once-in-a-generation investment in rural communities and their infrastructure needs, while also responding to the climate crisis. The bill invests $40 billion into existing USDA programs promoting climate smart agriculture, rural energy efficiency and reliability, forest conservation, and more.
Approximately $20 billion of this investment will support conservation programs that are oversubscribed, meaning that more producers will have access to conservation assistance that will support healthier land and water, improve the resilience of their operations, support their bottom line, and combat climate change. This includes:
- $8.45 billion for EQIP
- $4.95 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
- $3.25 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
- $1.4 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
For more information and resources for nutrient management planning, visit farmers.gov/global-food-insecurity. Contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center to get assistance with a nutrient management plan for your land.
USDA Offers Greater Protection and Flexibility with RMA’s Transitional and Organic Grower Assistance
If you have Federal crop insurance for crops in transition to organic or a certified organic grain or feed crop, you are eligible to receive premium assistance from the USDA for the 2023 reinsurance year. The Transitional and Organic Grower Assistance (TOGA) Program, offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), reduces a producer’s overall crop insurance premium bills, and helps them continue to use organic agricultural systems.
RMA’s TOGA — a nationwide program — is part of USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative, a group of programs that build more and better markets for American growers and consumers and improve the resilience of the food supply chain. Through the Organic Transition Initiative, USDA will provide support in three main areas: mentoring and advice, direct farmer assistance, and organic market security.
Premium benefits for TOGA include:
- 10 percentage points of premium subsidy for all crops in transition,
- $5 per acre premium benefit for certified organic grain and feed crops, and
- 10 percentage points of premium subsidy for all Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) policies covering any number of crops in transition to organic or crops with the certified organic practice. Producers who have additional individual crop insurance policies will also receive the applicable premium assistance on those policies.
Eligible organic grain and feed crops are: alfalfa seed, barley, buckwheat, canola, corn, cultivated wild rice, dry beans, dry peas, flax, forage production, forage seeding, fresh market sweet corn, grain sorghum, hybrid corn seed, hybrid popcorn seed, hybrid sorghum seed, hybrid sweet corn seed, millet, oats, crops insured under the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage policy, peanuts, popcorn, rice, rye, safflower, sesame, silage sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, sweet corn, triticale, and wheat.
Producers can receive both RMA’s TOGA and premium assistance from other premium subsidy programs. To be eligible for RMA’s TOGA, producers must purchase an additional coverage policy. If a producer purchases an underlying policy and an additional endorsement, RMA’s TOGA premium subsidy only applies to the underlying policy. There is no enrollment paperwork to apply for TOGA. Producers will automatically receive the premium assistance on the billing statements for the 2023 reinsurance year, which covers applicable policies with sales closing dates from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. For most eligible crops, the 2023 reinsurance year is also the 2023 crop year.
Eligible producers who already have an insurance policy for the 2023 reinsurance year will still receive the TOGA premium subsidy. For example, for some potato, strawberry, and cabbage producers, the sales closing date for the 2023 reinsurance year has already passed. Since there is no enrollment paperwork, the premium assistance will still be automatically applied to eligible insurance policies.
You can visit the TOGA webpage for more information, including frequently asked questions, and the TOGA fact sheet.
While TOGA automatically provides premium assistance to producers who insure their crop during the 2023 reinsurance year, RMA encourages producers to contact a crop insurance agent to discuss all crop insurance opportunities. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator.
Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov.
