FSA History FSA was set up when the

FSA History • FSA was set up when the department reorganized in 1994, incorporating programs from several agencies: – Agricultural Stabilization & Conservation Service (ASCS) – Farm Home Administration – Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (now separate Risk Management Agency). • Though its name has changed over the year’s, the Agency’s relationship with farmers goes back to the 1930’s.

Farm Service Agency FSA helps ensure the well being of American agriculture and the American public through efficient and equitable administration of farm commodity, farm loan, conservation, emergency assistance and domestic and international food assistance programs.

Farm Service Agency FSA enhances the environment by the development and implementation of programs to ensure adequate protection of our natural, cultural, and historic resources. FSA assists agricultural producers and landowners in achieving a high level of stewardship of soil, water, air, and wildlife resources on America’s farmland.

The Programs Provide: • Safety net to help farmers produce an adequate food supply • Maintain viable operations • Compete for export sales of commodities in the world marketplace • Contribute to the year-round availability of a variety of low-cost, safe and nutritious foods

FSA Goals: • Supporting Productive Farms • Supporting Secure and Affordable Food and Fiber • Conserving Natural and Enhancing the Environment

Who can qualify for assistance? • Farm/Ranchers Owners or Operators • Small Farmers • Limited Resource Farmers • Socially Disadvantaged • Family Farmers

FSA Services / Programs: • • • Farm Loans Farm Storage Facility Loan Program Dairy Program Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program/ACRE Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Commodity Loans Conservation Programs Disaster Assistance Programs Agricultural Mediation Program Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program

Delivery of Programs through: • Network of field offices including 2, 500 USDA service centers and 51 State Offices, including Puerto Rico. • State and County office elected committees, comprised of farmers in the local area, are responsible for overseeing FSA services delivered to the farming community. • E-file or E-Gov - The internet allows customers access to information 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

County Committee (COC) • A unique county-based network gives grassroots input into the administration of Federal policy. • Farmers are elected representative from their community to serve on the local committee. • COC reviews County Operations and provides insight on how farm programs affect local communities.

• Table 2. Corn Marketing Loan Gain/Loan Conservation Programs Deficiency Payment Examples These programs conserve our Nation’s natural resources, including land, water, air and wildlife. • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) – Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) – Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP) – Farmable Wetland Program (FWP) – State Acres for Wildlife (CRP-SAFE) • Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) • Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) • Grassland Reserved Program (GRP)

• Table 2. Corn Marketing Loan Gain/Loan Deficiency Payment Examples Noninsured Assistance Program (NAP) NAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occurs as a result of natural disasters. “Noninsurable” crops are any crop that is not insured through your local Risk Management Agency or Crop Insurance Provider.

• Table 2. Corn Marketing Loan Gain/Loan Deficiency Payment Examples Price Support Programs These programs help producers manage risk and provides a safety net for low prices. • Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs) • Loan Deficiency Program (LDP) • Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFL) • Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC)

Commodity Eligibility Eligible loan commodities includes: • • • Barley Crambe Corn Silage Dry peas Flaxseed Grain sorghum Honey Mustard seed Oats • • • Peanuts Rapeseed Rice safflower Soybeans Sunflower oil Sunflower seeds Wheat Wool Mohair Unshorn pelts

• Table 2. Corn Marketing Loan Gain/Loan Deficiency Payment Examples Production Flexibility Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program (DCP) –For producers of feed grains, wheat, upland cotton, rice, soybeans, other oilseeds & peanuts –Direct payments are issued regardless of market prices –Counter-cyclical payments are issued if the effective prices are less than the target prices set in the Farm Bill Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) –An alternative to counter-cyclical payments, ACRE is based state and farm level triggers for yield and price.

• Table 2. Corn Marketing Loan Gain/Loan Deficiency Payment Examples Farm Loans • FSA lends money and provides credit counseling and supervision to eligible participants. • Producers can finance farm ownership and operating expenses through direct and guaranteed loans • Percentage of funds set aside for loans to minority applicants and beginning farmers • Loans to rural youth

Disaster Recovery Assistance: FSA offers farmers various types of disaster aid to facilitate recovery from losses caused by drought, flood, freeze, tornadoes, hurricane, and other natural events. Ongoing disaster assistance programs available to eligible producers are: • Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE) • Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish (ELAP) • Livestock Forage Program (LFP) • Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) • Tree Assistance Program (TAP) • Emergency Loan Program

FSA Website • • • User friendly Packed with useful information Program information News releases Online FSA forms County Loan Deficiency payment rates

e-Gov • Customer Statement • Electronic Loan Deficiency Payments (e-LDP) • Electronic Direct and Counter Cyclical Payment program service. (e-DCP) • e. Forms

Why is e-File important? • • • Convenience Faster Processing Identity Security Reduce Paper Consumption It provides greater flexibility to producers who conduct business online and wants to avoid travel time to and from the local FSA office.

Resources Further information about FSA Programs is available from your local FSA office or on FSA’s Web site at: www. fsa. usda. gov You can also find FSA offices in the telephone directory under “U. S. Department of Agriculture”.