USDA Farm Service Agency Whats New in the

USDA Farm Service Agency What’s New in the 2018 Farm Bill

Mission Equitably serve all farmers, ranchers and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs for all Americans. Programs include: Farm Loan Programs (DO, Microloans, FO, GL, Youth) Conservation Programs (ECP, EFRP, CRP) Price Support Programs (FSFL, DMC, ARC/PLC) Disaster Programs (NAP, ELAP, LIP, TAP)

Organization and Structure 51 State Offices, 2, 124 County Offices (5 in NH) County Committee – help deliver farm programs at the local level and oversee the day-to-day operation of County Offices 3 -5 members Serve up to three, three-year terms (consecutively) State Committee – help deliver farm programs at the state level 5 members representing different Ag sectors from across the state Kathy Sherman Madison Hardy Kirk Scamman Gary Le. Clair Scott Mason

Farm Loans FSA provides farmers and ranchers with access to credit through Direct Operating Loans, Microloans, Direct Farm Ownership Loans and Guaranteed Loans. Changes in the 2018 Farm Bill include: No longer limited to a combined total of $50, 000 for Farm Ownership and Operating Microloans DO limit increased to $400, 000, FO increased to $600, 000 GL limit increased to $1, 750, 000 SDA and BF will receive a guarantee equal to 95% (up from 90%)

Price Support Programs Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) Offers protection to dairy farmers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. Changes include: Replaced MPP One-time election to participate through 2023 at a 25% discount Max level increased to $9. 50 MPP participants 2014 -2017 may receive refund Producers in LGM could have retroactively enrolled in 2018 MPP as well

Price Support Programs Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Programs Protects farm revenue from changes in market conditions Changes include: Producers may make a new election to obtain either ARC or PLC May change elections annually (2021 through 2023 crop years) Farms where cropland was planted entirely to grass or pasture for 1/1/2009 – 12/31/2017 are ineligible PLC payment yields can be updated with the 2020 crop year

Conservation Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) Provides c/s to restore farmland damaged by natural disasters and emergency water measures during drought Changes include: Increased payment limitation from $200, 000 to $500, 000 (per disaster) 25% Advanced payment for fencing practices Expanded higher c/s rates (90%) to include SDA and BF (in addition to LR) Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) Provides c/s to restore Non-industrial Private Forestland damaged by natural disasters Authorized, no changes

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Pays producers annual rent to take highly erodible and environmentally sensitive land out of production Changes included: Increased National cap from 24 million to 27 million acres General Signup ends February 28, 2020 Continuous Signup ongoing through Sept 2020 Placed limitations (% of payment) on rental payments

Disaster Programs Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Programs (NAP) Provides assistance to producers, where catastrophic insurance is not available, when low yields, loss of inventory occur due to eligible loss Changes include: Buy-up coverage now permanent program authorization Service fees increased ($325/crop, $825/producer per county, NTE $1, 950 for multicounty producers) Buy-up premiums unchanged Payment limitations for basic $125, 000, separate $300, 000 for buy-up Tree Assistance Program (TAP) Provides c/s for orchards and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate tree, bush or vine losses due to natural disaster Changes made for BF and veteran farmers, reimbursement costs were increased from 65% to 75% for replanting

Disaster Programs Authorized, with minimal changes: Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) Grazing Losses, due to eligible cause of loss (natural disaster) Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) Losses in excess of normal mortality, due to eligible cause of loss (natural disaster) Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) Other losses, not covered by the programs above Prior to 2018 Farm Bill, the programs above were managed as a “suite” of programs. The 2018 Farm Bill sectioned them into separate programs.

2019 Farm Loan Totals $3, 000 $2, 673, 200 $2, 500, 000 $2, 000 $1, 500, 000 $1, 000 $938, 500 $500, 000 $0 Direct Loans Guaranteed Loans

2019 Program Payments $900, 000 $820, 004 $800, 000 $700, 000 $600, 000 $491, 295 $500, 000 $400, 000 $300, 000 $200, 000 $142, 670 $74, 106 $100, 000 $1, 178 $4, 078 EFRP ELAP $0 NAP ECP MFP DMC

Thank you! Jeffrey Holmes, State Executive Director 603 -224 -7941 Jeffrey. holmes 2@usda. gov Marilyn Milne, Executive Officer 603 -224 -7941 Marilyn. milne@usda. gov Questions?