Featured News
-
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
-
USDA Funds Risk Management Education for Historically Underserved Producers
The USDA announced in a Press Release that that they are investing nearly $1 million in funding for universities and nonprofits to develop risk management training and educational tools aimed to assist historically underserved farmers and ranchers. This investment will include RMA projects to help producers manage long-term risks and challenges. July 29, 2021 -
Farmers Emphasize to Congress Importance of Crop Insurance
Farmers from across the country testified in June before a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing examining the efficacy of the farm safety net. The crop insurance program gives farmers predictable tools to manage their unique risks. Farmers invest in crop insurance before a disaster – sharing in the risk – and they know how the rules of their policy will help them recover. July 14, 2021 -
USDA to Begin Payments for Producers Impacted by 2018 and 2019 Natural Disasters
More than $1 billion in payments will be released over the next several weeks starting June 15 for agricultural producers with approved applications for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program and for producers who have already received payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). June 14, 2021 -
New Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP) announced by the USDA and RMA
The USDA announced today that many agricultural producers that have cop insurance coverage may be eligible for a premium benefit if they planted cover crops during this crop year. The Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP) is offered through the USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) to help maintain a producers cover crop system, regardless of economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Application deadline is June 15. June 01, 2021 -
Crop Insurance Basics: Incentives
Policy makers designed crop insurance with a self-correcting feature that naturally discounts premium for any producer who improves their performance. This catch-all incentive rewards any behavior that increases yields and reduces risk for farmers and taxpayers. April 22, 2021 -
After a Year of Hardship, Hope Lies Ahead
More than 55 agricultural trade associations, agribusinesses, and farm lenders recently sent letters to policy makers and elected officials emphasizing that cuts to crop insurance must be avoided in this year’s budget discussions, as the certainty provided by the crop insurance program makes it a “critical linchpin of the farm safety net.” April 21, 2021 -
USDA temporarily suspends debt collections, foreclosures, and other activities on farm loans
Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) February 10, 2021 -
USDA announces implementation improvements of Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced that further changes to its Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance plan will take effect on January 20 for crop year 2021 and succeeding crop years. January 22, 2021 -
USDA's 2020 Accomplishments
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today applauded the accomplishments made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over the past year. December 18, 2020 -
USDA Announces Expansion and other Improvements to Hemp Crop Insurance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it is expanding the pilot Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) plan for hemp. The expansion, as well as other improvements to the plan, will begin in the 2021 crop year. Read more. November 30, 2020
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4 (current)
- 5