Terry County Important Announcements
Thank you for keeping up-to date, and reading another edition of the Terry County news bulletin. The office has several announcements and reminders for our producers.
The office is open for producers to come inside to do business by appointment only. The office is making appointments for spring crop acreage reporting. Be sure to get your spring crops reported by July 15th, 2021 to ensure program eligibility and avoid late file fees.
Producers who are planning on planting 2021 spring planted fruits and vegetable crops are reminded that the crop must be the initial crop or an approved double cropping combination in order to be eligible for 2021 NAP. If you have any questions please contact Scott Snodgrass.
Terry County is eligible for 2021 Livestock Forage Program (LFP). Only Non-Irrigated acreage that livestock grazed on is eligible. This program assists producers who suffered hardship due to drought conditions. For more information contact Scott Snodgrass.
If you have an application in for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) please be aware that ranking deadline is June 18th. Please contact Cassie Hayek to follow up on application status.
| FSA Deadlines July 15, 2021 – Deadline to report spring planted crops, CRP acreage and grass acreage. July 23, 2021 – Deadline to enroll expiring or new CRP in General Signup 56 August 6, 2021 – Deadline to enroll expiring or new CRP in Continuous Signup 55 |
USDA Expands and Renews Conservation Reserve Program in Effort to Boost Enrollment and Address Climate Change
USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. Additionally, USDA is announcing investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects and $25 million for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials.
Conservation Reserve Program
USDA’s goal is to enroll up to 4 million new acres in CRP by raising rental payment rates and expanding the number of incentivized environmental practices allowed under the program. CRP is one of the world’s largest voluntary conservation programs with a long track record of preserving topsoil, sequestering carbon, and reducing nitrogen runoff, as well providing healthy habitat for wildlife.
CRP is a powerful tool when it comes to climate mitigation, and acres currently enrolled in the program mitigate more than 12 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). If USDA reaches its goal of enrolling an additional 4 million acres into the program, it will mitigate an additional 3 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent and prevent 90 million pounds of nitrogen and 33 million tons of sediment from running into our waterways each year.
New Climate-Smart Practice Incentive
To target the program on climate change mitigation, FSA is introducing a new Climate-Smart Practice Incentive for CRP general and continuous signups that aims to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-Smart CRP practices include establishment of trees and permanent grasses, development of wildlife habitat, and wetland restoration. The Climate-Smart Practice Incentive is annual, and the amount is based on the benefits of each practice type.
Higher Rental Rates and New Incentives
In 2021, CRP is capped at 25 million acres, and currently 20.8 million acres are enrolled. Furthermore, the cap will gradually increase to 27 million acres by 2023. To help increase producer interest and enrollment, FSA is:
· Adjusting soil rental rates. This enables additional flexibility for rate adjustments, including a possible increase in rates where appropriate.
· Increasing payments for Practice Incentives from 20% to 50%. This incentive for continuous CRP practices is based on the cost of establishment and is in addition to cost share payments.
· Increasing payments for water quality practices. Rates are increasing from 10% to 20% for certain water quality benefiting practices available through the CRP continuous signup, such as grassed waterways, riparian buffers, and filter strips.
· Establishing a CRP Grassland minimum rental rate. This benefits more than 1,300 counties with rates currently below the minimum. To learn more about updates to CRP, download our “What’s New with CRP” fact sheet.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Comment on Proposal to List the Lesser Prairie-Chicken under the Endangered Species Act
On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing two distinct population segments of the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service is requesting comments or information from the public, governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties concerning this proposed rule.
The Service’s peer-reviewed species status assessment provides a biological risk assessment on the threats and conservation efforts effecting the lesser prairie-chicken and evaluates its current condition. It also examines its biological status under varying plausible future conditions, incorporating the implications of future threats and conservation actions. According to the assessment, habitat loss and fragmentation are expected to continue, even when accounting for ongoing and future conservation efforts, which will result in continued declines across the species’ range.
The Service submitted the draft rule to the Federal Register on May 26. Comments must be received within 60 days of its publication. Information on how to submit comments will be available at www.regulations.gov by searching under docket number FWS–R2–ES–2021–0015. Information on how to request a hearing is also included in the Federal Register notice.
The Service will hold two public hearings to gather public comments on the listing proposal: an informational session on July 8, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time, followed by a public hearing from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. To register for this hearing, visit: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvce6tqj0pE9R9F2LsoQFVjNRv8kooxeKJ. On July 14, 2021 the USFWS will hold a second public informational session from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time followed by a public hearing from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. To register for this hearing, visit: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrfu-hqzoiG9I2Yr2hqxLpPxSu9YrLZzu5.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service hiring in Texas
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is currently hiring several different field positions across Texas. Positions include soil conservationists, rangeland management specialists, soil scientists, and engineers.
The USDA NRCS works in close partnership with farmers, ranchers, forest managers, non-governmental organizations, local and state governments, and other federal agencies to create and maintain healthy and productive working landscapes.
As part of USDA’s new Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area, NRCS has 3,000 locations and covers every county in the United States. NRCS employees help stewards of agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands plan and implement proven conservation systems through technical and financial assistance designed to enhance productivity, improve soil and water health, and restore wetlands and wildlife habitat.
Direct hire positions open in Texas can be found on USAJobs. Applications will be accepted until July 15, 2021. For more information, contact Tony Townsend at 254-742-9935 or tony.townsend@usda.gov.
American Rescue Plan Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Debt Payments
USDA recognizes that socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers have faced systemic discrimination with cumulative effects that have, among other consequences, led to a substantial loss in the number of socially disadvantaged producers, reduced the amount of farmland they control, and contributed to a cycle of debt that was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, socially disadvantaged communities saw a disproportionate amount of COVID-19 infection rates, loss of property, hospitalizations, death, and economic hurt.
To address these systemic challenges, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides historic debt relief to socially disadvantaged producers including Black/African American, American Indian or Alaskan native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian American or Pacific Islander.
USDA is now reviewing and working to gather feedback to implement the Act, and more guidance will be forthcoming for socially disadvantaged borrowers with direct or guaranteed farm loans as well as Farm Storage Facility Loans. As information becomes available, it will be provided directly to socially disadvantaged borrowers and stakeholder groups representing socially disadvantaged producers, posted here on farmers.gov, and shared through our social media channels, email newsletters, and the media.
Who qualifies for this debt relief?
Any socially disadvantaged borrower with direct or guaranteed farm loans as well as Farm Storage Facility Loans qualifies. The American Rescue Plan Act uses the 2501 definition of socially disadvantaged, which includes Black/African American, American Indian or Alaskan native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian American or Pacific Islander. Gender is not a criterion in and of itself, but of course women are included in these categories.
I qualify as socially disadvantaged under the American Rescue Plan definition, but I am not late on my payments. Do I still qualify?
Yes. Any socially disadvantaged borrower with direct or guaranteed farm loans as well as Farm Storage Facility Loans qualifies.
When will qualified borrowers begin to see a loan pay-off or other payment in response to the American Rescue Plan?
USDA is now reviewing and working to gather feedback to implement the Act, and more guidance will be forthcoming for socially disadvantaged borrowers with direct or guaranteed farm loans as well as Farm Storage Facility Loans. For borrowers in arrears, the moratorium established on January 26th to stop all debt collections, foreclosures and evictions for all borrowers, including socially disadvantaged producers, remains in effect.
Producers who have worked with USDA’s Farm Service Agency previously may have their ethnicity and race on file. A borrower, including those with guaranteed loans, can contact their local their local USDA Service Center to verify, update or submit a new ethnicity and race designation using the AD-2047. Find your nearest service center at farmers.gov/service-locator. To learn more about USDA’s work to implement the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, visit www.usda.gov/arp.
