What's Up at the USDA Office?
Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
May 14: 2025 deadline to complete spring CRP Mid-Contract Management (MCM) activities
May 14: Deadline to establish new cool season grass practice CRP seedings
May 15-August 1: Primary Nesting Season (PNS)
May 26: Office Closed for Memorial Day
May 31: Deadline to request a Marketing Assistance Loan (MALs) for 2024 farm stored or warehouse stored grain
June 19: Office closed in observance of Juneteenth
Maps for Acreage Reporting Have Been Mailed
Maps for producers listed as an operator on a farm at the Allamakee County FSA, were mailed May 1, 2025, for acreage reporting purposes. Please look through your packets and verify if all your owned and rented farm maps are included, if something is missing, reach out and we will update records and supply additional maps if necessary. Along with the maps there will be a letter detailing how to fill them out prior to returning them to the office. The recent ECAP program shows just how important it is to certify your acres correctly. The more detailed information you can provide will benefit you for future program purposes. The following are the acreage reporting deadlines for Allamakee County:
- July 15, 2025, for spring planted grains, other annually planted commodities, and forage acres.
- Note: Crops seeded in the fall (2024) for spring grain/seed/forage harvest (2025) were required to be reported by December 15, 2024.
In order to maintain program eligibility and benefits, you must file timely acreage reports. Failure to file an acreage report by the crop acreage reporting deadline may cause ineligibility for future program benefits. FSA will not accept acreage reports provided more than a year after the acreage reporting deadline.
An advantage we hope to achieve by sending maps at the beginning of the planting season is that, as farms are being planted, producers will be able to fill out the maps as they go.
Producers are encouraged to file their acreage reports as soon as planting is completed.
USDA to Issue $1.3 Billion to Specialty Crop Producers Through Second Marketing Assistance Program Payment
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a second round of payments coming this week for specialty crop producers through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, providing up to $1.3 billion in additional program assistance. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) already delivered just under $900 million in first round payments to eligible producers.
About MASC
First announced in December 2024, MASC authorized $2 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds to assist specialty crop growers with rising input costs and aid in the expansion of domestic markets. In January 2025, in response to stakeholder feedback and program demand, funding for MASC was increased to $2.65 billion. The MASC application period closed on Jan. 10, 2025.
MASC is designed to help specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to:
• perishability of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs;
• specialized handling and transport equipment with temperature and humidity control;
• packaging to prevent damage;
• moving perishables to market quickly; and
• higher labor costs.
MASC covers the following commercially marketed specialty crops:
• fruits (fresh, dried);
• vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed);
• tree nuts;
• and other specialty crops.
Ask the Expert: A Farm Operating Loan Q&A with Jack Carlile
In this Ask the Expert, Jack Carlile, Farm Loan Manager for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), answers questions about farm operating loans and when producers should apply in order to secure funds for the current crop year.
As the Farm Loan Manager for the Cherokee County Service Center, Jack is responsible for managing the loan making and loan servicing activities for five counties in northeast Oklahoma. His office provides services for over 650 farm loan customers. Jack was raised on a cross bred cow/calf operation that his grandparents started. Over the years, each generation has added to the operation by purchasing additional pasture. The operation also grows and bales their own hay. Jack’s agriculture background and degree in agriculture economics from Oklahoma State University help him better understand the financing needs of his producers.
Who can apply for FSA Farm Loans?
Anyone can apply for FSA’s loan programs. Applications will be considered on basic eligibility requirements. To apply for a loan, you must meet the following general eligibility requirements including:
• Be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien.
• Operator of a family farm or ranch.
• Have a satisfactory credit history.
• Unable to obtain credit elsewhere at reasonable rates and terms to meet actual needs.
• Not be delinquent on any federal debts.
To read the full blog visit farmers.gov/blog/ask-the-expert-farm-operating-loan-qa-with-jack-carlile.
Producer Payment Eligibility
FSA and NRCS program applicants for benefits are required to submit a completed CCC-902 Farm Operating Plan and CCC-941 Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information for FSA to determine the applicant’s payment eligibility and establish the maximum payment limitation applicable to the program applicant.
Participants are not required to annually submit new CCC-902s for payment eligibility and payment limitation purposes unless a change in the farming operation occurs that may affect the previous determination of record. A valid CCC-902 filed by the participant is considered to be a continuous certification used for all payment eligibility and payment limitation determinations applicable for the program benefits requested.
Participants are responsible for ensuring that all CCC-902 and CCC-941 and related forms on file in the county office are updated, current, and correct. Participants are required to timely notify the county office of any changes in the farming operation that may affect the previous determination of record by filing a new or updated CCC-902 as applicable.
Changes that may require a new determination include, but are not limited to, a change of:
• Shares of a contract, which may reflect:
• A land lease from cash rent to share rent
• A land lease from share rent to cash rent (subject to the cash rent tenant rule)
• A modification of a variable/fixed bushel-rent arrangement
• The size of the producer’s farming operation by the addition or reduction of cropland that may affect the application of a cropland factor
• The structure of the farming operation, including any change to a member’s share
• The contribution of farm inputs of capital, land, equipment, active personal labor, and/or active personal management
• Farming interests not previously disclosed on CCC-902 including the farming interests of a spouse or minor child
• Certifications of average AGI are required to be filed annually for participation in any annual USDA program. For multi-year conservation contracts and NRCS easements, a certification of AGI must be filed prior to approval of the contract or easement and is applicable for the duration of the contract period. Participants are encouraged to file or review these forms within the deadlines established for each applicable program for which program benefits are being requested.
Progressive Lending from FSA
Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm loans are considered progression lending. Unlike loans from a commercial lender, FSA loans are intended to be temporary in nature. Our goal is to help you graduate to commercial credit, and our farm loan staff is available to help borrowers through training and credit counseling.
The FSA team will help borrowers identify their goals to ensure financial success. FSA staff will advise borrowers on developing strategies and a plan to meet your goals and graduate to commercial credit. FSA borrowers are responsible for the success of their farming operation, but FSA staff will help in an advisory role, providing the tools necessary to help you achieve your operational goals and manage your finances.
For more information on FSA farm loan programs, contact our Farm Loan Program staff at 563-382-8777, or visit fsa.usda.gov.
Maintaining Good Credit History
Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans require applicants to have a satisfactory credit history. A credit report is requested for all FSA direct farm loan applicants. These reports are reviewed to verify outstanding debts, see if bills are paid timely and to determine the impact on cash flow.
Information on your credit report is strictly confidential and is used only as an aid in conducting FSA business.
Our farm loan staff will discuss options with you if you have an unfavorable credit report and will provide a copy of your report. If you dispute the accuracy of the information on the credit report, it is up to you to contact the issuing credit report company to resolve any errors or inaccuracies.
There are multiple ways to remedy an unfavorable credit score:
• Make sure to pay bills on time
• Setting up automated reminders can be an effective way to remember payment due dates.
• Pay down existing debt
• Keep your credit card balance low
• Avoid suddenly opening or closing existing credit accounts
FSA’s farm loan staff will guide you through the process, which may require you to reapply for a loan after improving or correcting your credit report.
