What's Up at the USDA Office?
Deadlines/Dates
January 19: Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 2: Deadline to submit Wool/Pelt LDP for 2025
February 2: Last day to return or postmark completed ballots to the USDA Service Center
February 16: Closed in Observance of President’s Day
April 30: Deadline to apply for SDRP Stage 1 & 2
USDA Encourages Farmers and Ranchers to Vote in Allamakee’s County Committee Election
February 2 is the Last Day to Return Ballots
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mailed ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the Allamakee County FSA office or postmarked by February 2, 2026.
“FSA county committee members provide valuable knowledge and judgment as decisions are made about the services we provide, including disaster assistance and other critical financial and technical support programs,” said CED Rachel Pufahl, County Executive Director for Allamakee County. “Please take a few minutes to review your ballot and return your vote prior to the February 2 deadline.”
Each committee is comprised of three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms.
Newly elected committee members will take office March 2, 2026. Allamakee County committee members play a key role in how FSA delivers disaster recovery, safety-net, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as making decisions on county office employment and other FSA program delivery issues.
The following producers have been nominated and are running in the election in LAA # 1, which includes Waterloo, Union City, Hanover, French Creek, Union Prairie, and Makee townships in Allamakee County are Mark Howe, Brad Berns, Matt Byrnes, and Kevin Welsh.
Our first candidate is Mark Howe. Mark and his wife Barb have been farming in Hanover township for 35+ years. Together they raise beef cattle and have a row crop operation focusing on a conservation minded rotation of corn, soybean, and alfalfa. Mark also currently serves as one of Hanover Township’s Trustees and is an avid supporter of local 4-H groups.
Our next candidate is Brad Berns. Brad and his wife Erin have been farming in Makee township for 35+ years as well. Brad is a graduate of Iowa State University and uses his schooling and experience to operate his beef, sheep, and row crop operations.
Along with farming, Brad serves as a local 4-H leader, the Allamakee County Fair’s Goat Superintendent, and is the Makee Township Trustee.
Up next is Matt Byrnes. Matt, along with his wife Michelle and three sons, Milan, Mason, and Marcus live on Matt’s home farm in Hanover township. Matt and his family operate a 210-cow dairy farm while raising corn, oats, alfalfa, and cover crops. Matt also currently serves as one of Hanover Township’s Trustees and is a devoted supporter of local 4-H groups.
Finally, our last candidate is Kevin Welsh. Kevin was raised on a beef and hog farm in French Creek Township. After an absence from the county Kevin returned to the area in the 80s and farmed for several years and now continues to be involved in local agriculture in different ways. He knows and understands northeast Iowa and is familiar with many of its residents. Kevin would like to use this position to continue to guide and assist area producers in becoming successful in all areas of agriculture.
All of our nominees are wanting and willing to serve Allamakee County’s agricultural producers to the best of their ability. Ballots were mailed to this voting district on January 5th and are due back by February 2. We wish each nominee the best of luck!
Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) - Stage 2
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is delivering more than $16 billion in total Congressionally approved disaster relief. FSA is now accepting applications for assistance through the second stage of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) from agricultural producers who suffered eligible non-indemnified, uncovered or quality crop losses due to qualifying natural disasters in 2023 and 2024.
Stage Two covers eligible crop, tree, bush and vine losses that were not covered under Stage One program provisions, including non-indemnified (shallow loss), uncovered and quality losses. Although the majority of payments from the first stage are already in the hands of producers helping them prepare for and invest in the next crop year, Stage One assistance, announced in July, remains available to producers who received an indemnity under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for eligible crop losses due to qualifying 2023 and 2024 natural disaster events.
The deadline to apply for both Stage One and Stage Two assistance is April 30, 2026.
SDRP Stage Two Program Details
SDRP Stage Two provides assistance for eligible crops, tree, bush and vine losses not covered under Stage One, including:
Non-Indemnified Losses (Including Shallow Losses)
• Insured losses through federal crop insurance that did not trigger a crop insurance indemnity.
• Losses with NAP coverage that did not trigger a NAP payment.
Uncovered Losses (Uninsured Losses)
• Includes losses that were not insured through federal crop insurance or NA.
Quality Losses
• Includes quality losses to commodities indicated by:
- A decrease in value based on discounts due to the physical condition of the crop supported by applicable grading factors
• A decline in the nutritional value of forage crops supported by documented forage tests.
- Producers will certify to an SDRP quality loss percentage.
For information on program eligibility and to download an application checklist, visit fsa.usda.gov/sdrp.
Reminder: Insurance Linkage Requirements for Payments Received Through the Emergency Relief Program
Producers who received an Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payment need to meet ERP insurance linkage requirements by purchasing crop insurance, or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage where crop insurance is not available.
Purchase coverage must be at the 60/100 coverage level or higher for insured crops or at the catastrophic coverage level or higher for NAP crops for the next two available crop years, which will be determined from the date you received an ERP payment and may vary depending on the timing and availability of coverage. The insurance coverage requirement applies to the physical location of the county where the crop was located and for which an ERP payment was issued.
Contact your crop insurance agent or local FSA county office as soon as possible to ask about coverage options. Producers who do not obtain the applicable coverage by the sales/application closing date will be required to refund the ERP benefits received on the applicable crop, plus interest. To determine which crops are eligible for federal crop insurance or NAP, visit the RMA website.
Regular Maintenance Requirements for all CRP Contracts
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to conserve farmland for future generations while providing habitat for wildlife, reducing soil erosion, and improving water quality. Regular maintenance on CRP acres is needed to ensure the acreage continues to provide conservation benefits and remains in compliance with the CRP contract.
Regular Maintenance
Producers with CRP contracts are required to control all weeds, insects, pests, and other undesirable species to the extent necessary to ensure that the approved conservation cover is adequately protected and to ensure there is no adverse impact on surrounding land. Mowing is one of the allowable practices for weed control, but mowing for aesthetic purposes is never permitted. The Conservation Plan states the required weed control methods for each site.
Once a stand has been certified as fully established, participants are required to maintain plant diversity and stand density according to the Conservation Plan and offer (CRP-2) for the life of the contract. Stands that do not meet practice specific plant diversity or density requirements may be considered non-compliant. Refer to your conservation plan or contact FSA if you have any questions or concerns about the vegetative cover requirements.
Maintenance activities cannot occur during the primary nesting season for birds without written prior approval from the local county office. The primary nesting season in Iowa is May 15 through August 1.
Mid-Contract Management
Regular maintenance for weed and pest control is separate from the Mid-Contract Management (MCM) requirement. MCM ensures plant diversity and wildlife benefits while ensuring protection of the soil and water resources. Such activities are site-specific and are for the purpose of enhancing the approved cover.
MCM must be completed between years four and six of a 10-year contract and between years seven and nine of a 15-year contract. The Conservation Plan will state what year MCM must take place.
Noncompliance with Maintenance Requirements
Failure to adequately maintain the stand may result in noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the CRP contract. Noncompliance can result in adverse actions up to and including termination of the CRP contract. Contracts that are out of compliance are ineligible to re-enroll, unless the stand is brought back into compliance prior to the enrollment deadline.
