What's Up at the USDA Office?
Deadlines/Dates
February 12: County Committee Meeting - Count Election Ballots
February 16: President’s Day - Office Closed
February 26: Deadline to apply for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program
March 2: Deadline to apply for 2025 Livestock Indemnity Program
Retirement
After 26 years of dedication, hard work, and countless contributions, Linda Winkie is hanging up her work hat and stepping into a well-deserved retirement! To celebrate this exciting new chapter, we’re hosting a card shower in her honor. Instead of a big party, we’re inviting friends, family, and colleagues to send cards filled with warm wishes, fond memories, and words of encouragement for her adventures ahead.
Send cards to:
Linda Winkie
770 11th Ave SW
Waukon, IA 52172
Please have your card arrive by February 27, 2026, so we can shower Linda with admiration and appreciation all at once. Let’s fill her mailbox, and heart, with joy as she begins this new journey!
USDA Opens Enrollment for Dairy Margin Coverage for 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the enrollment period for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for the 2026 coverage year, an important safety net program that provides producers with price support to help offset milk and feed price differences. Dairy producers can enroll in DMC from January 12, 2026, to February 26, 2026.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reauthorized DMC for calendar years 2026 through 2031 and provided substantial program improvements, including establishing new production history and increasing Tier 1 coverage.
The OBBBA increased DMC’s Tier 1 coverage level from five million pounds to six million pounds. All dairy operations that elect to enroll in DMC for 2026 will establish a new production history.
• Existing dairy operations that started marketing milk on or before January 1, 2023, will use the higher of milk marketings for the years of 2021, 2022, or 2023.
• New dairy operations starting after January 1, 2023, will use their first year of monthly milk marketings, even for a partial year.
• Milk marketing statements or production evidence are required to establish a production history.
Dairy operations also have the option to lock-in coverage levels for six years (2026-2031) with premium fees discounted by 25%.
DMC offers different levels of coverage, including an option that is free to producers, minus a $100 administrative fee. To determine the appropriate level of DMC coverage for a specific dairy operation, producers can use the online dairy decision tool.
USDA Announces Commodity Payment Rates for Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
USDA announced the next phase in the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA), the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates. In 2026, $12 billion will be paid to American farmers. Of that amount, $11 billion consists of one-time FBA program payments.
Eligible Row Crop Commodities and Payment Rates
Below are the payment rates for the FBA eligible commodities that triggered a payment. Commodity, Per Acre Payment Rates
• Barley: $20.51 • Canola: $23.57 • Chickpeas (Large): $26.46 • Chickpeas (Small): $33.36 • Corn: $44.36 • Cotton: $117.35 • Flax: $8.05 • Lentils: $23.98 • Mustard: $23.21 • Oats: $81.75 • Peanuts: $55.65 • Peas: $19.60 • Rice: $132.89 • Safflower: $24.86 • Sesame: $13.68 • Sorghum: $48.11 • Soybeans: $30.88 • Sunflower: $17.32 • Wheat: $39.35
Eligibility, Program Applications, and Crop Insurance Linkage FBA payments are based on 2025 planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production, and the World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate Report. Double crop acres, including all initial and subsequently planted crops, are eligible. Prevent plant acres are not eligible.
All intended row crop uses are eligible for FBA except grazing, volunteer stands, experimental, green manure, crops left standing and abandoned or cover crops.
Crop insurance linkage is not required; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new risk management tools provided for in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) to best protect against future price risk and volatility. The OBBBA federal crop insurance improvements include expanding benefits for beginning farmers and ranchers, increasing coverage options, and making crop insurance more affordable.
Specialty Crop Assistance
Of the $12 billion being provided by the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, up to $11 billion is being directed to eligible row crop producers and the remaining $1 billion of the $12 billion in assistance is reserved for specialty crops and sugar. Timelines for payments to producers of these crops are still under development and require additional understanding of market impacts and economic needs.
Producers, including specialty crop producers and stakeholder groups, can submit questions to farmerbridge@usda.gov.
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 15th through August 1st.
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.
For general information about CRP, visit the Conservation Reserve Program webpage: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/conservation-reserve-program.... For information about specific contracts, reach out to the local FSA office.
