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  1. Farm Service Agency Extends Voting Deadline for County Committee Elections

    Wed Nov 30, 2016 at 11:08 AM

    AMHERST, MA, Nov. 29, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Massachusetts Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Jon Niedzielski today announced that the deadline to submit ballots for the 2016 County Committee Elections has been extended to ensure farmers have sufficient time to vote. Eligible voters now have until Dec. 13, 2016 to return ballots to their local FSA offices. Producers who have not received their ballot should pick one up at their local FSA office.

  2. FSA County Committee Elections to Begin; Producers to Receive Ballots Week of Nov. 7

    Thu Nov 3, 2016 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2016 – Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers across the country for the 2016 FSA County Committee elections on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 5, 2016, to ensure that their vote is counted.

  3. USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to Massachusetts Farmers in Response to 2015 Market Downturn

    Tue Oct 11, 2016 at 01:02 PM

    (Amherst, MA), October 7, 2016 – USDA Massachusetts Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Jon Niedzielski announced that approximately 1,162 Massachusetts farms that enrolled in safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill will receive financial assistance for the 2015 crop year. The programs, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), are designed to protect against unexpected drops in crop prices or revenues due to market downturns.

  4. Livestock Producers in 11 Massachusetts Counties May Be Eligible for 2016 Drought Disaster Assistance

    Tue Sep 20, 2016 at 01:44 PM

    AMHERST, MA - September 19, 2016 – Jon Niedzielski, the State Executive Director (SED) for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Massachusetts, announced today that livestock producers in 11 Massachusetts counties may be eligible for assistance from the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses incurred in 2016.

  5. USDA Designates 11 Counties in Massachusetts as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Surrounding States

    Tue Sep 20, 2016 at 11:26 AM

    WASHINGTON, Sep. 15, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 11 counties in Massachusetts as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by frost and freeze that occurred from February 14 through May 4, 2016. Those counties are: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Worcester.

  6. USDA Designates 3 Counties in New Hampshire as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Massachusetts

    Thu Aug 25, 2016 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Hillsboro, Merrimack and Rockingham counties in New Hampshire as primary natural disaster areas due to losses caused by a recent drought.

  7. USDA Expands Safety-Net for Dairy Operations Adding Next-Generation Family Members

    Tue Apr 12, 2016 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, April 12, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that dairy farms participating in the Margin Protection Program (MPP) can now update their production history when an eligible family member joins the operation. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, protects participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below levels of protection selected by the applicant.

  8. USDA Expands Microloans to Help Farmers Purchase Farmland and Improve Property Producers, Including Beginning and Underserved Farmers, Have a New Option to Gain Access to Land

    Tue Jan 19, 2016 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2016 — Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin offering farm ownership microloans, creating a new financing avenue for farmers to buy and improve property. These microloans will be especially helpful to beginning or underserved farmers, U.S. veterans looking for a career in farming, and those who have small and mid-sized farming operations.

  9. December USDA Begins 49th Enrollment Period for the Conservation Reserve Program December 2015 Marks 30th Anniversary for the Nation's Most Successful Voluntary Conservation Program

    Tue Dec 1, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded farmers and ranchers that the next general enrollment period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) begins today, Dec. 1, 2015, and ends on Feb. 26, 2016. December 2015 also marks the 30th anniversary of CRP, a federally funded program that assists agricultural producers with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.

  10. USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to Massachusetts Farmers Facing Market Downturn

    Tue Nov 10, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    (AMHERST, Mass.), Nov. 10, 2015 – USDA Massachusetts Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Jon Niedzielski announced that approximately 536 Massachusetts farms who enrolled in the new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill will soon begin receiving financial assistance for the 2014 crop year. The programs, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), are designed to protect against unexpected drops in crop prices or revenues due to market downturns.

  11. FSA County Committee Elections to Begin; Producers to Receive Ballots Week of Nov. 9

    Thu Nov 5, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2015 – Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2015 FSA County Committee elections on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 7, 2015, to ensure that their vote is counted.

  12. USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to Farmers Facing Market Downturn

    Tue Oct 27, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2015 — The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that beginning today, nearly one half of the 1.7 million farms that signed up for either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will receive safety-net payments for the 2014 crop year.

  13. USDA Extends Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadline

    Tue Sep 22, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the deadline to enroll for the dairy Margin Protection Program for coverage in 2016 has been extended until Nov. 20, 2015. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to participating farmers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below the coverage level selected by the farmer.

  14. USDA Commits $2.5 Million to Expand New Farmer Education

    Tue Sep 22, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that $2.5 million in grants is now available for projects to educate new and underserved farmers about more than 20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency programs that can provide financial, disaster or technical assistance to the agricultural community.

  15. USDA Designates 34 Counties in New York as Primary Natural Disaster Areas With Assistance to Producers in Surrounding States

    Wed Sep 9, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    WASHINGTON, Sep. 9, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 34 counties in New York, in three separate disaster designations, as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by multiple disasters.

  16. USDA Commodity Loans Available to Massachusetts Producers

    Wed Sep 9, 2015 at 01:00 PM

    (Amherst, MA), September 9, 2015 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Massachusetts Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Jon Niedzielski reminds producers that USDA offers interim financing at harvest time to help producers meet cash flow needs without having to sell commodities when market prices are at harvest-time lows. The programs, known as Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs), were authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill for the 2014-2018 crop years.