West River Eagle

U.S. Department of Agriculture/Farm Service Agency News



The Corson, Dewey, Meade, Perkins & Ziebach County FSA offices would like to keep you informed of the following items important to USDA programs.  If you have any questions please contact the Corson County office at 605-273-4506 ext 2, Dewey County office at 865-3522 ext 2, Meade County at 347-4952 ext 2, Perkins at 244-5222 ext 2 or Ziebach County at 365-5179 ext 2. FSA County Offices are open for business by Phone Appointment Only!  The service center remains closed for visitors, but we will continue to work with producers by Phone and Digital Tools Like Microsoft Teams, Box and One Span and emails.  

DATES TO REMEMBER:

NOTICE OF LOSS:  REPORT LOSS WITHIN 15 DAYS OF OCCURRENCE ALL CROPS AND GRASSES

LIVESTOCK LOSSES:  FILE NOTICE OF LOSS THE EARLIER OF 30 CALENDAR DAYS OF WHEN THE LOSS WAS APPARENT  

March 31, 2021 – last day to get a Marketing Assistance Loan for 2020 Wheat, barley, canola, crambe, flaxseed, honey, oats, rapeseed and sesame

April 9, 2021 – Quality Loss Adjustment signup ends

April 23, 2021 – CRP Grassland signup ends

May 31, 2021- Last day to get a Marketing Assistance Laon for 2020 corn, soybeans and other oilseeds, and grain sorghum

USDA extends application deadline for theQuality Loss Adjustment Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline from March 5 to April 9 for agricultural producers to apply for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program because of recent winter storms and some clarifications to program rules. This program assists producers, including those here in South Dakota who suffered crop quality losses due to qualifying 2018 and 2019 natural disasters.

“Because of recent winter storms and some program updates, we want to provide five additional weeks for producers to apply for the program,” said Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator of the Farm Service Agency (FSA).  “I want to make sure eligible producers have the opportunity to apply and to work with our team members to help with any questions. We recently clarified policy to ensure producers who sold grain to the feed market due to quality issues are adequately compensated.”

About the Program

The QLA program assists producers whose eligible crops suffered quality losses due to qualifying drought, excessive moisture, flooding, hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, or wildfires.

Eligible crops include those for which federal crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage is available, except for grazed crops and value loss crops, such as honey, maple sap, aquaculture, floriculture, mushrooms, ginseng root, ornamental nursery, Christmas trees, and turfgrass sod. Additionally, crops that were sold or fed to livestock or that are in storage may be eligible.

Assistance is available in counties that received a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or Secretarial Disaster Designation, or for drought, a county rated by the U.S. Drought monitor as having a D3 (extreme drought) or higher. Producers in counties that did not receive a qualifying declaration or designation may still apply but must also provide supporting documentation.

FSA will issue payments once the application period ends. If the total amount of calculated QLA payments exceeds available program funding, payments will be prorated.

More Information

FSA began accepting applications on January 6 and has received more than 8,100 applications so far.

To apply, contact your local USDA Service Center. Additional information is also available at farmers.gov/quality-loss. Producers can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364.

While USDA offices are currently closed to visitors because of the pandemic, Service Center staff continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools. To conduct business, please contact your local USDA Service Center. Additionally, more information related to USDA’s response and relief for producers can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

USDA delays signup for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is postponing the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup originally planned to start mid-March. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will announce new signup dates in the coming weeks, as the Administration is currently evaluating the program and ways to increase enrollment.

CRP Grasslands helps producers and landowners protect grassland while enabling grazing activities to continue. Lands enrolled support grazing operations and promote plant and animal biodiversity. Lands are also protected from being developed. Timing of some activities, such as haying or mowing, may be restricted by the primary nesting season of birds.

More information on CRP can be found at fsa.usda.gov/crp.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write:  USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410.

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