USDA awards $6M to prepare farmers for new Farm Bill programs

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $6 million to universities and cooperative state extension services to develop online decision tools and other materials and train experts to educate producers about several key farm bill programs. The new web tools will help farmers and ranchers determine what participation in programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill will mean for their businesses.

“Helping farmers and ranchers understand new Farm Bill programs and what the programs mean for their families is one of USDA's top priorities,” said Vilsack. “With the resources we’re providing, university experts will help ensure farmers and ranchers are highly educated as they make critical decisions about new programs that impact their livelihoods. The new tools that will be developed will empower farmers and ranchers to select the plan that best fits their unique needs.”

The new resources will help farmers and ranchers make an educated choice between the new Agriculture Risk Coverage program and the Price Loss Coverage program.  Once a producer enrolls in the ARC or PLC program, he or she must remain in the program through the 2018 crop year.

New tools will be provided for other programs as well. Sign-up for the newly established Margin Protection Program for Dairy begins late this summer and enrollment for "buy-up" provisions under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program will begin early next year. An online MPP tool will be available when sign up begins and the NAP buy-up provision resource will become available to producers in the fall for the 2015 crop year.

USDA will also award $3 million to state cooperative extension services - a nationwide network of experts based at land-grant universities - for outreach and education on the new Farm Bill programs.

While universities work to create new online tools, producers now have access to a preliminary website that gives them a chance to begin familiarizing themselves with the new programs and the type of information they will need to consider when deciding which program options work better for them. At this site, farmers and ranchers can view ARC and PLC projected payments, ARC guarantees, and PLC payment rate projections.

Go to www.fsa.usda.gov or the local FSA office for information about FSA and the 2014 Farm Bill programs.