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The knowledge you need to make the most of USDA FSA programs. From funding basics to advanced tips, we’re here to help farmers and ranchers understand, apply, and succeed.
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Getting Started with FSA.

Your complete guide to getting started with Farm Service Agency.

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35+ hours of free educational content to empower your success.

Introduction to FSA

Learn how to get started and the benefits of joining FSA programs.

Program Update Feed

Stay up-to-date with the latest FSA program updates, deadlines, and emergency designations. Scroll through recent updates right here, or navigate to the full Program Update Feed page.  You can also sign up for personalized alerts directly from FSA!

USDA Announces Availability of Low-Interest Physical Loss Loans for Minnesota Producers Affected by High Winds, Hail, Tornado, Excessive Rain, and Flash Flooding

August 14, 2025

Impacted Area: Minnesota

Triggering Disasters: High Winds, rain, and tornado

Application Deadline: April 13, 2026

Physical loss loans through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses.

View Official Update

USDA Approves Emergency Conservation Assistance for 20 Counties in Texas

August 12, 2025

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Texas is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) in 20 counties affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding. This program provides cost-share and technical assistance for farmers and producers to restore farmland to pre-disaster conditions, offering up to 75% of approved restoration costs (with a $500,000 max per disaster). Eligible practices include debris removal, land grading, fence repairs, and restoring conservation structures. Deadlines to apply vary by county, with most set for September or October 2025.

To speed recovery, the FSA has waived certain approval and inspection requirements for non-engineering practices like debris removal and fence repair. Producers who lease federally managed, tribal, or state lands are also eligible. Landowners are encouraged to contact their local USDA office for guidance, especially before performing work involving engineering or significant ground disturbance. More program details and resources are available through local USDA Service Centers and farmers.gov.

View Official Update

USDA Offers Program Flexibilities for Texas Agricultural Producers Impacted by Recent Flooding

August 12, 2025

The USDA announced new flexibilities in its disaster assistance programs to support Texas agricultural producers affected by recent flooding. Key changes include broader eligibility for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), as well as flexible documentation requirements and deadlines for reporting losses. Additional support is offered through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP), farm loans, the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program, and deferrals for borrowers in disaster-designated counties.

Risk management guidance emphasizes timely damage reporting for crop insurance and NAP participants. Conservation programs, such as emergency use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres and the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), provide technical and financial help for restoring farmland and infrastructure. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is available for assistance with recovery and conservation planning, while communities may seek support through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program. Affected producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA offices for program enrollment and assistance details.

View Official Update

USDA Announces Availability of Low-Interest Physical Loss Loans for Producers Affected by Natural Disasters

August 8, 2025

Impacted Area: Tennessee, Kentucky

Triggering Disaster: Various

Application Deadline: March 24, 2026

Physical loss loans through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses.

View Official Update

USDA Designates Eight Washington Counties as Natural Disaster Areas

August 7, 2025

Impacted Areas (Various): Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Triggering Disasters (Various): Drought

Application Deadlines: 03/16/2026, and 03/24/2026

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

USDA Designates 3 Colorado Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought

August 6, 2025

Impacted Area: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming

Triggering Disaster: Drought that Started May 13, 2025

Application Deadline: March 16, 2026

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

USDA Designates Four Idaho Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

August 6, 2025

Impacted Area -Various Counties in: Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast Track)

Application Deadline: March 24, 2026

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

Federal Emergency Management Agency Designates Oklahoma 7 Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

August 6, 2025

Impacted Area: Oklahoma

Triggering Disaster: Wildfires and Straight-line Winds occurring March 14, 2025 and March 21, 2025

Application Deadline: January 21, 2026

This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans

View Official Update

USDA Designates 3 Colorado Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought

August 4, 2025

Impacted Area: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming

Triggering Disaster: Drought that started May 13, 2025

Application Deadline: March 16, 2026

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

USDA Announces August 2025 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

August 1, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for August 2025, which are effective Aug. 1, 2025. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.      
     

Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for August 2025 are as follows:       

Farm Operating Loans (Direct): 5.000%  

Farm Ownership Loans (Direct): 6.000%  

Farm Ownership Loans (Direct, Joint Financing): 4.000%  

Farm Ownership Loans (Down Payment): 2.000%

Emergency Loan (Amount of Actual Loss): 3.750%

View Official Update

USDA Designates 12 Montana Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought

July 31, 2025

Impacted Areas: Various - Montana, Idaho, Oregon
Application Deadline: 3/16/2026
Triggering Disaster: Drought


This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

Secretary Rollins Announces $60.9 Million in Disaster Assistance for Farmers in Virginia

July 28, 2025

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to help producers in the Commonwealth of Virginia recover from Hurricane Helene. Secretary Rollins signed a block grant agreement with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) that provides recovery assistance for Virginian farmers.

In this agreement, VDACS is receiving $60.9 million in funding to administer a program covering infrastructure, timber, and plasticulture losses in addition to market losses and future economic losses.

View Official Update

USDA Announces Availability of Low-Interest Physical Loss Loans for Producers Affected by Natural Disasters

July 25, 2025

Physical loss loans through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.

Impacted Area: Texas

Triggering Disaster: Severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred on July 2, 2025, through July 7, 2025.

Application Deadline: March 25, 2026

View Official Update

USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Agricultural Producers in North Carolina Impacted by Tropical Storm Chantal

July 22, 2025

RALEIGH, N.C., July 22, 2025 – Agricultural operations in North Carolina have been significantly impacted by Tropical Storm Chantal and related weather events. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events.

View Official Update

Secretary Rollins Announces $675.9 Million in Disaster Assistance for Farmers in Florida

July 21, 2025

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today in Florida met with agricultural leaders and producers and announced additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance to help producers recover from Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene and Milton.

In this agreement, FDACS is receiving $675.9M in funding to administer a program that will cover infrastructure, citrus, and timber losses in addition to direct market losses.

Visit the 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance public landing page to track the status of USDA disaster assistance. The page is updated regularly and accessible through fsa.usda.gov.

View Official Update

USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Agricultural Producers in Virginia Impacted by Tropical Storm Chantal

July 21, 2025

Agricultural operations in Virginia have been significantly impacted by Tropical Storm Chantal and related weather events. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events.

View Official Update

USDA Approves Emergency Conservation and Emergency Forest Restoration Assistance for 3 Counties in Michigan

July 21, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Michigan is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address damages from tornados and high winds that occurred on March 30, 2025.

ECP provides cost-share and technical assistance to producers to restore farmland to pre-disaster conditions and EFRP provides financial cost-share and technical assistance to restore nonindustrial private forestland (NIPF) damaged by a qualifying natural disaster.

ECP and EFRP signup began on May 21, 2025, and ends on November 21, 2025.

View Official Update

USDA Designates Two Wyoming Counties as Natural Disaster Areas

July 18, 2025

Impacted Area: Wyoming

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast Track)

Application Deadline: March 9, 2026

Three South Dakota Counties Also Eligible for Assistance

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

USDA Announces Loan Rates for 2025-Crop Peanuts

July 17, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced 2025-crop loan rates for four types of peanuts. The rates take effect Aug.1, 2025, the beginning of the peanut crop year.

View Official Update

Producers and Landowners Can Now Enroll in USDA's Grassland Conservation Reserve Program

July 17, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can now enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP). Grassland CRP, offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands while also continuing most grazing and haying practices.

The sign-up runs from today, July 14, to Aug. 8, 2025.

View Official Update

USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Agricultural Producers in Montana Impacted by Recent Severe Storms

July 16, 2025

Agricultural operations in Montana have been significantly impacted by recent severe weather, tornadoes and flooding. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events. Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.

View Official Update

USDA Designates 9 Nebraska Counties as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

July 16, 2025

Impacted Area: Nebraska

Triggering Disaster: Drought (Fast Track)

Application Deadline: 03/09/2026

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

USDA Designates Thirteen Montana Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought

July 16, 2025

USDA Designates Thirteen Montana Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas for Drought Four contiguous Counties in Idaho are eligible for assistance

Impacted Area: Montana

Triggering Disaster: Drought

Application Deadline: March 9, 2026

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

View Official Update

Producers and Landowners Can Now Enroll in USDA's Grassland Conservation Reserve Program

July 14, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can now enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP). Grassland CRP, offered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is a voluntary working lands conservation program that enables participants to conserve grasslands while also continuing most grazing and haying practices.

The sign-up runs from today, July 14, to Aug. 8, 2025.

View Official Update

Nominations Open for the 2025 County Committee Elections

July 14, 2025

Local Farm Service Agency offices are now accepting nominations for county committee members and encourages all farmers, ranchers, and FSA program participants to take part in their local County Committee election nomination process.

Customers can identify which LAA they or their farming or ranching operation is in by using our GIS locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

The deadline to nominate is August 1, 2025.

View Official Update

USDA Announces Availability of Low-Interest Physical Loss Loans for Producers Affected by Natural Disasters

July 14, 2025

Impacted Area: Indiana

Triggering Disaster: Tornado

Application Deadline: March 9, 2026

Physical loss loans through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses.

View Official Update

Federal Emergency Management Agency Designates Eight Counties in Texas as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds and Flooding

July 14, 2025

Impacted Area: Texas

Triggering Disaster: Severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding

Application Deadline: March 10, 2026

This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

Federal Emergency Management Agency Designates Four Counties in Texas as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Severe Storms and Flooding

July 10, 2025

Impacted Area: Texas

Triggering Disaster: Severe storms and flooding

Application Deadline: January 21, 2026

This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

USDA Announces Availability of Low-Interest Physical Loss Loans for Producers Affected by Natural Disasters, Three Contiguous Montana Counties Also Eligible

July 10, 2025

Impacted Area: North Dakota

Triggering Disaster: Wildfire and High Winds

Application Deadline: 3/9/2026

Physical loss loans through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses.

View Official Update

Federal Emergency Management Agency Designates One County in Texas as Natural Disaster Area Due to Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds and Flooding

July 10, 2025

Impacted Area: Texas

Triggering Disaster: Severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding

Application Deadline: March 6, 2026

This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.

View Official Update

FSA Learning Resources

From farm loans to disaster assistance and urban agriculture resources, this hub provides the knowledge you need to make informed decisions and get the most from your FSA.

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FSA Farm Loan Programs

Learn about FSA Farm Loan Programs, including how to prepare and apply.

Healthy crops on right side of image and unhealthy crops on left
FSA Disaster Assistance Programs

Learn about FSA Disaster Assistance programs, including how to prepare and apply.

Micro farm example
Urban Agriculture Resources

Learn about urban farming best practices and the USDA resources at your disposal.

Your FSA Toolkit for Success

Explore easy-to-use tools that help farmers track, apply, and manage USDA programs with confidence.

Record-Keeping Toolbox

Use this tool to begin or upgrade your record-keeping practices!

FSA Program Discovery

Use this tool to discover FSA programs based on filter criteria of your choosing.

LIP Decision Tool

Use this tool to help prepare for an application to the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).

ELAP Decision Tool

Use this tool to prepare for an application to Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, & Farm-raised Fish program (ELAP).

Crop acreage calculator

Many FSA and USDA programs require producers to file crop acreage reports that document crop growth and intended use on your farm or ranch. Since not all crops are created equal, FSA has created an easy way for producers of specialty crops to fill out these reports!

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