Resources & Updates

This page is where we share reminders, deadlines, and practical tools to help you stay on track throughout the season. You’ll find checklists, timelines, and updates for acreage reporting, production reporting, hail season, PRF timelines, and more. If you want to receive these updates by email, let us know.

*USDA, RMA, and FSA do not endorse individual agents or insurance providers. Program information is based on current RMA and USDA publications and is subject to change.

CURRENT PROGRAM ALERTS

These updates highlight new or changing USDA, FSA, and RMA programs that may affect your operation. We’ll update this section as new details are released.

  • USDA will issue $12 billion in one-time bridge payments to eligible farmers for the 2025 crop year.
    • Primarily benefits row-crop producers
    • $11 billion allocated to the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program
    • Payments expected by February 28, 2026
    • Requires completed 2025 acreage reporting

  • The Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) is a USDA initiative to help producers with losses from qualifying disaster events in calendar years 2023 and 2024. It provides assistance for:

    • Losses that were covered by federal crop insurance or NAP but did not result in an indemnity (including “shallow losses”),

    • Losses that were uncovered (uninsured), and

    • Quality losses that resulted in reduced crop value. Farm Service Agency

    How it works:
    SDRP has two stages:

    Stage 1

    • Uses federal crop insurance or NAP data to calculate payments for indemnified losses.

    Stage 2

    • Covers non-indemnified (including shallow), uninsured, and quality losses for eligible crops, trees, bushes, and vines.

    • Producers must work with their FSA county office to apply for Stage 2. Farm Service Agency

    Key Dates:

    Who it helps:
    Producers with documented disaster-related revenue, production, or quality losses that weren’t fully covered under traditional crop insurance or NAP

  • USDA has announced a new Regenerative Pilot Program aimed at supporting conservation-focused, regenerative practices through existing NRCS programs. The pilot is designed to encourage whole-farm conservation planning by allowing producers to bundle multiple practices together under programs like EQIP and CSP, rather than applying practice by practice. The focus is on soil health, water quality, and long-term productivity, while reducing administrative complexity.

    What producers should do:

    Contact their local NRCS Service Center to ask about the regenerative pilot

    Review current conservation practices and planned changes

    Be prepared to discuss whole-farm conservation goals

    Watch for ranking dates and signup details from NRCS

    Participation is voluntary, and availability, eligibility, and practice options will vary by location.

  • USDA has expanded eligibility for certain risk-management programs, including extending beginning farmer and rancher eligibility provisions from 5 to 10 crop years in some programs. This helps newer operations qualify for additional support from safety-net programs earlier in their development.

  • USDA recently announced changes to expand crop insurance access and update safety-net tools for farmers and ranchers beginning with the 2026 crop year. Although details vary by program and commodity, these changes are intended to modernize coverage and reduce administrative barriers to risk-management tools.

Learn More

Farm Programs

This page is where we share reminders, deadlines, and practical tools to help you stay on track throughout the season. You’ll find checklists, timelines, and updates for acreage reporting, production reporting, hail season, PRF timelines, and more. If you want to receive these updates by email, let us know.

  • ARC-CO & PLC remain the main FSA commodity programs.
    Producers select their elections annually, and payments depend on county yields and national marketing-year average prices.

    What to know:
    • ARC-CO pays when county revenue falls below the benchmark.
    • PLC pays when the MYA price falls below the reference price.
    • Elections normally align with seed/acreage planning in early spring.
    • Some counties may have projected ARC payments depending on yield performance and price movements.ARC-CO & PLC remain the main FSA commodity programs.
    Producers select their elections annually, and payments depend on county yields and national marketing-year average prices.

    What to know:
    • ARC-CO pays when county revenue falls below the benchmark.
    • PLC pays when the MYA price falls below the reference price.
    • Elections normally align with seed/acreage planning in early spring.
    • Some counties may have projected ARC payments depending on yield performance and price movements.

  • Short-term, low-interest loans using your harvested grain as collateral.

    Why growers use them:
    • Cash-flow support
    • Defers selling grain during low-price windows
    • Option of loan deficiency payments (LDPs) in qualifying years

  • The CRP general signup and continuous signup options vary year-to-year.

    Key notes:
    • Enrollment windows open periodically
    • Certain practices offer higher payments
    • Contract modifications and expirations can affect your acreage strategy

  • USDA periodically releases disaster assistance tied to drought, storm damage, or revenue loss.

    Most common programs include:
    • ERP (Emergency Relief Program)
    • LIP (Livestock Indemnity Program)
    • ELAP (Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, Fish)

    These change often; we’ll post info as new rounds are announced.

  • Description text goes hereFrom time to time, Congress or USDA releases special disaster or market-loss programs (ex: MFP, CFAP in past years).

    If new payments are announced:
    • We’ll list eligibility
    • Required documentation
    • Sign-up deadlines
    • How they interact with crop insurance

  • BFR status provides enhanced subsidies and benefits within crop insurance.

    Quick overview:
    • Applies for the first 10 years of a producer’s operation
    • Certain changes in the Farm Bill can extend eligibility
    • Proof of farming history is required

    If you’re unsure about your eligibility or re-qualification, reach out and we’ll review it.

Learn more

Helpful USDA Links

These links take you directly to the USDA pages we use most often for program updates, crop insurance changes, and farm program deadlines. Each site is updated regularly and reflects official USDA guidance.

Visit USDA Press Releases
RMA Crop Insurance Updates
Find My Local USDA Office
View FSA Farm Programs
Farmers.gov (General USDA Portal)