Emergency Relief Programs- Webinar

The new ERP 2022 Disaster Program webinar is on November 8, 2023 at 10 AM learn more about this program and how it can help those in whom you represent.  ERP 2022 covers losses to crops, trees, bushes and vines due to qualifying, calendar year 2022 natural disaster events including wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought and related conditions.  

ERP 2022 program benefits will be delivered to eligible producers through a two-track process. FSA intends to make both tracks available to producers at the same time. This two-track approach enables USDA to: 

• Streamline the application process. 
• Reduce the paperwork burden on producers. 
• Proactively include provisions for underserved producers who have not been well served by past emergency relief efforts. 
• Encourage producer participation in existing risk management programs to mitigate the impacts of future severe weather events. 

ERP 2022 Application Process – Track 1 

ERP 2022 Track 1 leverages existing federal crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) data as the basis for calculating payments for eligible crop producers who received indemnities through these risk management programs. 

Although FSA is sending pre-filled ERP 2022 Track 1 application forms to producers who have crop insurance and NAP data already on file with USDA, producers indemnified for losses resulting from 2022 natural disasters do not have to wait to receive the application before requesting ERP 2022 assistance. Effective Oct. 31, 2023, producers can apply for ERP 2022 benefits whether they have received the pre-filled application or not. Receipt of a pre-filled application is not confirmation that a producer is eligible to receive an ERP 2022 Track 1 payment.  

ERP 2022 Application Process – Track 2 

Track 2 is a revenue-based certification program designed to assist eligible producers who suffered an eligible decrease in revenue resulting from 2022 calendar year disaster events when compared with revenue in a benchmark year using revenue information that is readily available from most tax records. 

In cases where revenue does not reasonably reflect a normal year’s revenue, Track 2 provides an alternative method for establishing revenue. Likewise, Track 2 affords producers of crops that are used within an operation and do not generate revenue from the sale of the crop a method for establishing revenue for the purpose of applying for ERP 2022 benefits. Producers are not required to submit tax records to FSA unless requested by the County Committee if required for an FSA compliance spot check. 

Producers interested in applying for ERP 2022 Track 2, should contact their local FSA county office. Additional reference resources can be found on FSA’s emergency relief website.

Dairy Margin Coverage Program Provides Critical Support for Dairy Operations

August milk margin triggered the eighth consecutive DMC payment

The August milk margin triggered the eighth consecutive payment for dairy producers who obtained Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for the 2023 program year. August’s income over feed margin is $6.46 per hundredweight (cwt.) with projected DMC payments totaling $120 million. To date, including the projected August payments, dairy producers have received more than $1.2 billion in much needed economic support for 2023 and margin forecasts indicate the likelihood of more to come before the end of the calendar year.  

DMC is a voluntary risk management program administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. 

Additional Dairy Assistance

DMC complements other assistance available to dairy producers, including the Milk Loss Program (MLP) and the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). 

MLP covers milk that was dumped or removed, without compensation, from the commercial milk market due to qualifying weather events and the consequences of those weather events that inhibited delivery or storage of milk (e.g., power outages, impassable roads, infrastructure losses, etc.) during calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022.  

USDA Provides $5 Million in Second Round of Payments to Help Organic Dairy Producers Cover Increased Costs



The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing a second round of payments for dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP), providing an additional $5 million to help dairy producers mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already paid out $15 million in the first round of payments for eligible producers, bringing total ODMAP payments to $20 million. Producers paid during the first round will automatically receive payment in the second round and no action is needed. 

It's Not to Late to Apply for Cost Share for Organic Certification



As part of USDA’s broader effort to support organic producers and in response to stakeholder feedback, this year the Farm Service Agency increased the cost share amount under the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which helps organic producers cover organic certification costs, to the maximum amount allowed by statute. Specifically, FSA will cover up to 75% of costs associated with organic certification, up to $750 for crops, wild crops, livestock, and processing/handling. OCCSP will cover costs incurred from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023.

FSA began accepting applications for OCCSP Monday, May 15. Applications are due Nov. 2, 2023. Late-filed applications may be accepted through Feb. 2, 2024 on a first-come, first-serve basis as long as funding remains available.

To apply, producers and handlers should contact the FSA at their local USDA Service Center. As part of completing the OCCSP application, producers and handlers will need to provide documentation of their organic certification and eligible expenses. Organic producers and handlers may also apply for OCCSP through participating state departments of agriculture.

FSA is also accepting applications from state departments of agriculture to administer OCCSP. FSA will post a synopsis of the funding opportunity on grants.gov and will send more information to all eligible state departments of agriculture. Additional details can be found on the OCCSP webpage. More information about these initiatives and more can be found at farmers.gov/organic-transition-initiative.

WSDA Local Food System Infrastructure Grants

The purpose of the Local Food System Infrastructure Grant program is to support local food supply chains and market access for farms, ranches, food processors, and food distributors. The intention is to fund projects that expand and strengthen collaboration across linkages in the regional food supply chain. This includes planning, equipment, and facilities that support on-farm post-harvest handling, aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, distribution, and sale of Washington grown, caught, and raised foods.

Investments that strengthen linkages along the regional food supply chain create new economic opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and food businesses. Expanding local market access with improvements in the regional food supply chain allows small and mid-sized farms, ranches, and food businesses to retain more of the value chain dollar. Ultimately, this grant program benefits Washington consumers by enhancing the resiliency of the local food supply.

Compost Reimbursement Program

The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Compost Reimbursement Program (established under RCW 15.04.420) NOW OPEN. To apply, submit an eligibility application here: https://arcg.is/18PP5L. Responses will be processed on a first come, first served basis until we reach our participation limit. After which time, the survey will close unless more applications are considered later this year.

For participating farms, the program will pay up to 50% of the cost to obtain, transport, and spread eligible compost, not to exceed $10,000, per farm per fiscal year. For incurred costs to be found eligible, compost must be purchased from a compost facility with a solid waste handling permit (map found here).

If found eligible to participate in the program, the following steps must be completed before compost is transported and applied, to qualify for reimbursement:

1. Sign the Grant Agreement Contract within 60 days of receipt. For farms on leased land, landowner permission and signature will be required.
2. Complete the Crop & Field Survey.
3. Collect a soil sample prior to compost application. 

Once each of the above steps are completed, participating farms can submit a reimbursement application to our Plant Inspection Services & Certification Electronic System (PISCES). This application will include itemized costs, a brief description of how each item was used, and an invoice, receipt or other documentation associated with that cost.

For more information on this program, please visit bit.ly/wsdacompost. If you have any questions regarding the application and review process, please contact compost@agr.wa.gov or (360) 890-0625.

Rural Energy For America Program

The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.

How may the funds be used?

Funds may be used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, such as:

• Biomass (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels).
• Geothermal for electric generation or direct use.
• Hydropower below 30 megawatts.
• Hydrogen.
• Small and large wind generation.
• Small and large solar generation.
• Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation.

Funds may also be used for the purchase, installation and construction of energy efficiency improvements, such as:

• High efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC).
• Insulation.
• Lighting.
• Cooling or refrigeration units.
• Doors and windows.
• Electric, solar or gravity pumps for sprinkler pivots.
• Switching from a diesel to electric irrigation motor.
• Replacement of energy-inefficient equipment.

Energy Efficiency Improvement applications must contain an Energy Audit, or Energy Assessment (depending on Total Project Costs) that complies with Appendix A to RD Instructions 4280-B

Agricultural producers may also use guaranteed loan funds to install energy efficient equipment and systems for agricultural production or processing.

Funding for the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant program has increased tenfold and they are now offering to pay for 50% of the cost to install a solar system. When one adds a 30% to 40% Federal Tax Credit and in many cases an Energy Trust incentive too, the simple payback on solar can be about a year. Perhaps more importantly, each net $1 invested should save $20 plus on future power bills.