Washington News Releases

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USDA Designates Two Washington Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Thu Nov 15, 2018 02:57 PM
USDA Reminds Producers of Disaster Program Deadlines

Tue Nov 13, 2018 06:17 PM
USDA Designates Wasco County, Oregon, as a Primary Natural Disaster Area

Fri Nov 9, 2018 03:30 PM
USDA Offers Secure, Convenient Online Business Options

Tue Oct 16, 2018 10:22 AM
USDA Adds Shelled Almonds and Fresh Sweet Cherry to Market Facilitation Program

Mon Sep 24, 2018 10:25 AM
USDA Launches Trade Mitigation Programs

Thu Sep 6, 2018 12:40 PM
USDA Announces Details of Assistance for Farmers Impacted by Unjustified Retaliation

Thu Aug 30, 2018 12:08 PM
Deadline Approaches for Continuous Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment

Tue Aug 7, 2018 01:17 PM
USDA Extends Application Deadline for Dairy Margin Protection Program to June 22

Wed Jun 13, 2018 11:08 AM
USDA Resumes Continuous Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment

Mon Jun 4, 2018 12:40 PM
USDA Partners with Texas A&M to Help Veterans Seeking Agriculture Loans and Careers

Fri Jun 1, 2018 12:08 PM
USDA Reopens Application Period for Producers Recovering from Cattle Loss, Other Disasters

Fri Jun 1, 2018 11:36 AM
Dairy Farmers Have Until June 1 to Apply for Improved Safety Net under Margin Protection Program

Fri May 25, 2018 03:45 PM
FSA Releases Signup Information for Tree Assistance Program

Tue May 15, 2018 12:00 AM

USDA’s Farm Service Agency recently released signup information for the Tree Assistance Program, a nationwide program that provides orchardists and nursery tree growers with cost share assistance to replant eligible trees, bushes, and vines following a natural disaster.
Perdue Names Appointees to the Washington USDA Farm Service Agency State Committee

Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:41 PM

Spokane, Wash., Jan. 11, 2018- U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced the individuals who will serve on the Washington USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee. The state committee is responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving appeals from the agriculture community, and helping to keep producers informed about FSA programs.
Trump Administration Appoints Brian Dansel to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Washington State

Wed Nov 8, 2017 01:57 PM
USDA Offers Targeted Farm Loan Funding for Underserved Groups and Beginning Farmers

Mon Oct 23, 2017 12:00 AM

(SPOKANE, Wash.), Oct. 23, 2017 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Washington Farm Service Agency (FSA) Loan Chief Houston Bruck reminds producers that FSA offers specially targeted farm ownership and farm operating loans to underserved applicants as well as beginning farmers and ranchers.
USDA Authorizes Emergency Haying and Grazing of Conservation Reserve Program Acres for Eight Washington Counties

Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:06 AM

(SPOKANE, Wash.), Aug. 15, 2017 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting State Executive Director Rod Hamilton today announced that eight counties in Washington are authorized for emergency haying and grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres. Counties include: Adams, Asotin, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman.
Farm Service Agency Extends Voting Deadline for County Committee Elections

Tue Nov 29, 2016 12:00 AM

(SPOKANE, WA) Nov. 29, 2016 — Farmers and ranchers have extra time to vote in U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency elections due to a deadline extension according to FSA’s Washington State Executive Director, Judy Olson. The deadline to submit ballots for the 2016 County Committee elections is now December 13, 2016. FSA is collecting ballots at the agency’s county offices.
USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to WA Farmers

Fri Oct 7, 2016 11:40 AM

(SPOKANE, WA), Oct. 7, 2016 – USDA Washington Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Judy Olson announced that approximately 26,500 Washington farms that enrolled in safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill will receive financial assistance for the 2015 crop year. The programs, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), are designed to protect against unexpected drops in crop prices or revenues due to market downturns.
USDA Announces Availability of Additional Farm Loan Funding

Fri Sep 2, 2016 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that additional funding will be made available to assist more than 1,900 approved applicants who are awaiting farm operating loans. The funds, which were reprogrammed by FSA with the approval of Congress, will leverage up to $185 million in additional lending for direct and guaranteed farm operation loans and will allow the agency to address up to 30 percent of its projected shortfall of funds until the next federal fiscal year resumes on Oct. 1.
USDA Announces Lending Rates for September 2016

Thu Sep 1, 2016 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for September 2016. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for September is 0.500 percent, unchanged from 0.500 percent in August.
Washington Farm Service Agency Reminds Producers of Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment Opportunities

Mon Aug 15, 2016 01:00 PM

(Spokane, WA), August 15, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Washington state continues to accept Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) offers for the Highly Erodible Land (HEL) Initiative. This initiative is part of the Continuous CRP enrollment being conducted in FSA offices statewide.
USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments to Washington Farmers Facing Market Downturn

Thu Nov 12, 2015 01:00 PM

(Spokane, WA), November 12, 2015 – USDA Washington Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, SED Judy Olson announced that approximately 10,000 Washington farms who enrolled in the new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill will soon begin receiving financial assistance for the 2014 crop year. The programs, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), are designed to protect against unexpected drops in crop prices or revenues due to market downturns.
USDA Offers Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers Affected by Fires

Tue Aug 18, 2015 01:00 PM

SPOKANE, WA August 18, 2015 – Washington's farmers and ranchers affected by this year's devastating drought and wildfires may receive financial relief from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency according to FSA State Executive Director Judy Olson.
USDA Accepting More Farmland for Wildlife Habitat in Washington

Fri Jul 31, 2015 01:00 PM

SPOKANE, WA July 31, 2015 – Washington wildlife and farmers and ranchers can all benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recent expansion of the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Program in the state. Washington Farm Service Agency Executive Director Judy Olson announced that an additional 15,000 acres of agricultural land in Washington is eligible for wildlife habitat restoration funding.
USDA Announces Conservation Incentives for Working Grass, Range and Pasture Lands

Wed Jul 15, 2015 01:00 PM

SPOKANE, WA July 15, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that beginning Sept. 1, farmers and ranchers can apply for financial assistance to help conserve working grasslands, rangeland and pastureland while maintaining the areas as livestock grazing lands.
Drought in Eastern Washington Counties Prompts Federal Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers

Thu Jun 25, 2015 01:00 PM

SPOKANE, WA June 25, 2015 – Ranchers in many Eastern Washington counties may be eligible for financial drought relief from the federal government after the U.S. Drought Monitor reached D2, or a severe drought, for eight consecutive weeks.
Farm Service Agency State Director Encourages Appointments for ARC/PLC Enrollment

Thu Jun 18, 2015 01:00 PM

SPOKANE, June 18, 2015 – Farmers who elected either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) still have another step to complete participation in these new Farm Bill programs according to Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Judy Olson. Program enrollment runs through September 30, 2015 at county Farm Service Agency offices.
Farm Service Agency Accepting Nominations for Local Committees

Mon Jun 1, 2015 01:00 PM

SPOKANE, June 1, 2015 – Farmers and ranchers have an opportunity to influence federal farm programs with their local knowledge. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency is seeking nominations for farmers and ranchers willing to represent their peers on the agency’s county committees. All county FSA offices will accept nominations through August 3, 2015 for this fall's elections.
USDA to Issue Disaster Assistance to Help Honeybee and Livestock Producers

Wed Apr 8, 2015 01:00 PM

SPOKANE, April 8, 2015 – The Farm Service Agency will distribute about $600,000 in federal disaster assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) to agricultural producers affected by wildfires and other natural disasters in Washington state last year. Wildfires, drought-related grasshopper infestations and colony collapse caused about 70 producers to lose livestock forage or suffer loss of honeybees.