FSA lists national USDA program deadlines

Listed below are important upcoming and ongoing national USDA program deadlines.

Note that this list does not include every deadline, and only includes federal deadlines. People can check with their local USDA Service Center to learn about all available programs, and programs that have local or state level deadlines.

Upcoming Deadlines:

Conservation Reserve Program

Deadline is Feb. 12, 2021.

Through the Conservation Reserve Program, farmers and ranchers establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. The CRP general signup runs Jan. 4 through Feb. 12. This signup includes increased opportunities for enrollment of wildlife habitat through the State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.

People can learn more about CRP at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/news-releases/2020/usda-to-open-signup-for-the-conservation-reserve-program-and-crp-grasslands-in-early-2021 .

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Additional Assistance

Deadline is Feb. 26, 2021.

USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program now provides additional assistance for certain agricultural producers whose operations were directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Applications are available Jan. 19 through Feb. 26.

People can learn more about CFAP Additional Assistance at https://www.farmers.gov/cfap .

Quality Loss Adjustment Program

Deadline is March 5, 2021

USDA’s new Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program provides financial assistance to crop producers who experienced quality losses caused by qualifying disaster events. Applications are available Jan. 6 through March 5.

People can learn more about QLA at https://www.farmers.gov/quality-loss .

Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs

Deadline is March 15, 2021

The Agriculture Risk Coverage program (ARC) provides income support payments on historical base acres when actual crop revenue declines below a specified guaranteed level. The Price Loss Coverage program (PLC) provides income support payments on historical base acres when the effective price for a covered commodity falls below its reference price. Enrollment for the 2021 crop year for ARC and PLC closes March 15.

People can learn more about ARC-PLC at https://www.farmers.gov/arc-plc .

Marketing Assistance Loans

Deadline is March 31, 2021.

Marketing assistance loans provide producers interim financing at harvest time to meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows.

This deadline is only for prior year harvested wheat, barley, canola, crambe, flaxseed, honey, oats, rapeseed, and sesame.

People can learn more about Marketing Assistance Loans at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/price-support/commodity-loans/index .

Conservation Reserve Program — Grasslands

Deadline is April 23, 2021.

Through the Conservation Reserve Program — Grasslands, landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, and certain other lands while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. The CRP Grasslands signup runs March 15 through April 23.

People can learn more about CRP Grasslands at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/news-releases/2020/usda-to-open-signup-for-the-conservation-reserve-program-and-crp-grasslands-in-early-2021 .

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

Deadline is May 31, 2021.

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters.

This deadline is only for ornamental nurseries.

People can learn more about NAP at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/noninsured-crop-disaster-assistance/index .

Local deadlines and ongoing programs

The following federal USDA programs either do not have a deadline or have ongoing signup. People can check with their local USDA Service Center to learn more about programs that have local or state level deadlines.

• Acreage reporting

Acreage reporting is an important part of determining your eligibility for many USDA assistance programs. A crop acreage report documents all crops and the intended uses.

Acreage reporting dates vary by crop and by county. People can check with their local USDA Service Center for details. 

People can learn more at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/2019/crop-acreage-reporting-19.pdf

• Conservation Reserve Program — Continuous

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides farmers and ranchers an income source in exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production in an effort to improve environmental health and quality.

Signup for the continuous Conservation Reserve Program began Dec. 9, 2019, and is ongoing.

People can learn more about CRP at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/conservation-reserve-program/index .