Featured News
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Beginning Farmer and Rancher Veterans Webinar Series Hosted by the USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering a free webinar series for military veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses on how to work together to prepare for a career in agriculture. This webinar series is designed to provide information about USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher programs and resources for the military community. *This is not an NAU Country event. August 01, 2025 -
FSA/USDA Announces Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP)
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for $16 billion in assistance through the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). Read the full official news release, review resources, and access a link to the recorded webinar. July 10, 2025 -
2025 Planting Progress Updates
The 2025 planting season is in full swing, and NAU Country wishes you a successful planting season! Check out the planting progress percentages for select crops in major producing states nationwide. *Note: The weekly 2025 Planting Progress Update summary sheets will be available after 9:30 (CT) on Tuesday mornings following the release of the prior day's reports from USDA/Cornell University. April 22, 2025
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Updates to Crop Insurance Plans Broaden Access for Specialty Crop, Organic, Direct Market, and Other Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is improving two of its most comprehensive risk management safety net programs, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and Micro Farm, making them more accessible to America’s agricultural producers. The following press release was published by the USDA on August 31, 2022. September 02, 2022 -
USDA Offers Greater Protection and Flexibility With RMA’s Transitional and Organic Grower Assistance (TOGA)
The Organic Transition Initiative was announced on August 22, 2022, as a $300 million multi-agency USDA effort to support the transition and build and strengthen organic markets. The TOGA nationwide program, is part of the Organic Transition Initiative offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), reduces a producer’s overall crop insurance premium bills, and helps them continue to use organic agricultural systems. August 22, 2022 -
USDA to Invest up to $300 million in New Organic Transition Initiative
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced details of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $300 million investment, including with American Rescue Plan funds, in a new Organic Transition Initiative that will help build new and better markets and streams of income for farmers and producers. August 22, 2022 -
USDA to Mail Additional Applications to Producers Impacted by 2020-21 Disasters
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced another installment (phase) in assistance to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021. More than 18,000 producers will soon receive new or updated pre-filled disaster applications to offset eligible crop losses. Approximately $6.4 billion has already been distributed to 165,000 producers through USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Emergency Relief Program (ERP). August 19, 2022 -
NAU Country’s Agency Appreciation Week
Join NAU Country on Monday, August 15, 2022, through Thursday, August 18, 2022, for our Agency Appreciation Week! This week is about celebrating the tremendous relationship NAU Country and our agencies have worked to establish since the 1980s. To say thank you, we have planned an array of social media events and activities with some AWESOME prizes to show our appreciation. August 08, 2022 -
Streamlined Delivery of Emergency Relief Programs Is Win-Win for USDA and Agricultural Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has processed more than 255,000 applications for the new Emergency Relief Program (ERP). USDA has made approximately $6.1 billion, to date, in payments to commodity and specialty crop producers to help offset eligible losses from qualifying 2020 and 2021 natural disasters. By breaking-down agency barriers, using existing data across USDA and pre-filled applications, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in cooperation with the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has been able to expediently provide economic relief and save producers and staff over a million hours of time. August 08, 2022 -
Deadline Extended and More Pre-Filled Forms For 2020 and 2021 Disasters on the Way
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will indefinitely extend the deadline for producers to return the pre-filled applications for Phase One of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). A new deadline will be announced after the last Phase One applications are mailed and provide at least 30 days following the mailing. August 05, 2022 -
USDA Makes It Easier for American Farmers to Grow Food, Ease Burdens for American Families
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reducing the economic risk of raising two crops on the same land in one year by expanding double crop insurance opportunities in nearly 1,500 counties where double cropping is viable. This action is part of a broader set of commitments made earlier this year by President Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to increase domestic food production amid potential global food shortages related to the invasion of Ukraine. August 05, 2022 -
Top 6 Emergency Relief Program Checklist Items for Eligible Farmers
Have questions about the Emergency Relief Program (ERP)? Review the USDA/FSA's top six ERP checklist items for eligible farmers. June 19, 2022 -
Flexibilities to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Released by USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allow Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants who are in the final year of their CRP contract to request voluntary termination of their CRP contract following the end of the primary nesting season for fiscal year 2022. June 06, 2022