In a comprehensive update at the NAFB Washington Watch event, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, Richard Fordyce, detailed the progress and future of several key agricultural programs, highlighting the significant impact they are having on farmers across the country. Fordyce, a Missouri farmer himself, emphasized the USDA’s commitment to supporting producers through innovative technology and efficient program management.
Progress of the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program
One of the primary focuses of Fordyce’s presentation was the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. He reported that since the sign-up period began on February 23 and concluded on April 17, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
- Applications Approved: Over 540,000 applications have been approved.
- Funding Obligated: More than $10 billion of the $11 billion program budget has already been obligated.
- Ongoing Processing: USDA staff are continuing to work through remaining applications, with expectations that the total obligation will closely approach the $11 billion mark.
Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF)
Fordyce also provided an update on the $1 billion Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program.
- Acreage Reporting: The acreage reporting period for specialty crop farmers concluded recently, allowing the USDA to begin calculating the total universe of eligible acres.
- Payment Rates: Work is underway to determine payment rates per acre by crop, an effort Fordyce acknowledged is more complex due to the wide variety of crops included in the program.
- Sign-up Outlook: An announcement regarding the start of the sign-up period is expected soon.
Modernizing USDA IT Systems: One Farmer, One File
A significant portion of Fordyce’s talk centered on the “One Farmer, One File” initiative, aimed at streamlining the interaction between farmers and the three agencies he oversees: the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA).
- System Overhaul: The USDA is working to consolidate a vast and fragmented map of IT systems into a common geospatial mapping platform.
- Real-Time Data Sharing: This new platform will allow all three agencies to access and update the same real-time data, reducing redundancy for farmers who currently often have to submit similar information to multiple agencies.
- Pilot Testing: A modernized acreage reporting piece is currently being piloted in 12 to 15 counties across the country to test its functionality in various conditions, including areas with low bandwidth.
- Precision Ag Integration: The goal is to eventually allow farmers, with their permission, to use precision agriculture data to automatically populate acreage reports and other necessary documentation.
Staffing and Support for Local Offices
Addressing concerns about staffing levels at local FSA and NRCS offices, Fordyce noted that Secretary Rollins recognizes these positions as mission-critical.
- Strategic Staffing: The USDA is utilizing data tools to inform staffing decisions, ensuring that personnel are placed where they are most needed to support local producers.
- Ongoing Challenges: Fordyce acknowledged that while some offices are operating normally, others have been more affected by program demands and staffing shifts, and the department is committed to reaching ideal staffing levels.
Updates on Disaster and Risk Management
Fordyce highlighted the ongoing support provided through standing disaster programs and improvements in risk management.
- Disaster Response: FSA and NRCS continue to provide aid for disasters ranging from wildfires to prolonged droughts.
- Risk Management Improvements: Recent policy changes through RMA allow some producers to insure up to 95% of their guarantee while paying lower premiums, a move that saw a significant increase in participation this year.
- STRP Top-Off: In a significant announcement, Fordyce noted that the STRP program will be topped off with an additional 35%, bringing total payments to 70% of what producers were eligible for. This top-off was processed recently and should reach producers’ accounts soon.
- Sign-up Extension: The sign-up for the quality component of the STRP program has been extended to August 12 to allow producers more time to work through the complex documentation required for various crops.
Farm Director KC Sheperd added that these updates underscore the department’s focus on both immediate financial relief and long-term structural improvements to better serve the agricultural community.
