Updates from the Fairbury FSA
Joni Johnson
Right now is a great time to contact your FSA office regarding any recent changes you may have made to your farm or ranch operation that would be important to update in your FSA business records.
Examples of the types of changes we are talking about include the addition of a farm/ranch by lease or purchase, changes in shares or lease terms, new tenants, changes in land ownership, or creation of an entity or changes to an existing entity. This also includes changes to customer address, zip code, phone number, email address or an incorrect name or business name on file. Up-to-date farm/ranch records help us ensure you receive correct program benefits and saves everyone time in the long run.
If you haven’t contacted FSA already about these types of changes to your farm or ranch business, please do so ahead of the busy fall harvest season.
Reminder: For those producers who planted fall seeded crops; don’t forget to contact your FSA office to certify those crops. The deadline to certify wheat, triticale and rye is November 15, 2026. The deadline to certify honeybee colonies is January 3, 2027.
Working Families Tax Cuts Act “Farmers First” Program Improvements
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making significant improvements to its disaster assistance programs as outlined in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. As part of the commitment to put Farmers First, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is strengthening disaster assistance support for livestock producers, orchardists and nursery tree growers.
Cumulatively, the changes outlined in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act provide a significant investment in American agriculture. Last month, FSA announced expanded payment limitation and payment eligibility provisions and the opportunity to increase base acres on eligible farms. FSA also previously announced that producers will benefit from increased reference prices for major commodities starting this fall. Additional policy enhancements for FSA disaster programs are taking effect.
Disaster Assistance Programs
USDA is expanding disaster assistance coverage and increasing benefits to help producers recover from eligible losses. •Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP): ELAP helps producers with losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events, and qualifying conditions that are not covered by other USDA disaster assistance programs. Retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, ELAP will use a normal mortality rate of 15% for eligible honeybee colony losses.
•Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP): LFP provides financial assistance to livestock producers who suffer eligible grazing losses due to a qualifying drought or fire. Retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, the threshold has been lowered for producers to qualify for a one-month payment with payments now triggering after four consecutive weeks of qualifying severe drought (D2 on the U.S. Drought Monitor) conditions instead of eight weeks. And producers may receive a two-month payment if D2 drought conditions continue for seven out of eight consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period. Contact you local FSA office to see if the county where your livestock are located has qualified for 2026 LFP.
•Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP): LIP helps livestock owners and contract growers who suffer livestock losses beyond normal mortality levels due to eligible adverse events. Starting this year, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, LIP rates increase to 100% for predation from animals listed as endangered or protected (compared with 75% of market value), and producers have the option to document regional price premiums that exceed the national average market price for eligible livestock losses. Additionally, LIP will also cover unborn livestock losses that occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2024. In most cases, the payment will be automatic for 2024 and 2025 losses based on LIP data on file with FSA with no action required by the producer.
•Tree Assistance Program (TAP): TAP helps orchardists and nursery tree growers replant or rehabilitate trees, bushes, and vines that were lost due to an eligible natural disaster. Retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, FSA is removing the 15% normal mortality rate, increasing the reimbursement rate for activities like pruning and removal, and extending the implementation period to 24 months with an option to extend.
For more information on these updates to FSA programs, visit the respective program webpage. Producers interested in applying for disaster assistance, Marketing Assistance Loans, or other FSA programs should contact their local FSA office.