COLUMBUS — Ohio agricultural producers who lost property due to recent natural disasters may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture physical loss loans. The Farm Service Agency offers these low-interest loans to agricultural producers in 21 Ohio counties, the primary damaged area, who incurred losses due excessive rain, flash flooding, flooding, hail, high winds, lightning and tornadoes that occurred between Nov. 1, 2018 and June 13, 2019. Approval is limited to applicants who suffered severe physical losses only, including the loss of buildings and livestock. Applications are due March 2, 2020.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the deadline to file crop acreage reports for agricultural producers in Ohio impacted by flooding and heavy moisture. The new Monday deadline applies to reporting spring-seeded crops to USDA’s Farm Service Agency county offices and federal crop insurance agents.

COLUMBUS — The State Executive Director for Ohio’s Farm Service Agency, Leonard Hubert, reminds producers that the signup period for Lake Erie CREP runs through Aug. 23. CREP is a federal conservation partnership with the state of Ohio through ODA. CREP is designed to address agriculture-related environmental concerns. Ohio’s Lake Erie CREP began back in 2000 with the main objective to improve water quality in all of our rivers, streams and tributaries within the Lake Erie watershed with a special emphasis on the Blanchard and Tiffin Rivers as important tributaries of the Maumee River. These conservation practices will target environmentally-sensitive areas to reduce sediments and nutrients, minimize the risk of flooding, and improve habitat for a variety of wildlife species.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency opened enrollment for the Dairy Margin Coverage program on June 17 and has started issuing payments to producers who purchased coverage. Producers can enroll through Sept. 20, 2019.

COLUMBUS — Ohio’s agricultural economy is experiencing a number of stresses in 2019. Challenging weather and uncertain market conditions are leaving many farmers across the state under considerable financial stress. The reality is no one is immune to financial stress.

COLUMBUS — Due to the extreme weather that has taken a devastating toll on parts of Ohio, Treasurer Robert Sprague today announced he has re-opened the application period for the Ag-LINK program. Through this round of applications, farm operators and agribusiness owners based in Ohio can receive a 2% interest rate reduction on loans up to $150,000. Ag-LINK can provide significant savings and much needed relief to farmers and agribusinesses impacted by recent storms and floods.

COLUMBUS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency is extending the prevented plant crop reporting deadline for Ohio producers affected by spring flooding and excessive moisture. Producers without crop insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage in certain counties now have until Monday to report acres they intended to plant this spring but could not due to weather conditions.

COLUMBUS — Extreme weather conditions like the recent excessive rains and tornados have negatively impacted Ohio farmers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will invest $4 million to help Ohio agricultural producers recover.

To comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to contact the FSA office to file an accurate crop certification report by the applicable deadline. For the 2019 crop year, due to the excessive moisture in Wyandot County, the deadline to file a CCC-576, Notice of Loss, for producers without insurance or NAP coverage, has been extended to no later than the final acreage reporting date, July 15.

BUCYRUS — The Ohio Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District, continues to provide funding for assistance programs for farmers to help protect water quality in the western basin of Lake Erie. The sign-up period for these programs begins June 17.