Tag Archive for: #usda

FSA Physical Loss Loans Available For Vance County Producers Affected By January 17 Ice, Snow

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— Press release from the USDA Farm Service Agency

Agricultural producers in Vance County who lost property due to recent natural disasters are eligible for physical loss loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers these loans for losses caused by excessive snow, ice, freeze, high winds and a blizzard that occurred on January 17, 2026.

FSA is offering these low-interest emergency loans to producers with a qualifying loss. Approval is limited to applicants who suffered severe physical losses only, including the loss of buildings and livestock. The deadline for producers in designated primary and contiguous counties to apply for loans for physical losses is December 6, 2026.

Physical loss loans can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.

Please contact FSA for more information on loan eligibility and the application process. FSA office information is available at farmers.gov/service-center-locator. Additional FSA disaster assistance program information is available at fsa.usda.gov/disaster.

For more information, contact FSA County Executive Director Hattie Jordan at 252.438.3134 ext.2

Horse Owners On Alert Following Confirmed EHV Cases In Texas, Oklahoma

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State veterinary officials are asking horse owners in North Carolina to watch for symptoms of a highly contagious equine disease following diagnoses of multiple horses in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said he encourages event organizers to take the outbreak seriously and consider canceling or postponing equine events like sales and shows “as the best method to protect horses from further exposure” to curb outbreaks.

Cases were confirmed Nov. 9 by the Texas Animal Health Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Currently, there are no confirmed cases in North Carolina. The disease, equine herpes virus, can develop into a neurological disease called equine herpes myeloencephalopathy, which can be deadly.

The extent of this outbreak is not yet fully known, and the situation is developing rapidly, said State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin. Symptoms in infected horses appear to be acute with rapid progression and high clinical severity. Reports of an increasing number of deaths in horses suspected of having EHM are concerning and underscore the need for proactive actions to curb the spread of this disease, Martin said.

“I encourage all horse owners, veterinarians and event organizers to take this current outbreak seriously and implement procedures to prevent further spread of the virus,” said Troxler in a press release. “I encourage event sponsors to take all necessary precautions to prevent further spread of this virus and protect equine health. Given the nature of this virus and routes of transmission, and out of an abundance of caution, I strongly recommend canceling or postponing equine events if possible as the best method to protect horses from further exposure until such time as the extent of the current outbreak has been determined.”

Clinical signs of EHV may not be specific, and some horses may not show any signs of illness. Look for the following symptoms in horses:

  • Fever
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Nasal discharge and cough
  • Depression
  • Head tilt
  • Loss of tail tone
  • Stumbling or weakness in the hind limbs that progresses to all limbs
  • Down and unable to rise
  • Abortion in pregnant mares

EHV-1 primarily affects the respiratory system of horses but can also cause severe neurological disease and death. Symptoms include fever, coughing, nasal discharge and loss of balance. The virus is transmitted through body fluids. It is highly contagious among horses but does not affect humans.

“If you suspect your horse has been exposed to EHV-1 infection, contact your veterinarian,” said Martin. “We request that horses with confirmed EHM or that exhibit neurological signs are reported to the state veterinarian’s office at 919.707.3250.”

All affected horses attended the 2025 WPRA World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event in Waco, Texas Nov. 5-9. The two confirmed cases in Oklahoma also attended the BFA World Championship at Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., that was scheduled for Nov. 17-22. Due to the confirmed positive cases, this event was canceled, and remaining participants were sent home.

Some states may suspend extended Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (6-month Equine CVI) or may add additional requirements prior to entry. Please contact the individual state for the most up-to-date requirements prior to travel.

“These were large events attended by horses from many states,” Martin said. “Owners of horses that may have been exposed to horses with EHM should work with their veterinarian to establish appropriate biosecurity and monitoring protocols.”

Biosecurity and safety rotocols include:

  • Isolating the horses that attended the event for at least 3 weeks
  • Having the temperature of returning horses monitored twice daily for at least 14 days after the last known exposure. Fever greater than 101.5 may be the first indicator of disease.
  • Clean and disinfect tack, boots, equipment and grooming supplies. Wash hands.
  • If fever or other signs consistent with EHM develop, contact your veterinarian.
  • When feeding and doing chores, work with the returning horses last, wear boots and coveralls, and remove them before working with your other horses.

Ronald Garrett Appointed To Lead State USDA Farm Service Agency

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Ronald Garrett has been appointed State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency in North Carolina.

Garrett began his new role on May 5. As SED, he is responsible for overseeing the delivery of FSA programs to the state’s agricultural producers. The commodity, conservation, credit and disaster assistance programs ensure a safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food, fiber, and fuel supply for all Americans.

“FSA State Executive Directors serve in a critical role carrying out USDA’s mission at the state level — ensuring that our focus is on meeting the needs of local agricultural producers by putting farmers and ranchers first,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “Rural communities need our support now more than ever. Our newly appointed state leaders bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their position as SED and they will play an integral role in shaping the future of agriculture in their state.”

Garrett served as an FSA county Executive Director for more than 34 years. He started his career with FSA as a county Operations Trainee in 1991 and worked in several county offices after completing his training. Garrett has received numerous awards from the National Association of State and County Office Employees for service to his community, FSA and agriculture. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business management from N.C. State University.

In a press release announcing the appointment, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said, “When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put Farmers First again.”

Vance-Warren FSA: Summer Crop Acreage Reports Due July 15

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-information courtesy of the Vance-Warren County Farm Service Agency

Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after spring planting should make an appointment with the Vance-Warren County Farm Service Agency before the applicable deadline – Monday, July 15.

“In order to comply with USDA program eligibility requirements, all producers must file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said Hattie D. Jordan, FSA’s County executive director in Vance-Warren County. “Once planting is complete, please call our office to make an appointment to report your acreage.”

An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch, as well as its intended use and location. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage, and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits.

To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide:

  • Crop and crop type or variety
  • Intended crop use
  • Number of crop acres
  • Map with approximate crop boundaries
  • Planting date(s)
  • Planting pattern, when applicable
  • Producer shares
  • Irrigation practice(s)
  • Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable
  • Other required information

The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:

  • If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
  • If a producer acquires additional acreage after the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP-covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or crop harvesting begins.

Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant but were unable to because of a natural disaster, including drought. Prevented planted acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and USDA’s Risk Management Agency.

FSA recently updated policy that applies to prevented planted acreage due to drought. To certify prevented planted acreage due to drought, all the following must apply:

  • The area that is prevented from being planted has insufficient soil moisture for seed germination on the final planting date for non-irrigated acreage.
  • Prolonged precipitation deficiencies that meet the D3 or D4 drought intensity level as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
  • Verifiable information must be collected from sources whose business or purpose is recording weather conditions as determined by FSA.

Agricultural producers with perennial forage crops have the option to report their acreage once, without having to report that acreage in subsequent years if there are no applicable changes on the farm. Interested producers can select the continuous certification option after FSA certifies their acreage report. Examples of perennial forage include mixed forage, birdsfoot trefoil, chicory/radicchio, kochia (prostrata), lespedeza, perennial peanuts, and perennial grass varieties.

Once the continuous certification option is selected, the certified acreage will roll forward annually with no additional action required by the producer in subsequent years unless the acreage report changes.

Producers can access their FSA farm records, maps and common land units through the farmers.gov customer portal. The portal allows producers to export field boundaries as shapefiles and import and view other shapefiles, such as precision agriculture boundaries within farm records mapping.  Producers can view, print, and label their maps for acreage reporting purposes. Level 2 eAuthentication or login.gov access that is linked to a USDA Business Partner customer record is required to use the portal.

Producers can visit farmers.gov/account to learn more about creating an account. Producers who have authority to act on behalf of another customer as a grantee via an FSA-211 Power of Attorney form, Business Partner Signature Authority or as a member of a business can now access information for the business in the farmers.gov portal.

For questions, please contact the Vance-Warren County FSA office at 252-438-3134 ext2.

The FSA office is located at 853 S. Beckford Dr., Suite B, Henderson.