Farm Credit Conditions Improve

There was a dramatic improvement in farm credit conditions for the Upper Midwest region in the final three months of 2020. More than three-quarters of the agricultural lenders surveyed in the fourth quarter by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis reported an increase in farm incomes. Just under half of the lenders said loan repayment […]

CFAP 2 Sign Up Underway

Sign up is now open for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2). This program is designed for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.The new round of assistance will offer up to an additional $14 billion. Applications are being accept now through December 11. More information […]

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Signup Now Open

Signup for the $16 billion Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through USDA is now open. Eligible commodities include several specialty crops and non-speciality crops, as well as livestock. USDA is working to identify commodities not included CFAP to potentially be added. Farmers and ranchers who suffered a five percent or greater price decline between mid-January and […]

CFAP Signup Set to Begin May 26, Program Details Released

Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will begin after Memorial Day on Tuesday, May 26. That is according to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who says $16 billion in direct payments will be sent to farmers as soon as one week after USDA launches the portal. The signup window will then remain open through August. […]

NDSU Extension Helping Farmers Cope with Stress

Poor growing and harvesting conditions, low commodity prices, trade wars and a shortage of livestock feed for winter all have been stressful for North Dakota farmers and ranchers. NDSU Extension has developed a number of resources to help farmers and ranchers cope with the stress resulting from the uncertainties in their profession.   The first […]

ND Dept. of Ag Offering Letters for Essential Workers

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring is providing letters to critical and essential agriculture businesses for verification purposes in response to requests for being identified as such. The list of essential members of the food and agriculture workforce released by the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are vital to the continuous availability […]

Perdue Promises Trade Assistance as “Quickly as Possible”

While few details are still available, the proposal for USDA’s latest round of Market Facilitation Program payments is currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget. Speaking to reporters in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the trade assistance will go out to farmers as quickly as possible. “It more […]