USDA Update – March 26, 2026
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
- CRP SIGNUP - General CRP Signup 66 March 9 - April 17
- SDRP - Supplemental Disaster Relief Program – Stage 1 and Stage 2 - application deadline is April 30, 2026
- FBA – Farmers Bridge Assistance - Deadline to submit signed application April 17, 2026
MARTY
Last Wednesday, 3-18 was the last day of work for Marty Miller over at the NCRS office, as he has retired (again). Marty officially retired from NRCS in 2018 and was brought back as a contract employee in 2020. Six years later, he decided to start a new chapter in his life and left us once again. We’ll sure miss Marty and we wish him all the best and many years of enjoying retirement.
NRCS HOURS
With Marty gone, Eads NRCS office hours will change. James Brenner will be in the office on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. He is in the Cheyenne Wells NRCS office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, that office number is 719-767-5648 ext. 3 if you need to reach him.
Farmers Bridge Assistance Program
Producers who haven’t applied for the FBA program, need to do so no later than April 17, 2026, which is right around the corner. Call the office today to make arrangements to get your application signed.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, providing $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop producers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. The FBA enrollment period opened Feb. 23 and closes April 17, 2026.
These bridge payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act and are administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Bridge payments are intended in part to aid farmers until historic investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including reference prices which are set to increase between 10-21 percent for major covered commodities and will reach eligible farmers after Oct. 1, 2026.
How to Apply
Pre-filled applications will be available online to producers with a Login.gov account who timely filed their 2025 crop acreage report for eligible commodities. Producers who have a Login.gov account can access and submit their pre-filled application from fsa.usda.gov/fba. Additionally, producers can also request their pre-filled FBA application from their FSA county office.
April 17, 2026, is the deadline to submit completed FBA applications. Producers can complete FBA applications online or submit to their FSA county office.
Login.gov
Login.gov is the public’s one account for government. Producers can use one account and password for secure, private access to participating government agencies, including FSA.
To apply for FBA online, producers can start by visiting fsa.usda.gov/fba. to create their Login.gov account. Producers who have an existing Login.gov account, can work with FSA using their existing account.
With a secure Login.gov account, producers can be amongst the first to apply for FBA allowing them to view, certify, and submit their application as well as track their application and payment status.
For assistance creating a Login.gov account, visit https://login.gov/help/.
Eligibility
The following commodities are eligible for FBA: Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower.
All intended uses for FBA eligible commodities are eligible excluding grazing, experimental, green manure, left standing, or cover crops. Initial acres, double crop acres, and subsequently planted acres, are eligible. Prevent plant acres are not eligible.
Crop insurance linkage is not required; however, USDA strongly urges producers to take advantage of the new risk management tools provided for in OBBBA to best protect against future price risk and volatility.
Payment Calculation
In December, USDA released the payment rates by commodity. FBA payment rates are based on 2025 planted acres, Economic Research Service cost of production, and the World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate Report.
More information on FBA is available online at fsa.usda.gov/fba also at Farmers.gov and as always, producers can also contact their local FSA county office.
CRP GENERAL SIGNUP
March 9, 2026, FSA will begin accepting offers for General CRP signup 66 through April 17th. Currently, continuous signup (explained below) will continue through March 20th. Producers interested in submitting an offer need to contact the FSA office. FSA will run a report which will give the producer the maximum rental rate per acre. For new land to be eligible, the land must meet cropping history requirements and eligible producer requirements. Cropping history years are 2012 through 2017. The producer submitting the offer must have operated or owned the land for at least one year by the April 17th date. Land that currently has a tenant or sharecropper must either be afforded the opportunity to participate in the CRP contract or voluntarily release their interest in the CRP offer.
Producers with any expiring contract is eligible to offer land for General CRP. Grassland CRP signup will be announced later this year.
SERVICE CENTER OFFICE HOURS:
Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For information on programs visit our website located at www.fsa.usda.gov or like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. USDA is an equal opportunity employer.
RECEIVE USDA INFORMATION
There are many ways for our customers to receive up to date FSA and NRCS information. Below are different avenues to obtain information.
- Visit website www.Farmers.gov for up-to-date information for FSA/NRCS programs.
- Receive text messages - Text COKiowa to FSANow (372-669) to subscribe.
- Subscribe to GovDelivery emails: Visit www.fsa.usda.gov/subscribe or contact your local FSA Office.
- For information on programs visit our website located at www.fsa.usda.gov or like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. USDA is an equal opportunity employer.
It is the customers responsibility to know what programs and benefits are available.
