USDA strengthens agriculture with FSA support

Jan 17, 2025
By Farms.com

FSA delivers relief and innovation to farmers nationwide

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has made remarkable strides in supporting American farmers and ranchers with disaster assistance, equitable policies, and sustainable agriculture practices.

Disaster Relief Initiatives

FSA enhanced disaster response with programs like LIP and ELAP, providing over $6.6 billion to livestock producers. Additional funds of $1 billion under NAP and TAP supported specialty crop producers affected by natural disasters.

Loan Program Innovations

In 2023, FSA modernized its loan processes with flexible repayment terms and reduced collateral requirements, benefiting 85,000 borrowers. Online tools such as the Loan Assistance Tool have streamlined applications. The Inflation Reduction Act further provided $2.74 billion to distressed farmers, ensuring financial stability.

Promoting Equity and Urban Agriculture

FSA allocated $300 million to underserved farmers for land access and market projects. Urban agriculture initiatives expanded with 17 Urban Service Centers, encouraging small-scale urban farming.

Technological and Climate Advancements

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) added 15.2 million acres, promoting climate-smart agriculture. Technological updates like the FSA Web Environmental Analysis Tool accelerated program access and environmental reviews.

Commitment to Farmers

FSA’s advancements in disaster relief, loans, and sustainability highlight their dedication to America’s agricultural community. These efforts are securing a brighter future for US farmers.

To learn more, visit farmers.gov.

Video: Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard

On Friday, April 24, 2026, from 12 noon–1:00 ET, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), presented this webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law Educational Series, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law:

“Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard”

The Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, or advanced biofuels. Established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and later expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the RFS is implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This webinar provides an overview of the legal authority and structure for the RFS program and explain how it works, including the program’s system of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and categories of renewable fuels. Additionally, this webinar addresses EPA annual volume requirement rulemaking and associated recent legal issues.