Every year, USDA opens application windows for dozens of programs across the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Risk Management Agency. In recent months, several new and expanded programs have become available, many of them funded or enhanced by the Inflation Reduction Act and recent Farm Bill extensions. For farmers, the challenge isn't finding programs — it's knowing which ones actually apply to your situation.

FSA Programs: Disaster Assistance and Income Support

Farm Service Agency manages several programs that have seen renewed funding and updated eligibility in recent months. Disaster assistance programs, including the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish program (ELAP), are available to producers who have suffered losses from natural disasters including drought, wildfires, and winter storms.

FSA has also updated the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), which provides protection for crops that aren't eligible for traditional crop insurance. On the income support side, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) elections are tied to Farm Bill provisions and affect commodity crop producers.

NRCS Conservation Programs: EQIP, CSP, and More

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has multiple programs open for applications, with increased funding available through the IRA. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is the primary entry point for most farms. providing cost-share payments for conservation practices like cover cropping, nutrient management, water quality improvements, and soil health enhancements.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is well-suited for producers who are already practicing conservation and want to build on that foundation. Under IRA funding, CSP applications that target climate-smart practices receive elevated payment rates. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) offers another pathway, particularly for farmers in areas where watershed-level collaboration is underway.

Programs for Beginning Farmers and Specialty Crop Producers

Beginning farmers and ranchers have access to set-aside funding within most FSA and NRCS programs, along with additional cost-share incentives and priority application processing. If you've been farming for fewer than 10 years, make sure you identify yourself as a beginning farmer when applying.

Specialty crop producers have seen several new support opportunities emerge, including the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, expanded cost-share programs through NRCS, and updated Rural Development grants.

How to Figure Out Which Programs Apply to Your Farm

The best starting point is the USDA service center nearest you. A single visit can connect you with both FSA and NRCS staff who can review your operation and flag programs you may be missing. USDA's online Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool at farmers.gov is another useful resource.

FarmRaise's FSA Educational Hub was built to bridge exactly this gap. The Hub hosts plain-language overviews of FSA programs including ELAP, LIP, FSA loans, and more. Visit farmraise.com to access step-by-step guides on the most important FSA programs.

Don't Leave Money on the Table

One of the most consistent findings in agricultural program research is that eligible farmers significantly underutilize available USDA programs, often because they don't know programs exist, believe the process is too complex, or assume they won't qualify. Beginning farmers are especially likely to leave FSA and NRCS resources unclaimed. Now is an excellent time to connect with your local USDA service center.