USDA News Release

Solar panels in front of corn field — Numerous Nebraska businesses have received assistance from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program so far this year to establish clean energy facilities and increase domestic fertilizer production. Learn more about these initiatives below.

USDA Invests $124 Million in Clean Energy and Fertilizer Projects

April 11, 2024

Three Nebraska businesses are among the award recipients of USDA's renewable energy program, which helps fund projects that will lower energy costs, generate new income and create jobs for the ag industry.

Wind turbine on farm — To learn more about USDA programs geared toward helping farmers add renewable energy to their operations, view this webinar series.

New Initiative to Help Farmers Reduce Costs with Underutilized Renewable Technologies

March 15, 2024

The new initiative will provide funds for hundreds of farmers to deploy smaller-scale wind projects, small-scale hydropower, geothermal, biomass-based and other clean energy.

Tractor spraying fertilizer — USDA’s REAP and FPEP programs were devised to help ag producers and rural small business owners expand their use of clean energy, modernize equipment, adopt new technologies, build production plants and more.

USDA Invests $207 Million in Clean Energy and Domestic Fertilizer Projects

February 15, 2024

One of the program fund recipients is a Nebraska-based business that plans to construct a fully automated fertilizer facility.

Farmers Can Now Enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs for 2024 Crop Year

January 4, 2024

Extended for an additional year, the ARC and PLC programs will provide assistance to producers facing commodity market volatilities throughout the 2024 crop year.

Tractor planting field — To help prevent farm foreclosures, USDA will cover approximately $80 million in delinquencies for an estimated 210 borrowers whose qualifying guaranteed loans were flagged for liquidation as of Nov. 30, 2023. USDA will also provide approximately $128 million for an estimated 1,120 borrowers with currently outstanding direct Emergency Loans as of Nov. 30, 2023.

USDA Provides $208 Million to Help Prevent Guaranteed Borrower Foreclosure, Assist Emergency Loan Borrowers

December 15, 2023

Borrowers can submit requests in person at their local FSA office or via the assistance portals on farmers.gov by Dec. 31, 2023.

Tractor in field at sunset — To submit a request for USDA FSA assistance, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center.

USDA November 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

November 17, 2023

USDA FSA's website features the Loan Assistance Tool, an interactive online, step-by-step guide that assists producers through the farm loan process.

Wheat seeds in sack — USDA’s Agricultural Projections to 2033 report will be released in February 2024, and will feature full discussion of the commodity supply and use projections, and projections for farm income and global commodity trade.

USDA Announces Early Release of Select Commodity Tables for Agricultural Projections to 2033

November 3, 2023

The tables to be released on Nov. 7 will include 10-year projections for major U.S. crops and livestock products.

Tractor planting at sunset — All sessions of the 2024 Agricultural Outlook Forum will be livestreamed, and virtual attendance is free. See registration link below for more information.

Registration Now Open for USDA’s 100th Agricultural Outlook Forum

November 2, 2023

At the 2024 forum, more than 100 experts from government, industry and academia will share insights on commodity and food price outlooks, U.S. and global agricultural trade developments, ag innovations, climate change and the bioeconomy.