 Eau Claire County USDA Service Center News - September 30, 2025 In This Issue: October 13, 2025: USDA Service Centers closed in observance of Columbus Day October 31, 2025: Application deadline for NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) November 11, 2025: USDA Service Center closed in observance of Veterans Day November 15, 2025: FSA Acreage Reporting Deadline for Fall Mint and Fall-Seeded Small Grains The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a second Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payment to eligible producers for the 2024 crop year. Of the authorized $10 billion in ECAP assistance, USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided over $8 billion in payments to eligible producers to mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins made the announcement at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City. "Initial ECAP payments were factored by 85% to ensure that total program payments did not exceed $10 billion in available funding. Since additional funds remain, FSA is issuing a second payment," said Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Brooke Appleton. "As producers continue to face market volatility, these payments along with the entire suite of supplemental disaster assistance programs, will help producers navigate market uncertainty, pay down debt for the 2024 crop year, and secure financing for the next crop year." Payments will automatically be made to eligible producers with approved ECAP applications who received an initial payment. Any application approved after Sept. 25, 2025, will receive one lump sum payment. Authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, these economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year. ECAP Payments FSA is issuing a second payment ECAP equal to 14% of the gross ECAP payment to eligible producers, making the final payment factor 99%. ECAP assistance is calculated using a flat payment rate for the eligible commodity multiplied by the eligible reported acres. Payments are based on acreage and not production. For acres reported as prevented planted, ECAP assistance is calculated at 50%. Additional USDA Supplemental Disaster Assistance In addition to the over $8 billion in ECAP payments, USDA has issued more than $1 billion in Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) assistance to livestock producers impacted by drought and federally managed lands wildfires in 2023 and 2024 with an additional $1 billion in expected payments for livestock producers impacted by floods and non-federally managed land wildfires in 2023 and 2024 (ELRP 2023/2023 FW). Livestock producers have until Oct. 31, 2025, to apply for (ELRP 2023/2023 FW) assistance. Producers have also received over $5.4 billion through Stage 1 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program for indemnified crop losses in 2023 and 2024. SDRP Stage 2 assistance for uncovered, quality, and shallow losses will be announced soon. USDA's disaster recovery programs complement recently announced state block grant agreements in Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia totaling $958 million in assistance to help agricultural producers with disaster recovery needs. USDA is working with 14 states on block grant agreements. More Information FSA helps America's farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov. The USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Direct Farm Ownership loans are a resource to help farmers and ranchers become owner-operators of family farms, improve and expand current operations, increase agricultural productivity, and assist with land tenure to save farmland for future generations. There are three types of Direct Farm Ownership Loans: regular, down payment and joint financing. FSA also offers a Direct Farm Ownership Microloan option for smaller financial needs up to $50,000. Direct Farm Ownership Loans can be used to construct, purchase or improve farm dwellings, service buildings or other facilities, and to make improvements essential to an operation. Applicants must provide FSA with an estimate of the total cost of all planned development that completely describe the work, prior to loan approval and must show proof of sufficient funds to pay for the total cost of all planned development at or before loan closing. In some instances, applicants may be asked to provide certified plans, specifications or contract documents. The applicant cannot incur any debts for materials or labor or make any expenditures for development purposes prior to loan closing with the expectation of being reimbursed from FSA funds. Construction and development work may be performed either by the contract method or the borrower method. Under the contract method, construction and development contractors perform work according to a written contract with the applicant or borrower. If applying for a direct loan to finance a construction project, the applicant must obtain a surety bond that guarantees both payment and performance in the amount of the construction contract from a construction contractor. A surety bond is required when a contract exceeds $100,000. An authorized agency official determines that a surety bond appears advisable to protect the borrower against default of the contractor or a contract provides for partial payments in excess of the amount of 60 percent of the value of the work in place. Under the borrower method, the applicant or borrower will perform the construction and development work. The borrower method may only be used when the authorized agency official determines, based on information from the applicant, that the applicant possesses or arranges to obtain the necessary skill and managerial ability to complete the work satisfactorily and that such work will not interfere with the applicant's farming operation or work schedule. Potential applicants should visit with FSA early in the initial project planning process to ensure environmental compliance. For more eligibility requirements and information about FSA Loan programs, contact your local County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Wisconsin has established the fiscal year (FY) 2026 application batching date for the first application evaluation period for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Producers and landowners interested in receiving financial assistance need to submit applications to NRCS by Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. Both EQIP and RCPP are voluntary programs that offer financial and technical assistance for participants to install or manage conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. - Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. EQIP is NRCS's flagship conservation program, helping farmers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. Through EQIP, agricultural producers receive technical and financial assistance to implement structural, vegetative and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural land.
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination between NRCS and partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. NRCS provides assistance through producer contracts or easement agreements.
While applications are accepted year-round, they are only reviewed and ranked during specific funding periods. Oct. 31, 2025, is the final date by which a producer or landowner must apply to be considered in the first round of FY26 funding through either program. More Information To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don't have an account, sign up today. For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov. Top of page Eau Claire USDA Service Center 1304 N Hillcrest Pkwy, Suite B
Altoona, WI 54720-2598 Phone: 715-832-6547
Fax: 855-733-0174
Email: fsa.altoona@usda.gov | | Wisconsin FSA Public Site
Wisconsin NRCS Public Site
Wisconsin RMA Public Site | | Farm Service Agency - Farm Program
Katie Stariha
Acting County Executive Director
715-832-6547, ext. 2
katie.stariha@usda.gov Natural Resources Conservation Service
Tammy Lindsay
District Conservationist
715-832-6547, ext. 3
tammy.lindsay@usda.gov | Farm Service Agency - Farm Loan
Teresa Engel
Farm Loan Manager
608-637-2183, ext. 2
teresa.engel@usda.gov Risk Management Agency
St. Paul Regional Service Office
30 Seventh Street East, Suite 1890
St. Paul, MN 55101-4901
651-290-3304
rsomn@usda.gov | | Next FSA County Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 9:30 AM FSA County Committee Members
Tamara Smith-Schroeder, Chairperson
James Stensen, Vice Chairperson
Harley Hutchinson, Member | | 
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