 Gibson County USDA Service Center Ag News December 2025 In This Issue: DATES OF IMPORTANCE January 1- Office Closed for New Year's Day January 19- Office Closed for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day February 2- COC ballots (LAA3) due back in the office. February 16- Office Closed for President's Day March 1- 2025 LFP Deadline April 30- SDRP Stage 2 Deadline FSA and NRCS program applicants for benefits are required to submit a completed CCC-902 Farming Operation Plan and CCC-941 Average Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information for FSA to determine the applicant's payment eligibility and establish the maximum payment limitation applicable to the program applicant. Participants are not required to annually submit new CCC-902s for payment eligibility and payment limitation purposes unless a change in the farming operation occurs that may affect the previous determination of record. A valid CCC-902 filed by the participant is considered to be a continuous certification used for all payment eligibility and payment limitation determinations applicable for the program benefits requested. Participants are responsible for ensuring that all CCC-902 and CCC-941 and related forms on file in the county office are updated, current, and correct. Participants are required to timely notify the county office of any changes in the farming operation that may affect the previous determination of record by filing a new or updated CCC-902 as applicable.
Changes that may require a new determination include, but are not limited to, a change of:
• Shares of a contract, which may reflect:
o A land lease from cash rent to share rent
o A land lease from share rent to cash rent (subject to the cash rent tenant rule
o A modification of a variable/fixed bushel-rent arrangement
• The size of the producer's farming operation by the addition or reduction of cropland that may affect the application of a cropland factor
• The structure of the farming operation, including any change to a member's share
• The contribution of farm inputs of capital, land, equipment, active personal labor, and/or active personal management
• Farming interests not previously disclosed on CCC-902 including the farming interests of a spouse or minor child
• Certifications of average AGI are required to be filed annually for participation in an annual USDA program. For multi-year conservation contracts and NRCS easements, a certification of AGI must be filed prior to approval of the contract or easement and is applicable for the duration of the contract period.
Participants are encouraged to file or review these forms within the deadlines established for each applicable program for which program benefits are being requested.
Top of page Mulching is one of the most accessible and effective conservation practices available to small-scale and urban farmers. Fundamentally, mulching involves covering the soil surface with a protective layer of organic or inorganic material. This layer can be made up of natural materials such as straw, wood chips, shredded leaves or cover crop residue as well as synthetic materials like plastic mulch or landscape fabric. While it may seem like a modest step in farm management, mulching with organic materials has powerful implications for soil health, crop productivity, water conservation and weed suppression, making it a key practice in sustainable farming systems.
For farmers working in smaller or urban spaces, where soil quality may already be compromised due to previous development, compaction or limited access to soil amendments, mulching can offer immediate and long-lasting benefits. One of the most significant advantages is the decrease in soil temperature fluctuations and retention of moisture. Mulch acts as a protective blanket over the soil, reducing heat from the sun's rays and water loss from evaporation while promoting maximum root growth. In cooler months, dark colored mulch can warm the soil and promote spring crop germination or help insulate young transplants from frost.
Mulching also plays a critical role in weed suppression. By blocking sunlight from reaching the soil surface, mulch helps prevent the germination and growth of unwanted plants. This can dramatically cut down on the labor and time small-scale farmers must dedicate to weeding, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their land.
Urban soils are often low in organic matter and biological diversity, which can limit crop yields and soil resilience. Organic mulches break down over time, gradually contributing to soil organic matter and enhancing soil structure, microbial activity and nutrient cycling. This function supports the development of a healthy soil ecosystem by providing habitat and food for beneficial organisms like earthworms and microorganisms. These soil lifeforms play a crucial role in breaking down additional organic matter, improving nutrient availability and enhancing overall soil fertility. As such, mulching becomes more than just a surface treatment, it becomes an integral part of soil regeneration.
Erosion control is another important function of mulch. In areas with limited vegetative cover or sloped terrain, precipitation can quickly wash way topsoil, carrying nutrients with it. A well-applied layer of mulch protects the soil from the impact of raindrops and reduces runoff, helping to maintain the integrity of the land and the productivity of the garden or farm plot.
The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recognizes mulching as a key conservation practice and offers technical assistance to help farmers implement it effectively. Through programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), eligible small-scale and urban producers may also qualify for financial assistance to support the use of natural mulch material (synthetic materials are not covered under EQIP) and complimentary conservation activities like cover crops and reduced tillage. Local NRCS field offices can work with producers to develop a conservation plan tailored to their specific needs, ensuring that mulching and other practices are applied in a way that maximizes their benefits.
In short, mulching is a simple, high impact tool for building healthy, productive soils in small-scale and urban farm settings. With support from NRCS, even the smallest growers can apply this practice to grow food while increasing resiliency on their farm.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) updates to the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Farm Loan Programs are officially in effect. These changes, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, are designed to increase financial flexibility for agricultural producers, allowing them to grow their operations, boost profitability, and build long-term savings.
These program updates reflect USDA's ongoing commitment to supporting the financial success and resilience of farmers and ranchers nationwide, offering critical tools to help borrowers manage their finances more effectively.
What the new rules mean for you:
•Low-interest installment set-aside program: Financially distressed borrowers can now defer up to one annual loan payment at a reduced interest rate. This simplified option helps ease financial pressure while keeping farming operations running smoothly.
•Flexible repayment terms: New repayment options give borrowers the ability to increase their cash flow and build working capital reserves, allowing for long-term financial planning that includes saving for retirement, education, and other future needs.
•Reduced collateral requirements: FSA has lowered the amount of additional loan security needed for direct farm loans, making it easier for borrowers to leverage their existing equity without putting their personal residence at risk.
These new rules provide more financial freedom to borrowers. By giving farmers and ranchers better tools to manage their operations, we're helping them build long-term financial stability. It's all about making sure they can keep their land, grow their business, and invest in the future.
If you're an FSA borrower or considering applying for a loan, now is the time to take advantage of these new policies. We encourage you to reach out to your local FSA farm loan staff to ensure you fully understand the wide range of loan making and servicing options available to assist with starting, expanding, or maintaining your agricultural operation.
To conduct business with FSA, please contact your Landon Hogan at the Gibson County USDA Service Center at 731-330-3072 or landon.hogan@usda.gov.
Top of page Farm Service Agency (FSA) program payments are issued electronically into your bank account. In order to receive timely payments, you need to notify your FSA servicing office if you close your account or if your bank information is changed for any reason (such as your financial institution merging or being purchased). Payments can be delayed if FSA is not notified of changes to account and bank routing numbers.
If the bank account was closed due to the death of an individual or dissolution of an entity or partnership before the payment was issued, please notify your local FSA office as soon as possible to claim your payment.
Top of page Gibson County USDA Service Center Gibson County USDA Offices
1252 Manufacturers Row
Trenton, TN 38382 Phone: 731-855-0023
Fax: 885-539-6304 | | | | COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Shawn Wortman 731-330-3061 shawn.wortman@usda.gov FARM LOAN OFFICER Landon Hogan 731-330-3072 landon.hogan@usda.gov | DISTRICT CONSERVATIONIST Ryan Blackwood 731-330-3065 Ryan.Blackwood@usda.gov FARM LOAN MANAGER Jon Quinn 731-885-0841 jon.quinn@usda.gov | | To subscribe to text message alerts, text TNGibson to FSANOW (372-669). Standard text messaging rates apply. | | 
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