U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced this week that all Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices nationwide will reopen beginning January 24 to provide additional administrative services to farmers and ranchers during the lapse in federal funding. Certain FSA offices have been providing limited services for existing loans and tax documents since January 17, and will continue to do so through January 23.  Beginning January 24, however, all FSA offices will open and offer a longer list of transactions they will accommodate.  

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today launched the second and final round of trade mitigation payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. Producers of certain commodities will now be eligible to receive Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments for the second half of their 2018 production.

Agriculture producers who are interested in planting a warm season cover crop and reside in OACD Area V are invited to apply to establish a demonstration farm through the Healthy Soils Project. Application deadline is Jan. 30, 2019.

Oklahoma farmers who have over $1,000 of farm revenue, are age 25 or older, and have feral hog problems are eligible to participate in a unique cost share program for a state of the art hog trapping system.

The Oklahoma County Conservation District will be accepting applications for a full-time Urban Soil Health Specialist until COB – December 14, 2018.

Three finalists have been selected for the prestigious 2018 Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award®.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes farmers, ranchers and foresters who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land.

In Oklahoma the $10,000 award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Noble Research Institute, the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation, and ITC Holdings Corp.

The Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement is soliciting applications for the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers. This committee will deliberate upon advice and recommendations to submit to the Secretary for consideration on matters broadly affecting minority farmers and equitable access to USDA programs and services. The deadline to apply will be extended to November 15, 2018. All previous applications submitted will be considered.

Find more information here.

Historic flooding occurred throughout South Central Oklahoma on Friday, September 21, 2018. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) extends their sincere sorrow to those affected by the floods.

“These floods were devastating,” said OCC Executive Director Trey Lam. “The full extent of the damage to the land and the loss of property and livestock will not be fully known for some time. However, due to OCC’s partnership with USDA-NRCS and the funding we received from the State of Oklahoma, we know the losses are not as catastrophic as they could have been thanks to our upstream flood control dams.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of actions the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take to assist farmers in response to trade damage. As announced last month, USDA will authorize up to $12 billion in programs, consistent with  World Trade Organization obligations.

The following programs will assist agricultural producers to meet the costs of disrupted markets:

Each year, with the help of our partners and sponsors, OACD recognizes the "Best of the Best" in the conservation community. We choose one District, one Director and one Cooperator each year from across the state. Each of these are chosen based on their hard work, commitment to conservation and dedication to furthering the message of conservation.