Farm Service Agencies reopen in Kansas despite gov. shutdown

KANSAS (KSNT) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that Farm Service Agencies (FSA) resumed core operations on Oct. 23, providing crucial support to Kansas farmers.

There are 106 Farm Service Agencies in Kansas, one for every county and the state office in Manhattan. FSA's provide several different government funded services to farmers everywhere. Most critically, the FSA provides loan and payment programs that can keep farmers afloat in dire economic situations like trade wars or crop disasters.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, two employees will service every county office, five days a week, to perform all programs funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), but not all programs typically covered by the FSA.

CCC-funded programs include: Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage, Marketing Assistance loans, Livestock Forage Disaster Program, Livestock Indemnity Program, Emergency Livestock Assistance Program, Conservation Reserve Program, Non-insured Disaster Assistance Program and Dairy Margin Coverage.

Executive Director for the Kansas Farmers Union, Nick Levendosfky, told 27 News these programs are crucial for farmers young and old to continue to receive income. Many farmers were struggling with the government shutdown because their income had to be notarized by or come from their local FSA office.

Beyond CCC-funded programs, the FSA will also begin accepting applications to programs funded by alternative sources but that no payments will be submitted. These are programs like: Guaranteed Farm Loans, Emergency Livestock Revenue Program for wildfire or flooding, Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (Phase 1) and Emergency Conservation Program.

If you have any questions about your loans or insurance coverage, you are encouraged to contact your local FSA office, or the U.S. Consolidated Farm Services Agency by phone 785-539-3531 or at the main office located at 3600 Anderson Ave. in Manhattan.

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