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Which situation sounds like yours?
Pick your starting point. Each walkthrough shows which programs apply and how to prepare.
New for 2025/26: The OBBB farm bill changed payment rates and eligibility for several of these programs.
Not sure which fits? The screener narrows it down in 2 minutes →
Something hit and you need to know what to file and when
Drought, wildfire, flood, blizzard, or livestock loss. You need to know what programs apply, what deadlines matter, and what to do in the first 48 hours.
4 steps · First 48 hours → LIP/ELAP filing → emergency EQIP
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You’ve got the land deal but no idea where the money comes from
You want to buy land and start a cattle operation. You need financing, infrastructure, and a plan for navigating USDA programs from day one.
6 steps · FSA loan application → EQIP ranking tips → first meeting prep
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You’ve never applied, or you tried once and walked away
You may qualify for programs you haven’t tried, or haven’t tried the right way.
5 steps · EQIP without the jargon → CSP for working land → stacking programs
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You've got infrastructure and income, but you may not have tapped every program
You're profitable and established. This walkthrough covers what experienced ranchers often haven't explored: CSP annual payments, livestock insurance (LRP and PRF), and second EQIP contracts.
5 areas · CSP assessment → PRF enrollment → LRP timing → disaster readiness
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You buy calves, add weight, and sell. The program math is different.
Stocker and backgrounder operations face unique price risk and often lease their ground. This walkthrough covers LRP price protection, EQIP on leased land, and cost-of-gain economics.
5 areas · LRP endorsements → EQIP on leases → LGM-Cattle → PRF for grass
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Corn, soybeans, wheat. The annual decisions that add up.
ARC vs PLC elections under OBBB, crop insurance optimization (75% vs 80%, SCO, ECO), CRP for marginal acres, CSP payments for soil health, and how these programs stack.
7 areas · ARC/PLC election → coverage levels → CRP marginal acres → CSP + EQIP
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More programs than you think, from margin protection to manure storage
DMC margin coverage, WFRP for total revenue, EQIP for waste management and infrastructure, CSP for nutrient management enhancements, disaster assistance, and FSA loans to finance your share.
7 areas · DMC enrollment → EQIP waste storage → CSP enhancements → CNMP compliance
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New signatures on old accounts, and a stack of programs to untangle
You need to update FSA records, figure out if you qualify as a beginning farmer, and build a plan before your first USDA office visit.
7 steps · Updating FSA records → beginning farmer advantages → succession timeline
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Not sure which fits? The screener narrows it down in 2 minutes →
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