USDA Deadlines Explained

Crop, tree, bush, vine, and hay/forage producers who experienced losses in 2023 or 2024 from a qualifying natural disaster — wildfire, hurricane, flood, freeze, excessive heat, qualifying drought, and similar events. Hay and other mechanically harvested forage crops are eligible, so ranchers in drought counties with hay losses should ask FSA. Grazed pasture (PRF, Annual Forage) is excluded — those go through LFP or ELAP. Crop insurance or NAP is not required, but uninsured losses pay at a lower factor. Producers in CT, HI, ME, and MA receive assistance through state block grants rather than SDRP.

Two stages, one deadline. Stage 1 is pre-filled by FSA from your crop insurance or NAP records — review, sign, and return by April 30. Stage 2 is for shallow, uninsured, and quality losses — file form FSA-504 at your local FSA office with acreage reports, AD-1026, entity forms, and any quality-loss documentation (TDN for forage, grading tickets for other crops).

All producers who planted spring crops. This is required for eligibility in ARC, PLC, CRP, crop insurance, and most disaster programs. Even if you only have livestock on pasture, reporting your land use may be important for certain program eligibility.

File form FSA-578 at your local FSA office by July 15. Bring maps or records showing what you planted and where. If you carry crop insurance, also report to your crop insurance agent by the same date. Late reports may reduce crop insurance coverage.

Grain producers planting fall-seeded small grains such as winter wheat, winter barley, and winter oats. This is the sales closing date for most states — the last day to purchase or change fall crop insurance policies.

Contact your crop insurance agent well before September 30. Review your coverage levels, consider whether Revenue Protection or Yield Protection may be the better fit, and ask about SCO or ECO endorsements. If you started farming within the last 10 years, ask about beginning farmer premium subsidies under the OBBB changes.

All producers with interest in EQIP, CSP, or other NRCS conservation programs. The new fiscal year can bring updated payment rates and practice standards. This is not an action deadline — it is an awareness date.

No action required. After October 1, check with your local NRCS office about updated EQIP and CSP payment rates for the new fiscal year. If you have a pending conservation application, the rates in effect at time of obligation apply.

Ranchers and dairy producers with pasture, rangeland, or forage land. PRF is rainfall-index insurance — it can pay an indemnity when rainfall in your grid drops below your chosen coverage level. This is often considered the most important annual deadline for grazing operations.

Meet with your crop insurance agent before December 1. Choose your intervals (two-month periods), coverage level (70–90%), and productivity factor. Use our PRF Interval Analysis tool to see which intervals historically protect your grid. You must select at least two intervals. Premium subsidies range from 51% to 59% depending on coverage level.

Grain producers planting spring wheat, barley, oats, and other spring crops. This is the sales closing date for most northern-tier states. Exact dates may vary by crop and county.

Contact your crop insurance agent before March 15, 2027. Review coverage levels from last year, consider any changes to your operation, and ask about Revenue Protection vs. Yield Protection. Beginning farmers may qualify for enhanced premium subsidies for up to 10 years under the OBBB changes.

All producers interested in conservation practices — fencing, water development, brush management, cover crops, nutrient management, and many others. EQIP is competitive and funded in batches. Most states rank applications between January and April, but batching windows vary by state and funding pool.

Contact your local NRCS office to confirm your state’s batching dates. Apply early — applications are ranked, and early submissions may receive more technical assistance time. EQIP can cover up to 75% of practice costs (up to 90% for beginning farmers and veterans). Approximately 44% of applications are funded in any given batch, so a strong application matters.

Producers already implementing conservation practices who want to do more. CSP rewards existing stewardship and provides incentive payments for adopting additional enhancements. Unlike EQIP, you must already be meeting a stewardship threshold on your operation to qualify.

Contact your NRCS office to discuss CSP well before ranking season. CSP applications require a conservation plan, which takes time to develop with a planner. State rankings are typically announced in summer, but application preparation should start months earlier.

Landowners in areas with active CREP agreements between USDA and the state. CREP targets specific conservation concerns — streamside buffers, wetland restoration, or other practices that address state-identified priorities. Not all states have active CREP programs.

Check with your FSA office to see if your state has an active CREP program and whether your land may qualify. CREP enrollment is continuous — there is no single deadline. Contracts typically run 10–15 years with annual rental payments and cost-share for practice establishment.

Producers growing crops that are not eligible for standard crop insurance — certain fruits, vegetables, specialty crops, and other commodities. NAP can provide a safety net similar to crop insurance for these otherwise uninsured crops.

Contact your FSA office to find out whether your crop is NAP-eligible and what the sales closing date is for your specific crop and county. NAP closing dates vary widely — some crops close in September, others in December or January. A service fee applies (may be waived for limited-resource and beginning farmers).

Producers with base acres who grow covered commodities — corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, cotton, rice, and others. ARC and PLC provide price and revenue safety-net payments. Under the OBBB changes, ARC coverage increased to 90% of benchmark revenue, and SCO is now available with both ARC and PLC.

Review your election before the enrollment window opens (expected January–April 2027 for the 2027 crop year). The OBBB changes may shift which program is the better fit for your operation. Use our ARC vs PLC Calculator to compare. You must make an active election — if you do not elect, you may not receive a payment for that crop year.

All farmers and ranchers who participate in FSA programs. FSA county committees influence local program administration, including conservation ranking priorities and disaster program implementation. Ballots are mailed to eligible voters.

Watch for your ballot in the mail (typically arrives in late fall or early winter). Return it to your FSA office by the posted deadline. If you are interested in running for your county committee, contact your FSA office about the nomination process.

Producers who have lost livestock due to weather events (blizzard, flood, lightning, extreme heat), disease, or attacks by federally protected animals (wolves, grizzly bears). Under the OBBB changes, predation losses may now be compensated at 100% of market value, and unborn livestock may be covered.

File a Notice of Loss at your FSA office within 30 days of the loss event. Document every loss immediately: take photos, get veterinary records, and if predation is involved, contact your state wildlife agency for an official report. Bring proof of livestock ownership, beginning inventory, and purchase records. The full LIP application deadline is typically March 1 of the following year.

Producers who have experienced losses to livestock (non-death losses such as water hauling or supplemental feeding during drought), honeybees, or farm-raised fish. ELAP covers expenses and losses not covered by other disaster programs.

File a Notice of Loss at your FSA office within 30 days of when the loss becomes apparent. Keep detailed records of expenses: water hauling receipts, supplemental feed purchases, and any other costs directly related to the loss event. The full application deadline is typically January 30 of the following year.

Livestock producers with grazing land in counties that have experienced qualifying drought conditions. Under the OBBB changes, LFP may trigger after just 4 consecutive weeks at D2 (Severe Drought) on the US Drought Monitor — down from 8 weeks under the old rules.

Check your county’s drought status on the US Drought Monitor or our Drought Dashboard. If your county has reached qualifying drought levels, file form CCC-853 at your FSA office. Bring livestock inventory records, normal grazing period documentation, and proof of land ownership or lease. The filing deadline is March 1 of the year following the drought. LFP is not automatic — you must file even though the trigger is based on the Drought Monitor.

Grain producers who were unable to plant a crop due to weather conditions (excessive moisture, flooding, drought) within the insurance-defined planting window. You must carry crop insurance to be eligible for prevented planting payments.

Notify your crop insurance agent within 15 days of the final planting date for your crop and county. Do not destroy evidence of the prevented planting condition until your agent has inspected the field or given you permission. File an acreage report that includes your prevented planting acres.