IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• SERVICE CENTER CLOSED: Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veteran’s Day
• CRP CONTRACT MANAGEMENT – Light disking and grazing is available until March 15, 2027.
• ARC-PLC ELECTION and ENROLLMENT –2026 crop year – September 16 through December 11, 20262027 crop year – November 2, 2026, through March 15, 2027
• LIVESTOCK FORAGE PROGRAM - Kiowa County eligible for 5-month payment. Apply before March 1, 2027.
• FALL ACREAGE REPORTING DEADLINE - November 15, 2026 All fall seeded crops will need to be reported to crop insurance and/or FSA by the date of November 15th.

NON-INSURED ASSISTANCE PROGRAM or NAP

Sales closing date for native grass and alfalfa is December 1, 2026. Cost is $325.00 per producer, per crop

VISIT Farmers.gov for more information regarding deadlines and programs available through FSA and NRCS.

NAP DEADLINE - DECEMBER 1, 2026

The Noninsured Assistance Program or NAP application for coverage for native grass and alfalfa deadline is December 1, 2026. The application of coverage fee is $325.00 per person; unless the producer has a CCC-860 form on file. Socially disadvantaged, beginning farmers and limited resource producers receive NAP coverage free of charge. To determine if you qualify for any of the categories on the CCC-860, either contact the FSA office or search for the form either on Farmers.gov or your specific search engine.

ACREAGE REPORTING DEADLINE

The 2026 fall seeded crop deadline of Monday, November 16 is fast approaching. If producers have not contacted FSA to schedule an appointment or pickup their maps could incur late-file fees. FSA has new acreage reporting software this year; which has slowed down the acreage reporting process. Therefore, if you have reported your acreage to FSA; we ask for your patience.

COUNTY COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

It’s that time of the year again for County Committee elections. In Kiowa County, this year Local Administrative Area 1 or LAA 1 is up for election. The following producer has been nominated and is running for re-election to the County Committee.

Jay Specht is the nominee and incumbent for LAA-1 in Kiowa County.  Jay is a life-long Kiowa County native, having been born and raised in the Sheridan Lake area and has continued his family’s tradition of farming.   Jay and his wife Susan have 8 children and 7 grandchildren. 

Jay farms alongside his son Jason and grows wheat, millet, grain sorghum, and feed.  Jay is willing to serve if elected. 

Regular Maintenance Requirements for all CRP Contracts

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to conserve farmland for future generations while providing habitat for wildlife, reducing soil erosion, and improving water quality. Regular maintenance on CRP acres is needed to ensure the acreage continues to provide conservation benefits and remains in compliance with the CRP contract. 

Regular Maintenance 

Producers with CRP contracts are required to control all weeds, insects, pests, and other undesirable species to the extent necessary to ensure that the approved conservation cover is adequately protected and to ensure there is no adverse impact on surrounding land. Mowing is one of the allowable practices for weed control, but mowing for aesthetic purposes is never permitted. The Conservation Plan states the required weed control methods for each site.  

Once a stand has been certified as fully established, participants are required to maintain plant diversity and stand density according to the Conservation Plan and offer (CRP-2) for the life of the contract. Stands that do not meet practice specific plant diversity or density requirements may be considered non-compliant. Refer to your conservation plan or contact FSA if you have any questions or concerns about the vegetative cover requirements. 

Maintenance activities cannot occur during the primary nesting season for birds without written prior approval from the local county office. The primary nesting season in Colorado is March 15th through July 15th. 

Mid-Contract Management 

Regular maintenance for weed and pest control is separate from the Mid-Contract Management (MCM) requirement. MCM ensures plant diversity and wildlife benefits while ensuring protection of the soil and water resources. Such activities are site-specific and are for the purpose of enhancing the approved cover.  

MCM must be completed by the end of year 6 of a 10-year contract and by the end of year 9 of a 15-year contract. The Conservation Plan will state what year MCM must take place. 

Noncompliance with Maintenance Requirements 

Failure to adequately maintain the stand may result in noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the CRP contract. Noncompliance can result in adverse actions up to and including termination of the CRP contract. Contracts that are out of compliance are ineligible to re-enroll, unless the stand is brought back into compliance prior to the enrollment deadline.  

USDA INCREASES INVESTMENT IN REGENERATIVE PILOT PROGRAM TO LOWER FARMER PRODUCTION COSTS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced increased financial assistance for the Regenerative Pilot Program from $700 million to $1 billion in fiscal year 2027, providing more producers with the opportunity to adopt conservation systems that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term farm resilience. Producers can now apply for assistance with regenerative practices.

Additionally, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making improvements to the program, including using NRCS’s locally led conservation model to allow State Technical Advisory Committees to add conservation practices that reflect local resource concerns, production systems, and producer needs.

Also, for fiscal year 2027, the program maintains whole-farm planning while reducing the barrier to entry by lowering the resource concern threshold from 100% to 75% for the Conservation Stewardship Program. This improves flexibility without sacrificing outcomes. The program preserves the core conservation goals and outcome-based approach of the fiscal 2026 pilot while giving producers and staff greater flexibility in how outcomes are measured and achieved. The program also provides multiple monitoring and evaluation options tailored to cropland, grazing lands, and forestry operations.

Other enhancements for fiscal year 2027 include dedicated funding set-asides, improved tracking mechanisms, expanded technical support networks, and enhanced communications that will make the program easier to administer, easier to access, and more transparent for producers and taxpayers alike.

About the Regenerative Pilot Program

The Regenerative Pilot Program delivers a streamlined, outcome-based conservation model—empowering producers to plan and implement whole-farm regenerative practices through a single application. The initiative highlights USDA’s commitment to putting Farmers First and advancing the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda by building a healthier, more resilient food system.

In fiscal year 2027, the Regenerative Agriculture Pilot continues to focus on whole-farm planning that addresses major soil and water resource concerns— to maximize the ecological potential of working lands—under a single conservation framework. USDA is dedicating $650 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $350 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to fund this second year of regenerative agriculture projects.

Producers can bundle multiple regenerative practices into one application, streamlining the process and increasing flexibility for operations. The program is designed for both beginning and advanced producers, ensuring availability for all farmers ready to take the next step in regenerative agriculture.

Farmers and ranchers interested in regenerative agriculture are encouraged to apply through their local NRCS Service Center by their state’s ranking dates for fiscal year 2027 funding consideration. Applications for both EQIP and CSP can be submitted under the single regenerative application process.