USDA Update - September 22, 2026
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
CRP CONTRACT MANAGEMENT – Producers grazing CRP acreage to meet contract management requirements must remove the livestock by September 30.
ARC-PLC ELECTION and ENROLLMENT –
2026 crop year – September 16 through December 11, 2026
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 15.
NON-INSURED ASSISTANCE PROGRAM or NAP
Sales closing date for native grass 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.
FSA is HIRING!
Below is a list of job openings throughout Colorado. If you receive this article digitally, just click on the title and you will be directed to the USA jobs announcement. If you are reading this in print, go to www.usajobs.gov and search for FSA and location of opening.
FSA is a good career with great benefits and career advancement opportunities.
County Program Analyst/Trainee
Farm Service Agency • Department of Agriculture
Springfield, Colorado
Open 09/15/2026 to 09/29/2026
Contact Sarah Evans, CED @ 719-523-6251
County Program Analyst/Trainee
Farm Service Agency • Department of Agriculture
Lamar, Colorado
Open 09/15/2026 to 09/29/2026
Contact Hallie Barlow, CED @ 719-336-3437, ext 2
Farm Service Agency • Department of Agriculture
Greeley, Colorado
Open 09/15/2026 to 09/29/2026
2 positions available
Contact Dylan Bell, CED @ 970-356-8097
Farm Service Agency • Department of Agriculture
Akron, Colorado
Open 09/15/2026 to 09/29/2026
Contact Jackie Page, CED @ 970-345-2364
County Program Analyst
Farm Service Agency • Department of Agriculture
Grand Junction, Colorado
Open 09/15/2026 to 09/29/2026
Contact Sam Montoya, District Director@ 719-992-3717
2026 ARCPLC ELECTION AND ENROLLMENT ANNOUNCED
Election and Enrollment Periods
2026 – Sept. 16 through Dec. 11, 2026
2027– Nov. 2, 2026, through March 15, 2027
Producers have the option to sign a new multi-year contract for 2026 through 2031.
Crop Insurance Considerations –
Producers can now add the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) or the Enhanced
Coverage Option (ECO) regardless of their ARC or PLC election. Previously, producers who elected ARC-CO or ARC-IC were ineligible to purchase the SCO for the same acres.
LIVESTOCK FORAGE PROGRAM
Every county in Colorado is eligible for the Livestock Forage Program or LFP. Counties trigger for LFP based on drought intensities off the U.S. Drought Monitor during the specific counties growing season for grazing annual and perennial crops.
Kiowa County has qualified for 5-month payment in the Livestock Forage Program or LFP; eligible producers must have control and risk in the two triggering factors.
* Land - control and risk in native pasture physically located in a county that is eligible for LFP. All leased land will require a written lease signed by at least 50% or more of the current ownership.
* Livestock - ownership, control and risk in livestock that normally graze the native pasture. Cattle located in feedlots are not eligible. Livestock must have been owned at least 60 days prior to the qualifying date of drought. Kiowa qualified on 5-26-2026; therefore, ownership on livestock must be 3-26-2026 or before.
Payment is paid on 60% of the lessor value, land or livestock. Contact FSA to apply.
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT ACTIVITES
There are many producers who are having their CRP grazed for contract management requirements. The grazing for contract management MUST END on September 30 or before if the cover is not supporting the grazing. It is the contract participant's responsibility to monitor the grazing and contact FSA once the grazing has been completed and the livestock removed. There is paperwork that the CRP producer will need to complete to finalize the contract management, so please contact FSA when grazing is completed.
Again, contract management is a requirement on all CRP contracts (except Grassland CRP) and must be completed before the end of year six of the CRP contract. CRP contract years are not the normal calendar year; but are equal to the government fiscal year of October 1 to September 30. Failure to comply with the contract management requirement will be considered a compliance issue and are taken to the County Committee. County Committee can terminate the contract with refunds required due to lack of good faith on the CRP participants’ part.
Contract management can be completed anytime outside of the primary nesting season which is March 15 to July 15 .
- STRIP TILLAGE
If producers are doing strip tillage on 51% of the acres, it’s always a good idea to contact FSA to ensure that all the necessary paperwork has been completed. NRCS maintains a list of contractors that can complete the activity. The list can be emailed if you contact the FSA office.
- GRAZING
Producers begin the grazing requests with FSA, NRCS completes a site visit to determine if the land is suitable for grazing. If the land can be grazed, NRCS will complete a grazing plan and a revision of the conservation plan. The CRP producer will sign the required paperwork, not the individual with the livestock. It is the responsibility of the CRP producer to maintain compliance with the terms and conditions of the CRP contract. Once all the paperwork has been completed and approved, grazing can begin. FSA will issue final approval.
DROUGHT MONITOR
There were two remaining D3 designations in Kiowa County from last week’s drought monitor, we’ll see what happens to the red when the DM is released on Thursday morning. Sunday night, it appears by looking at the CoCoRaHS data, most of the county received some moisture and the forecast has more predicted for the week. Fingers crossed !
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