Carter Family Farms

06/09/2026

Specialty Crop Producers: Starting today, you can request your Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program application from your local FSA office. Producers who have a Login.gov account can access their application and apply online by visiting fsa.usda.gov/ascf.

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

FSA is proud to invest in the future of agriculture by offering Youth Loans to help our future farmers and ranchers finance and gain hands-on experience managing an income producing agricultural project.

To apply, you must be 10 to 20 years old and have the support of a project advisor like your 4-H club leader or FFA advisor.

Loan funds can be used to buy livestock, seed, equipment, and supplies or to purchase, rent or repair tools and equipment or pay operating expenses for the project. fsa.usda.gov/resources/loans/youth-loans

06/08/2026

Have your pastures been impacted by drought?

From the Virginia Office of the Farm Service Agency:

"Livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land may be eligible for the 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) maintains a list of counties eligible for LFP and makes updates each Thursday."

Virginia counties on the current list include:

Accomack
Albemarle
Alleghany
Amelia
Amherst
Appomattox
Augusta
Bath
Bedford
Bland
Botetourt
Brunswick
Buckingham
Campbell
Caroline
Carroll
Charlotte
Craig
Culpeper
Cumberland
Dinwiddie
Essex
Fairfax
Fauquier
Floyd
Fluvanna
Franklin
Giles
Gloucester
Goochland
Grayson
Greene
Greensville
Halifax
Hanover
Henry
Highland
King and Queen
King George
King William
Lancaster
Louisa
Lunenburg
Madison
Mathews
Mecklenburg
Middlesex
Montgomery
Nelson
Northampton
Northumberland
Nottoway
Orange
Page
Patrick
Pittsylvania
Powhatan
Prince Edward
Prince William
Pulaski
Rappahannock
Richmond
Roanoke
Rockbridge
Rockingham
Russell
Smyth
Southampton
Spotsylvania
Stafford
Sussex
Tazewell
Washington
Westmoreland
Wythe
Waynesboro

Call your local FSA office for more details.

06/07/2026

06/04/2026

🚨 $1.625 billion is available to specialty crop farmers through USDA's Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program. These payments provide financial support to allow producers to pay for production and marketing inputs in the face of significant market disruptions and elevated input costs during the 2025 growing season. The deadline to apply is Aug. 7, 2026.

On June 1, producers with a http://Login.gov account can access and submit their pre-filled application at fsa.usda.gov/ascf, and beginning June 8, producers can request their pre-filled application from their USDA Farm Service Agency county office. Payments will be issued as applications are submitted and approved, beginning as early as the first week of signup.

🔗 https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/05/29/usda-announces-enrollment-period-and-payment-rates-specialty-crop-farmers

06/04/2026

🚨 Support for small meat and poultry processing plants is here!

Secretary Rollins today launched the Small Processors Action Plan, a new set of actions designed to make it easier for these businesses to interact with USDA, get timely answers, and resolve issues, without weakening inspection or food safety standards.

Additionally, we've announced $60M in funding through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program to expand American meat and poultry processing. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 7, 2026.

🔗 https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/06/03/usda-announces-improved-support-reduced-burdens-and-60-million-investments-support-small-meat-and

05/23/2026

AITC's Summer Series workshop registration is now live! Educators in Rockingham and the surrounding areas are invited to join us for our Traveling Workshop: Valley Edition on July 14th. Stops include a beef cattle operation, Mt. Crawford Creamery, and Overlook Produce! 🐃🐄🍦🥛🍏🍓🥒🫑🌽🥕🍑🧄🍅🫐
Register here ➡ https://www.jotform.com/261315206059148 🚍🌱📚☀

For information on other workshop venues and dates visit ➡ https://virginia.agclassroom.org/teachers/professional-development/calendar/