Producers and farmers who have business with the local USDA office, such as FSA and NRCS, you're going to need to conduct business in a different way for the foreseeable future.

"We'll still have that same personal service, it will be over the phone for the time being," said the USDA's Bill Northey.

He said everything that changed because of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Northey noted while face-to-face business is not taking place right now, "We can offer all the services that we did over the phone or by email or being able to  mail documents back and forth."

"We do know that this is a disruption for our producers it's a disruption for our staff," Northey continued. But a necessary one to try to keep everyone safe and healthy. 


So to apply for USDA programs or to ask questions, he says call your local office, make an appointment, and you'll be able to figure out with them what the best mechanism is for your application on those programs.

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