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New FSA administrator reflects on first days on the job

The head of USDA’s Farm Service Agency says the Biden administration will have more emphasis on equity and serving marginalized communities.

Administrator Zach Ducheneaux comes to the post as the past executive director of the Intertribal Agriculture Council and member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota where his family raises livestock and horses.

He previously represented more than 80,000 ag producers, “To help them overcome the systemic barriers that have been put in front of them and around them, improve participation in USDA programs, and have better access to market—much like the role I’m going to try to do for everybody here at the Farm Service Agency,” he shares.

Ducheneaux tells Brownfield after just two weeks on the job, he’s comforted by the amount of stakeholder engagement he’s seen within the USDA and Secretary Vilsack’s focus on making it the people’s department.

“We want to ensure that we’re getting input from the people that we’re serving,” he says.

He expects efficiencies developed throughout COVID will move forward in future services throughout the agency with more electronic options while still catering to the needs of traditional farmers and ranchers.

Meet Administrator Ducheneaux and hear more about upcoming deadlines at the FSA in our video interview.

  • I have a question about loan forgiveness for socially disadvantaged farmers American Rescue Plan.
    I have a direct farm loan through USDA/FSA that has once a year payment that is due next month 4/18/2021.
    BEING MY DIRECT FARM LOAN WILL BE FORGIVEN, DO I STILL HAVE TO PAY THE YEARLY PAYMENT BY 4/18/2021?
    The American rescue plan was signed into law 3/11/2021.

    I do not want to ask the FSA California County office or the State office because i’m afraid of retaliation.
    I know how they handle perceived “trouble makers”.

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