Navigating the FSA: Unlocking Support for Kentucky Specialty Crops & Horticulture with David Wayne

Thinking government programs are only for large-scale corn and soybean farmers? Think again! In this episode, we sit down with David Wayne, the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for Kentucky, to bust the myth that federal agricultural programs leave out specialty crop and horticulture producers. From navigating the essential first step of getting a farm number and filing your annual crop reports (Form 578), to leveraging low-interest Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFL) for cold storage and finding safety nets through the Non-Insured Crop Assistance Program (NAP), David shares practical, insider advice tailored specifically for growers. Whether you're running a multi-acre orchard, managing a small market garden, or keeping bees, this episode breaks down how the FSA can work for you. In this episode, we cover: • Why filing a crop report is the crucial baseline for unlocking disaster assistance and funding • How the new Geospatially Enhanced Acreage Reporting (GEAR) system makes multi-planting horticulture reporting much easier • Low-interest financing options for cold storage units, walk-in coolers, and sorting equipment • How the Non-Insured Assistance Program (NAP) acts as crop insurance for specialty crops and honey production • Why accurate local data matters and how reporting your crops helps secure better Kentucky-specific pricing and disaster declarations Love what you heard? Hit Subscribe or Follow the show, leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, and tag us in a selfie in front of your local FSA office on Instagram @HortCulturePodcast! Kentucky Farm Service Agency (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-office...) USDA FSA Programs & Services: Learn more about farm numbers, crop reporting, and safety net programs (https://www.farmers.gov/) Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD): Access agribusiness support, training, and grant facilitation assistance (https://www.kcard.info/) Center for Crop Diversification (CCD): Provides resources, price reports, and production profiles for alternative and specialty crops (https://ccd.uky.edu/) University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: Provides research-based education, local county programs, and community resources across Kentucky (https://extension.mgcafe.uky.edu/) Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@gmail.com (mailto:hortculturepodcast@gmail.com) Check us out on Instagram! (  / hortculturepodcast  )