Notifying the FSA (USDA) when someone dies

FSA National Call Center

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Local FSA County Office

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Local USDA Service Center

Timeline

CRP contract successor must sign within 60 days; estate retains ARC/PLC eligibility for 2 program years after death; loan continuation is ongoing

WebsiteLearn more →

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Verified Mar 2026

When someone dies, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA (USDA)) must be notified. The executor, surviving spouse, or heir is responsible for notifying the FSA (USDA).

Notification deadline: As soon as possible; CRP contract successor must sign within 60 days.

Steps to take

Steps for notifying the FSA (USDA) and applying for survivor benefits:

Notify the local FSA county office or USDA Service Center:

•Find your local office at farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator
•Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
•FSA will review all active contracts, loans, and program enrollments for the deceased

For FSA farm loans (Operating, Farm Ownership, Emergency):

•If the surviving spouse or co-borrower is on the note, the loan continues automatically with scheduled payments
•If an heir inherits the property but is not on the note, FSA may continue the loan if payments are maintained
•Heirs may formally assume the loan under 7 CFR Part 765, Subpart I
•For guaranteed farm loans, contact both the commercial lender and the FSA county office

For CRP contracts:

•The successor (heir or new owner) must sign a revised CRP-1 contract within 60 days
•If the successor signs timely, no refund of prior CRP payments is required
•Annual rental payments are prorated: the estate receives payment from October 1 to the date of death
•If no successor signs within 60 days, the CRP contract is terminated

For ARC/PLC and other farm program payments:

•File Form FSA-325 to claim any outstanding payments owed to the deceased
•The estate retains automatic eligibility for 2 program years after the year of death
•After the 2-year period, petition the County Committee for continued eligibility
•A surviving spouse who takes over operations should update FSA records as the new operator

Consult a licensed attorney for farm succession planning, especially for heirs' property (undivided ownership by multiple heirs without probate resolution).

Required Documents

Certified copy of the death certificate
Form FSA-325 (Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died)
Letters testamentary or letters of administration
Last will and testament or affidavit of heirship
Deed or county tax records (for establishing land association)
Revised CRP-1 contract (for CRP succession, signed within 60 days)
Loan assumption agreement (for formal farm loan assumption)

Timeline

CRP contract successor must sign within 60 days; estate retains ARC/PLC eligibility for 2 program years after death; loan continuation is ongoing

Survivor benefits

Farm Loan Continuation

Under 7 CFR 765.451, FSA will continue farm loans (Operating, Farm Ownership, Emergency) with a surviving spouse or co-borrower who is already liable for the debt. FSA may also continue loans with heirs who inherit the property but are not on the note, provided they make scheduled payments and fulfill all borrower responsibilities. Loans may also be formally assumed under 7 CFR Part 765, Subpart I.

Eligibility: Co-borrower, surviving spouse, or heir who inherits the farm property

How to apply: Contact the local FSA county office to discuss loan continuation or assumption; provide death certificate and proof of inheritance

CRP Contract Succession

When a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participant dies, heirs who inherit the enrolled land can assume the CRP contract within 60 days (7 CFR 1410.32). The original CRP-1 contract must be revised to reflect the new participant. If the successor signs within 60 days, the estate is not required to refund previous CRP payments. Annual rental payments are prorated between the predecessor (or estate) and successor.

Eligibility: Heir or new owner who acquires CRP-enrolled land through inheritance

How to apply: Contact the local FSA county office within 60 days; sign the revised CRP-1 contract

Farm Program Payments (ARC/PLC and Other Programs)

Outstanding farm program payments owed to a deceased participant can be claimed by heirs using Form FSA-325. Payments are distributed in a strict order of precedence: executor first, then surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings, and finally heirs-at-law. The estate retains automatic ARC/PLC eligibility for 2 program years after the year of death; after that, the County Committee determines continued eligibility.

Eligibility: Executor, surviving spouse, children, or other heirs per 7 CFR Part 707 order of precedence

How to apply: File Form FSA-325 (Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died) at the local FSA county office

Frequently asked questions

Under 7 CFR 765.451, FSA will continue the loan with a co-borrower or surviving spouse who is already liable for the debt. FSA may also continue the loan with an heir who inherits the property and makes scheduled payments. Alternatively, the heir may formally assume the loan. Contact the local FSA county office immediately to discuss options.

Yes. When a CRP participant dies, the heir or new owner who inherits the enrolled land can assume the CRP contract by signing a revised CRP-1 contract within 60 days. If the successor signs timely, no refund of prior CRP payments is required. If no successor signs within 60 days, the contract is terminated.

File Form FSA-325 (Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died) at the local FSA county office. Payments are distributed in a strict order: executor, surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings, then heirs-at-law. Provide a death certificate and proof of your relationship to the deceased.

For FSA-guaranteed farm loans, the primary relationship is between the commercial lender and FSA. When the borrower dies, contact both the lender and the local FSA county office. The lender manages loan servicing, and FSA coordinates on any modification, assumption, or liquidation of the guaranteed loan.

After completing the notification process, eligible survivors can apply for 3 benefits through the FSA (USDA). Each benefit has its own eligibility requirements and application process.

Keep copies of all documents submitted to the FSA (USDA). Original documents submitted for verification are typically returned after processing.

FSA (USDA)

Federal Benefits

FSA National Call Center

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Local FSA County Office

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Local USDA Service Center

Timeline

CRP contract successor must sign within 60 days; estate retains ARC/PLC eligibility for 2 program years after death; loan continuation is ongoing

WebsiteLearn more →

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Verified Mar 2026

Notifying the FSA (USDA) when someone dies

Executor, surviving spouse, or heir is responsible for notifying the FSA (USDA)

FSA (USDA)

Federal Benefits

FSA National Call Center

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Local FSA County Office

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Local USDA Service Center

Timeline

CRP contract successor must sign within 60 days; estate retains ARC/PLC eligibility for 2 program years after death; loan continuation is ongoing

WebsiteLearn more →

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Verified Mar 2026

When someone dies, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA (USDA)) must be notified. The executor, surviving spouse, or heir is responsible for notifying the FSA (USDA).

Notification deadline: As soon as possible; CRP contract successor must sign within 60 days.

Steps to take

Steps for notifying the FSA (USDA) and applying for survivor benefits:

Notify the local FSA county office or USDA Service Center:

•Find your local office at farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator
•Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
•FSA will review all active contracts, loans, and program enrollments for the deceased

For FSA farm loans (Operating, Farm Ownership, Emergency):

•If the surviving spouse or co-borrower is on the note, the loan continues automatically with scheduled payments
•If an heir inherits the property but is not on the note, FSA may continue the loan if payments are maintained
•Heirs may formally assume the loan under 7 CFR Part 765, Subpart I
•For guaranteed farm loans, contact both the commercial lender and the FSA county office

For CRP contracts:

•The successor (heir or new owner) must sign a revised CRP-1 contract within 60 days
•If the successor signs timely, no refund of prior CRP payments is required
•Annual rental payments are prorated: the estate receives payment from October 1 to the date of death
•If no successor signs within 60 days, the CRP contract is terminated

For ARC/PLC and other farm program payments:

•File Form FSA-325 to claim any outstanding payments owed to the deceased
•The estate retains automatic eligibility for 2 program years after the year of death
•After the 2-year period, petition the County Committee for continued eligibility
•A surviving spouse who takes over operations should update FSA records as the new operator

Consult a licensed attorney for farm succession planning, especially for heirs' property (undivided ownership by multiple heirs without probate resolution).

Required Documents

Certified copy of the death certificate
Form FSA-325 (Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died)
Letters testamentary or letters of administration
Last will and testament or affidavit of heirship
Deed or county tax records (for establishing land association)
Revised CRP-1 contract (for CRP succession, signed within 60 days)
Loan assumption agreement (for formal farm loan assumption)

Timeline

CRP contract successor must sign within 60 days; estate retains ARC/PLC eligibility for 2 program years after death; loan continuation is ongoing

Survivor benefits

Farm Loan Continuation

Eligibility: Co-borrower, surviving spouse, or heir who inherits the farm property

How to apply: Contact the local FSA county office to discuss loan continuation or assumption; provide death certificate and proof of inheritance

CRP Contract Succession

Eligibility: Heir or new owner who acquires CRP-enrolled land through inheritance

How to apply: Contact the local FSA county office within 60 days; sign the revised CRP-1 contract

Farm Program Payments (ARC/PLC and Other Programs)

Eligibility: Executor, surviving spouse, children, or other heirs per 7 CFR Part 707 order of precedence

How to apply: File Form FSA-325 (Application for Payment of Amounts Due Persons Who Have Died) at the local FSA county office

Frequently asked questions

After completing the notification process, eligible survivors can apply for 3 benefits through the FSA (USDA). Each benefit has its own eligibility requirements and application process.

Keep copies of all documents submitted to the FSA (USDA). Original documents submitted for verification are typically returned after processing.

FSA (USDA)

Federal Benefits

FSA National Call Center

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Local FSA County Office

HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time (hours vary by office)

Local USDA Service Center