Source: PRESS RELEASE, 3/24/22
Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture
Coalition (NSAC) announced the publication of its brand new, fully updated Growing Opportunity: A Guide to
USDA Sustainable Farming Programs. This free, comprehensive,
practical guide is for farmers and ranchers who want to better understand which
key federal programs offered by the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) can help them meet their needs and support their diversified,
sustainable farming operations. The guide distills technical programs in a way
that is accessible, serving as a valuable resource for farmers as they look for
opportunities and financing to grow their farms and businesses and help build a
more sustainable farming system. USDA is partnering with farmer-serving organizations like NSAC
and its members to better reach and serve an increasingly diverse farmer and
rancher constituency for USDA programs. NSAC originally partnered with USDA in
2017 to produce the first edition of this guide to USDA programs for farmers
and ranchers. This new edition
has been updated to reflect program changes made since the 2018 Farm
Bill. The new guide is a resource for current farmers or would-be
farmers seeking to: =
access capital, land, infrastructure, or technical assistance to
begin or expand an operation; =
pursue new markets and sell fresh or value-added products
directly to consumers, wholesalers, restaurants, schools, and food hubs;
and/or =
consider diversification options, comprehensive conservation
systems, and organic farming practices. The guide includes detailed and concise program summaries,
reference links, and key resources related to dozens of USDA programs that are
designed to help farmers and ranchers start, maintain, and grow successful
operations. These programs include: =
Direct and Guaranteed Farm
Operating and Ownership Loans; Microloans; Down Payment Loan Program =
Land Contract Guarantee Program =
Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFL) =
Conservation Reserve Program – Transition
Incentives Program (CRP-TIP) and Field Border Buffer Initiative =
Noninsured Crop Disaster
Assistance Program (NAP) =
Organic Certification Cost
Share Program (OCCSP) =
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
Audits =
Whole-Farm Revenue Protection
Program (WFRP) =
Federal Crop Insurance
Corporation (FCIC) – Beginning Farmers; FCIC Organic =
Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP); EQIP Organic Initiative;
EQIP High Tunnel System Initiative =
Conservation Stewardship
Program (CSP) =
Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) =
Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education Program (SARE) In the guide, programs are broken down by USDA agency and
labeled by the type of service offered such as loans, rental payments,
insurance, cost-share, auditing services, technical and financial assistance,
and grant programs. The guide includes a matrix to help farmers easily match up
their interests, such as value-added programs or cover crops, to programs that
might help them, as well as a matrix highlighting programs with prioritized
funding for beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, and military
veterans. The guide is available for download on NSAC’s website. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR203A750001C038. Any
opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this
publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, any reference to specific
brands or types of products or services does not constitute or
imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for those products
or services. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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