Financial Assistance Application Process Opens for USDA Farm Loan Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the opening of the financial assistance application process for eligible farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directs USDA to provide this assistance. Since the law’s passage, USDA has worked diligently to design the program in accordance with significant stakeholder input. 

USDA Offers New Forest Management Incentive for Conservation Reserve Program

COLUMBIA, S.C., Jan. 19, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available $12 million for use in making payments to forest landowners with land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in exchange for their implementing healthy forest management practices. Existing CRP participants can now sign up for the Forest Management Incentive (FMI), which provides financial incentives to landowners with land in CRP to encourage proper tree thinning and other practices.

USDA Invests $7.4 Million in 25 Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Efforts

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $7.4 million in 25 selected grants that support urban agriculture and innovative production. Selected grant recipients, including community gardens and nonprofit farms, will increase food production and access in economically distressed communities, provide job training and education, and allow partners to develop business plans and zoning proposals.

Farm Service Agency Reopens Application Period for Emergency Forest Restoration Program

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 2, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Florida announced that counties are accepting applications for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address damages from Hurricane Michael that occurred in 2018. The EFRP sign-up period reopened on Jan. 19, 2021 and ends on March 11, 2021.

USDA Reminds Producers of Continuous Certification Option for Perennial Forage 

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers with perennial forage crops of an option to report their acreage once, without having to report that acreage in subsequent years, as long as there are no applicable changes on the farm. Interested producers can select the continuous certification option after USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) certifies their acreage report.  

USDA Invests $7.4 Million in 25 Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Efforts

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, July 20, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $7.4 million in 25 selected grants that support urban agriculture and innovative production.  Selected grant recipients, including community gardens and nonprofit farms, will increase food production and access in economically distressed communities, provide job training and education, and allow partners to develop business plans and zoning proposals.