News and notes on AMS' local and regional food systems work with highlights from across USDA - July 2023

Secretary Vilsack recently announced that USDA is making investments to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, expand market opportunities for farmers, and support a growing workforce in rural areas. USDA is providing $115 million in 17 states through the following:

• Five awards totaling $38 million through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) to help independent processors expand their capacity through projects like building or modernizing facilities, installing new technology, fortifying food safety practices, or supporting workforce training, and
• Ten awards totaling $77 million under the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) to provide funds for intermediary lenders who finance the start-up, expansion, or operation of processing facilities.

These investments help encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector, which helps improve supply chain resiliency. To learn more about this investment in independent meat and poultry producers, view the press release and/or subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates at the GovDelivery subscriber page.

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In May, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the availability of $500 million in funding to advance partner-driven solutions to conservation on agricultural land through USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This program leverages collective resources and public-private partnerships to further new conservation structures and approaches in a region.

Based on partner listening sessions and surveys, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) identified areas of improvement for this year’s RCPP funding, including improving the portal and desktop, simplifying the reimbursement process, and consistent guidance and training for partners. RCPP and other similar programs, such as the Partnerships for Climate-Smart-Commodities, help build a more resilient food system by promoting sustainable practices and national coordination that also create benefits for local and regional food production.

Learn more about the RCPP updates on the NRCS website or explore the current projects on their interactive map dashboard.

Read the Press Release

 

During the month of August, USDA, alongside other organizations across the country, celebrate the growth and impact of farmers markets as a pillar of local and regional food systems. The direct-to-consumer producers, market managers, and consumers all contribute to making a more resilient food supply chain and support USDA’s Food System Transformation framework.

 

July Deadlines

Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP)
Application Due Date: July 24, 2023

Last month, USDA announced assistance for dairy producers with the new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). Under this program, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is making $104 million available to assist certified organic dairy producers facing a unique set of challenges in recent years, including higher costs attributed to the pandemic and drought conditions across the country. FSA is accepting applications from May 24 to July 24, 2023. Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats, and sheep. To apply, producers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center.

Organic Certification Cost Share Programs
Application Due Date: July 31, 2023

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), requests applications for the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program, collectively referred to as the OCCSP, for fiscal year (FY) 2023. OCCSP provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Certified operations may receive up to 75 percent of their certification costs paid during the program year, not to exceed $750 per certification scope. View more information about the grant opportunity at grants.gov.

 

August Deadlines

Organic Market Development Grant Program 
Application Due Date: August 8, 2023

USDA’s AMS will issue up to $75 million in competitive grants for the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) Program. The OMDG program will support the development of new and expanded organic markets to help increase the consumption of domestic organic agricultural commodities. OMDG funds projects that increase domestic organic supply chain capacity for producers, handlers, suppliers, and processors; facilitate market development for domestically produced organic food products; and remove barriers to entry to organic certification for smaller producers and historically underserved entities. This program has three project types: Market Development and Promotion, Processing Capacity Projects, and Simplified Equipment -only projects. Project activities may take place over a 24- to 36-month period. Learn more on the OMDG webpage or view the OMDG Request For Applications. For any questions, please email OMDG@usda.gov.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Application Due Date: August 18, 2023

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) leverages a voluntary approach to expand the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. In addition to the funding opportunity, NRCS has embarked on a concerted effort to streamline and simplify the RCPP application and improve the experience for partners, producers, and employees. Learn more about the announcement and visit the NRCS webpage for information on how to apply.  

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
State Plan Due Date: August 23, 2023

The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) provides up to $420 million for cooperative agreements with state departments of agriculture to administer competitive Infrastructure Grants programs to expand and modernize aggregation, processing, and distribution capacity, including the purchase of equipment and construction of new facilities. Additionally, states will have the option to use 20% of the state’s allocated funds or up to $1 million to conduct supply chain coordination activities. More information on this program can be found on the AMS RFSI website. Please submit program questions to RFSI@usda.gov.

RD's Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program
Application Due Date: Applications accepted until funds are exhausted. 

The USDA RD Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan. This program guarantees loans of up to $40 million for qualified lenders to finance food systems projects, specifically for the start-up or expansion of activities in the middle of the food supply chain. The program will support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution. Visit their page on the Rural Development website for more information.

 

September Deadlines

Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program
Application Due Date: September 15, 2023

The Sheep Production & Marketing Grant Program seeks to develop solutions for practical problems on a national basis and address the needs of the entire sheep industry, while focusing on the measurable benefits for sheep producers, encouraging partnerships among other sheep industry organizations, and reducing duplication of effort among participating organizations. For more information, view the recent press release or visit the SPMGP webpage.