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- October 2 - Deadline to apply for NAP Coverage for Value-Loss Type Crops: (Aquaculture, Christmas Trees, Floriculture, Mushrooms, Nursery Seed Stock, Turf grass Sod, etc.)
- October 2 - Deadline to file Acreage Reports for Value-Loss Type Crops
- October 31 - Deadline to apply for the Inflation Reduction Act Section 22007 – Discrimination Financial Assistance Program
- October 31 - Deadline to apply for Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)
- December 31 - Deadline to apply for the Farm Loan Extraordinary Measures Assistance Program.
- January 31, 2024 - Deadline to apply for the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program for calendar year 2023.
There are 2 active Disaster Designations in Massachusetts:
- Freeze occurring from 5/17/2023 – 5/18/2023: impacting Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Worcester as primary counties; and Barnstable, Dukes, Suffolk as contiguous counties.
- Rain and Flooding from 07/09/2023 – 07/16/2023: impacting Berkshire, Bristol, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Norfolk, Worcester as primary counties; and Dukes, Middlesex, Plymouth, Suffolk as contiguous counties.
These Secretarial natural disaster designations allow the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.
Through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR):
The Natural Disaster Recovery (NDR) Program for Agriculture provides financial assistance to aid agricultural operations that were impacted by one or more of the 2023 Natural Disasters to rebuild and recover, with the aim of supporting job security, building resilience, and enabling future production.
Applicants may submit questions regarding this RFR and application process. Questions must be submitted by email to MDARGrants@mass.gov. The deadline for questions is 4 PM on Friday, September 8, 2023. All questions and answers will be posted on this website so that all applicants can review.
An informational webinar will be held for interested applicants at 9am on Friday, September 8, 2023. To access the webinar, register here: Natural Disaster Recovery Program Information Session.
This webinar will be recorded and made publicly available on this website prior to the application deadline so that all potential applicants who are unable to attend the webinar live or who wish to further review the content may do so before submitting an application.
MA FSA encourages all borrowers experiencing any financial distress to reach out to the County Office to discuss their eligibility for the following programs:
Cash Flow-Based Assistance
USDA has begun implementing a process to identify whether an operation has sufficient cash flow to make their next scheduled loan payment. Through this procedure, qualifying borrowers can request FSA to cover their next installment due or a recently missed installment. All FSA direct loan borrowers should have received a letter in February 2023 detailing the process for seeking this type of assistance even before they become delinquent.
Borrowers who are within two months of their next installment may seek a cash flow analysis from FSA using a recent balance sheet and operating plan to determine their eligibility.
Borrowers can submit requests for cash flow-based assistance in person at their local FSA office or by sending in a direct request using the farmers.gov 22006 assistance request portal at farmers.gov/ira22006cashflow.
For more information, see the steps in the cash flow-based assistance review process.
Extraordinary Measures Assistance
In May 2023, USDA sent a letter to all FSA direct loan borrowers detailing a new opportunity to receive assistance if they took extraordinary measures to avoid delinquency between February 28, 2020 and October 18, 2022, such as taking on more debt, selling property, or cashing out retirement accounts. The letter provides the specific types of actions that may qualify for assistance and the documentation needed to receive assistance.
Borrowers can submit requests for extraordinary measures assistance in person at their local FSA office or by sending in a direct request using the farmers.gov 22006 assistance request portal at farmers.gov/ira22006request.
All requests for assistance must be received by December 31, 2023. Assistance is subject to funding availability.
For more information, see the steps in the extraordinary measures assistance review process.
The application period is open for a new financial assistance program under Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. The application process will close on October 31. Borrowers will have the option to apply for assistance online via 22007apply.gov or through a paper-based form.
Details about the program, including an application and e-filing portal, are available at 22007apply.gov. The website includes an English and Spanish language application that applicants can download or submit via an e-filing portal, information on how to obtain technical assistance in-person or virtually, and additional resources and details about the program. Applicants can also call the free call center at 1-800-721-0970, or visit one of several dozen brick-and-mortar offices the program has set up around the country. Locations are provided on the program website and vendors will update the local events schedule with more information as it becomes available. It is important to note that filing an application is FREE and does not require a lawyer.
If you want to get weekly updates on the program’s events and progress, you can go to https://22007apply.gov, and subscribe to a weekly newsletter.
MA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers of approaching application deadlines for purchasing risk coverage for some crops through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). NAP provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops impacted by natural disasters that result in lower yields, crop losses, or prevented crop planting.
NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no permanent federal crop insurance program is available, including forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, floriculture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass and more.
Upcoming application deadlines for NAP coverage in MA for the 2024 production season include:
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October 2nd for:
- Aquaculture
- Christmas Trees
- Floriculture
- Mushrooms
- Nursery Seed Stock
- Turf grass Sod
- Other Value-Loss crops - inquire with County Office for questions on NAP deadline for your crop.
NAP basic coverage is available at 55% of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50% of expected production. Buy-up coverage is available in some cases. NAP offers higher levels of coverage, ranging from 50% to 65% of expected production in 5% increments, at 100% of the average market price. Producers of organic crops and crops marketed directly to consumers also may exercise the “buy-up” option to obtain NAP coverage of 100% of the average market price at coverage levels ranging between 50% and 65% of expected production. Buy-up coverage is not available for crops intended for grazing.
For all coverage levels, the NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per county, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties. Premiums apply for buy-up coverage.
If a producer has a Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification (form CCC-860) on file with FSA, it may serve as an application for basic coverage for all eligible crops beginning with crop year 2022. These producers will have all NAP-related service fees for basic coverage waived. These producers may also receive a 50% premium reduction if higher levels of coverage are elected on form CCC-471, prior to the application closing date for each crop.
To learn more about NAP visit fsa.usda.gov/nap or contact your local USDA Service Center.
OCCSP signup is open now until October 31, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will cover up to 75% of the costs associated with organic certification, up to $750 per category, through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers and handlers to apply for OCCSP by Oct. 31, 2023, for expenses incurred from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023.
As part of USDA’s broader effort to support organic producers and in response to stakeholder feedback, this year FSA increased the cost share to the maximum amount allowed by statute.
Cost Share for 2023
The cost share provides financial assistance for organic certification, and producers and handlers are eligible to receive 75% of the costs, up to $750, for crops, wild crops, livestock, processing/handling and state organic program fees (California only).
Producers have until Oct. 31, 2023, to file applications, and FSA will make payments as applications are received.
How to Apply
To apply, organic producers and handlers should contact their local USDA Service Center. As part of completing the OCCSP application, producers and handlers will need to provide documentation of their organic certification and eligible expenses.
Organic producers and handlers may also apply for OCCSP through department of agriculture. Additional details can be found on the OCCSP webpage.
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