30-Day Public Review
and Comment Period
Now Open

USDA welcomes input on the assessment of environmental impacts on two programs – the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) and Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program. FSA is accepting comments until January 18 on its draft programmatic environmental assessments. The TAP environmental assessment includes updates to streamline the program and enable a quick response to natural disasters. The FSFL environmental assessment recommends continuing the program as currently administered. 

The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies to consider the potential effects of major federal actions to both the natural and human environments as part of their planning and decision-making processes. Draft programmatic environmental assessments help FSA to determine whether program changes are needed and plan the implementation of proposed updates.  

Tree Assistance Program 

TAP helps cover the cost of replanting or rehabilitating eligible trees, bushes and vines that produce annual crops that have been damaged or destroyed by natural disasters. This program is crucial for helping producers recover from adverse natural disaster events and ensuring the long-term viability of their agricultural operations. The proposed program implementation update would include additional management tools and screening criteria that allow FSA to respond more quickly and effectively to time-sensitive natural disasters, including plant diseases. 

Farm Storage Facility Loan Program 

FSFL improves nationwide on-farm storage capacity for upgrading and building farm storage facilities for eligible commodities. The recommendation to continue the program as currently administered is based on a need to improve the ability of agricultural producers to preserve harvested crops, reduce post-harvest losses and improve marketing and sales opportunities. 

More Information 

Both draft programmatic environmental assessments may be reviewed on the FSA current environmental documents page. Written comments regarding the TAP and FSFL programs can be emailed to SM.FPAC.FBC.ENV@usda.gov until January 18.

For detailed program information, view FSA’s TAP and FSFL program fact sheets. 

Get started today!

To access these resources, visit farmers.gov/working-with-us/common-forms or scan the QR code.

For more information on FSA programs, contact your local FSA office or visit fsa.usda.gov. 

What is Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops?

Sign-up dates:
December 10, 2024 – January 8, 2025

FSA is providing $2 billion in funding through the new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program.

MASC is designed to help specialty crop producers expand domestic markets, develop new markets, and tackle the challenges of higher costs.

The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program now includes medium-sized businesses in addition to small businesses and has also been expanded to include assistance for 2024 and 2025 expenses. 

Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. Deadline to apply for calendar year 2024 expenses is January 31, 2025.

Program Details  

FSCSC assists specialty crop operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety certification and expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety. FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing its certification, as well as a portion of related expenses.  

Eligible FSCSC applicants must be a specialty crop operation; meet the definition of a small or medium-size business and have paid eligible expenses related to certification.  

• A small business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops sold by the applicant during the three-year period preceding the program year of no more than $500,000. 
• A medium size business has an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the three-year period preceding the program year of at least $500,001 but no more than $1,000,000.  

Specialty crop operations can receive the following cost assistance:  

• Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification.  
• Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan.  
• Food safety certification.  
• Certification upload fees.  
• Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water.  
• Training   

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each eligible cost category. Details about payment rates and limitations are available at farmers.gov/food-safety.  

Applying for Assistance  

Interested applicants have until January 31, 2025, to apply for assistance for 2024 eligible expenses. FSA will issue payments as applications are processed and approved. For program year 2025, the application period will be January 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026. FSA will issue 50% of the calculated payment for program year 2025 following application approval, with the remaining amount to be paid after the application deadline. If calculated payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated. 

Specialty crop producers can apply by completing the FSA-888-1, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) for Program Years 2024 and 2025 application. The application, along with the AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet and SF-3881, ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form, if not already on file with FSA, can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. Alternatively, producers with an eAuthentication account can apply for FSCSC online. Producers interested in creating an eAuthentication account should visit farmers.gov/sign-in. 

Specialty crop producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with an FSA employee ready to assist. Visit farmers.gov/food-safety for additional program details, eligibility information and forms needed to apply. 

More Information  

To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. Producers without an account can sign up today.