Federal Farm
Assistance Programs

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is a branch
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
that serves America’s farmers by providing credit to producers who are unable to access private commercial credit. FSA places special emphasis on assisting beginning, minority and women farmers and ranchers. FSA also provides producers with a strong safety net through farm commodity and disaster programs. FSA’s long- standing tradition of conserving the nation’s natural resources continues through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). FSA also purchases and delivers commodities for use in international humanitarian food programs.

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Quick Tips to Get Started with FSA

FSA Fact Sheet

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The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a branch of the U. S. Department of Agriculture that works with farmers to keep America's soil and water healthy. Through voluntary conservation programs, NRCS helps producers, soil and water conservation districts, and other partners protect and conserve natural resources on private lands throughout the United States. NRCS offers technical support and cost-share funding for hoop houses, livestock fencing, irrigation, and livestock water lines that help conserve soil and water resources. In January, NRCS announced a new Urban Agriculture initiative that will assist small scale urban and traditionally underserved growers.  Producers can learn more or apply for a program by contacting or walking in to a local USDA Service Center.

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Read about Urban Agriculture and Specialty Crop Grants and Programs. 

Find a Service Center HERE.

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Did a natural disaster like the drought of 2021 or 2020 cause a loss of revenue from farming for you? If so, you may be eligible for support from USDA’s Emergency Relief Program (ERP) or the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP).​ ERP provides financial assistance to vegetable growers and others for losses caused, at least in part, by a qualifying natural disaster event.  Connectors can help growers to sign up for crop insurance and to improve record-keeping systems so they are prepared to apply for disaster revenue. 

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Click to reach a Disaster Assistance Connector. 

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Disaster Assistance and COVID Relief Fact Sheet 

There is a USDA Service Center that serves every county in the nation. There are even new urban service centers in certain cities. The video below is tailored to urban growers, but you can access your service center the same way. Check out the video and then find your service center HERE . Just call and make an appointment to go in and get started.