If you are a specialty crop grower, you may be eligible for general financial assistance of up to $125,000 from the federal government through the newly-created Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program. The MASC program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA) and the deadline to apply is January 8, 2025.
In its Notification of Funds Availability (NOFA) published earlier this month in the Federal Register under docket FSA-2024-0011, USDA-FAS announced the availability of up to $2 billion for the nation’s specialty crop producers. According to the NOFA, eligible producers “must be in the business of farming at the time of application and be entitled to an ownership share and share in the risk of producing a specialty crop that will be sold in calendar year 2025.” The announcement further describes eligible specialty crop sales as “commercially marketed raw specialty crops grown in the United States by the producer” and specifically clarifies that it does not include value-added activities, “such as sorting, processing, or packaging.”
In the NOFA, USDA-FSA acknowledges some of the unique challenges of specialty crop production, notably the much higher labor costs in comparison to other agricultural sectors. Other challenges highlighted by the agency include increased perishability risks, reduced cash receipts for several classes of specialty crops, and the inability to efficiently scale production particularly by “small-scale” producers who have $100,000 or less in net cash farm income.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) reports that the state produces more than 220 different crops annually, many of which are included in the USDA definition of specialty crops. Consequently, we anticipate that many members of Oregon Farm Bureau will be eligible to receive payments through the MASC program and encourage producers to apply.
TO APPLY: At a minimum, a producer must submit a completed MASC Application Form (FSA-1140) to their respective County FSA Office by the deadline of January 8. Additional steps may be necessary, particularly for newer producers who may not have pre-established relationships with their county FSA staff and/or producers who may need supplementary documentation. Additional questions concerning general MASC program eligibility should be directed to your county FSA office.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Federal Register Notice of Funds Available (NOFA): https://www.regulations.gov/document/FSA-2024-0011-0001
USDA-FSA MASC Program Page: Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) | Farm Service Agency