FACT SHEET

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

Page 1

April 2011

 Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administered Programs

Agricultural Mediation Program

The Agricultural Mediation 

Program helps agricultural producers, their lenders, and other 

persons directly affected by the 

actions of USDA resolve disputes. A trained, impartial mediator reviews conflicts, identifies 

options, and assists in settling 

disputes between participants in 

many different USDA program 

areas. These include farm loans, 

farm and conservation programs, 

wetland determinations, rural 

water loan programs, grazing on 

national forest system lands, and 

pesticides.

Asparagus Revenue Market 

Loss Assistance Payment 

(ALAP) Program

The Asparagus Revenue Market Loss Assistance Payment 

program compensates producers for revenue losses resulting 

from imports during the 2004 

through 2007 crop years. Eligible asparagus producers will 

receive a one-time market loss 

payment based upon the marketing category (fresh-market 

or processed-market) of their 

2003-crop asparagus production 

quantity.

Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program

Producers on farms with a covered commodity or peanut base 

acres may elect to participate 

in the Average Crop Revenue 

Election (ACRE) Program that 

was authorized by the 2008 Farm 

Bill. Under the ACRE Program, 

producers may receive revenuebased payments instead of pricebased counter-cyclical (CC) 

payments issued under the Direct 

and Counter-cyclical Program 

(DCP). The following planted 

or considered planted crops 

may be eligible for ACRE payments: wheat, barley, oats, grain 

sorghum, corn, upland cotton, 

rice (medium and long grain), 

soybeans, other oilseeds, canola, 

crambe, flaxseed, mustard seed, 

rapeseed, safflower, sesame seed 

and sunflower seed, peanuts and 

pulse crops (dry peas, lentils, 

and small and large chickpeas 

(garbanzo beans)). 

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Loans

FSA provides direct and guaranteed loans to beginning farmers 

and ranchers who are unable 

to obtain financing from commercial credit sources. A beginning farmer or rancher is an 

individual or entity who (1) has 

not operated a farm or ranch for 

more than 10 years, (2) meets 

the loan eligibility requirements 

of the program to which he/she 

is applying, (3) substantially 

participates in the operation, 

and, (4) for farm ownership loan 

purposes, does not own a farm 

greater than 30 percent of the 

median size farm in the county 

and has farmed for at least three 

years.

Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)

BCAP, created in the 2008 Farm 

Bill, is a voluntary program 

for agricultural and forestland 

owners and operators. BCAP is 

intended to support the production and use of biomass crops for 

conversion to bioenergy. BCAP 

includes: 1) Matching Payments: Assists agricultural and 

forest land owners and operators 

with matching payments for the 

collection, harvest, storage and 

transportation (CHST) of eligible 

material by a qualified Biomass 

Conversion Facility (BCF), 

and 2) Project Areas: Supports 

establishing and producing 

eligible crops for the conversion 

to bioenergy on contracts up to 5 

years for annual and non-woody 

perennial crops or up to 15 years 

for woody perennial crops. Support may include annual payments and cost-share assistance 

to establish eligible crops.

Boll Weevil Eradication Loan 

Program

The Boll Weevil Eradication 

Loan Program provides low 

interest loans to nonprofit organizations that work collaboratively 

with state agencies, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service, and the National Cotton 

Council to eradicate the boll 

weevil. The program objective is 

to assist producers and state government agencies in the eradication of boll weevils from cotton 

producing areas and ensuring the 

pest is not re-introduced.
FACT SHEET

FSA Administered Programs April 2011

Conservation Loan Program 

(CL)

FSA makes and guarantees CLs 

to implement conservation techniques that will conserve natural 

resources. Direct CLs can be obtained through local FSA offices. 

Guaranteed CLs are available 

from lenders working with FSA. 

CL funds can be used to implement conservation practices approved by the Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS), 

such as the installation of conservation structures; establishment 

of forest cover; installation of 

water conservation measures; 

establishment or improvement of 

permanent pastures; implementation of manure management; and 

the adaptation of other emerging 

or existing conservation practices, techniques or technologies.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

CRP is a voluntary program 

available to agricultural producers to help safeguard environmentally sensitive land. 

Producers enrolled in CRP plant 

long-term, resource-conserving 

covers to improve the quality 

of water, control soil erosion, 

and enhance wildlife habitat. In 

return, FSA provides participants 

with rental payments and costshare assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. 

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

CREP is a derivative program 

of the Conservation Reserve 

Program (CRP). CREP is a 

voluntary program that helps 

agricultural producers protect 

environmentally sensitive land, 

decrease erosion, restore wildlife 

habitat, and safeguard ground 

and surface water. The program 

is a partnership among producers; tribal, state, and federal governments; and, in some cases, 

private groups.

Dairy Indemnity Payment 

Program (DIPP)

The Dairy Indemnity Payment 

Program pays dairy producers 

when a public regulatory agency 

directs them to remove their 

raw milk from the commercial 

market because it has been contaminated by pesticides, nuclear 

radiation or fallout, or toxic 

substances and chemical residues 

other than pesticides. Payments 

are made to manufacturers of 

dairy products only for products 

removed from the market because of pesticide contamination.

Dairy Product Price Support 

Program (DPPSP)

Under this program, FSA supports the price of nonfat dry 

milk, butter and cheddar at statutory minimum levels through the 

purchase of such products made 

from cow’s milk produced in the 

United States. The established 

prices are uniform for all regions 

of the United States and may be 

increased by the Secretary when 

considered appropriate. Reductions that cause the purchase 

price to fall below the minimum 

purchase prices can only be 

temporarily adjustments made in 

accordance with the 2008 Farm 

Bill. The DPPSP is authorized 

through December 31, 2012. 

Debt for Nature Program

The Debt for Nature Program, 

also known as the Debt Cancellation Conservation Contract 

Program, is available to persons 

with FSA loans secured by 

real estate who may qualify for 

cancellation of a portion of their 

FSA indebtedness in exchange 

for a conservation contract with 

a term of 50, 30, or 10 years. A 

conservation contract is a voluntary legal agreement that restricts 

the type and amount of development and farming practices that 

may take place on portions of a 

landowner’s property. Contracts 

may be established on marginal 

cropland and other environmentally sensitive lands for conservation, recreation, and wildlife 

purposes.

Direct and Counter-cyclical 

Program (DCP)

DCP was authorized by the 2008 

Farm Bill through the 2012 

crop year and provides income 

support to producers. DCP 

payments do not depend on the 

current production choices of the 

farmer; instead, they are based 

on historically-based acreage and 

yields. Producers on a farm with 

established base acres may annually enroll the farm in a DCP 

contract. Depending on the 

farm’s planting history, a farm 

may have base acres established 

for one or more of the following 

covered commodities: barley, 

corn, grain sorghum (including 

dual-purpose varieties), oats, 

canola, crambe, flax, mustard, 

pulse crops, rapeseed, safflower, 

sesame and sunflower (including oil and non-oil varieties), 

peanuts, rice (excluding wild 

rice), soybeans, upland cotton, 

and wheat.

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Direct Farm Ownership Loan 

Program 

FSA direct farm ownership loans 

(FO) may be made to purchase 

farmland, construct or repair 

buildings and other fixtures, and 

promote soil and water conservation. To qualify for a direct loan, 

the applicant must be unable to 

obtain credit from commercial 

credit sources, able to show 

sufficient repayment ability and 

pledge enough collateral to fully 

secure the loan.

Direct Operating Loan Program 

FSA direct farm operating loans 

(OL) may be made to purchase 

items such as livestock, farm 

equipment, feed, seed, fuel, farm 

chemicals, insurance, and other 

operating expenses. They can 

also be used to pay for minor 

improvements to buildings, costs 

associated with land and water 

development, family subsistence, 

and refinancing debts under certain conditions. To qualify for 

a direct loan, the applicant must 

be unable to obtain credit from 

commercial credit sources, able 

to show sufficient repayment 

ability and pledge enough collateral to fully secure the loan.

Domestic and Foreign Food 

Assistance

USDA, through FSA, donates 

food to the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, as well as federal, state, 

and other private and nonprofit 

agencies in the United States. 

Food items are used for school 

lunch programs, summer camps 

for children, the Women, Infants, and Children program, and 

other organizations and charities 

that help needy persons. Also, 

agricultural commodities are 

donated to international relief 

agencies to help feed people 

around the world. The Foreign 

Agricultural Service (FAS) of 

USDA organizes the delivery of 

the donated food to international 

development and humanitarian 

organizations operating in dozens of countries. Food donations 

also assist in the FAS Food for 

Progress program, which assists 

countries working to transition to 

market-oriented economies.

Downpayment Farm Ownership Loans

Downpayment Farm Ownership loans were developed to 

help socially disadvantaged and 

beginning farmers and ranchers 

purchase a farm or ranch. These 

loans provide a way for retiring 

farmers to transfer their land to a 

future generation of farmers and 

ranchers. 

Economic Adjustment Assistance to Users of Upland 

Cotton

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) issues payments 

to eligible domestic users of 

upland cotton. The program is 

designed to stimulate investment to maintain a globally 

competitive U.S. textile industry. 

Payments are made to eligible 

domestic users who enter into 

an agreement with the CCC. 

The payment rate is four cents 

per pound from Aug. 1, 2008, 

through July 31, 2012, and three 

cents per pound beginning Aug. 

1, 2012. Proceeds received under 

this program must be used for 

capital investments that relate to 

manufacturing upland cotton into 

cotton products.

Emergency Assistance for 

Livestock, Honeybees, and 

Farm Raised Fish (ELAP)

ELAP was authorized by the 

2008 Farm Bill to provide 

emergency relief to producers of 

livestock, honeybees, and farmraised fish and covers losses 

from disaster such as adverse 

weather or other conditions, such 

as blizzards and wildfires not 

adequately covered by any other 

disaster program.

Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)

ECP provides funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate 

farmland damaged by wind 

erosion, floods, hurricanes, or 

other natural disasters, and for 

carrying out emergency water 

conservation measures during 

periods of severe drought. The 

natural disaster must create new 

conservation problems, which, if 

not treated, would; 1) impair or 

endanger the land, 2) materially 

affect the productive capacity 

of the land, 3) represent unusual 

damage which, except for wind 

erosion, is not the type likely 

to recur frequently in the same 

area, and 4) be so costly to repair 

that federal assistance is or will 

be required to return the land to 

productive agricultural use.

Emergency Forest Restoration 

Program (EFRP)

EFRP provides payments to 

eligible owners of nonindustrial 

private forest (NIPF) land in 

order to carry out emergency 

measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster. 

Subject to availability of funds, 

locally elected county committees are authorized to implement 

FACT SHEET

FSA Administered Programs April 2011

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FACT SHEET

FSA Administered Programs April 2011

EFRP for all disasters except 

drought and insect infestations, 

which are authorized at the FSA 

national office. EFRP program 

participants may receive financial assistance of up to 75 

percent of the cost to implement 

approved emergency forest restoration practices as determined 

by county FSA committees.

Emergency Loan Program 

(EM)

FSA provides EM loans to help 

producers recover from production and physical losses due to 

drought, flooding, other natural 

disasters, or quarantine. EM 

loans may be made to farmers 

and ranchers who own or operate 

land located in a county declared 

by the president as a disaster area 

or designated by the Secretary 

of Agriculture as a disaster area 

or quarantine area (for physical 

losses only, the FSA Administrator may authorize emergency 

loan assistance). Emergency loan 

funds may be used to 1) restore 

or replace essential property, 

2) pay all or part of production 

costs associated with the disaster year, 3) pay essential family 

living expenses,4) reorganize 

the farming operation, and 5) 

refinance certain debts.

Extra Long Staple (ELS) Cotton Competitiveness Payments

ELS Cotton Competitiveness 

Payments are made to domestic users and exporters of ELS 

cotton when the market prices 

of domestically produced versus 

foreign grown ELS cotton are 

such that payments are necessary 

to improve the competitiveness 

of domestically produced cotton 

in the world market.

Farm Storage Facility Loan 

Program

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), through FSA, 

may make loans to producers 

to build or upgrade farm storage and handling facilities for 

rice, soybeans, dry peas, lentils, 

small chickpeas, peanuts, hay, 

renewable biomass, sunflower 

seeds, canola, rapeseed, safflower, flaxseed, mustard seed, 

and other oilseeds as determined 

and announced by CCC. Corn, 

grain sorghum, oats, wheat, 

barley, fruits and vegetables are 

also eligible, subject to program 

requirements.

Farmable Wetlands Program 

(FWP)

The Farmable Wetlands Program 

(FWP) is a voluntary program 

to restore up to one million 

acres of farmable wetlands and 

associated buffers by improving the land’s hydrology and 

vegetation. Eligible producers 

in all states can enroll eligible 

land in the FWP through the 

Conservation Reserve Program 

(CRP). Producers plant longterm, resource-conserving covers 

to improve the quality of water, 

control soil erosion and enhance 

wildlife habitat on land enrolled 

in CRP. In return, FSA provides 

participants with rental payments 

and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 

15 years. FWP is designed to 

prevent degradation of wetland 

areas, increase sediment trapping efficiencies, improve water 

quality, prevent soil erosion and 

provide habitat for waterfowl 

and other wildlife.

Feedstock Flexibility Program 

(FFP)

FFP is designed to avoid sugar 

loan forfeitures to the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) 

by diverting sugar from food 

use to ethanol production. Every 

September, the Secretary of Agriculture announces the amount 

of sugar (if any) for the CCC to 

purchase and to be made available for sale to ethanol producers. Raw, refined and in-process 

sugars are eligible for purchase. 

Such sugar can be purchased 

from any marketer located in the 

United States.

Grassland Reserve Program 

(GRP)

GRP is a voluntary program for 

landowners to protect, restore, 

and enhance grasslands on their 

property. USDA’s NRCS and 

FSA jointly implement GRP to 

conserve vulnerable grasslands 

from conversion to cropland or 

other uses and conserve valuable 

grasslands by helping maintain 

viable ranching operations.

Grassroots Source Water Protection Program

The Grassroots Source Water 

Protection Program (GSWPP) 

is a joint project by the FSA and 

the nonprofit National Rural 

Water Association (NRWA) 

designed to help prevent source 

water pollution in states through 

voluntary practices installed by 

producers and other landowners 

at the local level. GSWPP uses 

onsite technical assistance capabilities of each state rural water 

association that operates a source 

water protection program in the 

state. State rural water associations deliver assistance in develPage 4
FACT SHEET

FSA Administered Programs April 2011

oping source water protection 

plans within watersheds for the 

common goal of preventing 

the contamination of drinking 

water supplies.

GRAZE-OUT Program

The GRAZE-OUT Program, 

authorized by the 2008 Farm 

Bill, provides for payments for 

2008 through 2012 crop years 

to eligible producers who elect 

to use their acreage planted to 

wheat, barley, oats, or triticale 

for grazing by livestock and 

agree to forgo any other harvesting of the commodity on 

such acreage during the applicable crop year. GRAZE-OUT 

payments are subject to the 

same basic eligibility requirements as commodity loans and 

loan deficiency payments. 

Guaranteed Farm Ownership Loan Program

FSA guaranteed loans provide 

lenders (banks, Farm Credit 

System institutions, credit 

unions) with a guarantee of 

up to 95 percent of the loss 

of principal and interest on a 

loan. Farmers and ranchers 

apply to an agricultural lender, 

which then arranges for the 

guarantee. The FSA guarantee permits lenders to make 

agricultural credit available to 

farmers who do not meet the 

lender’s normal underwriting 

criteria. A percentage of guaranteed loan funds is targeted to 

beginning farmers and ranchers and minority applicants. 

Guaranteed Farm Ownership 

Loans (FO) may be made to 

purchase farmland, construct 

or repair buildings and other 

fixtures, develop farmland to 

promote soil and water conservation, or to refinance debt.

Guaranteed Operating Loan 

Program

FSA guaranteed loans provide 

lenders (banks, Farm Credit 

System institutions, credit 

unions) with a guarantee of 

up to 95 percent of the loss 

of principal and interest on a 

loan. Farmers and ranchers 

apply to an agricultural lender, 

which then arranges for the 

guarantee. The FSA guarantee permits lenders to make 

agricultural credit available to 

farmers who do not meet the 

lender’s normal underwriting 

criteria. A percentage of guaranteed loan funds is targeted to 

beginning farmers and ranchers and minority applicants. 

Guaranteed Operating Loans 

(OL) may be made to purchase 

items needed such as livestock, 

farm equipment, feed, seed, 

fuel, farm chemicals, repairs, 

insurance, and other operating expenses. OLs also can be 

used to pay for minor improvements to buildings, costs 

associated with land and water 

development, family living expenses, and to refinance debts 

under certain conditions.

Homestead Protection Program

If FSA has exhausted all loan 

servicing options and foreclosures on a property as required 

by law, the Homestead Protection Program allows the borrower to lease, with an option 

to purchase, their primary 

residence and up to 10 adjoining acres for up to 5 years. 

Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Program (ITLAP)

ITLAP loans enable Indian 

tribes to purchase privately 

held lands that lie within their 

reservations. Loan funds may 

be used to pay expenses incidental to the purchase of the 

land, but not for land development.

Livestock Forage Disaster 

Program (LFP)

LFP was authorized by the 

2008 Farm Bill to provide 

assistance to livestock producers for forage losses due 

to drought and losses due to 

wildfire on rangeland managed 

by a federal agency. 

Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)

LIP was authorized by the 

2008 Farm Bill to provide 

assistance to livestock producers for livestock deaths from 

disaster events, in excess of 

normal mortality. 

Milk Income Loss Contract 

(MILC) Program

The MILC Program financially 

compensates dairy producers 

when domestic milk prices 

fall below a specified level. 

The payment trigger price is 

adjusted each month if certain 

feed cost components that 

make up the feed adjustment 

price also fall below a specified level. MILC payments are 

made monthly when the milk 

price falls below the established price per hundredweight 

and are issued by CCC based 

upon selection of a production start month by producers 

Page 5
FACT SHEET

FSA Administered Programs April 2011

the dairy operation. Payments 

are issued up to a maximum 

eligible quantity per dairy 

operation per fiscal year of 

2,985,000 million pounds 

through August 31, 2012. The 

production cap in September 

2012 is reduced to 2.4 million 

pounds per operation.

Noninsured Crop Disaster 

Assistance Program (NAP)

NAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers 

affected by drought, flood, 

hurricane, or other natural disasters. NAP covers noninsurable crop losses and planting 

prevented by disasters. Landowners, tenants, or sharecroppers who share in the risk of 

producing an eligible crop 

are eligible. Eligible crops 

include commercial crops and 

other agricultural commodities 

produced for food, including livestock feed or fiber for 

which the catastrophic level of 

crop insurance is unavailable. 

Also eligible for NAP coverage are controlled-environment 

crops (mushroom and floriculture), specialty crops (honey 

and maple sap), and value loss 

crops (aquaculture, Christmas 

trees, ginseng, ornamental 

nursery, and turfgrass sod).

Nonrecourse Marketing 

Assistance Loan (MAL) and 

Loan Deficiency Payment 

(LDP) Programs

MALs provide producers interim financing at harvest time 

to meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices 

are typically at harvest-time 

lows. MALs allow producers 

to store production at harvest 

for a more orderly marketing 

of commodities throughout 

the year. MALs for covered 

commodities are nonrecourse 

because the commodity is 

pledged as loan collateral and 

producers have the option of 

delivering the pledged collateral to the Commodity Credit 

Corporation as full payment 

for the loan at maturity. A 

producer who is eligible to 

obtain a loan, but who agrees 

to forgo the loan, may obtain a 

LDP. A LDP is the amount by 

which the applicable loan rate 

exceeds the alternative loan 

repayment rate for the respective commodity.

Primary Loan Servicing 

Program

The Primary Loan Servicing Program gives options to 

borrowers who, due to reasons 

beyond their control, are unable to make the scheduled 

payments on their debt to the 

Government. These options 

may include consolidation, 

rescheduling or reamortization, deferral, interest rate 

reduction, and writedown. The 

program allows delinquent 

and/or financially distressed 

FSA borrowers to attain, or 

maintain, a current loan status 

- while at the same time allowing the borrower to regain a 

more solid financial footing for 

the long term.

Recourse Seed Cotton Loans

Recourse seed cotton loans are 

made available by the Commodity Credit Corporation 

(CCC) to producers through 

March 31 of the year following 

the calendar year in which the 

cotton crop is normally harvested. Seed cotton pledged 

as collateral for a loan must be 

tendered to CCC by an eligible 

producer and must be in existence and in good condition 

at the time of disbursement of 

loan proceeds, in addition to 

other requirements. A producer must repay the seed cotton 

loan principal, interest, and the 

charges before pledging the 

cotton for a nonrecourse loan 

or before a loan deficiency 

payment can be approved. 

Seed cotton loans mature on 

demand by CCC but no later 

than May 31 following the calendar year in which such crop 

is normally harvested.

Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program 

(RTCP) for Geographically 

Disadvantaged Farmers and 

Ranchers

RTCP provides assistance 

to geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers by 

reimbursing them for a portion 

of the transportation cost of 

their agricultural commodity, 

or transporting inputs used to 

produce an agricultural commodity during a fiscal year. 

Producers eligible for RTCP 

include farmers and ranchers 

from 1) Hawaii, 2) Alaska, 

3) Commonwealth of Puerto 

Rico, 4) Guam, 5) American 

Samoa, 6) Commonwealth of 

the Northern Mariana Islands, 

7) Federated States of Micronesia, 8) Republic of the Marshall Islands, 9) Republic of 

Palau, and 10) Virgin Islands 

of the United States.

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FACT SHEET

FSA Administered Programs April 2011

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

SAFE is a voluntary program 

available under CRP’s continuous signup. SAFE is designed 

to address state and regional 

high-priority wildlife objectives. Producers within a 

SAFE area can submit offers 

to voluntarily enroll acres in 

CRP contracts for 10-15 years. 

In exchange, producers receive 

annual CRP rental payments, 

incentives and cost-share assistance to establish, improve, 

connect or create higher-quality habitat. 

Sugar Loan Program and 

Sugar Marketing Allotments

The Sugar Loan Program provides nonrecourse loans to processors of domestically-grown 

sugarcane and sugar beets to 

stabilize America’s sugar industry. The Commodity Credit 

Corporation (CCC) establishes 

marketing allotments for sugar 

from domestically-produced 

sugar beets and sugarcane. Allotments are assigned based on 

estimates of sugar consumption, stocks, production, and 

imports for a crop year with 

the intent being that the total 

allotment quantity minimizes 

forfeitures of sugar to CCC 

under the sugar loan program.

Sugar Storage Facility Loan 

Program

FSA may make loans to 

processors of domesticallyproduced sugarcane and sugar 

beets for the construction or 

upgrading of storage and handling facilities for raw sugars 

and refined sugars. Loans may 

be made only for the purchase 

and installation of eligible 

storage facilities, permanently 

affixed handling equipment, 

or the remodeling of existing 

facilities.

Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program 

(SURE)

SURE was authorized by the 

2008 Farm Bill and provides 

assistance to producers suffering crop losses due to natural 

disasters. SURE is available 

for crop losses due to natural 

disasters occurring through 

Sept. 30, 2011, and covers 

crop revenue losses from quantity or quality deficiencies only 

in those counties and contiguous counties declared disaster 

areas by the Agriculture Secretary or in cases where the overall production loss exceeds 50 

percent. SURE payments are 

calculated based on 60 percent of the difference between 

the SURE Disaster Program 

Guarantee and the Total Farm 

Revenue.

Tobacco Transition Payment 

Program (TTPP)

TTPP provides payments over 

a ten-year period to quota 

holders and producers of quota 

tobacco to help them make the 

transition from the federallyregulated tobacco marketing 

quota and price support loan 

programs. Eligible tobacco 

quota holders and producers 

receive payments under this 

program in 10 installments in 

each of the 2005 through 2014 

fiscal years.

Trade Adjustment Assistance 

for Farmers (TAAF)

TAAF provides technical assistance and cash benefits to eligible producers of raw agricultural commodities, such as fish 

or blueberries, after an associated industry group petitions 

the Secretary for assistance. 

If the national average price 

in the most recent marketing 

year for a commodity is less 

than 80 percent of the national 

average price in the preceding 

5 marketing years as a result 

of increased imports of that 

commodity, producers may be 

eligible for TAAF assistance.

Transition Incentive Program (TIP)

The TIP, authorized by the 

2008 Farm Bill, provides 

$25 million through 2012 to 

promote the transition of expiring CRP land from a retired or 

retiring owner or operator to 

a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher for 

the purpose of returning some 

or all of the land to production 

using sustainable farming techniques. An owner or operator 

must be a retired or retiring 

farmer or rancher on land under a CRP contract and agree 

to sell, have a contract to sell, 

or long-term lease the land 

under CRP contract to a beginning or socially disadvantaged 

farmer or rancher by October 

1, of the year the CRP contract 

expires. TIP provides up to 

two additional CRP annual 

rental payments to a retired or 

retiring owner or operator of 

land under an expiring CRP 

contract if the land is sold or 

leased to a non-family member 

beginning or socially disadPage 7
FACT SHEET

FSA Administered Programs April 2011

vantaged farmer or rancher 

by October 1, of the year the 

CRP contract expires. TIP 

provides up to two additional 

CRP annual rental payments 

to a retired or retiring owner 

or operator of land under an 

expiring CRP contract if the 

land is sold or leased to a nonfamily member beginning or 

socially disadvantaged farmer 

or rancher for the purpose 

of returning some or all of 

the land to production using 

sustainable grazing or crop 

production methods. 

Tree Assistance Program 

(TAP)

TAP was authorized by the 

2008 Farm Bill and provides 

partial reimbursement to 

orchardists and nursery tree 

growers for replanting, salvage, pruning, debris removal 

and land preparation if losses 

due to natural disasters exceed 

15 percent.

United States Warehouse Act 

(USWA)

The USWA authorizes the 

Secretary to issue licenses to 

public warehouse operators 

who voluntarily request regulation through licensing under 

the USWA to store agricultural 

products, including bulk grain, 

cotton, peanuts, sugar and other agricultural products. FSA 

administers USWA by providing licensing of warehouse 

operators, regulation of paper 

and electronic warehouse receipt providers, protection for 

depositors through bonding or 

other financial assistance and 

compliance examinations. The 

USWA provides for the use 

of warehouse receipts and requires warehouse operators to 

accept agricultural products for 

storage without discrimination. 

Under the USWA, the facilities meet and are maintained 

at established standards. The 

USWA allows FSA to enforce 

a uniform regulatory system 

for the protection of depositors 

and the agricultural commodities stored in the licensed 

facilities. 

Voluntary Public Access and 

Habitat Incentive Program

The Voluntary Public Access 

and Habitat Incentive Program 

(VPA-HIP) is a competitive 

grant program available only 

to states and tribal governments. Up to $50 million is 

available through fiscal year 

2012. The primary objective 

of the VPA-HIP is to encourage owners and operators of 

privately-held farm, ranch and 

forest land to voluntarily make 

that land available for access 

by the public for wildlifedependent recreation, including hunting or fishing, under 

programs implemented by 

state or tribal governments. 

The funding provided by the 

VPA-HIP helps states and 

tribal governments to greatly 

increase access and recreational experiences by using 

that funding to provide higher 

rental payments, provide technical and conservation services 

to landowners and increase 

acreage enrolled for public 

access. 

Youth Loans

FSA makes loans to individual 

rural youths, between the ages 

of 10 and 20 years, to establish 

and operate agriculture-related 

income-producing projects of 

modest size in connection with 

their participation in 4-H clubs, 

the Future Farmers of America 

and similar organizations. The 

project must be planned and 

operated with the help of the 

organization adviser, produce 

sufficient income to repay the 

loan, and provide the youth 

with practical business and 

educational experience.

More Information 

For more information about 

FSA programs, contact your 

local FSA office or USDA Service Center, or visit the FSA 

website at www.fsa.usda.gov.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) prohibits discrimination 

in all of its programs and activities 

on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial 

status, parental status, religion, 

sexual orientation, political beliefs, 

genetic information, reprisal, or 

because all of part of an individual’s 

income is derived from any public 

assistance program. (Not all bases 

apply to all programs.) Persons with 

disabilities who require alternative 

means for communication of program 

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 

(voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, 

write to USDA, Assistant Secretary 

for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 

9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, 

or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 

(English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) 

or (866) 377-8642 (English Federalrelay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish 

Federal-relay). USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider and employer.

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