OVERVIEW

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Mediation Program makes grants to statedesignated entities that provide alternative dispute resolution through mediation to agricultural 

producers, their creditors (as applicable), persons directly affected by the actions of the USDA, 

and any other persons involved in covered issues for which mediation services are provided by a 

Certified Mediation Program. In mediation, a trained, impartial mediator helps participants 

review and discuss their conflicts, identify options to resolve disputes and agree on solutions. 

Mediation helps to avoid expensive and time-consuming administrative appeals and/or litigation.

These grants are administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Cases that may be mediated 

include, but are not limited to, agricultural loans, whether made by USDA or commercial 

lenders, and disputes involving USDA actions on farm and conservation programs, wetland 

determinations, rural water loan programs, grazing on national forest system lands, pesticides, 

rural housing and business loans, and crop insurance. 

HOW MEDIATION WORKS

USDA program participants are offered the opportunity to request mediation prior to a formal 

administrative appeal. If this option is requested, some state programs are able to provide 

assistance to prepare participants for the mediation session, which is held at a time and place 

convenient to all parties.

Unlike a judge or arbitrator, the mediator has no decision-making authority and is present only to 

help participants discuss and explore their issues in a useful, non-confrontational manner. 

Successful mediation is based on the cooperation and involvement of all participants.

Mediation can be accomplished in one meeting or may take several sessions depending on the 

complexity of the issues and the number of participants. If an agreement is not reached, the case 

is closed, and all parties remain free to pursue other available administrative appeals and/or legal 

action.

MEDIATION BENEFITS

Successful mediation benefits participants in the following ways:

• Mediation may resolve disputes within a participant’s financial means, providing a lowcost alternative to appeals or often expensive litigation.

• Mediation may reduce stress caused by lengthy litigation. While it can take years for a 

case to filter through the courts, mediation generally takes only a few meetings to 

complete.
WHAT CAN BE MEDIATED

• Agricultural loans, regardless of whether the loans are made or guaranteed by USDA or 

made by a third party – mediation services must be provided. 

• Wetland determinations. 

• Compliance with farm programs, conservation programs, and the National Organic 

Program established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. 

• Rural water loan programs. 

• Grazing on National Forest System lands. 

• Pesticides. 

• Lease issues, including land leases and equipment leases. 

• Family farm transition. 

• Farmer-neighbor disputes. 

• Other issues as the Secretary or the head of the Agriculture Department of each 

participating State considers appropriate for better serving the agricultural community 

and persons eligible for mediation.

In addition, Certified Mediation Programs may provide credit counseling prior to the initiation of 

any mediation involving the USDA or unrelated to any ongoing dispute or mediation in which 

USDA is a party.

COST TO PARTICIPANTS

Certified Mediation Programs may charge participants a nominal fee for mediation services. 

When mediation services are needed in a state that does not have a Certified Mediation Program, 

FSA contracts with a reputable mediator and there may be fees participants will be required to 

pay. If your state is not listed, please contact your local FSA office.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information about FSA and its programs, visit your local FSA office or online at 

https://www.fsa.usda.gov. To find your local FSA office, visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/stateoffices/index. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Certified Mediation Programs

Alabama 

Alabama Agricultural Mediation Program

1445 Federal Drive 

Montgomery, Alabama 36107-1123

Phone: (334) 240-7151

Email: mediation@agi.alabama.gov

Website: www.agi.alabama.gov

Florida 

Florida Agricultural Mediation Program (FAMP)

Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund

2769 Church Street

East Point, Georgia 30344

Phone: (404) 765-0991

Fax: (404) 765-9178

Email: info@federation.coop

Website: https://agmediation.org

https://www.federation.coop

Alaska 

Alaska Agricultural Mediation Program

P.O. Box 231211

Anchorage, Alaska 99507-9998

Phone: (907) 206-0096

Fax: (509) 838-5588

Email: gcooper@fulcrumdispute.org

https://www.fulcrumdispute.com 

Georgia 

Georgia Agricultural Mediation Program (GAMP)

Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund

2769 Church Street

East Point, Georgia 30344

Phone: (404) 765-0991

Fax: (404) 765-9178

Email: info@federation.coop

Website: https://www.federation.coop/

Arkansas 

The Arkansas Farm Mediation Program

Arkansas Department of Agricutlure

1 Natural Resources Drive

Little Rock, Arkansas 72205

Phone: (501) 451-0041

Email: cami.davis@agriculture.arkansas.gov

Website: www.agriculture.arkansas.gov

Hawaii 

Hawaii Agricultural Mediation Program

1428 South King St.

Honolulu, Hawaii 96814

Phone: (808) 447-1790 ext.101

Email: matts@emcenter.org 

Website: www.hiamp.org

California 

California Agricultural Mediation Program c/o California 

Department of Food and Agricultura

1220 N. St.

Suite 400

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 330-4500 ext. 101

Email: matts@emcenter.org 

Website: www.calamp.org

Idaho 

Idaho Agricultural Mediation Program

8596 N. Wayne

Suite G-120

Hayden, Idaho 83835

Phone: (208) 667-5325

Fax: (509) 838-5588

Email: gcooper@fulcrumdispute.com

Website: https://www.fulcrumdispute.org

Colorado 

Colorado Agricultural Mediation Program (CAMP) 

305 Interlocken Parkway

Broomfield, Colorado 80021

Phone: (303) 869-9095 

Email: leif.jacobsen@state.co.us

Website: https://ag.colorado.gov/ics/colorado-agricultural-mediationprogram-camp

Illinois 

Dispute Resolution Institute, Inc.

P.O. Box 1136

Carbondale, Illinois 62903

Phone: (618) 549-1300

Email: iamp@dri-inc.orgWebsite: www.dri-inc.org

Connecticut 

Connecticut Agricultural Mediation Program – Center on Dispute 

Resolution 

Quinnipiac School of Law

275 Mount Carmel Avenue

Hamden, Connecticut 06518

Phone: (800) 870-2577

Email: CTAMP@quinnipiac.edu

Website: www.CTAgMediation.org

Indiana 

Indiana Ag Mediation of RSI

610 Monroe Street

LaPorte, Indiana 46350

Phone: (574) 299-9640

Email: rsi.ramor@gmail.com 

Website: https://www.ruralservices.net/
Iowa 

Iowa Mediation Service

1441 29th Street 

Suite 120

West Des Moines, Iowa 50266

Phone: (515) 331-8081

Email: kiley2iowamediationservice.com 

Website: www.iowamediationservice.com

Michigan 

Michigan Community Mediation Association

120 N Washington Square #300

Lansing, Michigan 48933Phone: (800) 616-7863

Email: cmartin@michiganmediates.org 

Website: www.michiganmediates.org

Kansas

Kansas Agricultural Mediation Service

P.O. Box 222

Manhattan, Kansas 66956

Phone: (800) 321-3276 

Email: kams@ksu.edu

Website: http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/kams/

Minnesota 

Regents of the University of Minnesota 

Sponsored Projects Administration 

450 McNamara Alumni Center

200 Oak Street SE

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-2070

Phone: (612) 624-5599

Email: awards@umn.edu

Website: www.research.umn.edu/units/spa

Louisiana 

Louisiana Agricultural Mediation Service (LAMP)

Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance 

Fund

2769 Church Street

East Point, Georgia 30344

Phone: (404) 765-0991

Fax: (404) 765-9178

Email: info@federation.coop

Website: https://www.federation.coop/

Mississippi 

Mississippi Association of Cooperatives

233 E. Hamilton St.

Jackson, Mississippi 39202

Phone: (601) 944-0592

Email: LYTANYABROWN@gmail.com 

Website: www.federation.coop

Maine 

Maine Agricultural Mediation Program (MAMP)

University of Maine

1 York Complex

Orono, Maine 04469

Phone: (207) 974-9637

(207) 827-6557

Email: maineagmediation@maine.edu, 

Lucille.wess@maine.edu 

Website: 

https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/agriculturalmediation/

Missouri

Missouri Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 630

Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

Phone: (573) 751-5520

Email: mediate@mda.mo.gov

Maryland 

Maryland Agricultural Conflict Resolution Service 

50 Harry S Truman Parkway

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Phone: (410) 841-5778 

Email: kay-megan.washington1@maryland.gov

Website: www.marylandacres.com

Montana 

Montana Ag Mediation Program 

P.O. Box 200201

Helena, Montana 59620

Phone: (406) 444-9126

Email: ag.mediation@mt.gov

Website: https://agr.mt.gov/Topics/H-M/Mediation 

Massachusetts 

Massachusetts Agricultural Mediation Program 

Massachusetts Office of Collaborations 

University of Massachusetts Boston

100 Morrissey Blvd.

M-1-627

Boston, Massachusetts 02125

Phone: (617) 287-4040

Email: mopc@umb.edu or Courtney.breese@umb.edu

Website: 

https://www.umb.edu/mopc/programs/agriculturalmediation-program/

Nebraska 

Negotiations 

P.O. Box 94947

Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4947

Phone: (402) 471-4876

Email: agr.negotiations@nebraska.gov

Website: www.negotiations.nebraska.gov 
New Hampshire 

New Hampshire Agricultural Mediation Program c/o 

New Hampshire Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 2042

Concord, New Hampshire 03302-2042

Phone: (603) 685-4780 ext. 101

Email: matts@emcenter.org 

Website: www.bhamp.org

Oklahoma 

Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program, Inc.

2800 N. Lincoln Blvd

2nd Floor 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

Phone: (405) 521-3934

Email: mediation@ag.ok.gov

Website: www.ok.gov/mediation

New Jersey 

New Jersey Agricultural Mediation Program 

New Jersey State Agriculture Development

P.O. Box 330

Trenton, New Jersey 08625

Phone: (609) 609-913-6594 or (609) 984-2504

Email: David.kimmel@ag.state.nj.us or sadc@ag.nj.gov

Website: https://nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/agmediation/

Oregon 

Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center

P.O. Box 1594

Hood River, Oregon 97031

Phone: (541) 386-1283

Email: info@6rivers.org

Website: www.usdamediationoregon.org 

New Mexico 

New Mexico State University/Cooperative Extension Service

P.O. Box 30003

MSC 3AE

Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-0003

Phone: (800) 289-6577 or (575) 646-2925

Fax: (575) 646-3808

Email: emw@nmsu.edu

Website: https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/nmamp/index.html

Pennsylvania 

The Pennsylvania Agricultural Mediation Program c/o

Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law

329 Innovation Blvd.

Suite 118

University Park, Pennsylvania 16802

Phone: (814) 865-4290 

Email: AgMediation@pennstatelaw.psu.edu

Website: www.paagmediation.org 

New York 

New York State Agricultural Mediation Program

P.O. Box 215

Chatham, New York 12037

Phone: (866) 669-7267

Email: info@nysamp.com

Website: www.nysamp.com

Rhode Island 

Center for Mediation & Collaboration Rhode Island

831 Bald Hill Rd.

Warwick, Rhode Island 02886

Phone: (401) 273-9999

Email: triciaa@cmcri.org

Website: http://www.cmcri.org/

North Carolina 

North Carolina Agricultural Mediation Program (NCAMP)

College of Business

Western Carolina University

Phone: (828) 226-4645

Phone: (828) 227-7412

Email: burke@email.wcu.eduWebsite: 

https://www.ncamediation.org/

South Dakota 

South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources 

523 East Capitol Avenue

Pierre, South Dakota 57501

Phone: (605) 773-5559

Phone: (605) 773-4026

Email: DANRMail@state.sd.us

Website: https://danr.sd.gov or

https://danr.sd.gov/Funding/AgricultureMediation/default.aspx

North Dakota 

North Dakota Department of Agriculture

North Dakota Mediation Service

600 E. Boulevard Ave.

Dept. 602

Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0020

Phone: (701) 328-2231

Email: ndms@nd.gov

Website: www.ndda.nd.gov

Texas 

Texas Dispute Resolution System

P.O. Box 10536

Lubbock, Texas 79408

Phone: (806) 775-1720 or (866) 329-3522

Email: odr@lubbockcounty.gov

Website: www.lubbockcounty.gov

Ohio

Ohio Farm Resolution Services at The Ohio State University

26 Agricultural Administration Building

2120 Fyffe Road

Columbus, Ohio 43210

Phone: (614) 247-8260

Email: moore.301@osu.edu

Website: https://farmoffice.osu.edu/ofrs

Utah 

Utah Agricultural Mediation Program

P.O. Box 146500 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114Phone: (385) 245-5222

Phone: (801) 982-2200

Email: agmediation@utah.gov

Website: https://ag.utah.gov/office-of-the-commissioner/ag-mediation/
Vermont 

Vermont Agricultural Mediation Program

177 Paddy Hill Road

Moretown, Vermont 05660

Phone: (802) 583-1100 ext. 101

Email: matts@emcenter.org 

Website: www.vtamp.org 

Wisconsin 

Wisconsin Farm Mediation and Arbitration Program

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer 

Protection 

2811 Agriculture Drive

P.O. Box 8911

Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8911

Phone: (800) 942-2474

Email: farmcenter@wisconsin.gov 

Website: 

https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/FarmMediation.aspx

Virginia 

Farm Agricultural Resources and Mediation of Virginia (FARMVA)

College of Business 

Western Carolina University

Debra Burke, Executive Director 

Phone: (828) 2264645 

Email: Farmva.org

Website: https://affiliate.wcu.edu/agriculturalmediation/farmva/

Wyoming 

Wyoming Agriculture & Natural Resources Mediation Program

2219 Carey Avenue

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002-0100

Phone: (307) 777-8788

Email: lucy.pauley@wyo.gov

Website: https://agriculture.wy.gov/mediation-program

Washington 

Washington Agricultural Mediation Program

1212 N. Washington

Suite 206

Spokane, Washington 99201-2441

Phone: (509) 838-2799

Fax: (509) 838-5588

Email: gcooper@fulcrumdispute.com

Website: https://www.fulcrumdispute.org /