WASHINGTON, July 20, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages urban producers and others to attend the second public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on August 5. The Committee will discuss new urban conservation practices, focus areas and priorities for the Commission, and the new Farm Service Agency (FSA) urban county committees, among other topics.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

**Official websites use .gov** A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS** A **lock** ( Lock           A locked padlock           ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

**

Farm Service Agency

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                      - About FSA
                      - Ask USDA
                      - Contact Us
                      - Forms

- Home
- Programs & Services  - ARC/PLC Program
- Civil Rights
- Certified Mediation Program
- Climate Adaptation Plan
- Conservation Programs
- Cooperative Agreements
- Dairy Margin Coverage Program
- Disaster Assistance Programs
- Economic & Policy Analysis
- Emergency Relief
- Environmental & Cultural Resource Compliance 
- Farm Bill Home
- Farm Labor Stabilization & Protection Pilot Grants
- Farm Loan Programs
- Financial Management Information
- Increasing Land Access
- Initiatives
- Laws and Regulations
- Margin Protection Program for Dairy
- Market Facilitation Program
- MIDAS
- Organic Certification Cost Share Program
- Outreach & Education
- Payment Eligibility
- Price Support
- Rice Production Program

- State Offices
- Online Services  - LDP
- eARC/PLC
- Farmers.gov (FSA Farm+)
- FSA Online Data Resources
- Loan Assistance Tool

- Newsroom  - Fact Sheets
- News Releases
- Emergency Designations
- Stakeholder Information
- eFOIA
- Meetings & Events
- Public Service Announcements
- County Committee Elections
- Fence Post

# Urban Producers, Public Invited to Attend Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

Contact: FPAC-BC PressEmail: FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

*Meeting to be held August 5, 2022*

**WASHINGTON, July 20, 2022** – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages urban producers and others to attend the second public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on August 5. The Committee will discuss new urban conservation practices, focus areas and priorities for the Commission, and the new Farm Service Agency (FSA) urban county committees, among other topics.

“This Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production is giving USDA valuable insights, feedback and guidance on how USDA can better serve producers in urban areas,” said Brian Guse, Director of USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). “Working with the Committee, USDA will develop strategies to address the needs of urban agricultural producers and promote innovative production, strengthen local food systems, and increase equity and access to healthy, local food.”

The Committee is part of USDA’s efforts to support urban agriculture, creating a network for feedback. Members include agricultural producers, and representatives from the areas of higher education or extension programs, non-profits, business and economic development, supply chains and financing. The inaugural meeting of the Committee was held in March 2022.

**About the Meeting**

Topics include:
                            - Focus areas and priorities for the Committee
                            - Update on USDA’s Equity Commission priorities
                            - Briefing on New urban conservation practices
                            - Update on FSA urban county committees

The meeting is Aug. 5, 2022, from 1-3 p.m. Eastern. To attend, register by Aug. 4, 2022. The public can register to attend the Committee meeting at zoomgov. Written comments or questions must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern July 29 through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. For special accommodations, please contact Tammy Willis at (315) 456-9024 or UrbanAgricultureFederalAdvisoryCommittee@usda.gov.

USDA will post the final agenda 24 to 48 hours prior to the meeting on farmers.gov/urban. For additional information about the Committee or the upcoming meeting please visit the June 30 *Federal Register** *notice and the Committee’s webpage.

**USDA and Urban Agriculture**

The Committee is part of a broad USDA investment in urban agriculture. Other efforts include:
                            - Reopening the  People’s Garden Initiative . People’s Gardens across the country grow fresh, healthy food and support resilient, local food systems; teach people how to garden using sustainable practices; and nurture habitat for pollinators and wildlife, and greenspace for neighbors.
                            - Offering  grants  that target areas of food access, education, business and start-up costs for new farmers, and policy development related to zoning and other urban production needs. USDA made available $14.2 million this year as well as invested $18.7 million in projects not able to be funded in 2021.
                            - Offering  cooperative agreements  that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. USDA made available $10.2 million this year.
                            - Providing technical and financial assistance through conservation programs offered by USDA’s  Natural Resources Conservation Service  (NRCS).
                            - Investing $260,000 for risk management training and crop insurance education for historically underserved and urban producers through partnerships between USDA’s  Risk Management Agency  and state universities.
                            - Announcement of 17 FSA urban county committees.

OUAIP was established through the 2018 Farm Bill. It is led by NRCS and works in partnership with numerous USDA agencies that support urban agriculture. Its mission is to encourage and promote urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural practices, including community composting and food waste reduction.

Additional resources that may be of interest to urban agriculture entities include grants from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture as well as FSA loans.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

** Return to the list of News Releases

----

                        - Placeholder   

## Recent News

                        - USDA Announces 2024 Wool and Mohair Marketing Assistance Loan Rates  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced Marketing Assistance Loan rates for 2024-crop graded wool by micron class. Loan rates for ungraded wool and mohair are unchanged and remained the same from the prior crop year.
 
                        - USDA Appoints New Members to the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production   WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed four new members to the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Federal Advisory Committee (Committee). The new members are replacing four members whose terms are expiring and rotating off the Committee. The Committee is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to support urban agriculture and innovative production, creating a network for feedback. 
                        - Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs Receive 2018 Farm Bill One Year Extension, Farmers Can Now Enroll for the 2024 Crop Year   WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year starting Dec. 18, 2023. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024. 

- Home
- Programs & Services
- State Offices
- Online Services
- Newsroom

- Farmers.gov
- USA.gov
- USDA.gov
- Whitehouse.gov

- Accessibility Statement
- Common Questions
- Freedom of Information Act

- No FEAR Report
- Information Quality
- Non-Discrimination Statement

- Policies and Links
- Privacy Policy
- Sitemap

#### Sign up for updates

**

Farm Service Agency

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Twitter

RSS