Working with USDA for Your Agricultural Operation (2024)

FAQs

Working with USDA for Your Agricultural Operation? ›

USDA offers a variety of farm and commodity loans, disaster assistance, conservation, safety net, price support and crop insurance programs. Certain programs work best for certain types of operations – row crops, specialty crops, livestock, and forests.

We maintain a strong and appropriate safety net for America's farmers, ranchers and growers which includes assistance to struggling industries, disaster assistance, and crop insurance, and provide technical assistance, access to credit, and help producers implement conservation practices.

A – Agricultural operations include, but are not limited to, activities such as the raising and harvesting of crops from soil, the raising of fowl or animals, logging, and forestry operations.

We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.

Through the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) will cover up to 75% of organic certification costs at a maximum of $750 per certification category.

The CalHFA USDA Program is a USDA Guaranteed first mortgage loan program, which can be combined with the MyHome Assistance Program (MyHome). The MyHome and School Program can be used for down payment and closing cost assistance and are for first-time homebuyers only.

Try direct-to-consumer marketing and sales tactics like PYOs, CSAs, co-ops, local restaurant sales or farmers markets. Sell your byproducts, “ugly food” or flowers. Tap into the demand for farm education. Use new farming methods to increase your products' value proposition.

USDA regulations protect and promote U.S. agricultural health, administer the Animal Welfare Act, carry out wildlife damage management activities, and ensure that America's agricultural exports are protected from unjustified trade restrictions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for overseeing the safety of most types of food products. However, there is one exception. The USDA is NOT responsible for the oversight of fish.

USDA Priorities

Advancing Racial Justice, Equity, Opportunity and Rural Prosperity.

What is the USDA under Biden? ›

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America's food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and ...

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service Grant Programs, including the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs, as well as Specialty Crop Block Grants, may support projects related to organic agriculture. Grantees are generally businesses, non-profits, tribes, or other entities.

BACKGROUND: USDA programs are funded through the annual Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (Ag-FDA) appropriations bill.

Our agencies help to keep America's farmers and ranchers in business and ensure that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled.

We protect against diseases that could harm the health, quality, or marketability of our Nation's agricultural animals. With a vast network of partners, our Veterinary Services team helps U.S. producers prevent, control, and when possible, eliminate these diseases from our country.

USDA programs are funded through the annual Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (Ag-FDA) appropriations bill. USDA-RD operates a broad range of programs vital to rural counties and the communities we serve.

Within USDA, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for protecting agriculture from pests and diseases. Under the Plant Protection Act, USDA-APHIS has regulatory oversight over products of modern biotechnology that could pose such a risk.