Article
Apply now for funds for specialty crops
Dec. 13, 2024 · Updated Jan. 8, 2025 · Authored by Sara Bailey, Rachael Gieseke
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making $2.65 billion available to support the expansion of current markets and the development of new ones. Applications became available Dec. 9, 2024, when the Notice of Funding Availability was published in the Federal Register and are due Jan. 10, 2025. The extended due date and additional funding announcement was been published in the notice Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops on Jan. 8, 2025.
The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program is funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation and announced in November with the $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program for facilities impacted by 2024 natural disasters. The program structure is similar to the Coronavirus food assistance program (CFAP) announced in 2020.
Read the FAQ. Details provided by the USDA follow.
To apply
If eligible, submit a completed Form FSA-1140, MASC Application, to any Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office by Jan. 10, 2025. Specialty crop producers must certify their specialty crop sales for the calendar years 2023 or 2024.
New specialty crop producers must certify 2025 expected sales, submit a Form FSA-1141, MASC New Producer Expected Sales Worksheet
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