Marketing assistance available for specialty crop farms

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency’s (FSA), has $2 billion in Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, aimed at helping specialty crop producers expand markets and manage higher costs. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 8, 2025.

Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, MASC was announced in November, alongside the $140 million Commodity Storage Assistance Program, for facilities impacted by 2024 natural disasters.

“Specialty crop growers have typically faced higher marketing and handling costs, relative to non-specialty crop producers, due to the perishability of fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs,” said FSA administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Through this marketing assistance program, we can expand U.S. specialty crop consumption and markets, by providing specialty crop producers the financial support needed to help them engage in activities that broaden and enhance strategies, and opportunities for marketing their commodities.”

MASC helps specialty crop producers meet higher marketing costs related to perishability of specialty crops, like fruits, vegetables, floriculture, nursery crops and herbs; specialized handling and transport equipment, with temperature and humidity control; packaging to prevent damage; moving perishables to market quickly; and higher labor costs.

To be eligible for MASC, a producer must be in business at the time of application, maintain an ownership share and share in the risk of producing a specialty crop that will be sold in calendar year 2025.

MASC covers commercially marketed specialty crops, such as fruits (fresh, dried); vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms and vegetable seed); tree nuts; nursery crops, Christmas trees and floriculture; culinary and medicinal herbs, and spices; and honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass and grass seed.

Eligible established specialty crop producers can apply for MASC benefits, by completing the FSA-1140, Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program Application and submitting the form to any FSA county office. When applying, eligible specialty crop producers must certify their specialty crop sales for calendar year 2023 or 2024.

New specialty crop producers are required to certify 2025 expected sales, submit an FSA-1141 application and provide certain documentation to support reported sales, i.e., receipts, contracts, acreage reports, input receipts, etc. New producers are those who began producing specialty crops in 2023 or 2024, but did not have sales, because of the immaturity of the crop, began producing specialty crops in 2024, but did not have a complete year of sales or will begin growing specialty crops in 2025.

MASC applicants, established and new, must also submit the following information to the FSA, if not already on file at the time of application:

• Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet.

• Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity.

• Form CCC-941, Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Certification and Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information.

• Form FSA-942, Certification of Income from Farming, Ranching and Forestry Operations, if applicable, for the producer and members of entities.

• A highly erodible land conservation (sometimes referred to as HELC), and wetland conservation certifi cation (Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certifi cation), for the ERP producer and applicable affiliates.

Most producers, especially those who have previously participated in FSA programs, will likely have these required forms on file. However, those who are uncertain or want to confirm the status of their forms, or producers who may be new to conducting business with the FSA, can contact their local FSA county office.

For MASC program participation, eligible specialty crop sales only include sales of commercially marketed raw specialty crops grown in the United States, by the producer. The portion of sales derived from adding value to a specialty crop (such as sorting, processing or packaging) is not included, when determining eligible sales.

For established specialty crop growers, those who certify crop sales in 2023 or 2024, the FSA will calculate MASC payments, based on the producer’s total specialty crop sales for the calendar year, elected by the producer. Payments for new producers will be based on their expected 2025 calendar year sales.

The FSA will issue MASC payments after the end of the application period. If demand for MASC payments exceeds available funding, MASC payments may be prorated and the payment limitation of $125,000 may be lowered. If additional funding is available after MASC payments are issued, the FSA may issue an additional payment.

For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.