USDA needs to know what to do with draft programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) welcomes input on the assessment of environmental impacts on two programs – the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) and Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting comments until Jan. 18, on its draft programmatic environmental assessments.

The TAP environmental assessment includes updates to streamline the program and enable a quick response to natural disasters. The FSFL environmental assessment recommends continuing the program, as currently administered.

“We welcome public input on the possible environmental impacts of both of these valuable programs,” said FSA administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Your comments will help us maintain and strengthen, our disaster assistance and financing options for producers nationwide.”

The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies to consider the potential effects of major federal actions, to both the natural and human environments, as part of their planning and decision-making processes. Draft programmatic environmental assessments help the FSA to determine whether program changes are needed and plan the implementation of proposed updates.

TAP helps cover the cost of replanting or rehabilitating eligible trees, bushes and vines that produce annual crops, that have been damaged or destroyed by natural disasters. This program is crucial for helping producers recover from adverse natural disaster events and ensuring the long-term viability of their agricultural operations.

The proposed program implementation update would include additional management tools and screening criteria, that allow the FSA to respond more quickly and effectively to time-sensitive natural disasters, including plant diseases.

The FSFL improves nationwide on-farm storage capacity for upgrading and building farm storage facilities for eligible commodities. The recommendation to continue the program, as currently administered, is based on a need to improve the ability of agricultural producers to preserve harvested crops, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve marketing and sales opportunities.

Both draft programmatic environmental assessments may be reviewed on the FSA current environmental documents page, while written comments regarding the TAP and FSFL programs can be emailed to SM.FPAC.FBC. ENV@usda.gov.