USDA Announces OTECP Program for 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on May 16, 2022 that it will provide pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses to agricultural producers who are certified organic or transitioning to organic. USDA will make $20 million available through the new Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) as part of USDA’s…

USDA Restores Organic Cost Share Through Pandemic Assistance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on November 4, 2021 that it will provide pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses to agricultural producers who are certified organic or transitioning to organic. USDA will make $20 million available through the new Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) as part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, which…

Applications open for Maine Farm Emergency Grants, Round Two

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) are offering emergency grants to assist farmers impacted by the current COVID-19 crisis, including those who have experienced sales losses, increased expenses and/or other challenges during 2020, and who anticipate needing to make further changes and adjustments for 2021.  After offering an initial…

Two Maine organizations collaborate to launch emergency grants for Maine farms

Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) are introducing new Maine Farm Emergency Grants to assist farmers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. A recent survey conducted by the Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine indicates farmers and food producers are experiencing significant market disruption. This collaborative effort will provide…

Farmers’ Guide to Applying for the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant Program

The National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition (NSAC) has published a comprehensive guide for the 2019-2020 Grant Cycle. Program Basics The Value-Added Producer Grant program (VAPG), a subprogram of the Local Agriculture Market program (LAMP), provides grants, awarded on a competitive basis, to individual independent agricultural producers, groups of independent producers, producer-controlled entities, organizations representing agricultural producers,…

FACT’s 2019 Fund-a-Farmer Livestock Grants

FACT is now accepting applications for their next round of Fund-a-Farmer Grants. The application deadline is December 2, 2019 and grants will be awarded in winter 2020. This year FACT is delighted to again offer three types grants to working, independent family farmers located in the continental United States who raise beef cattle, broiler chickens,…