July, 2003

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Mediation Program helps agricultural producers, their lenders, and other persons directly affected by the actions of USDA resolve disputes. Through mediation, a trained, impartial person (mediator) helps participants review their conflicts, identify options, and agree on solutions.

Mediation is a valuable tool for settling disputes in many different USDA program areas. These include farm loans, farm and conservation programs, wetland determinations, rural water loan programs, grazing on national forest system lands, and pesticides. The program, reauthorized by the United States Grain Standards Act of 2000, is administered by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Persons disputing USDA actions that directly affect them are offered the opportunity to request mediation services as part of the Department's informal appeals process. However, parties must request mediation before an appeals hearing is held with USDA's National Appeals Division. USDA customers may accept or decline the offer to participate in mediation.

If mediation is requested, FSA mediation officials suggest steps participants should take to prepare for mediation. Mediation officials then assign one or more mediators to the case. Participants may accept or eliminate these mediators. Once a mediator is accepted, all potential parties are advised that a mediation process is underway and given a chance to participate.

The mediator schedules a time and place to meet that is convenient to all parties. Mediation length can vary from a few hours to several days, depending on the complexity of issues and the number of participants. If an agreement is not reached, the case is closed and all parties remain free to pursue other available administrative appeals or legal actions.

Mediation services can also include counseling and financial analysis to prepare parties for the mediation session. These services are performed by USDA staff. In addition, many states provide mediation training and consultation services for producers, lenders, and USDA agencies.

Unlike a judge or arbiter, a mediator has no decision-making authority, but is there to help participants resolve problematic issues and settle disputes. Successful mediation is based on the cooperation and involvement of all participants.

Successful mediation benefits participants in the following ways:

Some states charge mediation participants a nominal fee. As fee amounts vary from state to state, please check with your local FSA office.

Certain states have a certified mediation program. This means that, at the request of the Governor, FSA has helped the state develop a mediation program authorized or administered by a state government agency or by the Governor. When mediation services are needed in a non-certified state, FSA contracts with a reputable mediator in the general public. A list of certified states and their mediation contacts are provided below. If your state is not listed, please contact your local FSA office.

Lana M. Harms

Alabama Agricultural Mediation Program

Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries

P.O. Box 1554

Montgomery, AL 35902-1554

Tel: (256) 927-3257 or voice mail (334) 240-7301 mail box #1000

Fax: (334) 240-7270

E-Mail: alagmedharms@tds.net

Eric Thor

Arizona Rural and Finance Training Program

Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management

Arizona State University East

7001 E. Williams Road, Bldg. 40

Mesa, AZ 85212

Tel: (480) 727-1583 or cell phone (602) 320-4294

Fax: (480) 727-1211

E-Mail: Eric.Thor@asu.edu or rodica@asu.edu

Richard S. Johnston

Farm/Creditor Mediation Program

Arkansas Development Finance Authority

P.O. Box 8023

Little Rock, AR 72203

Tel: (501) 682-5895

Fax: (501) 682-5893

E-Mail: rjohnston@adfa.state.ar.us

Carolyn Penny

Common Ground: Center for Cooperative Solutions

UC Davis Extension

1333 Research Park Dr.

Davis, CA 95616-4852

Tel: (530) 754-7060

Fax: (530) 754-5105

E-Mail: commonground@unexmail.ucdavis.edu

Mark Gallegos

Colorado Department of Agriculture

2331 West 31st Avenue

Denver, CO 80211

Tel: (303) 480-9236

Fax: (303) 480-9236

E-mail: Mark.Gallegos@ag.state.co.us

Larry Arrington

Florida Cooperative Extension Service

University of Florida

1038 McCarty Hall

Gainesville, FL 32611-0210

Tel: (352) 392-0582 or (352) 392-0412

Fax: (352) 392-0414

E-mail: larrington@uf.edu

Suzanne McCorkle

Office of Conflict Management Services

Boise State University

1910 University Drive

Boise, ID 83725-1900

Tel: (208) 426-3776

Fax: (208) 426-4318

E-Mail: suzanne.Mccorkle@boisestate.edu

Alicia Hill Ruiz

Southern Illinois University School of Law104

Lesar Law Building

Carbondale, IL 62901

Tel: (618) 453-5181

Fax: (618) 453-8727

E-Mail: aruiz@siu.edu

Linda Gray

Indiana Agricultural Mediation Program

Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture

150 W. Market Street

ISTA Center, Suite 414

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Tel: (317) 232-8770

Fax: (317) 232-1362

E-Mail: lgray@commerce.state.in.us

Michael L. Thompson

Iowa Mediation Services

6200 Aurora Ave., Suite 608W

Urbandale, IA 50322

Tel: (515) 331-8081

Fax: (515) 331-8085

E-Mail: iamed8@netins.net

Forrest Buhler

Kansas Agricultural Mediation Service

K-State Research & Extension

2A Edwards Hall

Manhattan, KS 66506

Tel: (785) 532-6958

Fax: (785) 532-6532

E-Mail: fbuhler@oznet.ksu.edu

John K. Pierre

Louisiana State Agricultural Mediation Program

Southern University Law Center

P.O. Box 9294

Baton Rouge, LA 70813

Tel: (225) 771-4900 or (225) 925-2383

Fax: (225) 771-2474

E-Mail: jpierre@sulc.edu

Jane Storrs

Agricultural Mediation Program

Maryland State Department of Agriculture

50 Harry S. Truman Parkway

Annapolis, MD 21401

Tel: (410) 841-5770

Fax: (410) 841-5987

E-Mail: storrsjm@mda.state.md

Susan M. Jeghelian

Executive Director

Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution

One Ashburton Place, Room 501

Boston, MA 02108

Tel: (617) 727-2224

Fax: (614) 727-6495

E-Mail: susan.jeghelian@state.ma.us

Laura Bassein

Michigan Agricultural Mediation Program

State Court Administrative Office

P.O. Box 30048

Lansing, MI 48909

Tel: (517) 373-4839

Fax: (517) 373-5748

E-Mail: basseninl@courts.mi.gov

Rodney B Hamer

Farmer Lender Mediation Program Director

467 Coffey Hall

1420 Eckles Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55108-6090

Phone: (612) 625-1782

Fax: (612) 625-1955

E-Mail: hamer009@umn.edu

J. Chris Klenklen

Administrator

Missouri Department of Agriculture

1616 Missouri Blvd., P.O. Box 630

Jefferson City, MO 65102

Tel: (573) 751-5514

Fax: (573) 751-5516

E-Mail: Chris_Klenklen@mail.mda.state.mo.us

Marian Beethe

Nebraska State Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 94947

Lincoln, NE 68509-4947

Tel: (402) 471-2341 or (800) 446-4071

Fax: (402) 471-6876

E-Mail: marianjb@agr.state.ne.us

Don Henderson

Deputy Commissioner

Nevada Department of Agriculture

350 Capitol Hill

Reno, NV 89502

Tel: (775) 684-5333

Fax: (775) 882-5121

E-Mail: hnderson@govmail.state.nv.us

David Kimmel

State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 330

Trenton, NJ 08625-0330

Tel: (609) 984-2504

Fax: (609) 633-2004

E-Mail: david.kimmel@ag.state.nj.us

Patrick Sullivan

New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service

P.O. Box 3003, Department 3AE

Las Cruces, NM 88003

Tel: (505) 646-2433

Fax: (505) 646-3808

E-Mail: pasulliv@nmsu.edu\

Tom Buckner

NYS Unified Court System

State Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs

98 Niver Street

Cohoes, NY 12047

Tel: (518) 238-2888 ext. 234 (Collins); ext. 238 (Buckner)

Fax: (518)238-2951

E-Mail: tbuckner@courts.state.ny.us

Jeff Knudson

North Dakota Agricultural Mediation Service

North Dakota Department of Agriculture

600 East Boulevard, 6th Floor

Bismarck, ND 58505

Tel: (701) 328-4769 or 328-2231

Fax: (701) 328-4567

E-Mail: jknudson@state.nd.us

Mac McCrory

Director

Institute for Issues Management & ADR

Oklahoma State University

2302 W. 7th Street

Stillwater, OK 74074

Tel: (800) 248-5465 or (405) 744-6477

Fax: (405) 377-1048

E-Mail: macwell@okstate.edu

Shanon Nowell

South Dakota Agricultural Development

Joe Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol

Pierre, SD 57501-3182

Tel: (605) 773-5436 or (800) 228-5254

Fax: (605) 773-3481

E-Mail: shanon.nowell@state.sd.us

D. Gene Valentini

Texas South Plains Association of Governments

Dispute Resolution Center

1323 58th Street, P.O. Box 3730

Lubbock, TX 79452-3730

Tel: (806) 762-8721 or (800) 858-1809

Fax: (806) 765-9544

E-Mail: spag.drc@juno.com

Kyle R. Stephens

Deputy Commissioner

Utah Department of Agriculture and Food

P.O. Box 146500

Salt Lake City, UT 84114

Tel: (801) 538-7102

Fax: (801) 538-7126

E-Mail: kylestephens@utah.gov

JackHebner

Mediator Director

Fulcum Institute905 W. Riverside, Suite 304

Spokane, WA 99201-1099

Tel and Fax: (509) 838-2799

E-Mail: hebnerj@worldnet.att.com

Jo Ann Prust

Wisconsin State Farm Mediation and Arbitration

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture,

Trade and Consumer Protection

2811 Agriculture Drive

P.O. Box 8911

Madison, WI 53708

Tel: (608) 224-5052

Fax: (608) 5110 or 224-5111

E-Mail: jo.prust@datcp.state.wi.us

Lucy Hansen

Wyoming Agriculture and Natural Resources Mediation Program

2219 Carey Avenue

Cheyenne, WY 82002-0100

Tel: (307) 777-7323

Fax: (307) 777-6593

E-Mail: lhanse@state.wy.us

Chester A. Bailey

Farm Service Agency

USDA Agricultural Mediation Program

USDA/FSA/OS

Stop 0511/Room 3716-S

1400 Independence Ave., SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-0511

Tel: (202) 720-1471 or (202) 720-7619 (OS)

Fax: (202) 690-0644 or (OS) 690-4727

E-Mail: cbailey@wdc.usda.gov

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.