USDA Partners with Delaware to Award Over $1.7 Million to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

 WASHINGTON, February 7, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Delaware under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Delaware are working together to offer over $1.7 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Delaware will accept applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding beginning March 12, 2024, through April 30, 2024.

In May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420 million through RFSI to strengthen local and regional food systems. Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories. RFSI is authorized by the American Rescue Plan. Updates for each state’s Request for Applications for the RFSI program are available on the AMS website.

“This partnership between USDA and Delaware is allowing critical funding to reach areas of the supply chain that need it most,” said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The projects funded through this program will create new opportunities for the region’s small and midsize producers to thrive, expand access to nutritious food options, and increase supply chain resiliency.”

Using RFSI funding, the Delaware Department of Agriculture will fund projects that provide technical assistance to producers working to develop value-added products; expand access to climate-smart technologies for farmers and food waste management; and increase the number of facilities that support product aggregation, cold storage, warehousing, and distribution. The state’s priorities are informed by stakeholder engagement and outreach to underserved producers to better understand their needs.

“While interstate and international trade is extremely important, there is a significant need to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, provide more and better markets to small- and mid-sized farms and food businesses, and support the development of value-added products in Delaware to help feed our residents and grow jobs,” said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse. “The Delaware Department of Agriculture is committed to helping farmers by participating in USDA’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program to support expanded capacity for processes like aggregation, transportation, and distribution of Delaware Grown products. We will also be able to increase the knowledge and resource access for our farmers and our communities. Programs like RFSI help make farming profitable so that producers remain in the business of producing food, which is important to all of us.”

Those interested in receiving a subaward should apply directly through the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Applications will be accepted beginning March 12, 2024, through April 30, 2024. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities. 

Through the program and in addition to the Infrastructure Grant funding, the Delaware Department of Agriculture will support supply chain coordination and technical assistance to farmers and food businesses operating in processing, aggregation and distribution—all critical activities to support access to more and better markets for farmers.

For more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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USDA Now Accepting Farm Loan Payments Online

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that most farm loan borrowers will soon be able to make payments to their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov in early February. Pay My Loan is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, especially for producers who may have limited time during the planting or harvest seasons to visit a local FSA office; modernize and improve customer service; provide additional customer self-service tools; and expand credit access to assist more producers. For More Information

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FSA Program Deadlines:

Acreage Reports:

• May 15 - Peas (green only) & Potatoes
• July 15 - Perennial Forages, Beans (Limas only), Cucumbers (Planted 4/20-6/25), Corn, Soybeans, and all other crops
• December 15 - Fall-seeded small grains

Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC):

• March 15 – Election and enrollment end for the applicable year

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm Raised Fish Program (ELAP):

• Within 30 days of livestock feed or pasture losses/issues due to extreme weather – Submit Notice of Loss
• Within 60 days after the end the year in which loss occurred– Submit Application for Payment

Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) Availability- from harvest to the below deadline:

• January 31 - Wool, Mohair and LDP only for Unshorn Pelts
• March 31 - Barley, Canola, Flaxseed, Honey, Oats, Rapeseed, Sesame seed and Wheat
• May 31 - Corn, Dry peas, Grain sorghum, Lentils, Mustard seed, Safflower, Small chickpeas, Large chickpeas, Soybeans and Sunflower seed

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP):

• December 1 – All perennial grasses, alfalfa, clover, mixed forage, and honey
• March 15 – Hemp
• April 1 – All spring seeded crops
• Within 15 days of crop loss – Submit Notice of Loss
• November 15 (varies by crop) – Final day to submit Application for Payment 

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Are you interested in a Farm Loan through USDA Farm Service Agency?

• Your Guide to FSA Farm Loans for new loan customers.

• Your FSA Farm Loan Compass for current farm loan customers.

For more information, visit FSA's Farm Loan Program website, USDA's https://www.farmers.gov/fund or your local FSA office at http://offices.usda.gov.

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Conducting Business with FSA Electronically

With a USDA Customer Level 2 eAuth Account you can have one stop access to your USDA program participation information.

•     Learn how to create a Level 2 eAuth Account (pdf)
•   eAuth Guide of Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)     

Visit the Online Services page for apps:

• FSAfarm+
• eForms                      
  
  
  

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State Committee Members

Georgie Cartanza, Dover
Kevin Evans, Bridgeville
James Harmon, Lewes
Dale Scuse (Chairperson), Smyrna

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