Florida State Office

Pandemic Response and Safety Grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will soon publish Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grants program to support agricultural stakeholders who haven’t yet received substantial federal financial assistance in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. This grant program will provide assistance to small businesses in certain commodity areas, including small scale specialty crop producers, food processors, manufacturers, distributors and farmers markets.

Eligible entities should visit the PRS grant portal at usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov for complete information on the program, including how to obtain a free of charge DUNS Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) before applying for this program. Entities can submit their grant applications through the portal beginning September 23.

USDA Announces the Appointment of Richard Wilson to Serve on the Farm Service Agency State Committee in Florida

On August 13, 2021, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced the appointment of Richard Wilson to serve on the FSA state committee in Florida which ensures the effective and efficient delivery of FSA federal farm programs to the state’s agricultural producers.

Lenders Can Now Apply for New Heirs’ Property Relending Program

Intermediary lenders -- cooperatives, credit unions, can now apply for loans through the new Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP) through October 29, 2021.Through HPRP, FSA loans up to $5 million at a 1% interest rate to eligible lenders. Then, those eligible lenders will reloan funds to heirs to help resolve title issues by financing the purchase or consolidation of property interests and financing costs associated with a succession plan. Intermediary lenders should apply using the HPRP application form (FSA-2637), which can be submitted to a farm loan chief at a local USDA Service Center.

Visit www.farmers.gov/heirs/relending to learn more. 

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. Additionally, FSA has set an Oct. 12, 2021, deadline for all eligible producers to apply for or modify applications for CFAP 2. 

Coronavirus and USDA Service Centers

USDA Service Centers in Florida will continue to be open for business by phone appointment only and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While our program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with our producers by phone, and using online tools whenever possible.

All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. In the event a Service Center is not currently available to serve customers on location, producers can receive assistance from the closest alternate Service Center by phone. Learn more at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

You can receive important FSA Florida News Releases in your email or urgent local notices on your mobile device. To subscribe, go to the FSA subscription page.

County Committee Elections

Elections will take place starting in November.

County committees are unique to FSA and serve as a direct link between agricultural communities across the country and USDA. For more information on FSA county committees, visit fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Important Election Dates

Nov. 1, 2021

Ballots mailed to eligible voters.

Dec. 6, 2021

Last day to return voted ballots to the USDA Service Center.

Jan. 1, 2022

Newly elected county committee members take office.

State Committee Members

To request free mediation or for more information, please call (800) 616-7863 or go online at www.agmediation.org. All calls are confidential.