U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Farm Service Agency
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

New Jersey State Office

State Executive Director

Robert Andrzejczak

Robert Andrzejczak

Read Robert Andrzejczak'

State Office Address

200 Clocktower Dr
Suite 101
Hamilton Square, NJ 08690
(609) 587-0104
(855) 305-6635

About New Jersey FSA

The Farm Service Agency is a safety outlet for producers. It helps ensure:

  • The well-being of American Agriculture, the environment, and the American People though efficient and equitable administration of farm commodity programs;
  • Farm ownership, operating, and emergency loans;
  • Conservation and environmental programs;
  • Emergency and disaster assistance;
  • Domestic and international food assistance and international export credit programs.

Our Goals are to:

  • Stabilize Farm Income
  • Help Farmers Conserve Land and Water Resources
  • Provide Credit to New or Disadvantaged Farmers
  • Help Farm Operations Recover From the Effects of Disaster

FSA has six regional county offices. Click here to find your office.

New and Important

COUNTY COMMITTEE ELECTIONS


Farm Service Agency county committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA and allow grassroots input and location administration of federal farm programs. Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms.

Visit the USDA County Committee Election page to learn more: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/county-committee-elections/index

Important Election Dates

June 17, 2024 - The nomination period begins.

August 1, 2024 - Last day to file nomination forms at the local USDA Service Center. 

November 4, 2024 - Ballots mailed to eligible voters.

December 2, 2024 - Last day to return voted ballots to the USDA Service Center.

January 1, 2025 - Newly elected county committee members take office.

New Jersey Election Information

Don't know which Local Administrative Are you are in? Visit 

Find My LAA

USDA Partners with FarmRaise to Offer Educational Tools and Resource

FarmRaise, Inc. has created an online, educational hub -- called Farm Service Agency 101 – comprised of videos, and resources that enable cooperators and the agricultural producers they serve to learn about and access major FSA programs. 

Top of Page

USDA Loan Assistance Tool
Are you ready to apply for a farm loan?
  • Am I eligible for a FSA Farm Loan?
  • Which loans are right for me?
  • Where can I get help completing the loan application forms?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched an online tool to help farmers better  navigate the farm loan application process. This uniform application process will help to ensure all farm loan applicants receive equal support and have a consistent customer experience with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) regardless of their individual circumstances.

Farmers can access the Loan Assistance Tool by visiting https://lat.fpac.usda.gov and clicking the Get Started button. From there follow the prompts to complete the Eligibility Self-Assessment to start the farm loan journey. The tool is built to run on modern browsers like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or the Safari browser and is fully functional on mobile devices. It does not work in Internet Explorer.

To learn more about the Loan Assistance Tool and the upcoming ability to apply online watch the video below:


Top of Page

Farm Service Agency is Seeking Loss Adjusters


The Farm Service Agency is seeking to hire loss adjuster (LA) throughout the state. LAs are:

  • required to have knowledge of field crops and specialty crops, as well as a thorough understanding and execution of crop adjusting guidelines and program provisions, as applicable to FSA programs. LA’s are self-employed; therefore, health and retirement benefits are not provided. LA’s are responsible for paying all taxes on earned income.
  • responsible for obtaining equipment necessary to perform required inspection/appraisal duties. Some equipment such as cameras and GPS measuring devices may be available through the FSA county office.
  • required to complete training 

Click here for complete job description. For additional information please contact Aly Dyson, NJ FSA Farm Program Disaster Specialist, Alyson.Dyson@usda.gov.

Top of Page

Don't Risk Your USDA Benefits - Food Security Act 

In order to maintain eligibility for most USDA programs, producers must comply with the Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions, agreeing they will not:

  • Produce an agricultural commodity on highly erodible land without an adequate conservation system;
  • Plant an agricultural commodity on a converted wetland;
  • Convert a wetland to make possible the production of an agricultural commodity.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is responsible for providing program participants technical assistance and determinations to assist them in complying with the provisions.

We invite you to reach out to your local USDA Service Center if you have any questions.

Click here for more information. 

Top of Page

Disaster Programs

 

Please reach out your local FSA office if you or anyone you know has experienced crop or farm property damage as a result of recent weather events. This information is vital for emergency declarations which make additional assistance available to you and your peers.

Farm Service Agency has programs to assist with fruit trees, berry bushes, ornamental, and vine losses as well as losses of livestock, honeybees, and farm raised fish. These programs are not insurance programs and do not require purchasing coverage prior to the weather event or disaster (excludes NAP). Click on the links below for information on some of our programs:

Crop Damage

Property Damage

If you have crop coverage under the Non Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and feel that the weather has affected your covered crop
please make sure you contact your local FSA office immediately (within 72 hours). If you would like to sign up for NAP contact your local FSA office for details.

Top of Page

Disaster Designations

Farmers in the following counties are eligible for Emergency Loans through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)

  • Secretarial Designation M4755 - New York
    • For Severe Storm and Flooding beginning on 9/28/2023
    • New Jersey contiguous counties: Bergen & Hudson
    • Loan application deadline: 10/30/2024

Please contact your local County Office for more information or visit our Emergency Loan website at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/emergency-farm-loans/index or read the Disaster Designations Fact Sheet by clicking here.

Top of Page

About New Jersey Agriculture!

New Jersey, known as the Garden State, has a vast diversity of landscapes and is a unique combination of densely populated urban centers and open agricultural areas. For a small state, agriculture in New Jersey is quite significant with more than 100 crops being produced. Despite legislative and public pressures, high input costs, and the second highest per-acre market value of farmland in the nation, 16% of New Jersey land is dedicated to agriculture production and the ag industry contributes $987 million to the state’s economy.

The Garden State is 3rd in the nation for producing Cranberries, Peaches and Spinach; 4th in Bell Pepper production; 6th in Blueberries, Cucumbers, and Squash; and 7th in Tomatoes. Other major commodities are nursery, berries, equine and aquaculture.

Check out the video below to find out more about Morris Gbolo of World Crops Farms who take advantage of FSA Loans and Programs to help keep the garden in the Garden State.

Top of Page

Double-Cropping

Each year, state committees will review and approve or disapprove county committee recommended changes or additions to specific combinations of crops.

Double-cropping is approved when the two specific crops have the capability to be planted and carried to maturity for the intended use, as reported by the producer, on the same acreage within a crop year under normal growing conditions. The specific combination of crops recommended by the county committee must be approved by the state committee.

Double-cropping is approved in New Jersey on a county-by-county basis. Click here to see the 2024 Approved Double Cropping Combination list or contact your local FSA Office for a list of approved double-cropping combinations for your county.

A crop following a cover crop terminated according to termination guidelines is approved double cropping and these combinations do not have to be approved by the state committee.

Top of Page

Ag Mediation Program

How do you request mediation?
www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/agmediation/request,www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/agmediation

Additional Resources
National Ag Mediation Fact Sheet
New Jersey Ag Mediation Fact Sheet
New Jersey Ag Mediation Handbook

Your New Jersey State FSA Committee
  • Committee Chair Alfred Murray - Audubon
  • Erick Doyle - Flemington
  • Stephen Lee IV - Chatsworth
  • Rajesh Sinha - Sandyston
  • Anna Trapani - Clarksburg

Top of Page

Latest FSA News for New Jersey

Farm Service Agency
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE