Rhode Island State Office

We offer free interpretation services for Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service assistance at your local USDA Service Center. Tell us your preferred language, and the USDA team member will call an interpreter to get the discussion started. Contact the RI USDA Service Center at 401-828-3120 Option 2. If you are not from Rhode Island, find your local Service Center at farmers.gov/service-center-locator.

For crop insurance, interpretation services are available through Approved Insurance Providers. Find an insurance agent by using our Agent Locator.

Find translated USDA materials at farmers.gov/translations.

USDA to Provide More Than $3 Billion to Commodity and Specialty Crop Producers Impacted by 2022 Natural Disasters 

The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $3 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2022. Eligible impacted producers can apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. The program will help offset the financial impacts of crop yield and value losses from qualifying disasters occurring in 2022.

More Information 

ERP 2022 eligibility details and payment calculation factor tables are available on the emergency relief website, in the ERP Track 1 and ERP Track 2 fact sheets and by contacting the Rhode Island Farm Service Agency County Office at 401-828-3120 Option 1.

Inflation Reduction Act Assistance for Distressed Borrowers

Since October 2022, USDA has provided approximately $1.5 billion in immediate assistance to more than 24,000 financially distressed direct and guaranteed FSA loan borrowers through the Inflation Reduction Act.

FSA is currently accepting individual requests for assistance from borrowers who took certain extraordinary measures to avoid delinquency on their direct FSA loans, missed a recent installment, or are unable to make their next scheduled installment.

For more information on eligibility, or to submit a request for assistance, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center or visit farmers.gov/inflation-reduction-investments/assistance.   

2023 County Committee Elections

USDA began mailing ballots Nov. 6 for FSA county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas. 

To be counted, producers and landowners must return ballots to the local FSA county office or have postmarked by Dec. 4, 2023. County committees are unique to FSA and serve as a direct link between agricultural communities across the country and USDA.

Elections occur each year in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA). LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction. 

COC Elections will occur in Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 3, Washington County, Rhode Island.

Inflation Reduction Act Section 22007 - Discrimination Financial Assistance Program

The Discrimination Financial Assistance Program is a new program, authorized by Section 22007(e) of the Inflation Reduction Act, that will provide financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to 2021. 

Details about the program, including an application and e-filing portal, are available at 22007apply.gov. Applicants can also call the free call center at 1-800-721-0970
Filing an application is FREE and does not require a lawyer. The application period is open and runs through January 13, 2024.