South Carolina State Office

USDA Establishes New Farm Service Agency Urban County Committees in Columbia, SC

USDA is establishing a new urban county committee in Columbia, SC, joining 26 other cities with a committee focused on delivery of USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs to urban producers. County committee members make important decisions on how federal farm programs are administered locally, and this new urban county committee in Columbia is part of USDA’s broad support for urban and innovative agriculture.  

The new urban county committee is part of USDA’s broader USDA investment in urban agriculture in Columbia. Other efforts include:  

• Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production competitive grants, including one to the Upstate Circle of Friends Minority Farmer Education Center to involve youth and local residents to increase access to affordable healthy food for low-income minority families in need.
• Inviting community gardens to join the People’s Garden initiative.

Learn more about new Urban Service Centers and Urban County Committees HERE.

---

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 October 31, 2023.

---

Sign Up For FSA Fence Post for Daily Updates

The Farm Service Agency Fence Post is an online newsletter that is updated on an almost daily basis. It contains articles of interest on the agency's programs and departments, as well as success stories from the field. To access Fence Post, visit http://fsa.blogs.govdelivery.com/. Producers can sign up for weekly Fence Post updates by putting an email address in the box that says "Get Email Updates".