Farm Service Agency Resources for Urban Growers

Are you farming or gardening in a city, suburb, tribal community or small town? From community gardens to indoor vertical farms, urban agriculture provides critical access to healthy food for local communities, as well as jobs, climate resilience, increased green spaces, and closer community ties. USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers resources to start, expand, and operate your farm or garden, and help you recover in the event of a natural disaster.

As the FSA evolves to address the changing needs of our farmers and ranchers, the agency has taken strides to better serve urban producers. As of today, 17 Urban Service Centers have opened in major metropolitan centers across the US, with an additional 10 offices being planned. In California, we have two new Urban Service Centers.

• Oakland Urban Service Center Contacts:
  • NRCS: Annie Edwards, Urban Conservationist, annie.edwards@usda.gov
  • FSA: Thomas Schultz, Urban County Executive Director, thomas.schultz2@usda.gov
  • FSA: Allison Bunyan, Urban County Program Analyst, allison.bunyan@usda.gov
    

• Compton Urban Service Center Contacts:
  • NRCS: Jamie Quarfeld, Urban Conservationist, jamie.quarfeld@usda.gov
  • FSA: Evelin Carias, Acting County Executive Director, evelin.carias@usda.gov

The FSA has a variety of programs and services to assist you with registering your farm with the USDA, financing your urban farm or garden, managing risk, and reimbursing organic and food safety certification expenses.

Financing Your Urban Farm or Garden

FSA loan programs provide access to capital, either directly from FSA or through a third-party, commercial lender. You may be interested in using the Farm Loan Assistance Tool to determine which loan option works best for you.

Managing Risk

FSA offers a suite of programs to help you recover from recent or prepare for future disasters and market fluctuations including:

• Risk management coverage options through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) that covers crops that are not insurable through USDA's federal crop insurance products.
• A strong production safety net through the administration of farm commodity price support as well as crop, livestock, and infrastructure disaster recovery assistance programs.
• Conservation programs to support land stewardship, rehabilitate agricultural operations and provide emergency haying and grazing following a qualifying natural disaster event.
• Use the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool to learn about available disaster recovery programs

Reimbursing Expenses

FSA helps cover expenses related to obtaining or renewing organic and/or food safety certifications:

• The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification.
• The Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program (NOP). Certified operations may receive up to 75% or up to $750 reimbursement when obtaining or renewing organic certification.

Leadership Opportunities

There are also many opportunities for urban producers to contribute their voices and experience:

• Farm Service Agency Urban County Committees are elected committee members who provide input on USDA urban agriculture policy in selected cities.
• Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production provides input and feedback to the Secretary of Agriculture

How to Get Started

You can meet face-to-face with our staff at your closest USDA Service Center to discuss your vision, goals, and ways we can help. Before reaching out, review USDA's getting started guide, or this guide for new farmers. If you need information in a language other than English, we offer translated materials and free interpretation service.

When you reach out to FSA staff, be sure to ask about getting a Farm Number, the first step toward receiving USDA assistance. Even if you are farming on .01 acres, you can get a farm number, regardless of whether your farm or garden generates income.

USDA is committed to working with farms of all sizes and in all locations, including those in urban areas.

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