USA – Specialty crop farmers in the United States received a significant boost with USD 650 million in additional funding as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced updates to its Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) initiative.
The updated program increases the total available funds to USD 2.65 billion.
The USDA’s decision follows requests from the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), which has been advocating for increased support for growers facing economic and environmental challenges.
In a statement, the SCFBA expressed appreciation for the USDA’s efforts, noting the critical role this funding plays in ensuring the stability of farms and the availability of essential produce.
“Specialty crop growers across the U.S. are facing severe and unique challenges,” the SCFBA’s statement read.
“As we wrote in December, the USDA’s MASC program is essential in helping growers recover from this economic battering. With today’s announcement, we are grateful to the USDA for recognizing that even more was needed. This additional funding will play a critical role in stabilizing farms, ensuring the strength of our industry, and safeguarding the availability of domestically grown specialty crops, including nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts, which should make up more than half an American’s diet.”
In addition to the increased funding, the USDA has made two notable changes to the MASC initiative.
The payment limitation has been raised from USD 125,000 to USD 900,000, acknowledging the higher value and unique costs associated with specialty crops compared to other agricultural commodities.
Additionally, the application window has been extended, with growers now having until Friday, January 10, 2025, to submit applications.
These adjustments aim to provide farmers with more resources and flexibility as they manage the challenges posed by rising costs and market disruptions.
Specialty crops represent nearly half the farm gate value of American agriculture, making them a critical part of the sector.
Despite facing setbacks, the market has shown resilience. In 2024, the U.S. specialty crops market generated USD 1.49 billion in revenue, up from USD 1.42 billion in 2023.
Projections suggest that this growth will continue, with the market expected to reach $2.05 billion by 2030.
This funding comes after specialty crop production was excluded from the final year-end economic assistance package negotiated by Congressional leaders.
The USDA’s announcement ensures that specialty crop growers, who play a vital role in the nation’s food supply, receive the resources necessary to thrive.
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