State and Federal Government Agencies

Massachusetts State Agencies

Federal Agencies

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA Service Centers are single locations where customers can access the services provided by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development Agency. Service Center Locator for Massachusetts.

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Farm Service Agency Massachusetts is the bank of last resort for farmers. The local offices administer farm commodity, conservation, disaster and loan programs. FSA makes direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans to family-size farmers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank, Farm Credit System institution or other lender. Borrowers must have a business plan and reasonable plan to repay the loan. Local FSA offices are in Pittsfield, Dighton, Greenfield, Hadley, Westford, West Wareham and Holden, Mass.

Programs

Loans for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

USDA Rural Development (RD)

Rural Development offers an array of programs for rural communities and agriculture. The regional office for Massachusetts, Rhode Island & Connecticut is located at 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002, (413) 253-4300.
Programs

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

This agency provides technical assistance to farmers on best management practices to protect environmental resources, like water and soil. The EQIP program provides financial incentives to adopt practices in exchange for a Farm Conservation Plan.

Employees’ Directory by program.

Regional locator map

USDA’s Small Farm Funding Resources will lead you to many different sites, some from states other than Massachusetts. Remember that each state offers its own programs and one that appears in Pennsylvania may not be in this state. The federal programs would apply to all states.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

New England Field Office.