By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the application deadline and increased payment limits for its Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program.
Specialty crop producers now have until January 10, 2025, to apply for enhanced financial aid designed to mitigate rising marketing and production expenses.
Significantly, the payment cap for the MASC program has been raised from $125,000 to $900,000 per operation.
This change is a response to advocacy by industry leaders and is intended to better support the financial sustainability of these agricultural operations. "NPC has been advocating for a meaningful increase in the payment limitations since the program’s announcement, and we are pleased that USDA has responded to our recommendations," stated NPC CEO Kam Quarles.
In addition to the increased payment limit, the program's funding has been boosted by an additional $650 million, bringing the total to $2.65 billion.
This increase will help address the unique challenges faced by specialty crop growers, including the perishability of their products, the need for specialized handling, and higher labor costs.
Producers interested in applying for MASC assistance can do so at their local USDA Service Center or online through the MASC program webpage.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National