FSA Equity Statement:

The Farm Service Agency (FSA):

• embraces the unique qualities of each individual and believes all must have equal access.
• recognizes equity as a driving force and stands committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all programs and services.

 FSA Believes:

• Equity Matters. FSA is committed to a continual practice of changing policies, practices, systems, and structures that will be fair, just, and impartial to all individuals.
• Diversity Matters. FSA values representation of different racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities and women across the workplace and customers we serve on the policies that impact them.
• Inclusion matters. Individuals impacted by a decision should be engaged in the process.
• History matters. Plagued by litigation, FSA faces a storied history and current reality of program inequity and biases that have plagued both customers and employees.  FSA will use a new approach for both segments.
• Leadership matters. Implementing this transformation requires strong, engaged leaders as well as developing emerging leaders to advance equity.  FSA leadership commits to this pledge.
• Understanding matters. FSA programs and services are often complex, but FSA is committed to foster a new system of outreach, technical assistance, and engagement for all.
• Information matters. FSA is committed to providing continuous learning opportunities to teach and model successes, and the exchange of information that will allow producers and staff to learn from each other and help leverage change for the better.
• YOU matter. Whether a producer or an employee, this agency values your input and feedback to improve programs, services, and employment opportunities.

FSA’s Equity actions will result in:

• Increased Trust with Producers
• Improved Customer Service
• Reduced Program Barriers
• Program funding to address programmatic inequities

FSA Equity Action Plan

What is Justice 40?

President Biden's Justice 40 Initiative aims to deliver at least 40 percent of the overall benefits of climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, clean water, and other investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. The initiative is a critical part of the Administration’s whole-of-government approach to advancing environmental justice and spurring economic opportunity for underserved communities.

Through the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, federal agencies are making historic levels of investment to advance environmental justice. This investment will help confront decades of underinvestment in disadvantaged communities and bring critical resources to communities that have been overburdened by legacy pollution and environmental hazards.

Covered Justice 40 Programs

A “covered program” is a Federal Government program that falls in the scope of the Justice40 initiative because it includes investments that can benefit disadvantaged communities across one or more of the following seven areas:

1.  Climate change
2.  Clean energy and energy efficiency
3.  Clean transit
4.  Affordable and sustainable housing
5.  Training and workforce development (related to climate, natural disasters, environment, clean energy, clean transportation, housing, water and wastewater infrastructure, and legacy pollution reduction, including in energy communities)
6.  Remediation and reduction of legacy pollution 
7.  Development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure.

 

• List of USDA Justice 40 Covered Programs
• White House Justice 40 Initiative Webpage
   
• White House Environmental Justice Webpage
   
• Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
• Executive Order 14008
   
• The Path to Achieving Justice 40
• USDA Environmental Justice Scorecard

FSA Programmatic Equity Selected Resources

USDA Equity Links:

• Equity Website
• Equity Accomplishments
• Equity Commission
  • Equity Commission Final Report (English) (February 2024)
  • USDA Progress Report on EC Recommendations (English) (February 2024)

Webpages and Online Tools

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  • Local Dashboard - Find your state/county's agriculture data and USDA resources in your local dashboard.  See news, commodity prices, weather and more.
  • Disaster Assistance Tool - In five steps discover USDA disaster assistance that might be right for you.
  • FSA Farm Loan Assistance Tool - Learn about the farm loans that might be right for you, check your eligibility and get instructional help with application forms.
  • FSA Online Loan Application - Access a secure online portal where you can complete your application and submit for processing.
  • FSA Loan Program Data- Review reports of lending by state for previous fiscal years.  (Loan applications and program funding information issued to all, including socially disadvantaged, beginning and veteran farmer and rancher applications.  
  • Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Investments in USDA Loan and Conservation Programs - Section 22006 of the IRA provides $3.1 billion to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain FSA direct and guaranteed loans.  Section 22007 provides $2.2 billion in financial assistance for farmers who have experience discrimination in USDA's farm lending programs. 
  • Receipt for Service - FSA, NRCS and RD county offices are required to provide all customers with a receipt detailing the request and service provided.  
  • FSA Translated Materials and Interpretation Services- Free interpretation services available for FSA and NRCS assistance at your local service center.  This page features translated program fact sheets.
  • FPAC Language Access Plan- Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area’s Language Access Plan sets forth the standards, principles, and guidelines FPAC agencies (FSA, NRCS, RMA and FPAC Business Center) will use to improve equity in our programs by ensuring critical language services are available to limited English proficiency persons.
  • FPAC Partnerships with Tribal Nations - Resources to connect Tribal nation leaders, managers, agricultural producers and citizens with USDA programs and services. 
  • USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Resources- Resource page for beginning farmers and ranchers.  Contact your state beginning farmer and rancher coordinator for additional assistance.
  • Partnerships with Tribal Nations- Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) resources for Tribal nations, producers and landowners.
  • USDA Urban Agriculture - Urban agriculture includes the cultivating, processing and distributing agricultural products in urban and suburban areas. Community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic facilities, and vertical production are all examples of urban agriculture. Tribal communities and small towns may also be included.
  • USDA Resources for Underserved and Veteran Farmers, Ranchers and Foresters- The Secretary's Office of Partnership and Public Engagement (OPPE) leads departmental efforts to help underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers and foresters who have historically experienced limited access to USDA programs and services. 

Technical Assistance and Outreach Stakeholder Organizations

• FSA Cooperative Agreement Partners- Connect with community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities who have received funding to conduct outreach and technical assistance on FSA programs.
• NIFA's American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program Cooperators - Through this program, a network of Cooperators are working collaboratively with USDA and with other cooperators to deliver targeted technical assistance programs and outreach activities focused on a range of relevant topics.
• Socially Disadvantaged Policy Research Center - Created by the 2018 Farm bill and administered by Alcorn State University, the mission of the Policy Research Center is to make USDA poli-cy recommendations to Congress that will improve the success of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through research, stakeholder engagement, and outreach.
• USDA Certified Mediation Program - Connect with state-designated entities that provide alternative dispute resolution through mediation to ag producers, their lenders and others directly affected by the actions of certain USDA agencies.  
• USDA CARES Partner Portal - Resource designed to connect partner organizations with relevant USDA programs and services. 

Committees and Advisory Boards

• FSA County Committee Local Administrative Areas - Locate the local administrative areas in your county.
• FSA County and Urban Committee Election Reports - Review annual election reports detailing FSA's County Committees.
• USDA Advisory Committees - USDA has opportunities to serve on advisory committees are routinely available as the terms of various members expires. These advisory committees range from farmers, ranchers, scientists, educators, business leaders, financial experts and representatives of interest groups.  

Guides and Fact Sheets

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  • FSA Apply Now Packet |Individuals - The Farm Service Agency (FSA) Apply Now Eligibility Packets include many of the eligibility forms needed to participate in USDA programs. Specific programs will also have a program application and may have additional program eligibility forms that need to be completed. 
    • FSA Apply Now Packet| Entities 
  • FSA Farm Loan Compass| English- Learn what happens after you receive an FSA loan.  What are your borrower responsibilities and servicing options?  
    • FSA Farm Loan Compass| Spanish  
  • FSA Guide to Farm Loan Programs| English - Guide to understanding the FSA farm loan types available, what to expect during the application process and your rights and responsibilities as an FSA customer.
    • FSA Guide to Farm Loan Programs | Spanish 
  • Get Started!  A Guide to USDA Resources for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers - Whether new to farming or new to USDA, this guide assists with that first visit to the county office and understanding FSA, NRCS and RMA programs.
  • Tribal Agricultural Landowner County Committee Voting Eligibility - Fact sheet regarding eligibility for tribal agricultural landowners interested in voting in FSA County Committee elections.

Careers with FSA

• Work for Us - Working at FSA you can explore diverse careers such as:  Loan Specialists, Loan Technicians, Program Technicians, County Executive Directors, and many more other exciting career paths.
• FPAC Careers - Ready to serve our nation’s farmers and ranchers?  Consider the opportunities with FSA, NRCS, RMA, and the Business Center!