SOMERSET, N.J. — Carrie Lindig, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Jersey, has established the application period for the 2020 Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program for beginning and limited resource farmers in northern New Jersey. AMA applications received by August 30, 2019, from eligible producers in 10 northern New Jersey counties will be considered for funding.
Agricultural Management Assistance is a voluntary conservation program available to beginning and limited resource farmers, small farms, and producers who have had limited participation in other USDA financial assistance programs. “We are pleased that NJ NRCS has Agricultural Management Assistance in our suite of conservation programs, and that the program is now available for producers in Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Somerset and Union Counties,” State Conservationist Lindig said. Producers eligible for AMA who farm in those counties can now apply for financial and technical assistance to voluntarily address resource issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations.
Interested producers should visit the local NRCS service center that serves their area for information and to determine their eligibility for AMA. USDA-NRCS serves Hunterdon, Somerset and Union Counties from the Frenchtown Service Center (687 Pittstown Rd., Suite 2, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, phone 908-782-4614, ext. 3) The counties of Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren are served from the Hackettstown Service Center (Hackettstown Commerce Park, Building #1, 101 Bilby Rd., Hackettstown, NJ 07840, phone 908-852-2576, ext. 3)
Program information is also available at www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers conservation programs to help agricultural producers improve water and air quality, build healthier soil, improve grazing and forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations, and achieve other environmental benefits. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), 800-877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866-367-8642 (Relay voice users).
–USDA NRCS