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Agricultural Program Mediation

Definition of Mediation

Mediation is defined as a process of assisted negotiations.

Mediation is a problem-solving process that focuses on the future and the working relationship of the parties. This process is designed to assist parties with creating their own mutually agreed upon resolution. It is an opportunity to resolve your concerns quickly, voluntarily, informally in a non-adversarial setting. In mediation, parties meet with a mediator to discuss issues and how they can attempt resolution. Mediation saves the parties time, expense, and the emotional stress of enduring unresolved conflict in the workplace. This opens lines of communication and creates an improved understanding for the parties.

Reasons to Try Mediation / Advantages for Use
  1. Voluntary participation builds mutual respect and understanding
  2. An opportunity to resolve disputes before choosing established procedures
  3. Parties craft their own win-win resolution
  4. Improved communication will prevent future misunderstanding
Mediation offers the following:
  • An opportunity to be heard
  • An opportunity to develop new ways of dealing with a dispute
  • An opportunity to create your own solution

Mediation Requirements

Any USDA program participant that receives an adverse technical determination or decision from NRCS must be given rights to mediate the decision. This authority, as set forth in Title II of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, 7 U.S.C. 6995 (Public Law 103-354), and 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 614.

State Certified Mediation Programs

States currently with USDA Certified Mediation Programs

Map of states currently with USDA Certified Mediation Programs

The map above, (taken from the CAMP Website) shows the twenty-six states throughout the U.S. that currently have USDA Certified Agricultural Mediation Programs in yellow. This certification means that the USDA will participate in agricultural mediation cases in such issues as agricultural credit, wetlands determinations, compliance with farm programs, rural water loan programs, grazing on National Forest System lands, pesticides, and any other issues deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture. The states shown in blue above have applications pending to have their Agricultural Mediation Programs certified by the USDA. To find out about specific issues for which Mediation is available within an individual state, please contact a representative of the Agricultural Mediation Program of that state.


States Without Certified Mediation Programs

The following organizations provide mediators and neutrals for various types of disputes:

Codified Federal Regulations

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentCertified Mediation Program, Final Rule, 7 CFR 785
Adobe Acrobat DocumentNAD Appeals Regulation, Final Rule, 7 CFR 11
Adobe Acrobat DocumentNRCS Appeals Regulation, Interim-Final Rule, 7 CFR 614
Adobe Acrobat DocumentFSA Appeals Regulation, Interim-Final Rule, 7 CFR 780

Success Stories

Adobe Acrobat DocumentWetlands Modification Case
Adobe Acrobat DocumentWetlands Conversion Case

Program Contact

Civil Rights Complaints Branch Chief, 301-504-2190