Massachusetts Home Page

Welcome to the Massachusetts Farm Service Agency Home Page

Massachusetts Farm Service Agency
445 West Street
Amherst, MA 01002
413-253-4500

Massachusetts FSA is proud to continue its strong tradition of customer-based service to Massachusetts farmers and producers. The staff in our seven county offices is committed to securing the highest possible financial assistance from USDA programs through accurate, timely and efficient program delivery. This website can help you learn more about our programs and point you toward your local office so that you can speak directly with staff on how we can be of service.

FSA programs include:

Commodity price supports
Disaster and emergency relief
Conservation and environmental programs
Farm emergency, ownership, and operating loans – including our new Microloan program which aims to assist small farmers, veterans, and disadvantaged producers

Massachusetts agriculture contributes over $492 million annually to the state’s economy, ranks 5th nationally in direct market sales, and first in the percentage of farms practicing Community Supported Agriculture. Noted for great diversity in both crops and in the nature of farming enterprises, our state has some of the best quality agricultural land in the country with 7,755 farms on over 523,000 total acres. 80% of our farms are family-owned, 95% qualify as "small farms" (under $250,000 in sales), and more new farms are beginning operations each year. Challenges for farmers include high input costs and contending with one of the highest farmland values in the U.S. at $10,600 per acre.

Meet the Massachusetts State Executive Director

Edward Davidian was appointed by the Trump Administration to serve as the state executive director of the Massachusetts USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in February 2018.

Davidian grew up in Northborough, Massachusetts, and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1972 with a degree in fruits and vegetables. As a third-generation farmer, he is a co-owner of Davidian Brothers Farm, where they grow 150 acres of fruits and vegetables. Their farm products are sold to both wholesale and retail markets, as well as direct to consumers through their farm stand.

Prior to his appointment, Davidian served as president of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, previously holding positions as vice president and committee chairman of government relations. He has also served as Worcester County Farm Bureau president for three terms.

Additionally, Davidian served on the executive committee of New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association and serving as president for two years. He was appointed twice to the University of Massachusetts Extension Board of Public Overseers and served on the Northborough Lions Club as a member and director. In the 1990s, Davidian was elected as Northborough selectman for three terms and served on the Northborough Regional Planning Committee.

Edward and his wife, Nancy, reside in Northborough and have two children, Melissa and Michael.

Staff

State Executive Director: Edward Davidian
District Director: Daniel Smiarowski
Executive Officer: Lori Carver
Farm Loan Chief: Eric Bodzinski
Program Specialist: John Devine

Massachusetts State Committee:

Bradford Morse, Chairman
Lisa Colby, Member
James Larkin, Member
Willard McKinstry, Member
Matthew Parsons, Member

The Massachusetts State Committee meets the third Wednesday of every month, subject to change.

Environmental Assessments for Public Review (None at Present)

In the Spotlight

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2

Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? USDA is implementing Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.

Farm Service Agency will accept CFAP 2 applications from September 21 through December 11, 2020.

A call center will be available for producers who would like additional one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application process. Please call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. To find the latest information on CFAP 2, including forms and the contact information for your local Service Center, visit farmers.gov/CFAP.

2018 Farm Bill

The 2018 Farm Bill provides support, certainty, and stability to our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and land stewards by enhancing farm support programs, improving crop insurance, maintaining disaster programs, and promoting and supporting voluntary conservation. Additional information can be found at https://www.farmers.gov/farmbill.
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In the News

USDA and SCORE Launch Innovative Mentorship Effort to Support New Farmers

SCORE matches business professionals and entrepreneurs with new business owners to mentor them through the process of starting-up and maintaining a new business. USDA and its partners across rural America are working with SCORE to support new farming operations, and identify and recruit mentors with a wealth of agricultural experience.

“SCORE’s mission to help people start and grow vibrant small businesses is boosted by this new partnership with USDA. America’s farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses will benefit from the business knowledge and expertise SCORE can offer,” said Records. “The partnership allows both SCORE and USDA to serve more people while providing America’s farmers added support to lead to more sound business operations, create profitable farms with sustainable growth and create new jobs. We are excited at the opportunity to extend SCORE’s impact to our farmers and the agriculture industry.”

"SCORE mentors will partner with USDA and a wide array of groups already hard at work serving new and beginning farmers such as the FFA, 4-H, cooperative extension and land grant universities, nonprofits, legal aid groups, banks, technical and farm advisors. These partnerships will expand and integrate outreach and technical assistance between current and retired farmers and agri-business experts and new farmers."

This joint initiative leverages SCORE’s 10,000 existing volunteer mentors and USDA’s expertise and presence in agricultural communities to bring no-cost business mentoring to rural and agricultural entrepreneurs. This initiative will also be another tool to empower the work of many community-based organizations, cooperative extensions and land grant universities working with beginning farmers in their communities. SCORE mentorship will also be available to current farmers. Anyone interested in being a mentor can get more information and sign up on the USDA New Farmers’ website at https://newfarmers.usda.gov/mentorship.

Sign up for Level 2 eAuthentication Access

Farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers have new online options to access U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Through USDA’s new streamlined process, producers doing business as an individual can now register, track and manage their applications for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) and 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) on the secure and convenient www.farmers.gov. USDA eAuthentication does not have the mechanism to issue login accounts to businesses, corporations, other entities, or for anyone acting on behalf of another individual or entity. Producers, doing business as an individual, first need to sign up for Level 2 eAuthentication access.

Step 1: Create an online account at www.eauth.usda.gov
Step 2: Complete identity verification by either using the online self-service identity verification method or by completing the identity verification in person at your USDA Service Center.
Step 3: Contact your local USDA Service Center to have your new Level 2 account linked with your USDA customer record.
Step 4: You’re enrolled and ready to log in.

Users with a secure Level 2 eAuthentication ID, linked to their USDA customer record, can apply for select USDA programs, view and print farm maps and farm records data. Enrolling is easy! Visit farmers.gov/sign-in to learn more. To locate a service center near you or use online services not requiring eAuthentication access, visit www.farmers.gov. For technical assistance, call the eAuthentication help desk at 1-800-457-3642.