USDA/AMS Programs to Support Local and Regional Food Systems

Samantha Schaffstall Marketing Services Division

Local and Regional Food Systems

Life Cycle of Food Phases

Specific Region (country, state, multi-state area)

Benefit Local Community

(economic, social, nutritional, etc.)

Legislative Authority Supports USDA/AMS Interest in Local Food Marketing

Ag. Marketing Act of 1946: USDA/AMS is mandated to:

Support the development and creation of shorter food supply chains;

Work toward ensuring that food producers receive a greater share of the final retail price;

Support profitable marketing of all American farmers at all scale levels; and,

Promote direct marketing of farm products where it provides mutual benefit to farmers and consumers.

Agenda

USDA Grants and Farm Bill Update

Marketing Services Division Local Food Directories and Surveys

Wholesale Markets and Facility Design

Local Food Systems Research and Technical Assistance

The Promise of Urban Agriculture

Questions

USDA Grants and Farm Bill Update

Farmers Market Promotion Program

Two types of project applications were accepted in 2018 under FMPP (could change):

Capacity Building $50,000 - $250,000 (25% match)

36 month grant period

Community Development, Training, and Technical

Assistance $250,000 - $500,000 (25% match)

36 month grant period

Local Food Promotion Program

Two types of project applications were accepted in 2018 under LFPP (could change):

Planning$25,000 - $100,000 (25% match)

18 month grant period

Implementation$100,000 - $500,000 (25% match)

36 month grant period

Other AMS Grants

Specialty Crop Block Grant and Multi-State Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Federal State Marketing Improvement Program Acer Access and Development Grant Dairy Business Innovation Grant Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program

Farm Bill – Changes to AMS Grants

Farm Bill combines FMPP, LFPP and VAPG to create the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) FMPP and LFPP will keep their own individual RFA’s VAPG will be run through RD Authority given to competitively award grants to

support regional food system partnerships (Regional Food System Partnerships).

LAMP

FMPPLFPPVAPG

RFSP

Farm Bill – Changes to AMS Grants

Both FMPP and LFPP will required cost sharing or matching of 25% of the total federal portion of the grant.

Food Councils are a new eligible entity. A cap amount of $6,500 is established to cover

expenses for obtaining food safety certifications and making changes and upgrades to practices and equipment to improve food safety.

Mandated metrics evaluation.

Farm Bill – Changes to AMS Grants

Provides $50 million for FY2019 and each fiscal year thereafter.

The breakdown of the LAMP Budget is as follows:

Program/Function PercentAmount (millions)

FMLFPP 47% $23.5VAPG 35% $17.5Partnerships 10% $5.0Administration 8% $4.0

Total 100% $50.0

Marketing Services Division

MSD Division: How Do We Help?

Through market research, analysis, data products and other tools, we help stakeholders better understand trends in the rapidly evolving direct to consumer marketplace.

Three areas of concentration:

1

2

3

Local Food Directories and Surveys

Local Food Systems Research and Technical Assistance

Wholesale Markets and Facility Design

Local Food Directories and Surveys Maintains four national directories on local food at

www.usdalocalfooddirectories.com Farmers Markets (8,790)

CSAs (863)

Food Hubs (241)

On-Farm Markets (1,511)

http://www.usdalocalfooddirectories.com/

Local Food Directories and Surveys Partners with National Agricultural Statistics Service

(NASS) to conduct research

Local Food Marketing Practice Survey The 2015 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey is the

first-ever survey conducted by USDA to produce benchmark data about local food marketing practices.

December 2020 for next survey

National Farmers Market Manager Survey 1,400 farmers market managers participated in the 2014

survey

Spring 2020 for next survey

MSD Facility Design Services

Provides targeted site assessment and design services for clients who are considering the construction or remodeling of wholesale markets, farmers markets, public markets, commercial and shared-use kitchens, and food hubs. These facilities can be: indoors or outdoors, single buildings or building complexes, industrial or commercial.

MSD Facility Design Services

Our predesign services include assistance in: Market analysis Review of environmental issues Site selection

Our design services include: Initial design concept Building cost study Architectural rendering

Our support services include: Review of equipment specifications Advice on facilities management Advice on energy efficiency

Local Food, Local Places

Local Food Systems

• Farmers Markets

• Food Hubs• Community

Gardens• Incubator

Kitchens• CSA’s • Co-Ops

Placemaking and Smart Growth

• Downtown revitalization

• Walk, bike, transit and shorter car trips

• Compact, mixed use patterns

• Rural/working land preservation

Economic Development

• Downtown revitalization

• Increase agricultural based economic impact

• Business incubation

Public Health

• Access to healthy foods

• Active lifestyles • Access to

healthcare• Addressing

poverty issues

Helps communities create walkable, healthy, economically vibrant neighborhoods through the development of local food systems

Local Food, Local Places

Understanding Local/Regional MarketsEvaluating markets, expected returns, industry trends and innovative business structures.

Local Food Curriculum

Partnered with nearly 30 local and regional practitioners across the country (eXtension, academics and non-profits), under the cooperative leadership of Iowa State University, Farm, Food and Enterprise Development

Objectives: Survey available nationwide courses focused on training in local and

regional food systems market development Prioritize topic area needs for future curricula development to aid

Extension Educators in their work to establish or expand new markets.

Results: Recommended core competencies and learning objectives Information about existing curricula that are designed to meet those

learning objectives.

Anu Rangarajan- Cornell Small Farm ProgramMolly Riordan

Samantha Schaffstall, AMS Local Food Research and Development Division

The Promise of Urban Agriculture

Objectives: Evaluate factors that have contributed to or inhibited the success of

commercial urban agriculture Determine policy, investment and community actions that could foster

development of commercial urban agriculture Identify strategic research, training, extension and education needs

to advance commercial urban farming

Case study-based, qualitative and quantitative data: profile farms diverse in their geography, demography, business

structure and strategy, AND meet definition of commercial 3 years in business, $10,000 in gross revenue 360-degree view: talk to urban planners, funders, non-profit

organizers, customers, and neighbors of farms

At a Glance: Case Study Farms

Case Study Format History

Community Description

Farm Description

Production Practices

Business Structure

Marketing and Sales

Employees

Other Activities and Services

Support

Policies Impacting Success

Assets and Challenges

“The Promise of Urban Agriculture”

President and head farmer Ben Flanner surveys more than a dozen varieties of specialty peppers.

Other Topics Covered

Business Strategies and Risk Management

Markets and Income Streams

Sustaining Commercial Urban Agriculture through Policy

Urban Farms as Social Enterprises

Controlled Environment Agriculture

Urban Agriculture Innovations: Policies, Plans, Strategies and Technologies

Considerations and Recommendations

Farmer Lay Htoo with some of her technical advisors in her high tunnel.

Some Considerations for Supporting Commercial Urban Agriculture

1. Commercial urban farms often access land through exceptional or extraordinary circumstances, eliminating or reducing land costs that can be prohibitive to entering farming (urban or rural).

2. Commercial urban farms rarely depend upon the sale of agricultural products alone.

3. Commercial viability for urban farms depends upon continued demand for local food through farmer’s markets, CSAs, and locally-focused restaurants and retailers.

4. Commercial urban farms cannot be all things to all people.

Questions?

Samantha Schaffstall

Phone: (202) 236-2668

Email: samantha.schaffstall@usda.gov

Website:

www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional

Contact Information

mailto:samantha.schaffstall@ams.usda.govhttp://www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional

USDA/AMS Programs to Support Local and Regional Food SystemsLocal and Regional Food SystemsLegislative Authority Supports USDA/AMS Interest in Local Food MarketingAgendaSlide Number 5Slide Number 6Farmers Market Promotion ProgramLocal Food Promotion ProgramOther AMS Grants Farm Bill – Changes to AMS GrantsFarm Bill – Changes to AMS GrantsFarm Bill – Changes to AMS GrantsSlide Number 13MSD Division: How Do We Help?Local Food Directories and SurveysLocal Food Directories and SurveysMSD Facility Design ServicesMSD Facility Design ServicesLocal Food, Local Places��Local Food, Local Places��Understanding Local/Regional Markets��Local Food Curriculum �The Promise of�Urban Agriculture����Anu Rangarajan- Cornell Small Farm Program�Molly Riordan�Samantha Schaffstall, AMS Local Food Research and Development DivisionThe Promise of Urban AgricultureSlide Number 25Case Study FormatOther Topics CoveredSome Considerations for Supporting Commercial Urban AgricultureQuestions? Slide Number 30