The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking for input on the environmental impacts of two programs – the Tree Assistance Program and the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency is accepting comments until Jan. 18. The TAP environmental assessment includes updates to streamline the program and enable a quick response to natural disasters. The FSFL environmental assessment recommends continuing the program as currently administered.
“We welcome public input on the possible environmental impacts of both of these valuable programs,” says FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Your comments will help us maintain and strengthen our disaster assistance and financing options for producers nationwide.”
Tree Assistance Program
TAP helps cover the cost of replanting or rehabilitating eligible trees, bushes, and vines that produce annual crops damaged or destroyed by natural disasters. This program is crucial for helping producers recover from adverse natural disaster events. The proposed program implementation update would include additional management tools and screening criteria that allow FSA to respond more quickly and effectively to time-sensitive natural disasters, including plant diseases.
Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
FSFL improves nationwide on-farm storage capacity for upgrading and building farm storage facilities for eligible commodities. The recommendation to continue the program as currently administered is based on a need to improve the ability of agricultural producers to preserve harvested crops, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve marketing and sales opportunities.
See both draft assessments: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/about-fsa/environmental-cultural-resource-compliance/national-environmental-policy-act/current-environmental-documents
Email comments to SM.FPAC.FBC.ENV@usda.gov before Jan. 18.
