FSA Toolkit

Additional Resources

Curated guides, downloadable documents, official web portals, and support organizations to help you navigate USDA programs — all in one place.

Additional Resources

Downloads

Downloadable Guides & Fact Sheets

Key FSA documents to save, print, or share with your team.

PDF Guide

Urban Agriculture Success Stories

Real examples of urban farmers who used FSA programs to start and grow their operations. Great for client outreach.

Download PDF →

PDF Guide

Farm Loans Application Quick Guide — Microloans

Step-by-step walkthrough for completing a microloan application. Covers required documents, eligibility checklist, and what to expect.

Download PDF →

PDF Guide

Microloans Fact Sheet (2024)

Current FSA microloan fact sheet with program details, loan limits, eligible uses, and application requirements for 2024.

Download PDF →

PDF Guide

FSA County Committee Elections — Eligibility Fact Sheet

Official USDA fact sheet explaining who can vote and run for county committee seats — including urban and non-traditional producers.

Download PDF →

PDF Guide

Beginning Farmer & Rancher Programs Overview

Summary of FSA programs specifically targeted at beginning farmers and ranchers, including set-aside loan funds and reduced down payment options.

Download PDF →

PDF Guide

USDA Programs for Urban Farmers

Overview of the full range of USDA programs available to urban, indoor, and innovative producers — loans, grants, conservation, and technical assistance.

Download PDF →

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COC Election Official Guidelines

Official FSA guidelines for conducting County Committee elections.

Download PDF →

Official Portals

Official USDA Web Resources

Key government websites for accessing programs, managing your account, and finding local assistance.

Farmers.gov

The official USDA farm portal — manage your account, apply for loans, track payments, and access digital self-service tools.

farmers.gov →

FSA County Office Locator

Find your local FSA office by state and county. Your county office is where you register your farm, apply for programs, and meet with loan officers.

Find Your Office →

USDA Service Center Locator

Locate the nearest USDA Service Center — many offices house FSA, NRCS, and Rural Development staff under one roof.

Find Service Center →

FSA Farm Loans

Full overview of all FSA loan programs — direct, guaranteed, micro, emergency, youth, and ownership loans with eligibility info.

fsa.usda.gov →

USDA Urban Agriculture Hub

USDA’s central landing page for urban agriculture — programs, grants, success stories, and resources specifically for urban and indoor producers.

usda.gov/urban-agriculture →

NRCS Programs & Technical Assistance

Access NRCS conservation programs, soil health tools, and technical assistance for working lands — including EQIP funding for eligible operations.

nrcs.usda.gov →

Urban Agriculture

Urban & Community Resources

SARE Urban Agriculture Grants

Research and education grants for urban, suburban, and community food system projects through the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program.

sare.org →

USDA Community Garden & Urban Farms Initiative

Funding and technical assistance for community gardens and urban farms managed through OUAIP and local USDA offices.

Learn More →

National Urban Agriculture Council

Advocacy and network organization advancing policies and programs that support urban and peri-urban food production across the country.

nua-council.org →

Beginning Farmers

Support Organizations

National Young Farmers Coalition

Advocacy network building political power for young and beginning farmers. Resources include policy guides, peer networks, and farm access tools.

youngfarmers.org →

Farm Aid — Farmer Resource Network

Connects farmers with local organizations that provide legal, financial, and technical assistance. Beginning farmer resources available at beginning2farm.org.

farmaid.org →

SCORE — Business Mentorship for Farmers

Free business mentoring from experienced professionals. An active SCORE mentor relationship with farming experience qualifies as a substitute for one year of FSA farm experience.

score.org →

RESOURCES

Explore More Tools & Resources

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Decode FSA Acronyms

Quick guide to commonly used FSA and USDA terms.

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Quick Agency Guide

Commonly referred-to agencies explained clearly.

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Additional Resources

Real results with FSA programs from real producers.

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OUAIP

Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Homepage