NB_300_22_36 - NB 300-22-36 LTP – Use of FY 2022 Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Funds Received from the Risk Management Agency (RMA)
NB 300-22-36 LTP – Use of FY 2022 Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Funds Received from the Risk Management Agency (RMA)
National Bulletin: 300-22-36  
Date: May 13, 2022 
Subject: LTP – Use of FY 2022 Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Funds Received from the Risk Management Agency (RMA) 


Action Required By:   September 30, 2022
 
Purpose.   To provide guidance to State Conservationists (STCs) in the 16 AMA States on the use of FY 2022 AMA funds from RMA.     
 
Expiration Date.   September 30, 2022  
 
Background.   AMA program funding has been expanded to establish a financial assistance program for eligible producers in 16 States to implement select conservation practices such as high tunnel systems, micro irrigation, sprinkler system, irrigation water management, and other specified irrigation and water related practices. NRCS has experience in providing technical and financial assistance to producers implementing these practices and will leverage this additional funding provided by the RMA to assist producers in the 16 AMA States. NRCS will use its current program delivery mechanisms to distribute the funds.        
 
Explanation.   AMA States will emphasize to the greatest extent possible the program funding opportunities to historically underserved groups defined as New and Beginning, Limited Resource, Socially Disadvantaged, and Military Veteran Producers. States will be requested to use outreach opportunities to target potential applicants in their States. Applicants must meet the existing producer eligibility provisions for AMA in Subpart P of the NRCS Working Lands Conservation Program manual. Field offices will coordinate with the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office for applicants who need an FSA farm and tract number for program eligibility.

This funding will provide producers with financial assistance up to 75 percent of the cost of practice implementation and will provide historically underserved producers with up to 90 percent of the cost of practice implementation – similar to that of the NRCS AMA program.

Associated practices needed for proper operation will be used to address all environmental concerns, such as erosion, irrigation, and runoff associated with the installation and use of these conservation practices in all landscape locations.

A separate allocation of financial assistance (FA) and technical assistance (TA) funds will be made to AMA States. A separate subaccount for tracking the funds for each State has been developed for reporting purposes.

The final date for States to obligate the funds is Friday, September 30, 2022.

States will be required to provide a report on the use of these funds (e.g., success stories, total obligated funds, number of contracts, types of practices, and planned extents) by Friday, November 4, 2022.    
 
Contact.  

If you have any questions, please contact Kelly German, AMA Program Manager, Financial Assistance Programs Division, at (615) 277-2544 or kelly.german@usda.gov.



 /s/

 CLINT EVANS  
 Acting Deputy Chief for Programs  

 
 
Attachment A – AMA-RMA State Allocations
Attachment B – AMA-RMA Eligible Practices FY22    
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