Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) in New Jersey
 

The Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program (AMA) is a voluntary program only available in sixteen states. In New Jersey, the program specifically targets beginning and limited resource farmers, small farms, and producers who have had limited participation in other USDA financial assistance programs.

Applicants must have current crop and producer records on file with USDA’s Farm Service Agency. They must own or control the land, agree to implement specific eligible conservation practices according to the contract schedule, and qualify for farmland assessment. In addition, applicants who meet at least three or more of the six criteria listed below automatically receive consideration for funding as a medium (three criteria) or high (four or more criteria) priority application.

The criteria for AMA are:

1. Average annual gross farm sales $70,000 or less for the last three years
2. Total farm acreage of less than 50 of specialty/vegetable crops/pasture OR less than 200 of any other crops
3. USDA program payments less than $10,000 (total) over the last five years
4. Production income more than 75% of the total household income (for the previous tax year)
5. Farm Operating Loan (private or government) used to support the beginning farm operation within the last 10 years
6. Rented acreage totals more than 50% of the total production acreage of the farm

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.
2010 AMA Fact Sheet (98 kb) - content is included on this page
2010 Program Details (34 kb) - also available in html format
Applying for Financial Assistance (67 kb)

What are the Payment Rates and Terms?

There is a statutory annual program payment limitation of $50,000 per person per year. However, New Jersey has capped the total amount awarded in a contract in 2010 to $50,000, due to limited program funding.

Individual practice payment rates are calculated at between 50% and 75% of the typical cost of implementing the practice in New Jersey. If the applicant is a beginning farmer, socially disadvantaged or limited resource producer, the rates are 25% higher, up to a maximum of 90%.

Payments are made after conservation practices are implemented to the standards agreed to in advance. Projected payments in the approved conservation program contract are based on practice extent and not cost. Payments are made after conservation practices are fully implemented.

Producers may contribute to the cost of a practice through in-kind sources, including personal or donated labor and use of personal equipment, as long as the value of the contribution is documented.

What Practices Can Receive Funding?

New Jersey has developed program categories around the five national priority areas for the AMA program. Practices may address more than one national priority.

How Does Signup for AMA Work?

Interested applicants can review the program information on this website and should request a new or updated conservation plan for their farm. A signed application can be filed with the local NRCS office at any time.

Applications are grouped for ranking normally once a year. A contract offer is developed based on the conservation plan, and is ranked on how well the proposed practices meet national, state, and local environmental objectives, as well as their cost-efficiency.

The state objectives of the AMA program in New Jersey include environmental risk factors of the applicant land area, such as distance to bodies of water and pollution potential from nutrients leaching into groundwater.

There are two ranking areas in New Jersey. Applications from Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Hunterdon, Somerset and Union counties are grouped into one area for ranking. The rest of the state is grouped into a second area. The funds awarded to each area are determined by the State Technical Committee on an annual basis.

What are the Payment Rates and Terms?

There is a statutory annual payment limitation of $50,000 per person per year from all sources of AMA funding. In addition, New Jersey has capped the total amount awarded in a multi-year contract to $50,000, due to limited program funding.

Individual practice payment rates are calculated at between 50% and 75% of the typical cost of implementing the practice in New Jersey. Projected payments in the approved conservation program contract are based on practice extent and not cost. Payments are made after conservation practices are fully implemented.

Producers may contribute to the cost of a practice through in-kind sources, including personal or donated labor and use of personal equipment, as long as the value of the contribution is documented.

Program Application Documents

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.
AMA Application - CCC-1200 (33 kb)
Español CCC1200: SOLICITUD PARA EL PROGRAMA DE CONSERVACIÓN (37 kb)
AMA 2010 Self Certification (17 kb)
Conservation Planning Worksheet (29 kb)

Eligibility Documents

Form AD1026 HELWC - Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification (165 kb)
Form AD1199a NFC - Direct Deposit Sign Up (109 kb)
FormCCC901-Members Form (258 kb)
Form CCC926 - Adjusted Gross Income (259kb)
Form FSA211-POA - Power of Attorney (360 kb)

Related Documents

Ranking Criteria - (coming soon)
Practice Catalog (118 kb) updated 10/29/09 - description of practices eligible for farm bill financial assistance in New Jersey and payment rates for 2010

History of AMA in New Jersey - program information from past years

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Last Modified: November 13, 2009