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Overview of the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program

The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program, administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) using Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds, offers marketing assistance payments to eligible specialty crop producers. This funding is aimed at expanding domestic specialty crop markets and developing new markets for these crops in 2025.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for the MASC program, producers must meet the following criteria:

  • Specialty Crop Production: Applicants must be actively producing specialty crops that will be sold in 2025, with a share in the risk and ownership of the crops.
  • Business Structure: Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens, resident aliens, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and qualifying foreign entities.
  • Compliance: Producers must comply with “Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation” regulations (conservation compliance) and must not have controlled substance violations.
  • Income Limits: The average adjusted gross income (AGI) of the applicant must be less than $900,000 for tax years 2021–2023, unless at least 75% of the AGI comes from farming.

Eligible Crops

MASC supports a broad range of specialty crops, including:

  • Fruits (fresh, dried)
  • Vegetables (including dry edible beans, peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seeds)
  • Herbs and Spices (culinary and medicinal)
  • Tree Nuts
  • Honey, Hops, Maple Sap
  • Turfgrass and Grass Seed
  • Nursery Crops, Christmas Trees, and Floriculture

For a complete list of eligible crops, visit the FSA website.

Ineligible Crops

Certain crops are not eligible for MASC, including:

  • Field and Grain Crops (e.g., cotton, peanuts, oilseeds, sugar beets)
  • Livestock Products (e.g., dairy, eggs)
  • Other Products (e.g., aquatic species, tofu)
  • Forage, Hay, and Cover Crops

How to Apply

Eligible producers must submit their MASC applications by January 8, 2025. To apply, producers must complete the FSA-1140 form and submit it to any FSA county office. Additional required forms include:

  • FSA-1141 (New Producers) for those reporting expected 2025 sales
  • AD-2047, CCC-902, CCC-941, and others as specified by the FSA.

New Producers

New producers are eligible for MASC if they:

  • Began producing specialty crops in 2023 or 2024, but didn’t have sales due to immaturity, or are starting in 2025.
  • For new producers, payments will be based on expected 2025 specialty crop sales, with required documentation supporting the expected yield and inventory.

Payment Calculation

MASC payments are based on total specialty crop sales for the elected calendar year (2023 or 2024). Sales are categorized into tiers, and payment factors are determined for each sales range. The payment ranges from:

  • Up to $49,999
  • $50,000 – $99,999
  • $100,000 – $499,999
  • $500,000 – $999,999
  • Over $1 million

The total payment will be calculated by applying the determined payment factor to each tier, and final payments may be prorated or reduced depending on available funding.

Application Deadline and Submission

All applications must be submitted by January 8, 2025, and can be delivered through mail, fax, hand delivery, or electronically. For more information on the application process, visit the FSA website or contact your local FSA office.

Conclusion

The MASC program offers essential support for specialty crop producers looking to expand or develop new markets in 2025. Eligible producers must complete the required paperwork and meet the necessary criteria by the January 8 deadline to receive marketing assistance payments. For more details, visit FSA’s website.

Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops fact sheet 

University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran, Disability Institution. If you need a reasonable accommodation or language access services, contact the Evans County Extension office at 912-739-1292 and wgreene5@uga.edu, at least three weeks prior to the program date.

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