Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Payment Program 

USDA wants to support the development of new markets for specialty crops. January 10th is the extended DEADLINE for all specialty crop growers to apply for a 2025 payment. The payment will be based on your 2023 or 2024 sales records. Watch the video at the bottom of this page to learn how to apply.  ​​​​

​

If you are already signed up for a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) farm number through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the application shouldn't take very long.  Here's the link to apply: MASC APPLICATION

 

If  you aren't signed up for a USDA farm number, you can still apply, it will just require more forms. The MASC application doesn't require you to have a farm number, actually, but we recommend getting one if you are in a USDA office, so you can take advantage of other programs. 

​

If you want help applying, Go Farm Connect can provide you with a partner to lead you through the  paperwork. Assistance is available in Hmong, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Spanish, and French. Please fill out this

Farmer Intake form for MASC Help

​

Go Farm Connect will be hosting several group USDA office visits across Wisconsin and Minnesota before the January 8 deadline. See the full list HERE. At these visits, farmers can get help from experienced peers in their language of choice.  To be notified as those are scheduled, please join the Go Farm Connect Email List.