Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA)

The Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) addresses water quality concerns, soil erosion, and the transition to organic farming. The federal government will share in the cost of implementing conservation practices on cropland, grazing land, and forestland. This program is available in only 15 states. Examples of some conservation practices include:

  • Cropland-nutrient management, buffers, grassed waterways.

  • Grazing Land- buffers, prescribed grazing, pest management, fencing

  • Forestland-wildlife habitat management, buffers, tree plantings


Land Use

Grazing land, Cropland, Forestland

Focus

Cost-share payments, Incentive payments

Resource Concern

Soil erosion

Purpose

The environmental purpose of this program is to work to control soil erosion, implement integrated pest management, or help producers transition to organic farming.

Landowner Benefits

The landowner can receive cost-share payments from the government for implementing conservation practices. The federal government will pay up to 75% of the cost of an eligible practice. Incentive payments are also available which are given to encourage producers to implement conservation management practices.

Description

The Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) is designed to encourage producers to perform land management practices such as nutrient management, manure management, integrated pest management, irrigation water management, and wildlife habitat management. The federal government provides cost-share to implement conservation practices. Farmers can also receive incentive payments to implement other practices. These practices are funded for a set number of years, based on a signed contract. Maintenance is expected for the life of the practice, which may extend beyond the contract length.

Practices

Improve water management structures, irrigation structures, tree planting for windbreaks, pest management, prescribed grazing, strip cropping, and more.

Costs to Landowner

The landowner is expected to share in the cost of implementing the conservation practice.

Eligibility

This program is available in only 15 states where participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program is historically low. The land must be located in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wyoming.

Contract

The contract length is variable.

Other Notes

A conservation plan is required for the area under contract.

Landowner Initiation
  • Contact the local USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) where you own land.
  • Ask about enrolling land into the Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA).

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