Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program
The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program supports specialty crop producers by helping them market their crops effectively, improving reach and profitability.
Overview
The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) Program provides vital support to specialty crop producers. This program helps producers market their crops effectively, enabling them to reach broader markets and improve profitability.
Eligibility
Who is Eligible?
- Producers with commercially marketed raw specialty crops.
- Must provide documentation verifying land ownership or rental agreements.
Eligible Crops
- Specialty Crops:
- Nursery crops
- Christmas trees
- Vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seeds)
- Culinary and medicinal herbs and spices
- Tree nuts
Ineligible Crops
- Field and Grain Crops:
- Forage crops
- Grain crops
- Sugar beets
- Sugarcane
- Oilseed Crops:
- Oilseeds
- Peanuts
- Primrose (other than grass seed)
- Other specific crops such as milkweed, tobacco, and kochia (prostrata).
- Other Products: Dairy and livestock products.
How to Apply
- New producers must complete and sign the new producer application by January 8, 2025.
- Provide records of specialty crop sales and evidence of the ability to grow, harvest, and market the expected yield.
Required Documentation
- Land ownership or rental agreements.
- Contemporaneous diaries and records deemed acceptable for documenting sales and production.
Payment Calculation
MASC payments are calculated based on:
- Reported specialty crop sales.
- A percent payment factor applied to determine final payments. Payments are subject to program demand and fund availability.