Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)

Producers must:
- Be engaged in livestock or agricultural production.
- Have an interest in the farming operation associated with the land being offered for AMA enrollment.
- Have control of the land for the term of the proposed contract.
- Be in compliance with the provisions for protecting the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including the provisions for sharing AMA payments on a fair and equitable basis.
- Be within appropriate payment limitation requirements.

Land eligibility includes:
- Land on which agricultural commodities or livestock are produced, such as cropland, hayland, pastureland, rangeland, and grassland.
- Land used for subsistence purposes, private non-industrial forestland, or other land on which agricultural products, livestock, or forest-related goods are produced.
- Land on which risk may be mitigated through operation diversification or change in resource conservation practices.

Participants are not subject to Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985. They are subject to Adjusted Gross Income provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985. AMA offers an additional higher cost-share for historically underserved producers.

AMA provides financial assistance up to 75 percent of the cost of installing conservation practices. Total AMA payments shall not exceed $50,000 per participant for any fiscal year.

To apply for AMA, contact your local NRCS field office. The process includes:
- Step 1: Make a Plan: Discuss your vision for your land with NRCS to determine if financial assistance is right for you.
- Step 2: Start an Application: Complete an AD 1026 to ensure a conservation plan is in place before farming highly erodible soils and to protect identified wetland areas. Then, complete a CPA 1200 application.
- Step 3: Check your eligibility: Bring an official tax ID (Social Security number or an employer ID), a property deed or lease agreement to show you have control of the property, and a farm number to verify eligibility.

Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis but are considered for funding in different ranking periods. Ask your local NRCS district conservationist about the deadline for the ranking period to ensure you turn in your application in time.