What does ARDA mean in FARMING & AGRICULTURE

The Agricultural and Rural Development Act (ARDA) is a federal statute that establishes the rules governing agricultural production, marketing, processing, and storage. It also sets forth standards for land use planning, crop rotation, land conservation, farming controls, food safety regulations, and water resource management. ARDA was enacted in 1985 by Congress to ensure sustainable agricultural system.

ARDA provides several benefits to farmers including fiscal assistance through subsidized loans and grants; disaster relief from droughts or floods; crop insurance; market access initiatives; environmental protections for land and water resources; research subsidies for agri-tech development; rural development investment; and support for public education about farming.

ARDA provides financial assistance to farmers in the form of direct payments through various programs such as the Market Access Program (MAP), which provides funding for export promotion activities; the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which helps farmers comply with environmental laws while improving soil health and productivity; the Specialty Crop Block Grants Program (SCBGP), which helps growers of certain fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture plants, nursery crops and cut flowers with programs such as research or marketing assistance.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency administers much of ARDA along with other agencies within USDA including National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS). The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) also plays a regulatory role in agriculture under this law by enforcing quality food safety requirements for fruit and vegetables produced in the United States.

Yes. Farmers can apply for funds from various programs run by USDA's Farm Service Agency through their local offices or online at farmers.gov/programs-and-services/agricultural-act-of-1985/apply/. Applications must include all relevant information such as production plans, financial records, project objectives etc., as specified on their website.

Funds under ARDA are typically available to producers who own or operate a farm that meets certain qualifications such as being actively engaged in farming operations with specific crops grown in accordance with applicable laws or regulations. Some programs have additional eligibility criteria such as limited annual income levels or a minimum number of acres farmed depending on region of the country where farm is located.