Prince George’s County Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) Pilot Program

Notice: On April 14, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC). The USDA plans to reform the program into the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative. Contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for more information on how to apply to the AMP initiative.

The Prince George’s County Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) Pilot Program helps strengthen local agriculture by expanding market opportunities for County farmers and supporting agricultural practices that strengthen long-term farm productivity, resilience, and market access.

This project plans to pilot, evaluate, and build a Local Producers Program to improve the production, yield, and/or marketing of County agricultural products grown using environmental best-management practices. This project will reduce barriers to local agricultural production on both existing and new farms. A planned marketing strategy that resonates with County residents will combine the values of eating local with supporting local farmers using on-farm environmental practices. The County will work with Bowie State University (a Historically Black University) to develop and analyze the performance of Aquaponics systems designed specifically for local small farmers. University of Maryland Extension will similarly develop and lead Marketing and Business training for local farmers.

Open to County growers and prospective growers; there is no minimum farm size requirement. The program prioritizes historically underserved producers, including beginning farmers (less than 10 consecutive years of operation), socially disadvantaged farmers, (military) veteran farmers, limited-resource farmers, women farmers, and producers growing specialty crops.

Selected growers who commit to grow and market their products and share data with the County for three years are eligible for incentive payments: beginning/new producers up to $100,000; established producers up to $50,000 — to establish or expand their climate-smart operations, with 75% awarded up-front. During the preliminary intention-to-apply period, optional stipends up to $5,000 plus technical assistance are available for preparatory activities (sharing practice data, obtaining an FSA Farm/Tract number, completing University of Maryland Extension training or a business plan, developing a farm plan with an approved CSAF practice, and preparing the full application). Implemented practices must include at least one approved NRCS climate-smart agriculture or forestry (CSAF) practice.

No new application cycle is currently open. The County states: “Additional information about program eligibility, funding opportunities and application materials will be released as it becomes available.”

Farmers and agricultural producers can ask questions, request information and receive assistance related to the AMP Pilot Program at AgGrants@pgcmd.gov. The County also invites producers to add their information to its farmer database, which it uses to keep producers informed about relevant programs, resources, funding opportunities and upcoming events: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/QBjyAd1RWs?origin=lprLink

Prior cycle, for reference: the program accepted applications in two phases — a preliminary intention-to-apply period (November 15, 2024 – January 15, 2025), offering optional technical assistance and stipends for preparatory work; and full applications for incentive payments (January 15 – February 15, 2025), open to any growers or prospective growers. As a pilot, the Department of the Environment reserves the right to select the practices and operations most likely to succeed.