The Connecticut Agricultural Mediation Program (CTAMP), which is administered through the Quinnipiac University School of Law Center on Dispute Resolution recently received re-certification by the USDA to operate at Connecticut’s official Agricultural Mediation Program for the fiscal year 2020.
Since being certified in 2015, CTAMP has been providing mediation services for issues involving agricultural loans, USDA actions on farm and conservation programs, wetlands determinations, and rural housing and business loans.
CTAMP is happy to announce that as a result of the 2018 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 115-334), the following issues and related disputes will also be covered by our program:
The National Organic Program established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990
Lease issues, including land leases and equipment leases
Family farm transitions
Other issues as the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture considers appropriate for better serving the agricultural community and persons eligible for mediation
The 2018 Farm Bill further authorizes that funding provided to State Certified Mediation Programs may be used to offer credit counseling to covered persons before the initiation of any mediation involving USDA or unrelated to any ongoing dispute or mediation in which USDA is a party.