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Agriculture Mediation Program

In keeping with the provisions of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, Title 5 “State Mediation Programs,” the State of Utah has implemented a voluntary mediation program, the Utah Agricultural Mediation Program (UMAP).

We feel it is important for farmers, ranchers and the agriculture community to understand what mediation is and how it might benefit them. 

Mediation is a voluntary process used to solve problems and settle disputed issues. UAMP can help producers resolve disputes related to an adverse decision by any USDA Agencies or other agriculture related issues. In mediation, a trained, impartial mediator helps participants review and discuss their conflicts, identify options to resolve disputes and agree on solutions. Mediation helps to avoid expensive and time-consuming administrative appeals and/or litigation.

UAMP can mediate agricultural disputes between farmers and ranchers throughout the State of Utah. The program is administered by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and has been certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The following types of issues can be mediated by the UAMP: 

  • Agricultural loans, regardless of whether the loans are made or guaranteed by USDA or made by a third party.
  • Wetland determinations.
  • Compliance with farm programs, conservation programs, and the National Organic Program established under the Organic Foods ProductionAct of 1990.
  • Rural water loan programs.
  •  Grazing on National Forest System lands.
  • Pesticides.
  • Lease issues, including land leases and equipment leases.
  • Family farm transition.
  • Farmer-neighbor disputes.
  • Other issues as the Secretary or the head of the Agriculture Department of each participating state considers appropriate for better serving the agricultural community and persons eligible for mediation.

In addition, Certified Mediation Programs may provide credit counseling prior to the initiation of any mediation involving the USDA or unrelated to any ongoing dispute or mediation in which USDA is a party.

The UAMP provides a voluntary alternative to litigation, arbitration, or formal appeals through the use of an impartial third party mediator. The mediator facilitates communication and assists the parties in resolving their disputes. Mediation allows disputing parties to discuss options in a controlled setting and provides all parties the opportunity to express their views and provide input toward the solution. The mediation process is an extension of the traditional negotiation process with the addition of a third party to assist in negotiations.

Click here to view the UDAF Mediation Brochure.

Mediation brings the disputing parties together in a neutral setting with a trained, impartial mediation to work out a solution where everyone “wins”. For example, in agricultural loan disputes, mediation provides a forum for borrowers and creditors to resolve their financial disputes and explore any options that can keep the family farmer in business and keep our rural communities viable.

The process promotes calm and rational discussion of the issues to identify goals and options, reduce fault-finding and construct a plan. All participants in the mediation process get to speak and be heard. Mediation is an efficient and economical way to resolve disputes.

However, this is a voluntary settlement process. Mediation is not legally binding and the mediator has no power to find fault or impose a particular solution. The goal is to help all parties to reach agreement on an acceptable course of action.

Contact the Utah Agricultural Mediation Program at (801) 982-2200 to request mediation services. UAMP will contact all of the parties involved, will help assemble the necessary information, and will schedule the mediation at a mutually agreeable time and location.

The mediation process can be initiated by an agricultural producer by contacting UAMP.

The mediation process used by UAMP can be described by the following steps:

  • Initial contact with parties
  • Selecting a strategy to guide mediation
  • Collecting background information
  • Scheduling the mediation at a time and place agreed on by the parties (virtually or in person)
  • Designing a plan for mediation
  • Building trust and cooperation
  • Beginning the mediation session
  • Defining issues and setting an agenda
  • Uncovering hidden interest of the parties
  • Generating options for settlement
  • Assessing options
  • Final bargaining
  • Formal settlement-signing of a mediation agreement 

Utah is a “voluntary” mediation state, which means that mediation will not take place unless all necessary parties agree to mediate the dispute. When a written request for mediation services is received by the UAMP, the other parties who are necessary in order to achieve a settlement are contacted to secure their agreement to participate. The agreement of a party to participate in the mediation process normally implies an agreement to abstain from taking adverse legal actions during the time the case is in mediation. If the other necessary parties do not agree to participate or do not respond within the allotted time, the requesting party will be notified that mediation has been declined.

The mediation process is terminated when a mutually agreeable settlement is reached by the parties. However, in keeping with the voluntary nature of the mediation process in Utah, the requesting party may terminate the mediation process at any time, with or without cause, by written notification to UAMP. UAMP may terminate the mediation process when a party fails to respond within 15 days to request for information or offer of settlement. Likewise, UAMP may terminate the mediation process at any time if it is determined that further efforts at mediation are no longer worthwhile.

Typically, the mediation process allows for a much quicker resolution of a dispute than litigation. Also, mediation is less expensive than litigation or the formal appeals process. But perhaps most importantly, mediation provides a mechanism for resolving disputes that does not destroy the relationship between disputing parties.

The mediation process encourages the participation of the disputing parties in the negotiations process. This is important since the parties are in a position directly communicating their needs from a settlement. Also, the mediator may be able to assist the parties in crafting compromise because information can be furnished in confidence to the mediator by both sides. This allows the disputing parties to reveal to the mediator reasons that a particular offer is not acceptable along with potential ranges for settlement.

Agreements reached in mediation typically have a very high rate of compliance. This is because the disputing parties actually participate in the development of the settlement agreement. Most other processes either impose a solution on the parties or very limited participation in the development of an agreement.

The benefit derived by the producer is dependent upon the outcome of the mediation process as well as the type of dispute. In credit mediation, if the outcome results in debt restructuring, the borrower maintains his way of life and continues to farm. If the outcome was reached voluntarily and was not imposed. Furthermore, voluntary liquidation often allows the borrower to retain assets that would have been forfeited under a forced liquidation because amounts received for assets under voluntary liquidation are typically much higher than when assets are sold under forced liquidation. Also, the borrower may not be faced with the negative social stigma typically associated with foreclosure or bankruptcy.

Outcomes that result in voluntary debt settlement or loan restructuring allow the borrower to continue with feasible operations that in turn generate the cash flows necessary for debt service. This results in a performing loan for the lender for the lender that is therefore profitable. If the outcome results in voluntary liquidation, the lender benefits by avoiding time and expense associated with foreclosure. Also, in situations where equity positions are approaching zero or have totally eroded, the lender stands a much greater chance of having a debt fully satisfied if liquidation is voluntary.

In non-credit disputes, the producer is provided with a mechanism that allows for an inexpensive non-threatening process to resolve a dispute in a timely manner. Mediation provides the producer with a neutral confidential setting where they can explain and discuss the nature of the dispute from their own standpoint. Furthermore, the mediation process does not pose the intimidation factor that is often present in litigation or appeal.

Settlements in mediation help to keep causes out of the USDA appeals process as well as State and District courts. This translates into substantial savings to USDA in the form of administrative costs. However, the greatest benefit derived from mediation is intangible. This is the benefit of improved communication that results in strengthened ties and relationships. This mediation process tends to leave the parties with a greater sense of satisfaction than litigation because the process is designed to increase the understanding of all the parties.

UAMP serves in an impartial third party mediator role to ensure that the mediation process moves forward in a fair and orderly manner. UAMP can advise, counsel, and assist the parties in their efforts to reach a mutually agreeable solution: but UAMP cannot and will not tell any party how they should conduct their business or personal affairs. Nor can UAMP impose any particular agreement on the parties. Instead, it is UAMP’s responsibility to ensure that all participants in the mediation process are given the opportunity to speak and be heard. Specifically, an UMAP mediator may:

  • help define the issues
  • emphasize common goals
  • keep negotiations focused
  • facilitate the development and discussion of options
  • reduce fault-finding

Mediators that represent none of the parties are assigned in each case to preside at a meeting of the disputing parties. In mediation, the mediator acts as a neutral facilitator and aids the parties in generating and evaluating options. The mediator may caucus (i.e., communicate privately) with any of the parties, before, during, or after the mediation in an effort to facilitate the settlement process.

The mediator is impartial, knowledgeable in the meditation process, and familiar with agriculture.

  • The USDA Agricultural Mediation Program has consistently grown over the years and a total of 43 states currently have a USDA Certified State Agricultural Mediation Program in place.

  • This program is growing for a good reason - it works.

  • To maintain a successful program, funding must keep pace with the program’s growth.

Key Components and Issues

  • Neutrality. It is critical that mediation programs are neutral in practice as well as in perception. Producers must have confidence that the program settles disputes in a fair manner.

  • Confidentiality. Confidentiality is vital to the integrity and success of the mediation process. Without its absolute guarantee, participants may be apprehensive, or unwilling, to discuss personal financial and emotional matters.

  • Autonomy. USDA certified mediation is a state and federal partnership. State agricultural mediation programs are not federal programs. To address the difference in state needs, priorities and expectations, state program autonomy is essential and was in fact, intended by Congress.

Background

  • In 1988 Congress authorized USDA to help develop and participate in Certified State Farm Mediation Programs under the USDA Farm Loan Mediation Program, part of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987.

  • In 1992 Congress increased federal matching funds to 70 percent in support of state programs.

  • In 1994 Congress expanded the program under the USDA Reorganization Act, authorizing USDA to offer mediation as an option as part of the informal appeals process with respect to adverse decisions on USDA farm program issues.

  • Additional issues that can be mediated under the UAMP were added to the program with the passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill.

USDA Agricultural Mediation Program Website 

State Ag Mediation Programs Fact Sheet 

Coalition of Agricultural Mediation Programs

Alabama Agricultural Mediation Program 

Alaska, Washington, Idaho  Agricultural Mediation Program 

Arkansas Agricultural Mediation Program 

California Agricultural Mediation Program 

Colorado Agricultural Mediation Program 

Connecticut Agricultural Mediation Program 

Florida Agricultural Mediation Program 

Hawaii Agricultural Mediation Program 

Illinois Agricultural Mediation Program 

Iowa Agricultural Mediation Program 

Kansas Agricultural Mediation Program 

Louisiana Agricultural Mediation Program 

Maine Agricultural Mediation Program 

Maryland Agricultural Mediation Program 

Massachusetts Agricultural Mediation Program 

Michigan Agricultural Mediation Program 

Minnesota Agricultural Mediation Program 

Missouri Agricultural Mediation Program 

Montana Agricultural Mediation Program 

Nebraska Agricultural Mediation Program 

New Hampshire Agricultural Mediation Program 

New Jersey Agricultural Mediation Program 

New Mexico Agricultural Mediation Program

New York Agricultural Mediation Program 

North Carolina Agricultural Mediation Program 

North Dakota Agricultural Mediation Program 

Oklahoma Agricultural Mediation Program

Oregon Agricultural Mediation Program 

Pennsylvania Agricultural Mediation Program 

Rhode Island Agricultural Mediation Program 

South Dakota Agricultural Mediation Program

Texas Agricultural Mediation Program 

Vermont Agricultural Mediation Program 

Wyoming Ag Mediation Service