USDA agencies offer mediation to anyone who has received an adverse decision as part of the informal appeals process. Mediation is an informal process. An impartial mediator facilitates communications between parties in an effort to help the parties reach agreement. The mediator is not a judge and cannot impose a solution on the parties. Instead, the mediator, through active listening skills and facilitative techniques, helps the parties work toward resolution. If an agreement is reached and reduced to writing, the written agreement can be enforced.

FARM-VA mediates both covered and non-covered cases. Covered cases include:

An adverse decision by the USDA (FSA, NRCS, RMA, RD, etc.), including:

• Home foreclosures, 

• Loan denials,

• Loan accelerations, 

• Crop insurance disputes, and

• Wetlands determinations.

• Disputes with agricultural lenders (banks, farm credit institutions, etc.)

• Disputes with vendors such as feed stores, co-ops, veterinarians, custom harvesters, and suppliers)

Non-covered cases include everything else, such as:

• Family succession issues,

• Disputes with employees,

• Multi-family tenant grievances,

• Facilitation of farm disputes, and

• Neighbor disputes.