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Stewarding Success: Enhancing Access for Underserved Farmers in CSP

socially disadvantaged

Stewarding Success: Enhancing Access for Underserved Farmers in CSP

October 22, 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE: On October 9, 2024, NSAC released “Stewarding Success: CSP Under the 2018 Farm Bill”, a comprehensive analysis of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) over the course of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). The report offers an in-depth analysis of CSP’s enrollment trends, conservation practices supported, and funding impacts, including […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Farm Bill

Stewarding Success: IRA Funding is Cultivating New Conservation Acres and Farmers

October 15, 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE: On October 9, 2024, NSAC released Stewarding Success: CSP Under the 2018 Farm Bill, a comprehensive analysis of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) over the course of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). The report offers an in-depth analysis of CSP’s enrollment trends, conservation practices supported, and funding impacts, including […]

Filed Under: Carousel, Conservation, Energy & Environment, Farm Bill

Release: The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act Seeks to Increase Equity in USDA’s Food Purchases

December 1, 2023

The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act outlines a new, values-based approach for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase commodities that supply child, senior, and community nutrition programs across the nation. The Act also directs USDA to target technical assistance and food safety investments for small and socially disadvantaged producers and businesses to ensure they have fair access to USDA contracts. … Read More →

Filed Under: Local & Regional Food Systems, Press Releases

$45 Million Available for Outreach and Assistance to Underserved Producers

May 5, 2023

The USDA announced $45 million in funding for 2501 grants, almost $10 million more than was available last year, to help organizations conduct targeted outreach and provide technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers. This post details the program, eligibility requirements and features some of the 2022 projects. … Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs, Research, Education & Extension

Funding available for rural farmers and cooperatives

March 29, 2023

On March 17, 2023, USDA Rural Development announced the availability of at least $31 million in total funding for Value-Added Producer (VAPG) projects and $3 million for Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG). The application window to apply is now open. Online applications will be accepted until May 11 for VAPG and May 16 for SDGG through grants.gov. Additional information on paper application deadlines is below. We encourage all readers to help get the word out to qualified individuals and groups…. Read More →

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs, Local & Regional Food Systems, Marketing and Labeling

2501 Funding Now Available for FY 2021

July 28, 2021

Historically, farmers of color have been unable to participate in or benefit from USDA programs to the same extent as their white neighbors. This presents an enormous challenge for farmers of color when they are looking to start or maintain viable and resilient careers in farming. Rising costs and limited availability of farmland, access to […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Grants and Programs, Research, Education & Extension

FUNDING CUT FOR 2501 PROGRAM DESPITE RECORD NEED TO RESPOND TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

December 11, 2020

Historic discrimination and inadequate assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs have contributed to the exceptional challenges that farmers of color and military veteran farmers face in the industry. For three decades, the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (also known as the “Section 2501” program) has […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Coronavirus, Grants and Programs

$16 Million Invested to Train Beginning Farmers – Where Does It Go?

October 29, 2020

Beginning farmers and ranchers face a number of unique circumstances and challenges to establish themselves in the industry, and their path has become no easier in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the Economic Research Service (ERS) published a report that found beginning farmers have higher debt-to-asset ratios, are less likely to receive […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel, Farm Bill, Grants and Programs

Grant Funding Available to Support Farmers of Color and Military Veterans

July 24, 2020

Farmers of color and military veterans have historically struggled to access critical farm assistance and aid programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), largely a consequence of deliberate discrimination against them and insufficient outreach to their communities. Last week, USDA announced the availability of $15 million to support organizations working with these underserved […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Carousel

Final Awards Supporting Farmers of Color and Veterans Announced

October 22, 2019

For three decades, the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (also known as the “Section 2501” program) has served as the only farm bill program dedicated to addressing the specific needs of farmers of color. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 projects will expand upon these efforts to ensure socially disadvantaged (SDA) […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Grants and Programs

USDA Grant Funding Now Available to Support Farmers of Color and Military Veterans

July 16, 2019

Historically, farmers of color and military veterans have struggled to access vital farm programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These disparities have existed for a number of reasons, including inadequate outreach to these communities by USDA, as well as institutional discrimination. In order to better serve farmers of color and veteran farmers, […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Grants and Programs

Funding Available for Rural Cooperative Development

May 31, 2018

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service announced the availability of nearly $9 million in grants to support rural cooperative development. $3 million of those funds are set-aside specifically for grants targeted to socially disadvantaged groups. Cooperative development grant funds are available through the general Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program (RCDG) […]

Filed Under: Grants and Programs, Rural Development

RELEASE: Bicameral Bill Prioritizes Support for Nation’s Underserved Farmers

May 15, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Reana Kovalcik National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition 202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net  Bicameral Bill Prioritizes Support for Nation’s Underserved Farmers National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition praises bill introduction Washington, DC, May 15, 2018 – For the last 30 years, the farm bill’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (also known as “Section […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Farm Bill, Press Releases

FSA Lending to Female Farmers and Farmers of Color Continues to Fall

May 3, 2018

Editor’s Note: This is the final post of a 3-part analysis of FSA loan program usage throughout FY 2017. Prior posts focused on lending trends for beginning farmers and overall annual trends. Recognizing that farmers of color and female farmers have historically experienced disproportionate burden and discrimination when seeking access to loan financing, the National […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs

Racial Equity in the Farm Bill: Context and Foundations

December 1, 2017

Editor’s Note: This blog post is the first in a multi-part series written and curated by NSAC Policy Intern Noah McDonald, which explores how the next Farm Bill can advance racial equity in food and agriculture. This first post explores some of the historical context for the racial inequities within our food system, federal efforts […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers

Funding Available to Support Training for Farmers of Color, Veteran Farmers

June 23, 2017

Historically, farmers of color and military veterans have not had the same access to or rates of participation in the programs administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA); often this disparity has been due to insufficient or inadequate outreach to these communities. In order to help veterans and farmers of color to enter and succeed in […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Budget and Appropriations, Grants and Programs

FSA Loans to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Drop in 2016

February 9, 2017

Editor’s Note: This is the third post of a three-part blog series analyzing the impacts of the Farm Service Agency’s fiscal year (FY) 2016 direct and guaranteed loan programs. This blog will focus on socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and the trends in their loan participation across the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) […]

Filed Under: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs

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