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Outreach Directory

The USDA/OASDFR website contains links to various other Federal and state agencies and private organizations. These links are maintained solely for the user's information and convenience. Once you link to another site, please be aware that you are then subject to the policies of the new site. In addition, please note that USDA does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to particular items in hypertext is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to constitute approval or endorsement of any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these outside web sites, or the organizations sponsoring the web sites.

Alabama (AL)

 

Alabama A&M University            
Intensive Southeastern Training Expansion Program (InSTEP) for African-American landowners.

The objectives of the proposed program are to:

1. Provide landowners with personalized technical assistance and expertise in a workshop setting to help them produce deliverables such as estate plans, forest management plans, and/or cost-share program applications.
2. Develop templates (both electronic version and hard copies) of estate plans, forest management plans, and cost-share program applications based on information from workshop participants;
3. Document (through videos, general and refereed publications) and disseminate (through conference presentations and publications) lessons learned;
4. Enhance the relationships between landowners and local and state agencies;
5. Identify 2-3 successful participating properties per state to serve as model properties and case studies for underserved landowners;
6. Develop detailed data-bases of workshop participants, resource persons, relevant state and federal agencies and local representatives. Data-bases are to be made available to landowners;
7. Assist two graduate students and two minority undergraduate work-study students in developing skills and knowledge in research and extension which are relevant to meeting the needs of underserved landowners.

Geographic Service Area:  Southeastern US (Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi)
Contact Information: Patricia McDonald          
patricia.brooks@aamu.edu        
256-372-8186

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Alabama State Association of Cooperatives        
Outreach Program for Western Alabama Counties
The Alabama State Association of Cooperatives (ASAC) is proposing a three (3) year outreach, education and technical assistance program to work with the African-American farmers and forestry landowners in a 12 county area of the western Alabama Black Belt. The ASAC, the Alabama affiliate of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, will provide outreach and assistance to farmers in retaining and expanding their landholdings, increasing farm record-keeping, increase farm income and enhance quality of life in farm families and distressed rural communities, accessing and fully utilizing USDA programs and supporting cooperative development in the state. The program will seek to assist African-American farmers who have previously been neglected to share in credit, conservation, insurance, extension, housing, renewable energy and rural development programs provided by USDA. The three long term goals for our proposed outreach and technical assistance program for the Alabama State Association of Cooperatives. These are:

1. To ensure that African-American farmers in our area and statewide retain, expand and fully utilize their landholdings and land base. This includes providing additional income to farmers to increase the quality of their lives and improve their home communities;
2. To educate and assist African-American farmers to access and fully utilize all available programs of the United States Department of Agriculture, with emphasis on credit, conservation, insurance, extension and rural development related programs;
3. To assist African-American farmers to support existing agricultural cooperatives in the state; expand and organize new cooperatives and other self-help ventures as needed to support those activities and ventures on an ongoing basis.

Contact Information: John Zippert      
JZIPPERT@AOL.COM     
205-652-9676  

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Tuskegee University
Small Farm Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Project
The overall goal for the three-year Tuskegee University Small Farmer Outreach, Training, and Technical Assistance Program is to conduct outreach and technical assistance to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches; and to provide information on loan applications and farmer programs. Specific objectives are:

1. to develop and implement programs so that eligible farmers and their family members may apply for and acquire farm ownership, farm operating, equipment, livestock, housing, and youth loans and grants including cost-share and specialty crops;
2. to develop and enhance business management and marketing skills for USDA borrowers;
3. to develop the financial documentation of the farm and other applicable rural enterprises to the point where the owner graduates to a commercial lender;
4. to develop a long-range base for self-sustaining farm business analysis services through existing associations and institutions; and
5. to increase service to and participation of other socially disadvantaged and minority farmers and their family members, specifically African American, Native American and Hispanic/Latino farm families. The overall outcome of the 2501 program will be an increase in participation by socially disadvantaged and minority farmers in USDA programs and economic sustainability.

Specific outcomes will be an increase in information dissemination, applications and awards for loans for farm ownership, farm operation, equipment, housing, and youth operated businesses; an increase in farm numbers, farm operating capacity, and farm family income; and an increase in estate plans (wills, trust and corporations), resource management (forestry and biofuels) and new products (organic produce, pasture poultry and goats).

Geographic Service Area:  The “Black Belt” counties include Sumter, Greene, Pickens, Choctaw, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Dallas, Wilcox, Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Butler, Crenshaw, Montgomery, Pike, Bullock, Macon, Russell, and Barbour in Alabama.
Contact Information: Leslie Porter      
zabawar@tuskegee.edu             
334-727-8114    

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Tuskegee University      
Examining Perceptions and Enhancing Participation of Socially Disadvantaged Farmers in USDA Programs
The reasons for this may be due to mistrust, unawareness, sheer avoidance, or misunderstanding. This project attempts to rectify that by targeting African Americans, Hispanic Americans/Latinos, and Native Americans in, respectively, South Central, South, and North Alabama counties. This project is needed because these three groups are historically disadvantaged groups. They also have challenges due to language, cultural, and other barriers to access USDA programs. The project will be able to identify reasons for non-participation in USDA programs, identify and recommend innovative solutions for participation, foster increased participation in USDA programs, and ultimately help in generating or increasing income or other assets based on increased participation.

Geographic Service Area: 3 regions of Alabama
Contact Information: Tasha Hargrove
tmhargrove@tuskegee.edu
334-724-5424    

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Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation
Delta Small Farm Energy Resource Center
Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation proposes to organize and operate a center to provide energy related training and technical assistance to minority and other limited resource farmers and landowners in a 54 county area in the lower Mississippi River delta. The proposed program is designed to achieve four broad goals:

1. Create a center to coordinate Black and other limited resource farmer access to information, technical resources, and financing for energy conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, and renewable energy production.
2. Improve the financial sustainability of Black farms through improved energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. 
3. Increase the number of Black farm operators and landowners who are participating in the development of renewable energy in the Delta.
4. Increase the number of Black farm operators and landowners who participate in USDA programs such as the Biomass Crop Assistant

Program, bioenergy initiatives, conservation, and forest management. The long term expected outcomes from the program is increased sustainability of African American farmers and landowners because of increase energy efficiency in their farming operations and increased earnings from participation in renewable energy production.

Geographic Service Area:  Arkansas: 20 counties, Louisiana: 12 counties, Mississippi: 22 counties
Contact Information: Calvin King
calvinrkingsr@yahoo.com
870-734-1140   

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East Arkansas Enterprise Community. Inc.
Marketing of Alternative Crops Produced by Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
East Arkansas Enterprise Community, Inc. project proposes to provide the necessary technical assistance to establish a regional farmer’s market in the area. EAEC will also expand the sale of alternative crops produced by socially disadvantage and small scale/limited resource farmers in bulk across the region (wholesale) and the sale of other value added product.   EAEC's primary mission is to use the targeted audience to organized the regional farmers' market initiative by compiling the organizational tools amongst alternative crop producers, creating cooperatives, increase marketing opportunities and identifying short and long term funding to move the and expand the cooperatives to the next level of scale. Until now, Farmers markets in Eastern Arkansas have lacked formal organization and consequently the Farmers Market has suffered significantly.   The specific program priorities are:

1. Help establish a viable Regional Farmers Market;
2. Develop a system of moving produce from farms to schools and other public institutions, and
3. To help farmers market their produce by adding value to the products.

Geographic Service Area:  Arkansas counties: Cross, Lee, Monroe and St. Francis; and 11-small town/city are: Brinkley, Caldwell, Colt, Fargo, Hughes, Madison, Moro, Palestine, Wheatley, Widener and Wynne.
Contact Information: Robert  Cole
eaec@sbcglobal.net
870-630-2005    

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East Arkansas Enterprise Community Inc.
Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers - Round 2 Barriers to Equitable USDA Program Participation
The primary purpose of this project will be to identify barriers that inhibit socially disadvantaged farmers (African American) from competing in an equitable fashion as their white counter parts and to enhance crop production by extending the growing season on existing farms that grow vegetable crops. This will be accomplished by introducing socially disadvantaged farmers (African American) in the targeted area to other alternative crops and by using hoop houses to start and grow vegetable from start to finish.

Geographic Service Area: Arkansas: Lee, Monroe, Phillips, St. Francis, and certain other communities
Contact Information: Robert Cole
rl.cole@yahoo.com
870-630-2005

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National Audubon Society
DBA Audubon, AR Native Agriculture for InVigorate Ecoysystems) A program to provide outreach assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers.
The goal of Audubon Arkansas’s Native Agriculture To InVigorate Ecosystems (NATIVE) project is to increase participation of Socially Disadvantaged Farmers in USDA programs through a series of capacity building workshops and field activities that focus on integrating business and conservation planning. The NATIVE project is designed to help farmers incorporate income-generating activities that improve the environment, especially growing native warm season grasses (NWSG) and forbs for seed production and sale to habitat restoration projects. The NATIVE project will provide education and training to 100-150 farmers in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana to advance socially disadvantaged farmers’ capacity to conduct farm planning that marries good conservation practices with economic opportunities. Audubon and its collaborators will work with focal group of farmers in Phillips County in Arkansas and Coahoma and Sunflower Counties in Mississippi to develop individual farm plans that focus on income derived from farm practices that benefit the environment. From among workshop participants, Audubon will identify a core group of Phillips Co. farmers who are willing and committed to participate in a pilot project to grow NWSG for seed production. The core group will be assisted with: the formation of a farmers’ cooperative, technical expertise specific to growing NWSGs and forbs, as well as assistance securing loans and equipment needed for production. Audubon will work with existing markets to ensure that farmers have markets to buy their NWSG seeds.

Geographic Service Area: Louisiana, Phillips County in Arkansas, and Coahoma and Sunflower Counties in Mississippi
Contact Information: Ellen Fennell
efennell@audubon.org               
501-244-2229  

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Seven Harvest Inc.
Improving the Commercial Farming Competitiveness of Socially Disadvantaged Urban and Rural Producers in the Mississippi Delta
This project, “Building the Commercial Competitiveness of Socially Disadvantaged Urban and Rural Producers”, will target its efforts to selected farm communities in the Tri-state area for which relationships have been established with Seven Harvest. This will facilitate learning on:

1. Staging and scaling activities during and beyond the project life cycle
2. Case study learning about small space technology transfer suited for urban and rural producers, and
3. Outreach linking community farm mentoring to a food enterprise incubation center.

The project will address and expand on the asset building and the needs of communities in the Mississippi Delta states of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi in communities with a long history of poverty and hopelessness. They include Shelby County with the cities of Memphis and Millington, Holly Springs, MS, Mound Bayou, MS in the counties of Marshall and Bolivar, Wynne, AR and Elaine, AR in the counties of Cross and Phillips. These communities are within a 150 mile radius of the Seven Harvest Food Enterprise Incubator Center. The project will also expand on and leverage the outstanding work of Growing Power’s Community Food Center in Milwaukee, WI considered a model for urban and rural communities worldwide. The related short term objectives are:

1. Build consistent capacity among SDURFP to supply high volume and high quality foods in diverse markets,
2. Increase community stakeholder participation in local and regional food systems and,
3. Improve food security in historically excluded communities, communities of color and low income urban and rural communities.
   

Geographic Service Area:  Memphis, TN, Millington, TN-Shelby County; Helena, AR, Elaine AR,-Phillips County, Wynn, AR-Cross County; Mound Bayou, MS, Bolivar County, Holly Springs, MS, Marshall County.
Contact Information: Barry Colley
barrycolley@sbcglobal.net
501-454-2252 

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University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Sustaining Socially Disadvantaged Producers in Eastern Arkansas
The goals of this project are to enhance USDA authorized outreach and to improve how assistance is provided through USDA Programs. Our objectives are: to help SDPs participate in USDA loan programs; to help SDPs increase their yields by using USDA conservation programs to improve their land and by using CES recommendations to improve their production practices; to helps SDPs grow vegetable by using USDA programs to improve their land and to reduce risks associated with natural disasters, and by providing education on vegetables; and to help SDPs improve their livestock operations by using USDA programs to improve their pasture land and reduce the risk associated with natural disasters, and by providing livestock production education. This project is expected to increase the number of SDPs that are familiar with, understand and use the different USDA programs that are applicable to their farm or ranch operations. It will also help SDPs become familiar with the different USDA agencies and the functions they serve. The project will help increase the number of SDPs that attend educational production meetings.    

Geographic Service Area:  16 counties in Arkansas: Crittendon, Cross, Mississippi, Jackson, St. Francis, Woodruff, Jefferson, Cleveland, Lincoln, Pulasky, Ashley, Bradley, Checot, Desha, Drew, Lonoke.
Contact Information: Henry English
englishh@uapb.edu
870-575-7246 

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Arizona (AZ)

Hopi Foundation
Long-term Restoration and Preservation of Hopi Traditional Dry-land Farming Practices and Seed Stock
The proposed project is intended to build upon Natwani Coalition initiatives launched over the last six years. Specifically, over the next three years we will be conducting a series of targeted trainings and community outreach campaigns to support the restoration and preservation of traditional Hopi dryland farming practices.

Specific goals include:

1. Completion and delivery of Hopi Food Systems Training. The training will lay a foundation for community listening sessions to instigate further community-based food system restoration work.
2. Hosting a series of community listening and education sessions to encourage the launch of small-scale village and family-based farming projects. Sessions would include education about federal programs that would be culturally appropriate and that could provide possible support for farming activities.
3. Completion and pilot introduction of Hopi Traditional Farming Curriculum. The curriculum would be designed for ages 11-18 - the population most at risk for not carrying on Hopi farming practices - and would be incorporated into school and summer program activities. The curriculum, by extension, would provide a further opportunity to engage family members on the importance of Hopi farming traditions.
4. Hosting of the 2010 and 2012 Hopi Food Symposium to provide a forum for community members to come together and share knowledge about traditional farming practices and reaffirm their community importance.
5. Initiating a 2 year planning phase for a community-based Hopi Seed Library. The Hopi seed stock is highly endangered and a local seed library could play a vital role in the in situ grow out and preservation of Hopi seed stock. It is important though that any seed library be established in a way that is culturally appropriate and in keeping with Hopi values and tradition, hence we anticipate a protracted planning phase.
6. Providing ongoing technical assistance to villages and community members to assist with project planning. Because Hopi farming is non-commercial, and because Hopi itself is so culturally and geographically remote, it has frequently been overlooked by large federal programs.

Although Hopi is the oldest farming community in the United States, there is virtually no USDA presence here. Consequently we would like to partner with USDA representatives to identify programs that might be appropriate for our unique conditions.

Geographic Service Area:  Arizona- northern: Hopi Indian Reservation, Coconino and Navajo counties
Contact Information: Monica Nuvamsa
monica.nuvamsa@hopifoundation.org 
928-734-2380   

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California (CA)

Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association
Outreach, Education & Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers on the Central Coast of California.
The proposed three-year project will expand and enrich ALBA’s work by implementing a new three-year initiative focused on generating new education opportunities as well as a unique case management-style technical assistance program in partnership with SDA growers. The project will bring direct benefits to SDA farmers seeking to secure lease and/or ownership of farmland, generate new high-value production and marketing strategies, and introduce them to conservation cost-share incentives, conferences and networking opportunities to advance their businesses. In addition, USDA personnel (especially Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service) seeking to serve SDA growers will benefit from ALBA’s sustained outreach, case management and networking. Moreover, private banks, micro-lenders and SDA farm training practitioners will benefit from workshops that include SDA growers’ perspectives on the best practices in innovative farm finance and farm business incubation programs for SDA farmers. The goal of the proposed three-year project is to develop and sustain a vibrant learning community of successful socially disadvantaged and aspiring farmers in the Central Coast region of California. This coordination of outreach, technical assistance, and education efforts targeting socially disadvantaged farmers in the Central Coast region of California in a linguistically appropriate manner will increase targeted farmers’ participation in USDA programs.

Geographic Service Area:  Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties in California
Contact Information: Brett Melone
brett@albafarmers.org
831-758-1469   

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Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County.
MANA: Outreach to Spanish Speaking Farmers in Santa Cruz County
The proposed project, “MANA: Outreach to Spanish-Speaking Farmers in Santa Cruz County,” will provide culturally and linguistically appropriate education, outreach, technical assistance and enhanced economic opportunities for underserved Spanish-speaking growers in Santa Cruz County, with emphasis on the Pajaro River Watershed. This water body is 303(d) listed for multiple water pollutants associated with agricultural practices, including nitrates and sediments. The main goals of the MANA program are to:

1. Improve United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA - NRCS) and the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County’s relationship with the Spanish speaking farming community in Santa Cruz County, by building capacity to offer linguistically appropriate outreach, technical assistance and education;
2. Increase knowledge of environmental challenges and technical assistance solutions among Spanish speaking farmers in Santa Cruz County; and
3. Enhance economic opportunities for Spanish speaking farmers through increased participation in USDA - NRCS programs. The proposed project will provide crucial support to the Spanish speaking farming community by strengthening the relationship with the RCD, assessing the technical assistance needs of the target farmers, recruiting peer leader farmers to provide peer to peer support, designing and hosting targeted technical workshop trainings and linguistically appropriate informational materials, and providing follow-up language and technical support through USDA financial assistance applications. The project will leverage existing resources and partnerships established through RCD and NRCS’ successful agricultural water quality programs. Expanded language support and training will allow Spanish-speaking farmers to gain knowledge and confidence in implementation of environmentally and economically beneficial farm management practices, as well as more fully benefit from USDA cost-share programs.

Geographic Service Area:  California: Santa Cruz County
Contact Information: Nik Strong-Cvetich
nik@rcdsantacruz.org
831-464-2950 x 11

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Colorado (CO)         

First Nations Development Institute
Navajo Western Agency Chapters Technical Assistance Project
First Nations Development Institute, a national, nonprofit Native American-controlled organization, proposes this project’s long-term goal is to increase the participation of selected Chapters of the Navajo Nation and the Navajo farmers and ranchers residing within the geographic borders of those Chapters in USDA programs. Chapters are small political units of the Navajo Nation similar to towns. The Nation’s Western Agency, where this project will take place, is comprised of 16 Chapters and each will benefit from this project.

The goals of First Nations’ project are to:

1. Increase awareness and understanding of USDA’s available programs by selected Navajo Nation Chapters with farming and ranching programs;
2. Increase the pool of well-qualified Navajo Chapter applicants with farming and ranching programs within USDA’s programs; and
3. Increase the organizational capacity of USDA grantees and potential applicants that are Navajo Chapters with farming and ranching programs to carry out their programs effectively.

The project objectives are to:

1. Create and implement individualized technical assistance (TA) plans for three Navajo Chapters in the Western Agency during the three year grant period to support their organizational and programmatic development related to farming and ranching programs and awareness of resources available (particularly through USDA) to support these programs.
2. Provide two 2 1/2-day training Institutes annually (six total during the three year grant period) in issues related to successfully implementing farming and ranching programs, sustainable organizational development and management, and available USDA programs to these same three Navajo groups and an additional 10 Chapters annually.
3. Learn about this project’s effect on increasing awareness within Navajo Chapters of USDA programs and facilitating their participation in such, as well as this project’s capacity building of Navajo farming and ranching programs.
   

Geographic Service Area:  Arizona; Navajo Nation, Western Agency; Coconino and Navajo Counties Contact Information: Sarah Varmillion
svermillion@firstnations.org
303-774-7836 

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Washington DC

National Immigrant Farming Initiative, Inc.
Supporting the success of farmers and ranchers nationwide through capacity building for Community based Organizations serving immigrant farmers.
The proposed project will provide comprehensive educational programming to organize one workshop in each of the following areas Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest, Great Lakes, and West Coast/Northwest with the greatest concentration of socially disadvantaged immigrant and/or refugee farmers and field visits as necessary. This project will provide educational programming in two states per year that have the highest concentration of socially disadvantage immigrant and refugee farmers and ranchers. Our goal is to provide outreach and/or technical assistance to a minimum of 300 farmers within the project areas.  NIFI will work to establish a leadership team that includes immigrant farming project (IFP) leaders, USDA program managers and technical advisers, and Extension Educators nationwide addressing two states per year. We will coordinate and facilitate communication between the IFPs and the USDA agents for the collection and dissemination of information about the available socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers’ education curricula, training materials and programs developed by agencies such as FSA, NRCS, RMA, and NASS among others.

Geographic Service Area:  New Mexico, Florida, Texas, Minnesota, Maine, Maryland, District of Colombia
Contact Information: Maria Alvarez
mapyalvarez@gmail.com
202-628-7164 

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Rural Coalition
Innovative Solutions to Root Causes of USDA Exclusions
The project will be conducted in diverse geographic areas, including six counties in the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland and Virginia, two counties in South Carolina and Oklahoma, and three counties in Mississippi, to allow comparisons of producer engagement with USDA programs. The proposed project assembles diverse organizations and allows them to contribute their experience and expertise to comparatively research the root causes of USDA’s failure to connect with the diverse producers they serve and collaboratively emerge with effective strategies to reengage these producers with USDA to improve the prosperity of their farms, families, and communities. The research team will develop a baseline assessment for each designated county and develop and implement protocols for comparative research and analysis documenting root causes and consequences of USDA exclusions. The training team will lead the development and testing of at least five solutions to more effectively connect socially disadvantaged producers to USDA. The group will analyze the data generated on the success of the intervention strategies developed to increase equity in USDA programs and share these at the national workshop

Geographic Service Area: 6 counties in Maryland and Virginia, 2 counties in South Carolina, 2 counties in Oklahoma, 3 counties in Mississippi
Contact Information: Shaun Skelton
shaun@visionsinaction.org
202-625-7402 

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Delaware (DE)

Delaware State University
Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged farmers in Delaware
Delaware State University (DSU) proposes to conduct an Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFR) in Delaware. The goal of the program is to encourage and assist SDFR to own and operate farms and ranches successfully and to participate in USDA agricultural programs. The four specific objectives during this funding cycle are to:

1. Provide SDFR training and technical assistance in areas of ag-tourism, energy crops, organic production, alternative enterprises, value-added agriculture and available USDA programs as a means of enhancing farm incomes and overall profitability.
2. Expand the education of and participation in local market opportunities for sustainable specialty crops, including: specialty vegetables, meat goat, small flock poultry and aquaculture production; as well as provide marketing education, technical assistance and outreach training of SDFR in Delaware.
   
3. Provide educational programs and technical assistance necessary to equip SDFR with the knowledge, skills and abilities in the five areas of risk management required to make sound risk management decisions and increase participation in USDA programs.
   
4. Develop outreach training and technical assistance on USDA Programming for SDFR with limited English proficiency through one-on-one assistance and videos and picture based fact sheets in both English and Spanish. This will promote awareness and participation of USDA programs and services to increase ownership and strengthen operations of farms and ranches in the region.

The project will be conducted across Delaware with a goal of recruiting and intensively serving 135 socially disadvantaged farmers. As 1890 Land Grant University, DSU has a history and experience in addressing the needs of socially disadvantaged populations.

Geographic Service Area:  Delaware: New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties
Contact Information:John Clendaniel
jclendaniel@desu.edu
302-857-6425 

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Fed St. of Micronesia

College of Micronesia
Small Farm Outreach and Technical Assistance Program for Socially Disadvantaged Outer Island Population in Yap
Socially disadvantaged and vulnerable outer island communities on Yap lack the basic knowledge and skills to engage in farming operations. The proposed project and its multiple partners will assist this community to develop simplified hydroponic microgardens to grow vegetables and maintain a sustainable food production system. The microgardens will not only meet their nutritional requirements, but will also improve their living standards by providing monetary returns from fresh garden produce. This proposal involves the development and delivery of a comprehensive extension program that is culturally appropriate for the displaced outer island community. Our coordinated activities will be designed to boost the enthusiasm and encourage effective participation of this socially disadvantaged group. The extension program design will be based on the project team’s previous experiences from a similar OASDFR project and from stakeholder survey inputs. The project will also demonstrate the benefits of USDA programs to socially disadvantaged groups and encourage their extensive participation. The operational goals and objectives of this three year project are: Goal 1: Develop interest in vegetable cultivation and increase availability of fresh vegetables among the outer island community, with the objectives to:

1. Educate 120 members of the outer island community on the importance of vegetable gardening to increase skills and knowledge by 2013, and
   
2. Provide technical assistance to 120 members of the outer island community to establish and maintain 10 community-level microgardens by 2013;
   

Goal 2: Increase food security, living standards and farm income of the underserved outer island community, with the objectives to:

1. Provide nutrition education opportunities to educate 120 participants over the three year period, and
   
2. By the end of second program year, 50 percent of the participants will have adopted small farm management plans to increase income by a minimum of 20 percent;
   

Goal 3: Increase participation of socially disadvantaged outer island community in USDA programs, with the objective to

1. Increase the organizational and leadership capacity of at least 10 participants by the end of the third program year and to increase their participation in one or more USDA programs.

Strategies under each objective are designed to meet OASDFR Program goals of encouraging and assisting socially disadvantaged farmers in their efforts to become owners of income generating farming activities. It is expected that by the end of the project, the community will demonstrate the knowledge and skills that will enable them to own and successfully operate their micro-farming enterprises and increase participation in USDA programs and services.

Geographic Service Area:  State of the Federated States of Micronesia: Yap is a small island situated in the western Pacific; four main locations on Yap Proper, namely Daboch, Ruu, Makiy and Abluul.
Contact Information: Vazhaveli Murukesan
691-350-5752

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Florida (FL)   

Florida A&M University (FAMU)
Outreach activities in FL to encourage land tenure, stimulate productivity and enhance participation of minority socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in USDA-NIFA programs
The main objective of this project is outcomes to improve the land tenure and participation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFRs) in USDA programs in Florida, by assisting them to choose and manage enterprises that will bring profitable return on their investment. To achieve this, the project will: increase the number of agents in the County, conduct training workshops on use of the media to retrieve and disseminate information, enterprise management, conduct field days, promote farm visits and farmer-to-farmer interaction, and improve market intelligence and strategies. The project outcomes over the three years including increase representation for SDFRs at the County level, renewed interest in farming, better use of the internet facilities, better knowledge of retrieving information on media, and increase in enterprise profitability. Deliverable will include brochures video and CD of project activities, and articles for journal publication.

Geographic Service Area:  Florida
Contact Information: Ken Redda
sponsor@famu.edu
(850) 599-3531 

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North South Institute
Technical Assistance, Training and Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged and Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers in Florida and Selected Border Counties in Alabama and Georgia
The long term goal of the project is for the institute to coordinate, enhance, improve the means and create new outreach efforts with the emphasis on increasing the participation of and access by small, socially disadvantaged farmers, and limited resource farmers in already authorized USDA programs.  The purpose of the project is to improve the overall income and livelihoods of small farmers, ranchers and the underserved through improved agribusiness and farm management, financial analysis and management, marketing, production, and value added processing of a wide variety of traditional and alternative agriculture enterprises and a reversal of the decline in the number of small family farms and rancher enterprises. It is expected that after the intervention small farmers and rural entrepreneurs will develop holdings that can generate sustainable livelihoods. The Institute will provide project management and oversight as well as delivery through training and technical assistance support to farmers in the areas of leadership, management, risk management, value-added food development, food safety, operations, demonstration, conservation and renewable energy support systems, marketing, finance/loan management and IT integration.

Geographic Service Area:  Florida and the bordering counties of Alabama and Georgia
Contact Information: Samuel Scott
nsied2002@aol.com
954-434-8220   

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Georgia (GA)         

Albany State University
Environmental Assistance and Education for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers in South Georgia
This three-year project to be implemented by the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center at Albany State University aims to assist socially disadvantaged farmers in accessing support and resources that can help to maintain their livelihoods and improve the financial and environmental management of their operations.Project objectives include:

1. Increase participation by socially disadvantaged farmers in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, especially Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) programs in the Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development Council area;
2. Facilitate the use of technology-based tools and information networks by socially disadvantaged farmers to engage them in improving environmental resource management and to increase their interactions with USDA programs (environmental and otherwise); and
   
3. Build on existing farm agency and organization partnerships to focus on the delivery of services to socially disadvantaged farmers.

The project will also share effective tools, materials, and approaches with the USDA and other interested agencies and organizations in order to support knowledge transfer and assist others in enhancing the effectiveness of outreach to socially disadvantaged farmers on a broader scale. We expect this project to have many benefits including:  support socially disadvantaged farmers in improving on-farm management with the goal of attaining improved economic and environmental efficiency; assisting USDA in engaging socially disadvantaged farmers as participants in agency programs and in providing program managers with improved communications with these farmers. The project will target the following environmental outcomes: reduced energy and water use and protection of stream flow, water quality, wildlife habitat, and endangered and threatened species. For socially
disadvantaged farmers, the targeted outcomes of the project are land retention and farm profitability.

Geographic Service Area:  Georgia counties: Decatur, Mitchell, Grady, Early, Baker, Dougherty, Calhoun, Clay, Randolph, Terrell, Miller, Seminole.
Contact Information: Mark Masters
mmasters@h2opolicycenter.org
229-430-2900   

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Albany State University                
Environmental Assistance and Education for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers in the Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development Council Area of Georgia
This three-year project to be implemented by the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center at Albany State University aims to assist socially disadvantaged farmers in accessing support and resources that can help to maintain their livelihoods and improve the financial and environmental management of their operations.Project objectives include:

1. Increase participation by socially disadvantaged farmers in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, especially Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) programs in the Golden Triangle Resource Conservation and Development Council area;
2. Facilitate the use of technology-based tools and information networks by socially disadvantaged farmers to engage them in improving environmental resource management and to increase their interactions with USDA programs (environmental and otherwise); and
3. Build on existing farm agency and organization partnerships to focus on the delivery of services to socially disadvantaged farmers.

The project will also share effective tools, materials, and approaches with the USDA and other interested agencies and organizations in order to support knowledge transfer and assist others in enhancing the effectiveness of outreach to socially disadvantaged farmers on a broader scale. We expect this project to have many benefits including: support socially disadvantaged farmers in improving on-farm management with the goal of attaining improved economic and environmental efficiency; assisting USDA in engaging socially disadvantaged farmers as participants in agency programs and in providing program managers with improved communications with these farmers. The project will target the following environmental outcomes: reduced energy and water use and protection of stream flow, water quality, wildlife habitat, and endangered and threatened species. For socially disadvantaged farmers, the targeted outcomes of the project are land retention and farm profitability.

Geographic Service Area: Georgia counties: Decatur, Mitchell, Grady, Early, Baker, Dougherty, Calhoun, Clay, Randolph, Terrell, Miller, Seminole.
Contact Information: Mark Masters
mmasters@h2opolicycenter.org
229-430-2900   

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Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Outreach Assistance to African American Farmers and Ranchers in Southwest GA to Strengthen their Capacity to Retain their Land, Increase Income, and Increase Participation in Federal Programs
The project will address endemic problems including small farm size; loss of acreage and farms to other, larger landowners or to land speculators; aging farmers; lack of leverage in the market; limited participation in federal programs; limited capital; and limited experience with alternative crops and production and sales of value-added products. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives has operated an outreach and technical assistance program for minority farmers in southwest Georgia since before the 2501 program came into existence and has carried out grant-supported programs since the 2501 began. The long-term goals of this project are to strengthen African-American farmers in southwest Georgia by:

1. Preventing further land loss from their landholdings,
2. Assisting them to improve the net income they derive from their relatively small farms and become more viable, and
3. Assisting them to acquire the resources to make their farms sustainable by increased participation in USDA programs.
   

Geographic Service Area: 16 south Georgia counties: Baker, Brooks, Calhoun, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Macon, Marion, Mitchell, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Terrell, and Worth.
Contact Information: Ralph Paige
fsc@mindspring.com
404-765-0991   

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Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund
Outreach and Assistance to Black Farmers in Southwest Georgia to Improve Participation in USDA
The project will address endemic problems including small farm size; loss of acreage and farms to other, larger landowners or to land speculators; aging farmers; lack of leverage in the market; limited participation in federal programs; limited capital; and limited experience with alternative crops and production and sales of value-added products. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives has operated an outreach and technical assistance program for minority farmers in southwest Georgia since before the 2501 program came into existence and has carried out grant-supported programs since the 2501 began. The long-term goals of this project are to strengthen African-American farmers in southwest Georgia by:

1. Preventing further land loss from their landholdings,
   
2. Assisting them to improve the net income they derive from their relatively small farms and become more viable, and
3. Assisting them to acquire the resources to make their farms sustainable by increased participation in USDA programs.
   

Geographic Service Area: 16 south Georgia counties: Baker, Brooks, Calhoun, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Macon, Marion, Mitchell, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Terrell, and Worth.
Contact Information: Ralph Paige
fsc@mindspring.com
404-765-0991   

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Hawaii (HI)          

Pacific Gateway Center
OTTUS - Outreach to the Underserved
Pacific Gateway Center (PGC) in partnership with University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) proposes a project titled “Outreach to the Underserved” in Hawaii (OTTUS Project). The goal is to reach the socially disadvantaged farmers through in a linguistically and culturally appropriate manner to assist them in accessing resources.  The purpose of the project is to provide information, education and technical assistance so they can become successful farmers accessing the opportunities already available through USDA, the State of Hawaii and the University.  The project will target the socially disadvantaged farmers who in the State of Hawaii happen to be immigrants and refugees facing other barriers such as lack of knowledge of the systems in place along with fear of those in authority. Several types of outreach would be used from flyers to group meetings and presentations at ethnic events. The farmers who are interested would be assigned a case manager who speaks their own language. The farmers would be then provided planning and technical assistance on their business needs to facilitate the farmers’ operations. The partners would provide the information to how to and where to access the services of USDA and other related services. These entities have the technical expertise and information to assist the project. All three entities have had extensive experience in dealing with the socially disadvantaged farmers but worked with only one ethnic group. This project will bring all entities together and address the needs of the ethnic groups as a whole.  From past experience the areas that are identified as high priority for the project are: communication, access to credit, access to land, dealing with agricultural theft, and food safety. Beyond information, educational training will be provided through small group sessions and through two demonstration sites.

Geographic Service Area: Hawaii - socially disadvantaged farmers originally from Laos and the Philippines, and other small farmers underserved ethnic groups such as Thai, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese.
Contact Information: Tin Thein
myaing@pacificgatewaycenter.org
808-851-7010   

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University of Hawaii
Outreach and Assistance in Tropical Pasture and Livestock Management for Pacific Islanders
The purpose of this proposed project is to provide extension outreach and assistance in tropical pasture and livestock management to Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in these islands. The specific objectives of this project are to:

1. Conduct evaluations and provide assistance in the management of land and livestock resources for producers in Hawaii, Guam, CNMI, Palau, and FSM;
2. Maintain (Hawaii, Guam, and CNMI) or organize (Palau and FSM) local livestock advisory groups for strategic planning, identification of emerging issues critical to sustainable livestock production in the islands, and to provide assistance in development of language appropriate materials;
3. Identify cooperating producers and develop demonstration projects and investigative trials for determination of Best Management Practices for pasture improvement;
4. Develop, organize and provide a series of appropriate outreach activities to include workshops, field days, rancher field schools, and rancher to rancher exchange internships;
5. Organize and provide artificial insemination education and assistance programs to producers in the islands;
6. Provide Professional training opportunities for federal (USDA-NRCS, FSA) and local government natural resources management personnel;
7. Provide age appropriate agricultural education materials and opportunities for youth through 4-H, and/or school programs;
8. Develop and disseminate language appropriate educational and technical publications on Best Management Practices for pasture improvement and grazing and livestock management for the islands; and
9. Develop and implement a plan for continued cooperation and  partnership in extension outreach and assistance in the islands. It is expected as a result of this project that the investment of livestock producers and other stakeholders to improve the productivity of forage and pastoral systems will lead to an improved, more secure food supply for the islands
   

Geographic Service Area:  Five Island groups in the Pacific: Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Hawaii.
Contact Information: Georgette Sakumoto
gsakumot@hawaii.edu
808-956-7800   

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Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky State University
Food Safety in a Changing Economy for Socially Disadvantaged Small, Limited Resource Farmers
The Kentucky State University 2501 OASDFR Program emphasizes socially disadvantaged farmers with fruit, vegetable and small livestock operations, with emphasis on farmers who direct market fresh and value-added products; their profitability; direct marketing opportunities; organic and sustainable production systems; farm business planning, food safety, and full participation in USDA agencies. One emphasis is direct marketing into “food deserts.”

1. Objective 1. Enhance socially disadvantaged farmers’ knowledge of fruit, vegetable and small livestock operations, with emphasis on sustainable and organic production.
   
2. Objective 2. Expand socially disadvantaged farmers use of direct marketing systems, including marketing value-added products.
   
3. Objective 3. Socially disadvantaged farm families will fully participate in Kentucky’s 1890 and 1862 Cooperative Extension System.
   
4. Objective 4. Socially disadvantaged farmers will fully participate in USDA agencies, their programs and services, including: FSA, RD, NRCS, RMA/Federal Crop Insurance, Corp., NIFA-SARE producer grants, NIFA-SBIR grants, and the services of NASS.
   
5. Objective 5. Socially disadvantaged farmers will address issues related to “food deserts” in Kentucky communities by direct marketing fresh and value added products into them, including consumer education.
   

Geographic Service Area:  Anderson, Boyle, Breckinridge, Christian, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Hart, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Lincoln, Meade, Mercer, Owen, Russell, Scott, Shelby, Warren, Wayne, and Woodford counties of Kentucky.
Contact Information: Marion Simon
marion.simon@kysu.edu
502-597-6437   

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Louisiana (LA)          

Micro-Enterprise Institute
To provide outreach and advocacy for socially disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers in LA to give competent business consulting resources
MEI (Micro-Enterprise Institute, Inc) intends to provide advocacy, technical assistance, and education to small, socially disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFRs) in the State of Louisiana. MEI’s mission is to ensure that small and underserved farmers, ranchers, and anglers are given competent business consulting resources. MEI offers its clients technical assistance, outreach services, and advocacy. MEI is also affiliated with city, state, federal, and other institutional organizations assisting in the development and growth of farmers and cooperatives.

Tasks to be accomplished by MEI can be evaluated by outcomes and outputs. These will be in the areas of the number of existing and new SDFRs who receive assistance. The core tasks for the office will be outreach, technical assistance, and education. Additionally, MEI will provide services in the areas of business plan development, packaging of loans, assistance with identifying and writing grants, business management training, and operation of an on-line and off-line resource library. The effectiveness of the services provided will be monitored by the use of survey.

Geographic Service Area:  Louisiana.
Contact Information: Angelo  Edwards
info@microei.org
504-525-1404   

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Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers in Louisiana
This proposal is an effort to directly address the most significant problem confronting small and mid-size farms, low net farm income. The overriding goal is to improve farm management skills and processes among cooperating farmers and to expand opportunities for new and existing farmers to achieve higher net farm income. This goal will be achieved by helping farmers adopt the best practices in marketing, farm management and enterprise selection as well as improving their ability to access available governmental programs and others services. The objectives are to: Increase awareness and adoption of sound record keeping systems, best production and risk management practices; Increase awareness and use of resources and services available; Increase marketing potential through the use of commodity selection, niche marketing, value-added initiatives and the production of alternative enterprises; Increase youth awareness and participation of agricultural programs, careers and related activities; Host an annual Louisiana Small Farmer Conference; and Increase the leadership, decision-making and analytical skills of socially disadvantaged producers in Louisiana. Outreach efforts will be done in a multi-tiered, coordinated approach that includes traditional extension methods and outreach tools, online outreach and personal contacts. We plan to reach a minimum of 500 people in congressional districts 5 and 6.This project will assist USDA in Louisiana, by creating new outreach, technical assistance and educational networks, enhance the effectiveness of existing outreach, technical assistance and educational efforts and ultimately increase awareness and participation in USDA programs and services.

Geographic Service Area:  Louisiana: Parishes: Morehouse, West Carroll, East Carroll, Richland, Madison, Franklin, Tensas, Catahoula, Concordia, Rapides, Grant, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, St. Helena, St. Landry, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Ascension.
Contact Information: Gina Eubanks
gina_eubanks@suagcenter.com
225-771-2242   

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Massachussets (MA)

Community Teamwork Inc.
Diversifying New England Farms through Outreach, Innovative Livestock Education and Market Connections for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
The project goal is to enable hundreds of socially disadvantaged farmers across Massachusetts to begin raising livestock (poultry, sheep, goats, swine, and other species) in order to diversify their farms, to farm more sustainably, to increase farming incomes, and to meet community demands for fresh, locally-raised meats. An important priority is to raise awareness and broaden access to several USDA programs and services by the participating farmers in order to enhance the success of their livestock enterprises.  The project will:

1. Develop curricula for a new Livestock/Animal Husbandry Education and training course;
   
2. Set up and manage two livestock demonstration and training facilities;
   
3. Provide access to poultry processing and provide the practical training and technical assistance to properly slaughter, process, and direct-market poultry;
   
4. Assist development of independent livestock farm enterprises; and
   
5. Expand outreach to improve access to and use of USDA programs and services.
   

Geographic Service Area:  Lowell, Lawrence, Fitchburg, and Worcester sections of Massachusetts, Contact Information: Jennifer Hashley
Jennifer.hashley@tufts.edu
617-636-3793   

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Maryland (MD)

University of Maryland Eastern Shore
University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Small Farm Training Institute
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore proposes to establish a Small Farm Training Institute for limited-resource and socially disadvantaged farmers. The Small Farm Training Institute will serve as the regional hub to farmers from Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware to receive outreach, intensive training and instruction on USDA programs and a variety of Ag-related subjects that will enable them to become well-rounded successful farm entrepreneurs. This project expects to reach a minimum 200 limited-resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners, with a core group of up to 40 socially disadvantaged farmers taking part in a comprehensive 2-year training program that will provide them with the skills needed to be successful farm business entrepreneurs and mentors for other new and upcoming farmers. The success of the Small Farm Institute will be centered on these five (5) core objectives:

1. Increase farmer’s knowledge, understanding, and participation in available USDA agriculture programs and other farm programs/incentives offered by the state/government.
2. Enhance farmer’s entrepreneurial and marketing skills that will enable them to make sound business decisions with increased profit margins.
3. Train socially disadvantaged and limited-resource producers on how to identify and take advantage of risk management strategies/tools that will help them better manage and address potential risks associated with farming.
4. Educate and train agriculture producers on new/current agriculture issues to include: alternative enterprises, alternative energy, sustainable farming practices, and innovative and cost-efficient production systems.
5. Promote and build lasting relationships, networks, and partnerships among agriculture producers, agricultural organizations, agencies, and businesses conducive to farmer’s social and economic prosperity.
   

Geographic Service Area:  Southern Maryland, Maryland Eastern Shore, Delaware, and Virginia’s Eastern Shore
hmbrooks@umes.edu
410-651-6206   

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Missouri (MO)

Winston County Self Help Cooperative
Energizing Rural Communities with Outreach and Assistance
The Energizing Rural Communities with Outreach and Assistance Project (OASDFR) proposes to focus on a preexisting database of 500 small and limited resource farmers and ranchers based in east central Mississippi and Western Alabama to identify and address obstacles contributing to the lack of profitability and maintaining viable farm enterprises.  A promotional program will be conducted statewide, utilizing publication, leaflets, website and other avenues to make small farmers/ranchers aware of programs and services available through the agencies. The Winston County Self Help Cooperative’s overall goal is changing lives in rural America by assisting small and limited resource farmers/ranchers increase income through better management practices, financial analysis, and production and marketing opportunities. Project goals include the following:

1. improve the overall income of small farmers/ranchers and the underserved through improving farm business and financial management;
   
2. ensure the profitability and sustainability of small farmers and ranchers in target counties through the production of alternative enterprises, marketing and value-added processing;
   
3. increase farm ownership and survivability while maintaining and retaining land among limited resource farmers and farm families.
   

Geographic Service Areas:  Alabama:  Choctaw, Sumter, Greene; Mississippi: Montgomery, Wayne, Kemper, and Clark
Contact Information: Frank Taylor
fltaylor@bellsouth.net
601-291-2704   

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Minessota (MN)

Giziibii Resource Conservation and Development Association
Minnesota's Indian Tribes USDA Summit 
The goal of the Minnesota Indian Tribes USDA Summit is to strengthen and build the relationship between USDA and the eleven Minnesota Indian Tribes. The summit will serve as a great opportunity for Tribal Members and USDA Agency personnel to learn about the past, present, and future concerns and successes of each of the Minnesota tribes. The Minnesota Indian Tribes USDA Summit will be held August 10, 2010 in Red Lake, Minnesota. The purposes of the summit are to:

1. Address current and emerging issues and concerns facing Minnesota Tribes and Tribal individuals;
   
2. to enhance Tribal and American Indian farmers participation in USDA programs and services;
   
3. to develop, recommend, and implement changes that enhance Tribes and individual farmers’ participation in USDA programs;
   
4. to identify mutual partnerships between Minnesota USDA Agencies and the Minnesota 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) with emphasis for improving agricultural capacity and sustainable use of natural resources.
   

Geographic Service Area:  Statewide - Eleven (11) Minnesota Tribes: Red Lake, White Earth, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Bois Forte,  Fond du Lac, Upper Sioux,  Lower Sioux, Prairie Island, Shakopee -Mdewakanton, Grand Portage.
Contact Information: George Swentik
gswentik@hotmail.com               
218-751-1942   

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Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS)

Alcorn State University
Planning Grant to Establish a Policy Institute for Rural Communities and Small Farmers/Ranchers 
Therefore, the purpose of this project is to produce a comprehensive plan for the establishment and operation of the proposed Policy Institute. This entity will fill a void that currently exists in Mississippi and the southern region of the United States by providing a channel for rural communities and small-scale farmers, especially socially disadvantaged farmers/ranchers, to have their voices heard in the process of generating new laws and public policies that impact their welfare and wellbeing. It will be Mississippi’s premier source of expertise and perspective on policies impacting small-scale agriculture and related communities. The Institute’s geographic focus will be the state of Mississippi and will address the needs of approximately 38,000 small-scale Mississippi farmers, of whom approximately 5,000 are socially disadvantaged. concern - only 1/7 of target service population is SD.

Mississippi (MS)

Geographic Service Area: Mississippi
Contact Information: Magid Dagher
mdagher@alcorn.edu
601-877-6449   

Mississippi (MS)

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Alcorn State University
Small farm outreach Training and Technical Assistance Project
The overall goal of this project is to directly improve the farm income of small farmers and ranchers and small farm borrowers through better management, financial analysis, production and marketing of a profitable mix of traditional and alternative agriculture enterprises, as well as to help reverse the decline of small family farms and ranchers in the state of Mississippi. The project will focus on identifying small and family-sized farmers and ranchers and addressing the problems contributing to the lack of profitability. All involved will be those owners or potential and/ or operators who have demonstrate the desire/ability to generate a profit from their operation. All farmers and ranchers will be evaluated. Farmers/ranchers who are no longer able to show a profit from farming, part-time or full-time, will be encouraged to seek off farm employment. A promotional program will be implemented statewide, utilizing publications, leaflets, videotapes, and available media to enhance small farmers and socially disadvantaged persons awareness of programs and services available through these agencies.

Geographic Service Area:  Mississippi - statewide
Contact Information: Anthony Reed
areed@alcorn.edu
601-877-2305   

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Mississippi Association of Cooperatives
Propelling socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers into the New Decade through Outreach Assistance
The purpose of the Small Farm Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program is to identify and provide technical assistance to socially disadvantaged small farmers/ranchers. The overall program goal is to directly increase farm income of the small farmers/ranchers and loan borrowers through improved farm business management, financial analysis and the production and marketing of a more profitable mixture of traditional and alternative agricultural enterprises. The Association will assist small farm cooperatives to improve production and expand opportunities for processing and marketing of traditional and alternative enterprises.  Farmers will gain direct marketing strategies to actively take part in economics, marketing and processing decisions. A statewide campaign will commence to reach potential farmers and help alleviate barriers that have not allowed them to enter into the farming industry.

Geographic Service Area:  Mississippi counties: Attala, Coahoma, Covington, George, Grenada, Humphreys, Jefferson Davis, Forrest, Holmes, Lamar, Marion, Marshall, Noxubee, Quitman, Rankin, Perry, Tallahatchie, Tate and Winston Counties
Contact Information: Ben Burkett
benburkett@earthlink.net
601-354-2750   

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Montana (MT)

Indian Nations Conservation Alliance
Increasing Native American farmers and ranchers participation in USDA programs
The long-term goal of our proposal is to increase the number of socially disadvantaged Native American farmers and ranchers taking part in USDA programs. The Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA) will accomplish this by providing outreach and education to a significant number of underserved tribal farmers and ranchers. By participating in USDA programs, the tribal producers will increase their economics, reduce risk and protect the environment. INCA will place five tribal conservation district outreach specialists, hereafter known as outreach specialists, in areas where local economies are agriculturally driven. Those selected will be carefully chosen and will have an understanding of the local culture and speak the language. The outreach specialist, as a tribal member, will have the trust of the tribal landowners, producers and knowledge of tribal governance. He will receive training through USDA agencies on programs that are needed in Indian country. The specialist will in turn educate tribal producers on USDA programs and the opportunities for conservation and management strategies. He will hold group meetings throughout the reservation and work one-on-one to educate landowners and producers on USDA opportunities. USDA employees will be encouraged to attend these meeting with the outreach specialist in order to explain their programs and establish a good working relationship with tribal landowners and producers.

Geographic Area: The tribal conservation districts selected for this project are Navajo Mountain Soil and Water Conservation District, Kayenta, AZ with 1500 farmers and ranchers listed in the 2007 farm census; Blackfeet Natural Resources Conservation District, Browning, MT with 491; Oglala Sioux Tribal Conservation District, Pine Ridge, SC with 348’ Hopi Tribal Conservation District, Tuba City, AZ with 287; and Colville Tribal Conservation District, Nespelem, WA with 109.
Contact Information: Richard Gooby
inca@3rivers.net
406-684-5199   

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Intertribal Agriculture Council
Tribal Horse Coalition and Youth in Agriculture
This is a two-part proposal that will address two projects simultaneously.  The first project will address overgrazing and the overpopulation of wild horses and abandoned animals that have adversely impacted Indian Reservations, their economies, and most importantly their resources.  Five Indian Reservations in the Pacific Northwest have documented that an amount in excess of 650 horses, donkeys, llamas and emus have been hauled in and abandoned on their Reservations in the past year alone. There are reported another 16,280 head of feral horses on these same 5 reservations. This number of animals can and will cause These economics do not take into account forage taken from wildlife, the impacts on wildlife habitat, fisheries, riparian area, cultural plant communities or avian habitats.  The northwest Tribes have taken the lead in developing solutions and their effort coupled with the administration facilitation this proposal will provide, 130 Tribes across the nation will have the options to:

1. Sale or adoption of the excess horses;
2. Birth Control by injectable vaccine;
3. Surgical sterilization (castration of stallions);
4. Humane processing in a purpose built facility. 

The second project will impact approximately 1,200 Indian youth participating in Reservation 4-H projects through the 28 Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Projects. However these youth do not have the opportunity to participate in the largest Indian agriculture forum held annually. This event attracts in excess of 550 Indian agriculture producers nationally as well as representatives from the majority of USDA agencies. This project proposes to fund 15 youth selected by their local Extension program and their chaperones to this annual event. These youth will be a part of the daily opening events by providing the audience with their success stories, native stories, and traditional songs and dance. This will provide the youth an exposure to national events impacting their reservations and professional opportunities in food production.

Geographic Service Area:  Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Contact Information: Ross Racine
rracine@indianaglink.com
406-259-3525   

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Little Big Horn College
Little Big Horn OASDFR 
Address problems one on one, in small groups, where producers are at ease. High poverty in the area.

Geographic Service Area: Montana: Big Horn, Yellowstone, Rosebud counties; Crow Reservation, Cheyenne Reservation
David    
smalld@lbhc.edu
406-638-3110   

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North Carolina (NC)

Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina, Inc.
Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina Farmer's Outreach and Education Project: Developing and Educating Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmers through Community Outreach and USDA Partnership
Beth Scisco
bscisco@bghnc.org
910-646-3083   

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North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Enhancing the Income of Socially Disadvantaged Farmers by Introducing Year-Round Production of Specialty Crops Using Renewable Energy Resources
The overall goal of this proposal is to introduce to the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers the adoption of best management practices and cost-effective and environmentally friendly renewable energy resources for a continuous year-round production of fruits and vegetables using their old tobacco greenhouses. The specific objectives are:

1. To develop and demonstrate the production and use of profitable environmentally friendly source of renewable energy (Glycerol) for heating greenhouses;
   
2. To demonstrate and provide technical assistance to farmers on the benefits of organically raised specialty crops, high valued crops, and the use of best management practices (BMPs) on production; and
   
3. To increase the participations of socially disadvantage farmers and ranchers in USDA programs. Participating farmers will go through 3- hours training including hands- on training on how to safely produce good high quality biofuel that can be used as a source of energy.

During the training, farmers will learn safe handling of chemicals, mixing, and waste disposal. A producer school will be established in a central location. Farmers from selected counties will be transported to the location for one day training in the principles of organic production, greenhouse construction, greenhouse production management, pest control in greenhouse, post harvest handling good agricultural practices (GAP) and water resource and management for greenhouse. Other stakeholders, such as, state and federal agencies, non-profit farmers groups and existing and beginning farmers and ranchers will also be involved. The USDA and other related agencies will provide educational training to introduce to the audience various available incentive funding programs. The expected outcome of this project is that socially disadvantage farmers will be able to produce year-round fruits and vegetables with reduced production costs by maximizing the use of renewable energy resources in their old tobacco greenhouses. This project will allow them to retain their loyal customer base, take advantage of higher prices during winter, thereby increasing their annual incomes and protect the environment.

Geographic Service Area:  Counties yet to be selected in North Carolina.
Contact Information: Jimo Ibrahim
jimoi@ncat.edu
336-334-7956   

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Operation Spring Plant, Inc.
Expanding Markets and Partnerships for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
The purpose of this project will be to coordinate community farmers, plan activities with partners, develop markets and transportation, define the food related needs of the targeted population and, with the assistance of the Work Group, lead the development of food policies to address small farm communities in North and South Carolina and to increase the sustainability of small and limited resource farms in North Carolina and South Carolina. The educational and outreach efforts provided through this project will encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers to operate presently owned farms more efficiently. This will be accomplished with targeted research and an educational outreach program, in critical areas, such as farm management, financial management, effective marketing, modern production techniques, record keeping, risk management, and procurement.  Project objectives are to:

1. Develop skills for identifying food safety hazards in SDF nutrition as it relates to child hood obesity and stem other diseases facing socially disadvantage communities
2. Provide leadership and training in cooperative marketing, farm management record keeping, product grading packing requirements including GAP and GHP for existing and emerging inner city markets
3. Develop the skills of SDFR to be able to participate in UDSA Programs and Services to improve the income of participating producers;
4. Develop inner-city and local markets for North Carolina’s only Black-owned Dairy Farm operation maintain and expand the OSP infrastructure to adequately handle an expanded volume and variety of products.
   

Geographic Service Area:  North Carolina, Oklahoma Counties: Garvin, Okfuskee, Seminole, Carter, Kingfisher, Choctaw, Creek, Muskogee; South Carolina Counties: Marlboro, Orangeburg; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania intercity markets; Washington, DC intercity markets; Maryland intercity markets.
Contact Information: Dorathy Barker
252-492-7301   

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Whitaker Small Farm Group
Hands on Training for Limited Resource Farmers and Women to Produce High Value Exotic Indoor Mushrooms and Greehouse Produce in Eastern North Carolina
The overall objective of this project is to serve as a “Self Help Agent” that facilitates access to USDA programs and

1. Provide technical training and facilitation support for trainees, specifically in greenhouse production;
2. introduce farmers to mushrooms as an alternative crops for economic development;
3. Design a project that will explain data for farmers to understand the economic advantages of high tunnel production and marketing of fruits and vegetables; and
4. Outreach, network, expand contacts and provide information to the community on USDA funded programs and activities.
   

Geographic Service Area:  Eastern and western counties of Columbus, Harnett, Johnston, Lenoir, Nash, Pitt, Robeson, Wake, Wayne, and Wilson. Buncombe, Madison, and Yancey Counties
Contact Information: Charles Whitaker
c.l.w.whitaker@comcast.net
919-412-1432   

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Nebraska (NE)

Center for Rural Affairs
Improving the Use of USDA Program Among Hispanic and Latino Farmers and Ranchers
Both Missouri and Nebraska have seen significant decreases in the number of Hispanic and Latino farms and ranches in the past five years (U.S. Census of Agriculture 2002 and 2007) while experiencing significant Hispanic/Latino population increases in both states significant differences in utilization of USDA programs by Hispanic/Latino producers in Missouri and Nebraska. also because of the significant differences in utilization of USDA programs by Hispanic/Latino producers in Missouri and Nebraska. Missouri has 444 Hispanic/Latino producers compared to Nebraska’s 166, yet 129 of Nebraska’s Hispanic/Latino producers utilize USDA programs while only 18 of Missouri’s do.

Geographic Service Area: Missouri and Nebraska, 4 counties
Contact Information: Kathie Starkweather
kathies@cfra.org
402-617-7946   

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New Mexico (NM)

Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers of American, Inc.
HFRA Socially Disadvantaged Assistance Border Project
The Hispanic Farmers& Ranchers of America’s main goals of the program/project is to increase the success rate of small farmers or ranchers who apply for operating loans. To improve the ability of small producers to integrate with the agricultural community by improving their financial condition, and creditworthiness of their businesses and, to stop the decline or increase the number of operating small farms and ranches in Dona Ana and El Paso Counties.

Geographic Service Area: New Mexico, Texas, 1 county in each
Contact Information: Lupe Garcia
Hispanicfr@peoplepc.com
575-644-6534   

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New Mexico Acequia Association
Improving Engagement of Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers with USDA
The purpose of the New Mexico Acequia Outreach Project is to improve the sustainability and economic viability of small-scale agriculture among the farmers and ranchers who are part of the historic acequias and community ditches in New Mexico. Acequias are the centuries-old irrigation systems in New Mexico that support the livelihood of thousands of predominantly Hispanic farmers and ranchers who depend upon surface water irrigation for their agricultural operations.  The project will conduct statewide outreach, education, and technical assistance to Hispanic farmers and ranchers. There are about eight hundred acequias in New Mexico with each acequia serving an average of twenty five producers and governed by local officials elected by their respected membership. Outreach to this constituency is best carried out through the network and membership base established by the New Mexico Acequia Association. The goals and objectives of the project are as follows:

1. Increase the participation of Hispanic farmers and ranchers in USDA programs through culturally appropriate methods of outreach and education;
2. improve water conservation, management, and efficiency through rehabilitation of acequia irrigation works through specialized technical assistance and collaboration with USDA agencies, and conduct an infrastructure assessment and assist acequias securing federal/state/local cost share funds for engineering design and construction;
   
3. Increase the rate of retention of land and water rights by Hispanic farmers and ranchers through technical assistance on acequia governance, legal mechanisms for land and water rights protection, and succession planning;
   
4. Strengthen economic viability of acequia farms and ranches through specialized technical assistance on farm management. Use the demonstration project as a site for local workshops for producers in years two and three.
   

Geographic Service Area:  New Mexico statewide
Contact Information: Paula Garcia
lamorena@lasacequias.org
505-995-9644   

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Regents of New Mexico University
Northern New Mexico Outreach project
The Northern New Mexico Outreach Project (NNMOP) proposes to develop a practical approach to meeting the outreach needs of the socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers of northern New Mexico who will be made aware of the USDA programs that can benefit their ability to own and operate their farms and ranches; will be individually assisted in obtaining participation in these USDA programs; and through research-based educational and technical programs specifically developed for the individual cultural audience, become a vital and participating entity in U.S. agriculture. This will be accomplished through a holistic approach to outreach. .

1. To develop an education network system between northern New Mexico Hispanic and American Indian farmers and ranchers, New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service (1862 Land Grant University and Hispanic Serving Institution), University of Texas - Pan American (Hispanic Serving Institution), USDA agencies i.e. RD), NRCS, FSA, FS, NASS, local grassroots agriculture organizations, American Indian Pueblos, the Jicarilla Apache and Eastern Navajo Nations, and local rural communities that will provide direct outreach and assistance to the USDA traditionally underserved Hispanic and American Indian clientele.
2. Provide one-on-one technical and educational assistance to the Hispanic and American Indian farmers and ranchers identified in the region that will enhance their ability to compete and succeed in the agricultural industry, thus retaining their customs and culture which are closely tied to the land and ultimately preserving their rural communities.
3. Through established outreach efforts, USDA program opportunities will be made available and accessible to the socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in northern New Mexico.
   

Geographic Service Area:  New Mexico counties of: Bernalillo, Cibola, Guadalupe, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, Torrance and Valencia. This includes: eighteen(18) Native American Pueblos that comprise the Eight Northern Pueblos Council and the Ten Southern Pueblos Council as well as the Jicarilla Apache and Eastern Navajo Nation.
Contact Information: Edmund Gomez
505-852-2668   

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Taos County Economic Development Corporation
"Taos County Economic Development Corporation: ""Value Added Learning Center for Outreach and Education"" "
This proposal focuses on the expansion of risk management strategies within the livestock sector of Northern New Mexico through the addition of critical tools and assets, while continuing to support the Taos County Economic Development Corp’s (TCEDC) Food System Model that has served as a catalyst for growth and involvement in our community for the past twelve years. The foundation of this proposal is Revitalizing ranching and farming traditions that support the cultures of this area, utilizing new technologies and marketing opportunities. With the ever-increasing pressures of development in rural areas the work of grass roots organizations such as TCEDC to assist limited resource farmers and ranchers is intensified and we must move quickly to put into place mechanisms, facilities and programs that will promote, sustain and improve small family farms and ranches offering solutions and methods to increase income and to hold on to the dwindling and endangered resources of land and water. Outreach and Education are critical components to our work with Native American, Hispanic and Socially Disadvantaged families whose ties to the land are centuries old and whose desires are to take their rightful place in the local economy. Infrastructure such as TCEDC’s Business Park, Commercial Kitchen, Mobile Livestock Slaughter Unit (Mobile Matanza) and Processing facilities, serve as venues to implement outreach and training programs aimed at insuring equal access and participation of these underserved communities.

This project reflects new information on current need in our project area and TCEDC’s continued commitment to enlist new partners and tools to achieve the goals. This years’ Project therefore includes:
Distribution and marketing services

• Specialized education through the Food Sector Opportunity Program, Livestock Sector Opportunity Program and NxLevel” Tilling the Soil of Opportunity” classes
• Outreach and education activities utilizing culturally appropriate methods.
• Utilization of numerous partnerships and collaborations to move the goals of the community forward.
• Utilization of TCEDC’s facilities and curricula to bring people to a central place for “value added learning”.

Geographic Service Area:  Northern New Mexico
Contact Information: Pati & Terri Martinson & Bad hand
tcedc@tcedc.org
575-758-8731   

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Nevada (NV)

Board of Regents, NSHE, University of Nevada, Reno
American Indian Farmer and Rancher Outreach and Assistance Improvement Project
American Indian Farmer and Rancher Outreach and Assistance Improvement Project will target American Indian farmers and ranchers, which are designated as socially disadvantaged due to the impacts of historical federal Indian policies, significant disparities in education and income levels, and issues that accompany geographic isolation and Indian land tenure designations. The American Indian agricultural industries in the targeted 6-state region (Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, North Dakota and South Dakota) are important to the economic sustainability of rural communities on reservations. USDA programs can be used to sustain rural reservation communities and grow reservation economies. The 2010 Farm Bill provisions offer considerable opportunities for American Indian tribes and individual farmers and ranchers to participate in USDA assistance programs. On most American Indian reservations, however, these programs are underutilized. There needs to be aggressive community-based research as to why these programs are underutilized. Specifically, this one-year project lead by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) will accomplish the following four required elements.

Geographic Service Area: Nevada, Oregon, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota
Contact Information: Lisa Wilson
ospadmin@unr.edu
775-784-4040   

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Oklahoma (OK)

Langston University
Knowledge, Information, and Skills for Small Producers
The purpose of this project is for Langston University to mobilize producers to gain knowledge, information, and skills that would enable them to participate in available USDA programs and services. Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (producers) will be trained in farm planning, production, marketing, cooperative development, recordkeeping, forage management, and overall farm management. Specific objectives are to:

1. Equip producers with knowledge, skills, and abilities to own and operate farms and ranches,
2. Promote the availability of and accessibility to USDA programs and services among producers,
3. train producers in farm financial management, and
   
4. train producers in leadership and public policy development.Outreach and technical assistance programs will be developed and implemented that will include conducting one-on-one farm visits, agricultural field days, conferences, and group meetings.

Producers will be trained on best management practices with respect to farm planning, production, marketing, risk management, alternative enterprises, recordkeeping, and leadership development, especially in light of public policy development. By the end of the project, producers will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will enable them to own and successfully operate their enterprises by adopting and developing informed decisions on their operations, developing business plans, adopting best management practices, accessing programs and services, establish conservation practices, and developing alternative enterprises. They will develop recordkeeping systems, discuss the importance of records, describe types of records to keep, and develop common financial statements such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Because of an increased awareness and understanding of programs and services the USDA provides we expect an increased participation in those programs and services. Our new emphasis on leadership development will engender processes where socially disadvantaged producers will be more active in the policy development process.

Geographic Service Area:  Oklahoma
Contact Information: Chongo Mundende
dcmundende@lunet.edu
405-466-6154   

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National Women In Agriculture Association AKA Oklahoma Women In Agriculture Association
African-American Women Farmers Agriculture Outreach Education & Training
National Women In Agriculture Association (“NWIAA” - African American Women Farmers) concludes that with the proper amount of linguistically comprehensive technical education outreach and government commitment, NWIAA could dramatically increase USDA opportunities and awareness to underserved citizens and increase the number of socially disadvantaged farmer’s participation in rural counties in Oklahoma. Focus on youth, ag ed, outreach through urban and farmers market settings.

Geographic Service Area: Oklahoma
Contact Information: Tammy Steele
Info@okwomeninag.org
405-317-8110 or 692-0348

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Puerto Rico (PR)

Puerto Rico Agricultural Extension Service
Technology & Management Educational Center for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers in Puerto Rico, Phase II
This project proposes the establishment of twenty seven Extension Technology Centers (ETC), each will receive four computers with wireless access which is located at the local AES office. In addition, one Virtual ETC (VETC) will be established in the mountain region for virtual education and the two Technological Education Centers (CETec in Spanish) in Vieques will be renovated. Furthermore, to offer computer workshops to all SDFR in PR and extend the life of the project a Mobile ETC (METC) will be created. Workshop topics will be the following but are not limited to: accounting records, finance, marketing, farm management, computer literacy, computer programs and applications for farm management purposes. The project also proposes to organize the First Agribusiness Congress for SDFR in Puerto Rico. The congress main topic is government (state and federal) and private institution programs and services, grant searching and proposal writing. This project will aid SDFR from twenty eight towns to assure better opportunities and equitable participation in federal and state programs, computer technology and management skills. This project will educate women in agriculture and other SDFR regardless of gender, and establish computers with internet access at their local AES office for their usage. Participants will be offered workshops, therefore increasing their knowledge on computer skills, farm management, accounting, finance, marketing, farm management practices, and farm planning. With such knowledge and skills trained farmers would be able to: develop a business plan, generate and keep farm accounting records, take advantage of state and federal programs, thus improving financial ratios and farm income level. Furthermore, participants from the FAC will have knowledge regarding those entities that can offer those services (state and federal government, the College of Ag from the UPR, financial institutions, among others), thus improving their managerial skills, farm planning, and more important increase their income level.

Geographic Service Area:  Puerto Rico six municipalities: San Lorenzo, Yabucoa, Las Piedras, Humacao, Naguabo, Canóvanas.
Contact Information: Alexandra Gregory
alexandra.gregory@upr.edu
787-265-3860   

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Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee State University
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged African-American Farmers, Forest Landowners and Ranchers in Tennessee.
The overall goal of this project is to increase the sustainability of small and limited resource farms and forest landowners increase minority participation of USDA Farm Bill Programs, through the outreach and educational efforts to reach socially disadvantaged farmers, forest landowners and ranchers (OASDFR) in Tennessee. The educational and outreach efforts through this program will encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers, forest landowners and ranches to operate presently owned farms more efficiently and/or purchase new farmland to become the new and successful farmers, forest landowners or ranchers. This will be accomplished with targeted research and educational outreach programs, in critical areas, such as farm management, financial management, effective marketing, modern production techniques, record keeping and risk management. The project will focus on small and limited-resource, socially disadvantaged, under-served, minority farmers and forest landowners.

Geographic Service Area: Tennessee; North Central, South Central and West Tennessee areas. Fifteen counties (15) North central region: Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Stewart, and Wilson; South Central region: Bedford, Maury, Giles, Lincoln, and Williamson; and the West Tennessee region: Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood and Tipton Counties.
Contact Information: Maria Thompson
mthompson@tnstate.edu
615-963-7644   

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Texas (TX)

Neighborhood Housing Service of Dimmit County, Inc.  
Specialized Outreach and Assistance to Hispanic Olive and Herb Farmers in South Texas
Neighborhood Housing Services of Dimmit County (NHS) will assist predominately Hispanic socially-disadvantaged farmers in rural South Texas to access financial and technical assistance resources available through the US Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture through a three-year program designed to expand and enhance existing USDA outreach efforts and create new outreach, technical assistance and education networks in farm and business management. The Specialized Assistance for Hispanic Olive and Organic Herb Farmers will expand and formalize outreach and education efforts initiated over the past three years by NHS, the Texas Olive Oil Council, and local farmers to transform the rural Texas counties of Dimmit, La Salle, Maverick, Zavala into the heart of the emerging Texas olive oil industry where the soil, underground water tables, and temperate weather are ideally suited to several varieties of olive trees. Using bilingual (English/Spanish) activities and with the assistance of community-based collaborators and technical experts Neighborhood Housing Services of Dimmit County will provide specialized outreach, education, and training to help farmers access resources and acquire skills to repurpose non-productive ranch land to olive orchards and organic herb greenhouse farms to increase family incomes and assets and stimulate the local economy. The program will also facilitate access to other agricultural services provided by the Texas Rural Cooperative Center at the University of Texas Pan American, Texas A&M University Research and Extension Center, and the Sul Ross State University Southwest Texas Border Region Small Business Development Center. The program will reach an estimated 100 socially-disadvantaged principally Hispanic low-income farmers annually.

Geographic Service Area:  Texas-southern counties: Dimmit, La Salle, Maverick, Zavala
Contact Information: Manuel Estrada
nhsdc_mestrada@sbcglobal.net
830-876-5295 ext 105     

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Texas Small Farmers & Ranchers (TSFR) (Texas Pan American University)
South-Central Initiative for Outreach and Assistance of Socially-Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
The goal of this project is to reach more than 6,000 documented and prospective Black/African American operators in more than 176 Texas counties to coordinate outreach and identify the specific barriers to equal participation and to use this information to improve and increase their utilization of USDA programs. HAS FOCUSED APPROACH FOR GAINING BARRIERS INFORMATION, ORGANIZED SERIES OF LISTENING FORUMS.

Geographic Service Area: 174 counties in Texas
Contact Information: Wendy Lawrence-Fowler
wfowler@utpa.edu
956-381-2889   

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Virginia (VA)

Virginia State University
Small Farm Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers in VA.
Virginia State University, in collaboration with USDA agencies, proposes to conduct an outreach and technical assistance program to address the service delivery gaps for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Virginia. The overall goal of the project is to enhance farm incomes and improve quality of life for these farmers and their communities. The project objectives are:

1. To increase the number of participation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in USDA programs.
   
2. To empower socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to acquire, maintain, and retain farm ownership.
   
3. To enhance the ability of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to implement profitable alternative and environmentally sound production practices.
   
4. To improve the knowledge and skills of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers on food safety and value -added product development.
   
5. To improve incomes of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through utilization of innovative and cost-efficient marketing strategies.
   

Geographic Service Area: 42 Virginia counties. 
Contact Information: Jewel Hairston
jhairston@vsu.edu
804-524-5871   

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Virginia State University
Addressing the Problem of Inequitable Participation of Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers in USDA Agricultural Programs
Virginia State University, in collaboration with USDA agencies, proposes to conduct an outreach and technical assistance program to address the service delivery gaps for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Virginia. The overall goal of the project is to enhance farm incomes and improve quality of life for these farmers and their communities. The project objectives are:

1. To increase the number of participation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in USDA programs.
   
2. To empower socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to acquire, maintain, and retain farm ownership.
   
3. To enhance the ability of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to implement profitable alternative and environmentally sound production practices.
   
4. To improve the knowledge and skills of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers on food safety and value -added product development.
   
5. To improve incomes of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through utilization of innovative and cost-efficient marketing strategies.
   

Geographic Service Area: 42 Virginia counties.
Contact Information: Oluwarotimi Odeh
oodeh@vsu.edu
804-524-6872   

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Vermont (VT)          

Association of Africans Living in Vermont, Inc.
New Farms for New Americans
The project proposed is for three years and its goal is to successfully transition Vermont’s refugee and immigrant farmers from community and incubator gardeners to independent market gardeners and USDA-recognized farmers through linguistically and culturally appropriate participation in USDA programs. Vermont’s agricultural community To achieve this goal, the project will build linguistically and culturally appropriate capacity within and engage in the following major activities:

1. Conduct field-based outreach to refugee and immigrant community gardeners, market gardeners, and independent farmers;
   
2. Provide classroom education to refugee and immigrant community gardeners, market gardeners, and independent farmers;
   
3. Deliver on-farm technical assistance to refugee and immigrant community gardeners, market gardeners, and independent farmers. The anticipated outcomes for the project include: refugee and immigrant market gardeners and independent farmers are enrolled in trainings and have their farming goals expressed in sustainability plans recognizable to USDA programs; refugee and immigrant market gardeners and independent farmers gain knowledge about USDA-related programs, services, and resources to enable them to build nascent agricultural businesses by the end of the project’s third year; ongoing technical assistance to farmers results in farmers developing USDA recognizable business plans, loans, insurance applications, grant applications.  
   

Geographic Service Area:  Vermont
Contact Information: Yacouba Bogre
jbogre@hotmail.com
802-985-3106   

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Washington (WA)       

Rural Community Development Resources
Investing in Equity to Prepare the Next Generation of American Farmers
The outreach & technical assistance because these areas showed a high increase of Latino/Hispanic farm operators and were highlighted in the Ag census. There are major challenges faced by beginning farmers/ranchers such as limited English skills, limited formal education, and cultural differences. They also lack financial management skills, lack of understanding state & federal financial reporting requirements, lack of network with farm groups, distrust of government, therefore lack of knowledge of USDA services and programs.

Geographic Service Area: Washington
Contact Information: Luz Bazan Gutierrez
lbazangutierrez@rcdr.biz
509-453-5133   

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Wisconsin (WI)         

Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council
Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council Agricultural Outreach Program
The two major goals of this program is to:

1. Make federal conservation programs work better on Wisconsin Tribal Lands through government to government education and demonstration by providing policy and technical recommendations to USDA Agency Directors and personnel. Utilize the shared information and recommendations to implement improved USDA programs that meet Tribal needs and
   
2. Serve as a conduit of information and education to facilitate collaboration between individual Tribal Governments, Federal Government agencies, the Tribal General Public and other Tribal Outreach Organizations in order to improve the delivery of USDA programs. This will be done by:
   
   a) assisting member Tribes with implementing pilot conservation demonstration projects not currently authorized within existing USDA Conservation Programs;
   
   b) Utilize project data to develop new Tribal Technical Standards & Specifications with NRCS so as to include those conservation practices in future year programs;
   
   c)Regularly meet with USDA Agency personnel to review program technical standards & specifications and make recommendations that would make the conservation practices more applicable to implementation on Tribal lands;
   
   d)Establish a Tribal Student Internship Program that places students jointly within USDA and Tribal offices to learn about the various USDA programs, and the Tribes ability, or inability, to utilize such programs due to Tribal laws, traditions or culture. The funding of this WTCAC Agricultural Outreach Program will ensure the continued success demonstrated to date with NRCS and APHIS, as well as the expansion of WTCAC partnerships to other USDA agencies such as Rural development, Forest Service, and the Farm Service Agency. This WTCAC Agricultural Outreach Program will further expand WTCAC’s ability to bring other USDA programs to the Wisconsin Tribes and their members. It will also give WTCAC the opportunity to network with the Indian Nations  Conservation Alliance (INCA) and the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) to further the roles of Tribal Conservation Advisory Councils, as more Tribes and Tribal Conservation Districts look to join together to better access USDA programs.
   

Geographic Service Area:  Eleven(11) Native American Tribes in Wisconsin: Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians: in Ashland and Iron Counties. Forest County Potawatomi Community, The Potawatomi Reservation in Forest County; Ho-Chunk Nation in Adams, Clark, Crawford, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Sauk, Shawano, Vernon & Wood Counties. Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians located in Sawyer, Washburn and Burnett Counties; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians located primarily in Vilas County; Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin in Menominee County; Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Forest County; Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin in Brown and Outagamie Counties; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Bayfield County; St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin in Barron, Burnett and Polk Counties; Stockbridge-Munsee Indian Community in Shawano County.
Contact Information: Jerry Thompson
general1956@centurytel.net
715-821-0555   

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