WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is awarding $399,388 in grant funding for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives through the Outreach Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) Competitive Grants Program, also known as the "2501 program."

"USDA and the Obama administration are committed to creating opportunities for Americans from all backgrounds," said Vilsack. "These grants will help develop programs to ensure that minority landowners have access to a full range of USDA programs, helping them increase their profitability and stay on the farm."

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives project titled "Outreach and Assistance to Black Farmers in Southwest Georgia to Improve Participation in USDA" will work in collaboration with Tuskegee University to serve African American farmers in 16 counties of southwest Georgia. Project staff will survey farmers, current 2501 project staff, and USDA agency county level personnel to elicit data and views on engagement and disconnection between African American farmers and USDA. Federation staff will conduct outreach at conferences in the target area for 300 farmers. Outreach and technical assistance will work to improve farm operations, income and farm ownership and reduce delinquency and foreclosure. A final report will be prepared to document root causes of barriers to farmer engagement and will present recommended policy changes to facilitate farmer participation.

The primary purpose of the grant being made available through the "2501 program" is to enhance the coordination of outreach, technical assistance and education efforts to reach socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. These grants enable organizations to help farmers and ranchers successfully acquire, own, operate and retain farms and ranches and to assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs. Local and regional impacts include participants setting up production and marketing cooperatives, improving environmental quality and improving their profitability and sustainability.

Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the terms of the loan, grant, or loan/grant agreement.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).