U.S. Department of Agriculture: Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers program goal is to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, and beginning farmers and ranchers with owning and operating farms and ranches and in participating equitably in the full range of agricultural, forestry, and related programs offered by USDA. It also includes projects that develop socially disadvantaged youths’ interest in agriculture.

There are five programmatic mission areas that support the goals of the program. Proposals from eligible entities must address at least two of the five following programmatic mission areas as they develop their goals:
1) Assist socially disadvantaged, veteran farmers and ranchers, including beginning farmers and ranchers in owning and operating successful farms and ranches;
2) Improve participation among socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers and ranchers in USDA programs;
3) Build relationships between current and prospective farmers and ranchers who are socially disadvantaged or veterans and USDA’s local, state, regional, and National offices;
4) Assist in reaching current and prospective socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners in a linguistically appropriate manner; and
5) Assist with identifying problems and barriers socially disadvantaged farmers experience and working towards minimizing or alleviating those issues to enable their equitable participation in USDA programs.

Amount: $35,000,000 is available for awards that range up to $750,000 each for a 3-year period.

Eligibility: Nonprofit, community-based organizations, tribal entity, networks, or a coalition of community-based organizations with at least 3 years of documented expertise in working with socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers or veteran farmers or ranchers; an 1890 or 1994 land-grant institution of higher education; an American Indian Tribal community college or university or an Alaska Native cooperative college; a Hispanic-Serving Institution of higher education; any other institution of higher education that has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agricultural-related services to socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers or ranchers; and any Federally-recognized Indian Tribe or a national tribal organization that has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services to socially disadvantaged or veteran farmers or ranchers.

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338627

This post was filed under: