USDA Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers

The program’s intent is to ensure underserved communities can equitably participate in USDA programs. Eligible entities can provide education, training, and technical assistance and extend outreach and education efforts to connect with and assist underserved and military veteran farmers and ranchers to provide them with information on available USDA resources.

Outreach and technical assistance program funds shall be used exclusively:

1. To enhance coordination of the outreach, technical assistance, education, and training efforts authorized under USDA agriculture programs;

2. To assist the Secretary of Agriculture in: (a) reaching current and prospective underserved farmers or ranchers, military veteran farmers or ranchers, or beginning farmers and ranchers in a linguistically appropriate manner; and (b) improving the participation of those farmers and ranchers in USDA programs.

There are five programmatic mission areas; proposals must address at least two of the five following programmatic mission areas as they develop their goals:

i. Assist underserved, military veteran farmers and ranchers, including beginning farmers and ranchers in owning and operating successful farms and ranches;

ii. Improve participation among underserved or military veteran farmers and ranchers in USDA programs;

iii. Build relationships between current and prospective farmers and ranchers who are underserved or military veterans and USDA’s local, state, regional, and National offices;

iv. Assist in reaching current and prospective underserved farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners in a linguistically appropriate manner; and

v. Assist with identifying problems and barriers underserved farmers experience and working towards minimizing or alleviating those issues to enable their equitable participation in USDA programs.

Amount: There is $45,000,000 available for grant awards of up to $750,000 each, for a period of 3 years.

Eligibility: Grants are provided to nonprofit community-based organizations, higher education institutions, and eligible Tribal entities with at least three (3) years of documented experience, preceding the submission date of an application.

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=347769

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