Source: USDA, 10/12/18

Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will issue $9.4 million in grants (PDF, 750 KB) to provide enhanced training, outreach, and technical assistance to underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers. This funding is available through the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (also known as the 2501 Program), managed by the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE).

“From the beginning of this Administration, USDA has focused on increasing rural prosperity and how to best serve our veterans and underserved farmers and ranchers. Helping those who served our country and assisting the disadvantaged is at the heart of our motto at USDA to 'Do Right and Feed Everyone,’” said Secretary Perdue. “The 2501 grants ensure veterans and underserved farmers and ranchers are well positioned to start their careers in agriculture and continue to give back to the American people. These resources will help strengthen the American economy and provide assistance for those who need it most.”

Background:
The 2501 Program was created through the 1990 Farm Bill to help socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and foresters, who have historically experienced limited access to USDA loans, grants, training, and technical assistance. Provisions were expanded in the 2014 Farm Bill to include outreach and technical assistance to military veterans. Grants are awarded to higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations to extend USDA’s engagement efforts in underserved communities. This is accomplished through various activities including, but not limited to, conferences, workshops, demonstrations on various farming techniques, and connecting underserved farmers and ranchers to USDA local officials to increase awareness of our programs and services while filling the needs for increased partnerships. Additionally, Alcorn State University will continue to administer the Socially Disadvantaged Policy Research Center with a $400,000 grant funded under this program. Since 2010, the 2501 Program has distributed more than $93 million to 398 partners.

East Carolina University
$161,349 The Institute will partner with the Veteran’s Farm of North Carolina, a 501C3, to develop and implement 6-day long workshops and two tours designed to increase the number of veterans, African Americans, Native Americans and other minorities entering agriculture in critical need areas of North Carolina. Workshops will focus on farm andbusiness planning, accessing USDA programs, implementing and managing USDA funded projects and obtaining technical assistance from USDA and Cooperative Extension. Participants will receive health screenings, learn strategies for preventing farm-related related illnesses, injuries and fatalities and become familiar with services provided by the NC AgrAbility Partnership for individuals farming with a disability. Tours will provide participants with the opportunity to see successful farm operations supported by USDA resources.

Geographic Service Area: Workshops will be conducted in Rocky Mount (Nash County), Clinton (Sampson County), Pembroke (Robeson County), Sanford (Lee County) and Fayetteville (Cumberland County), North Carolina.

Participants will be recruited from these counties as well as from other counties where there are higher numbers of African American, Native American or veteran farmers: Bertie, Halifax, Nash, Wake, Warren and Duplin counties.

Contact Info: Robin Tutor Marcom, EdD, MPH, OTR | tutorr@ecu.edu | (252) 744-1008

Whitaker Small Farm Group
$199,974 WSFG is shifting to a more proven to be successful approach of “Learning While Doing”. This project will address the barriers faced by socially disadvantage by using experiential training through apprenticeship and mentoring, access to incubator farms, classroom-based workshops and hands-on activities to build knowledge and skills required to make well informed business decisions and to operate sustainable and profitable farms. The proposed project will provide customized training to about 125 socially disadvantaged farmers and assist about 240 farmers in total by connecting them to resources. We are initiating an apprenticeship program for 12 young farmers at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro, NC. Apprentice will be exposed to many aspects of sustainable agriculture production and farm management. Upon graduating, they will launch their farming ventures on our Incubator Farms. Our collaborators have provided access to their farm sites and facilities at no cost to the project. Our Business Management Academy will offer classes to build knowledge and skills needed for successful farm management. We will engage a certified nutritionist to train participants to add value to harvested produce and increase market access. Twenty-five participants will receive training geared towards Beekeeping certification. These activities will provide other options for additional income. We will increase participation and awareness of USDA programs by providing aggressive outreach, facilitate one-on-one assistance with the appropriate agency specialist and, assist farmers to apply for program assistance.

Geographic Service Area: The target area is primarily within eastern NC.

Contact Info: Charles Whitaker | c.w.l.whitaker@comcast.net | (919) 412-1432

Roanoke Economic Development
$200,000 Works to restore/conserve threatened forestland by increasing forest-owner income and land asset values targeting socially disadvantaged/veteran forest landowners through access to education, technical assistance, sustainability practices, new technologies and emerging markets. Youth will increase knowledge and career options concerning forestry and agriculture and importance of maintaining family forest/Ag land.

Partners: Natural Resources Conservation Service, NC Forest Service
Objectives: 1) Increase awareness of USDA, state, and county agencies that provide technical and financial assistance to forest landowners; 2) Increase forest landowners actively implementing sustainable practices by developing Forest Management Plans and Forest Stewardship/NC Tree Farm Plans through access to technical assistance, educational meetings/workshops/conferences utilizing forestry professionals and USDA programs; 3) Forest landowners will generate income into local forestry businesses utilizing consulting foresters; 4) Establish structured forest landowner educational networking group to provide peer-to-peer support; and 5) Youth increase Ag/Forestry knowledge to encourage maintaining inherited forestland as an asset and develop related career interest through workshops/activities.

Geographic Service Area: Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, and Perquimans counties

Contact Info: Sondra Dickens | sdickens@roanokecenter.org | (252) 539-46