|
Source: USDA, 11/24/21 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is helping to ensure
that underserved farmers, ranchers, and foresters have the tools, programs and support
they need to succeed in agriculture. Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
announced USDA will provide approximately $75 million in American Rescue Plan
funding to 20 organizations to provide technical assistance to connect
underserved producers with USDA programs and services. Organizations were
selected for their proven track records working with underserved producer
communities, such as veterans, beginning farmers, limited resource producers,
and producers living in high-poverty areas. These organizations will work with
underserved producer communities on business and tax planning, financial
assistance planning, market planning, farmer advocacy, and business curriculum
development.The cooperative agreements announced today are an initial step in deploying American Rescue Plan resources in response to demands for more immediate assistance on farm business planning, market development and access assistance, tax planning and land access assistance, to help underserved producers succeed. This announcement is the latest in a series of announcements building momentum around USDA’s historic commitment to center equity in decision-making and policymaking and lower barriers to access USDA programming. “As we build back better than we were before USDA is listening to our customers, and we are proud to offer new tools to help address inequities for underserved farmers and ranchers through the American Rescue Plan,” said Secretary Vilsack. “We are committed to making each of our programs equitable so all can benefit from the opportunities USDA investments and programs help create. Our planned work with these important cooperators will help USDA achieve these important goals.” A full list of cooperators is available at: www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/section-1006-list-of-cooperative-agreements.docx (DOCX,
13.9 KB). Cooperators will work with other cooperator organizations and USDA to
address the needs of underserved producer communities. For example:
- The
National Black Farmers Association will collaborate with organizations and
will provide financial and business assistance and opportunities to
receive USDA program technical support.
- The
Intertribal Agriculture Council will lead training and technical
assistance with Native American farmers, ranchers and forest landowners
across the country.
- The
Farmer Veteran Coalition will coordinate with other cooperators to focus
on the needs of farmer and rancher veteran members.
To ensure the partnerships announced today and future partnerships
funded via these American Rescue Plan funds are robust, all recipients will
work with USDA in intensive training and collaboration activities. The American Rescue Plan Section 1006 provides direction and over
$1 billion in funding for USDA to take action to ensure underserved communities
have tools, programs and support they need to succeed. The Biden-Harris
Administration is committed to advancing equity as a key priority. With the
transformative funds provided by the American Rescue Plan, USDA will focus on
creating opportunity for underserved producers through technical assistance and
capacity building, access to land and credit, and access to markets and market
development. Through Section 1006, USDA is also standing up an Equity
Commission to advise the Secretary of Agriculture by identifying USDA programs,
policies, systems, structures, and practices that contribute to barriers to
inclusion or access, systemic discrimination, or exacerbate or perpetuate
racial, economic, health and social disparities. The Commission nomination period has been extended to Nov. 30, 2021. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
|