USDA announces recepeints of funds to help underseved farmers and ranchers
US - Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Teresa Lasseter today announced the recipients of $995,000 in special USDA outreach funds.
3 November 2006
2 minute read
Ten organizations received awards from the "Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for Innovative Ways to Enhance the Economic Viability of Underserved and Limited-resource Farmers and Ranchers."
"Expanding opportunities for minority and women producers is an important part of FSA's mission," said Lasseter. "These funds represent our commitment to helping underserved farmer and ranchers across the nation to build successful business operations."
FSA's Outreach staff received 76 proposals for cooperative agreements under NOFA for fiscal year 2006. The proposals came from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, land grant institutions, state governments and federally-recognized Indian tribal governments to help underserved and limited resource farmers and ranchers. The goal is for the organizations to help develop efficient operators and enable them to become economically viable.
The following ten recipients were selected: Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Montgomery, Ala.; Community Food Security Coalition, Inc., Venice, Calif.; Cooperative Development Institute, Inc., South Deerfield, Mass.; Farm to Table, Inc., Santa Fe, N. Mex.; Iowa Women Agriculture, Hampton, Iowa; Michigan Food and Farming Systems, East Lansing, Mich.; Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont.; North South Institute and Southwest Broward Vegetable Growers Association, Davie, Fla.; Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Inc., Wewoka, Okla.; and Prairie View A&M Research Foundation, Prairie View, Tex.
Through cooperative agreements, FSA provides financial assistance that enhances opportunities for limited resource and underserved farmers and ranchers through technical assistance and training.
FSA entered into these cooperative agreements to improve the coordination and effectiveness of federal programs provided in rural areas. The funds are used to carry out the cooperative agreements. The agreements offer underserved and limited-resource farmers and ranchers innovative and unique ways to improve their economic viability through training, technical assistance, farming practices and more effective marketing approaches.
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