Southeast NRCS "Ranking Dates" Approaching
USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced "ranking dates" for EQIP and CSP applications for technical and cost-share assistance for farmers, ranchers, and non-commercial forest land owners implementing conservation practices on their land in the Southeast U.S. Submitting an application by your state's ranking date means your place is held to be considered for conservation planning and financial assistance during the current fiscal year. If you have considered applying for NRCS assistance, look up your state's ranking date here.
Need assistance contact your state office or membership@federation.coop
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grant
This USDA competitive grant program will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories: Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 27, 2023. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, local governments, and tribal governments.
RESOURCES
Braiding Seeds Fellowship
The Braiding Seeds Fellowship, a project of Soul Fire Farm Institute in collaboration with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, carries on the legacy of the braided seeds by providing beginning farmers with resources, professional development, and mentorship to support their livelihood on land. Braiding Seeds fellows receive a $50,000 stipend. Twelve runner-ups receive $2,500 mini-grants. Applications for the 18-month fellowship open March 1.
New Natural Disaster and Pandemic Relief Programs are Open!
Program #1
FSA has announced two new disaster and pandemic assistance programs. Both programs opened on January 23, 2023 and will run through June 2, 2023. Check out this quick breakdown to see if you may be eligible for a relief payment.
Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 2
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What is it: ERP Phase 2 covers losses to crops, trees, bushes, and vines due to a qualifying natural disaster in 2020 or 2021.
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Eligibility: Producers who suffered a loss in revenue due to necessary expenses associated with losses of eligible crops due in whole or in part to a disaster event. Producers should refer to the ERP Fact Sheet for more info about qualifying natural disasters.
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Application Information Needed: Producers will need to collect the appropriate records (Schedule F or similar profit/loss tax documents) that show allowable gross revenue during the disaster year and records that represent a typical year of revenue as a baseline.
New Natural Disaster and Pandemic Relief Programs are Open!
Program #2
FSA has announced two new disaster and pandemic assistance programs. Both programs opened on January 23, 2023 and will run through June 2, 2023. Check out this quick breakdown to see if you may be eligible for a relief payment.
Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP)
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What is it: PARP will assist farmers who experienced revenue decreases in 2020 compared to 2018 or 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PARP will help address gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses. Fact Sheet
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Eligibility: Farmer was in business during 2020 and had a 15% or greater decrease in allowable gross revenue in 2020 compared to 2018 or 2019.
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Application Information Needed: Producers will need to collect the appropriate records to certify allowable gross income in 2020 and 2018 or 2019.
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Government/University Agriculture Links
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) www.usda.gov
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) www.fsa.usda.gov
USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) http://www.nass.usda.gov/
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service www.nrcs.usda.gov/
USDA Foreign Agriculture Service www.fas.usda.gov
USDA Risk Management Agency www.rma.usda.gov
USDA Rural Development Agency www.rurdev.usda.gov
USDA U.S. Forest Service www.fs.fed.us
Southern Region Risk Management Education Center http://srrme.tamu.edu
Digital Center for Risk Management Education www.agrisk.umn.edu
Alabama Forestry Commission www.forestry.state.al.us
Veterans and Entrepreneurship | USDA
https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/initiatives/veterans/veterans-and-entrepreneurship
RAFI USA - Farmers of Color Network Grants
https://www.rafiusa.org/blog/new-round-of-focn-grants/
Farmer Funding
Rural Americans are working hard to take care of our families and communities. When we have the right tools and opportunities, everyone prospers–because what happens in rural America matters, no matter where you live.
We need policies that support good rural jobs, protect our natural resources, and invest in vibrant small towns where people want to live, work, and raise a family. Many of these important decisions are made at the state level. Learn how state legislators can use the Blueprint for Rural Policy Action in the States to create the thriving America of tomorrow.
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The Southeast Hub is working to deliver science-based knowledge and practical information on climate variability and change to farmers, ranchers, and forest land managers.
BLUEPRINT FOR RURAL
POLICY
SOUTHEAST HUB