{"id":55724,"date":"2022-03-23T14:18:36","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T18:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/?p=55724"},"modified":"2022-03-24T17:17:01","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T21:17:01","slug":"a-record-35-million-now-available-to-support-historically-underserved-and-veteran-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/blog\/a-record-35-million-now-available-to-support-historically-underserved-and-veteran-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"A Record $35 Million Now Available to Support Historically Underserved and Veteran Farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo credit: USDA<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a record $35 million in funding for 2501 grants, almost $20 million more than was available in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, to help organizations conduct targeted outreach and provide technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers. The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program<\/a>, more commonly known as the \u201c2501 Program,\u201d and administered by USDA\u2019s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), helps to ensure that historically underserved producers have equitable access to the information, programs, and opportunities that will help them to find success in agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This funding includes approximately $18 million provided in the 2018 Farm Bill, (note: the 2018 Farm Bill mandated $20 million for FY 2022) with an additional $17 million in released funds from the Coronavirus Response and Relief section of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The grants are to support a range of outreach and assistance activities including farm management, financial management, marketing, and application and bidding procedures. Since USDA published the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) significantly earlier than last year, applicants will have three months (90 days) to submit their applications by the June 8, 2022 deadline<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All applications must be submitted via <\/strong>grants.gov<\/strong><\/a> by 11:59 pm EDT on<\/strong> June 8, 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

USDA will host two upcoming webinars to answer questions from potential grantees.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 31, 2022 at 2:00 pm EDT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Web conference link \u2013 https:\/\/www.zoomgov.com\/\u200bwebinar\/\u200bregister\/\u200bWN_\u200bdeGz0uf9TIyNPkkuvRfxUA<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

May 4, 2022 at 2:00 pm EDT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Web conference link \u2013 https:\/\/www.zoomgov.com\/\u200bwebinar\/\u200bregister\/\u200bWN_\u200b29_\u200bqm0hxTbeYw2I9e2QAfw<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional details on those webinars are included in the FOA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For farmers of color, starting and managing a successful farming operation can present unique and difficult challenges. Farmers of color have not historically benefitted from vital USDA safety net programs to the same extent as their white counterparts, often due to overt discrimination, limited resources, and USDA\u2019s inadequate outreach to these communities. This disparity disadvantages farmers of color in both the national and global economy and stifles the growth and prosperity of rural communities. As a result, there are often enormous challenges for farmers of color when they are looking to start or maintain viable and resilient careers in farming. Rising costs and limited availability of farmland, access to markets and infrastructure, discrimination, and the worsening impacts of the climate crisis and natural disasters are just some of the challenges these farmers face. In an effort to increase support of operations of farmers of color, women, and military veterans (known collectively as \u201csocially disadvantaged farmers\u201d in statute), USDA created the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program.<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2018 Farm Bill combined the 2501 program with the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program<\/a> (BFRDP) into a new umbrella program: the Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach<\/a> (FOTO) program. Congress mandates that FOTO funds be divided equally between Section 2501 and BFRDP, with each program to receive $15 million in mandatory funding for FY 2020. Congress provided the 2501 program with an additional $2.5 million in discretionary funding in FY 2020, bringing total grant funding to $17.5 million. However, NSAC was disappointed with the FY 2020 cycle<\/a> when USDA redirected funds Congress provided to support a separate, administratively created initiative. Only $12.8 million was invested in 2501 grants in 2020. FOTO received an additional $75 million from the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020<\/a> in December 2020, and the 2501 funds will be granted over the next few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program Eligibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Organizations can apply for a maximum amount of $250,000 for a single year, with a grant maximum amount of $750,000 over a 3-year period \u2013 an increase from last year\u2019s offering. There is no match required for applications and only one project proposal may be submitted per eligible entity. Grant funding will be awarded to three categories of applicants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n