We often hear from farmers asking us what programs or funding is out there to help them build or expand their farming operations. Luckily, between the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state departments of agriculture, and other local entities, there are many grants, programs, and services available to farmers that can strengthen the viability of their operations. But availability isn’t always enough. This is especially true for farmers who produce on a small- to mid-scale, produce specialty commodities, or are beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers — due to the fact that many of these programs were originally designed to assist large-scale, commodity farmers.
Resources for Resilient Farms is a project of RAFI that provides plain-language information, farmer trainings, and one-on-one assistance for USDA programs that would support greater farm resilience for farmers’ operations, especially within RAFI’S Farmers of Color Network.
Why it’s important
RAFI has a long history of conducting outreach and technical assistance regarding disaster assistance for farmers. We especially focus on supporting Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers, according to USDA’s NRCS definition. This has included the development of online and written materials, providing one-on-one technical assistance with navigating disaster relief programs, and providing emergency relief grants.
Funding Background
RAFI is a sub-award recipient of an FSA Program Outreach and Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement with the National Young Farmers Coalition. RAFI will provide outreach and assistance to members of its Farmers of Color Network (FOCN) as well as other Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers in the U.S. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, with a focus on FSA loan programs.
Additionally, RAFI received funding from USDA to help it expand access to conservation assistance for climate-smart agriculture and forestry. $50 million has been invested in 118 Conservation Cooperative Agreements, administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The two-year project is aimed at serving farmers who are new to farming, low-income, socially disadvantaged, or military veterans.
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Final Report
This project also called for an assessment of NRCS’s services and benefits, which was completed late in 2024.
The report, linked to below — Accessing NRCS Services and Benefits: Challenges and Recommendations for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers — highlights key barriers faced by small-scale and BIPOC farmers in accessing USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs.
What’s Inside?
- Challenges and solutions to improve access to NRCS services.
- Data-driven insights from 225 producer surveys and 326 Technical Assistance cases.
- Stories from producers in the Southeast U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Eight categories of recommendations to enhance NRCS outreach, technical assistance, and conservation planning.
This report is a call to action for more effective support for farmers who steward our land. Let’s create a better future for all producers. Read the full report.
Contacts
The Resources for Resilient Farms team is here to help and answer your questions. Email us. General inquiries or questions can be directed to resourcesforresilientfarms@rafi.gameflow.design.
Milexa Polanco: Climate Smart Agriculture Technical Assistance Provider
milexa@rafi.gameflow.design
Jaimie McGirt: Agricultural Conservation and Market Access Coordinator
jaimie@rafi.gameflow.design