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Increasing program access for underserved farmers

The USDA wants to increase program access for underserved farmers and ranchers.

Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini  says the agency hopes to find new ways to connect participants to the programs available to them.  He says that includes reaching out to veterans.  “We’ve really tried to identify programs that exist within the department’s current portfolio of programs and we’ve created some where some didn’t exist,” he says.  “But we’ve tried to gather those tools together so a veteran can more easily access programs in one fell swoop rather than to say ‘Okay – this is what FSA does or this is what RD is able to add.’”

Dolcini says the agency is traveling the country trying to engage new veterans.  “Simply to better understand the kinds of ways they can use management and leadership skills they developed in the service into careers in agriculture,” he says.

Earlier this week, the FSA announced cooperative agreements with 55 partners that will use the funding to help educate farmers and other producers who have been underserved by USDA programs.  Nearly $2.5 million will go to non-profits, associations, universities, and foundations that will provided training and information on agricultural practices as well as local networking opportunities.