FSA Outreach Focus

Reaching Out to Keep Farmers, Ranchers & Partners Informed

September 28, 2016

Upcoming Webinar: How to Partner and Connect With FSA

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is hosting a webinar on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. EST, to invite agricultural organizations to connect and partner with FSA. FSA connects with agricultural organizations to help farmers and ranchers around the country start, expand and grow their operation. Learn ways to connect with FSA, sign up to become a partner and develop a relationship that benefits the agricultural community. Register today.

FSA Partnerships Help New, Beginning Farmer Connect to Land Growing up in Tanzania, East Africa, Sangiwa Eliamani became a skilled farmer, producing rice, millet and cotton throughout the year, using typical hand tools. He had no concerns about seasonal timing or finding markets for his crops, until he moved to the United States and attempted to farm in Massachusetts. “Over there [in Tanzania] it’s very different,” he said. “We don’t have this limited time to grow, we have easier access to land and markets to sell our products.” Sangiwa moved to the United States in hopes of better opportunities, but it seemed his passion for farming may be put on hold when he discovered high land prices, short growing seasons and complex crop marketing. Read more.

Announcements and Upcoming Events

• USDA Farm to School Grant Program assists eligible entities to implement farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. On an annual basis, USDA awards up to $5 million in competitive grants for training, supporting operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs. Deadline is Dec. 8, 2016.
• USDA Food and Nutrition Service invites tribes, tribal organizations, and Native producers interested in selling food for school meals to the “Farm to School Grant Program Review for Tribal Organizations” webinar on Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. EST. This webinar will provide an overview of the Farm to School Grant Program and application requirements specific to tribal organizations.
• Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program is accepting applications from institutions that confer a graduate degree in one of seven specific agricultural areas. The awards are intended to support traineeship programs that engage outstanding students to pursue and complete their degrees in USDA mission areas. Deadline is Oct. 11, 2016. Learn more.
• The Pacific Northwest Regional Native Youth in Food & Agriculture Summit – held Oct.13-16 at the University of Nevada-Reno – will bring Native youth ages 15-24 together for a one-of-a-kind learning experience about the issues they will face as the next generation of food and agriculture leaders in the Pacific Northwest region. This program is open to both enrolled Tribal youth and Tribal descendants. Applications are due Sept.10, 2016. Apply here.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).