The U.S. Department Agriculture (USDA) has announced that nearly $300,000 will be awarded to regional organizations in California to train and educate new and underserved farmers and ranchers on Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs and services.
The University of California-Davis will receive $75,000 to provide financial literacy training to small-scale, new and specialty crop and livestock producers in the Northern California foothills. State Center Community College District will concentrate its $20,000 in funding toward outreach and education efforts to California’s Central Valley. California Farmlink will receive $75,000 to establish financial management workshops offering participants access to important business tools and resources.
Additionally, Fresno’s Valley Small Business Development Corporation will receive $50,000 to provide outreach to Central Valley farmers and ranchers seeking support and services from FSA programs; $20,000 will be provided to National Hmong American Farmers of Fresno to work with underserved growers and help them obtain crop insurance; and Sustainable Agriculture Education of Berkeley will receive $58,727 to help new farmers and ranchers develop business plans, obtain crop insurance and improve the success of their operations.
The announcement is the latest in a series of cooperative agreements between USDA FSA and organizations designed to promote agriculture. To date, $2.5 million has been awarded to 60 nonprofit organizations, universities and foundations in 28 states. FSA administers farm commodity safety net, credit, conservation and emergency assistance programs for farmers and ranchers. To learn more about the cooperative agreements and participating organizations, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/outreach or contact your local FSA county office. Local FSA offices can be found by visiting http://offices.usda.gov.