BFRDP 2501 Letter

8/2/2019 BFRDP 2501 Letter

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April 19, 2012

The Honorable Debbie StabenowChairwomanSenate Agriculture Committee328 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510

The Honorable Pat RobertsRanking MemberSenate Agriculture Committee328 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510

Dear Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts:

We are writing to urge you to include two key programs that are part of a comprehensive package directed atsupporting the next generation of family farmers and ranchers, including socially disadvantaged, beginningand limited resource producers in the mark for the 2012 Farm Bill.

With an aging farm population and a large segment of existing producers at or beyond retirement age, it isparamount to invest in those new entrepreneurs that will farm and ranch our nations land in the future. It isalso equally important to write a new farm bill that takes into account specific equity considerations byinvesting federal dollars into programs that support historically underserved groups and ensuring adequateaccess to federal training and technical assistance.

We therefore support a farm bill that prioritizes the unique needs of beginning and socially disadvantagedfarmers and ranchers byfunding and strengthening programs from the last farm bill that havesuccessfully helped these groups maintain and strengthen their family farms, as well as start successfulfarming livelihoods. We have previously communicated with you about the breadth and depth of provisionswe hope to see in the new farm bill.

We are writing today more specifically to urge you to renew and expand support for:

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program at $25 million in direct farm bill fundingper year. This highly successful and critically important program is the only program within USDA thatis specifically aimed at beginning farmers and ranchers, and provides invaluable training, mentoring, land-linking, and education that beginning farmers need to be successful. In addition, current set aside

provisions, matching requirements, and existing program purposes must be maintained in order to ensureadequate participation in new farmer training programs by socially disadvantaged producers and thegroups that are best suited to serve and reach them.

2501 Outreach and Technical Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers at$25 million in direct farm bill funding per year. For decades, this program has served as the onlyfarm bill program dedicated to addressing the needs of African-American, American-Indian, Asian-American and Latino family farmers and ranchers, and provides critical resources, outreach, and technicalassistance to groups that have been historically underserved by federal programs. As documented innumerous U.S. Civil Rights reports, the USDA must continue the work of dismantling institutionaldiscrimination in its delivery of programs and services to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.The 2501 program provides a necessary approach to improving equity and inclusion for socially

disadvantaged producers in federal agricultural programs.

As you know, these two programs were moved forward together as a historic package in the last farm

bill. It is our strongly held view that the same should be true in the new farm bill.

The mark you present for Committee consideration will ultimately lay the groundwork for all subsequentfarm bill discussions. We urge you to make all funding and policy decisions with an eye toward the futureand a commitment to all of our nations farmers especially those who can benefit the most from scarcefederal resources, namely beginning and socially disadvantaged producers.

Sincerely,


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NationalAmerican Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Washington, DCCenter for Rural Affairs, Lyons, NECommunity Food Security Coalition, Washington, DCEnvironmental Working Group, Washington DCFood and Water Watch, Washington, DCFarmers Market Coalition, Charlottesville, VAInstitute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Minneapolis, MNIntertribal Agriculture Council, Billings, MTIzaak Walton League of America, Gaithersburg, MDNational Catholic Rural Life Conference, Des Moines, IANational Family Farm Coalition, Washington, DCNational Farmers Union, Washington, DCNational Hmong American Farmers, Inc., Fresno, CANational Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association, Washington, DCNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Washington, DCNational Women In Agriculture Association, Oklahoma City, OKNational Young Farmers' Coalition, Tivoli, NYOrganic Valley, La Farge, WIRural Advancement Fund, Orangeburg, SCRural Coalition/Coalicin Rural, Washington, DC

Slow Food USA, New York, NYUnited Farmers USA, Manning, SC

Alabama

Carver Integrative Sustainability Center, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, ALSouthern Regional Asset Building Coalition, Tuskegee, AL

ArkansasSouthern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, Fayetteville, AR

California

California Farmers Union, Turlock, CA

California FarmLink, Santa Cruz, CACalifornia Food and Justice Coalition, Oakland, CACenter for Land Based Learning, Winters, CACommunity Alliance with Family Farmers, Davis, CAEnvironmental Working Group, Oakland, CAFarmer-Veteran Coalition, Davis, CAFood Chain Workers Alliance, Los Angeles, CAGlobal Impact Green, San Marino, CANational Hmong American Farmers, Inc., Fresno, CAPeople Action to Save the Family FarmPesticide Action Network, San Francisco, CAPublic Health Law and Policy, Oakland, CAWilliam C. Velasquez Institute, Los Angeles, CA

Connecticut

National Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (NOFA-CT), Oxford, CT

District of ColumbiaAmerican Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Washington, DCCommunity Food Security Coalition, Washington, DCEnvironmental Working Group, Washington DCFRESHFARM Markets, Washington, DCFood and Water Watch, Washington, DC


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The Praxis Project, Washington DCNational Family Farm Coalition, Washington, DCNational Farmers Union, Washington, DCNational Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association, Washington, DCNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Washington, DCRural Coalition/Coalicin Rural, Washington, DC

FloridaFarmworker Association of Florida, Inc., Apopka, FLFlorida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Gainesville, FLSlow Food First Coast, St. Augustine, FL

GeorgiaFederation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, East Point, GA

Iowa

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Des Moines, IALeopold Group, S.E. Iowa Chapter of Iowa Sierra Club, Fairfield, IANational Catholic Rural Life Conference, Des Moines, IAPractical Farmers of Iowa, Ames, IAWomen, Food and Agriculture Network, Ames, IA

Idaho

Idaho Rural Council, Filer, ID

IllinoisAdvocates for Urban Agriculture, Chicago, ILBenton House, Chicago, ILChicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, ILCommon Ground Food Co-op, Urbana, ILFood Works, Carbondale, ILGoldmine Farms, Pana, ILHealthy Dining Chicago, Chicago, IL

Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Springfield, ILIn My Community, Chicago, ILLiberty Prairie Foundation, Grayslake, ILNorth Central Illinois Farmer Network, Ottawa, ILNorthbrook Farmers Market, Northbrook, ILReel Actions, Chicago, ILRegional Food System, Carbondale, ILThe Abundance Project, Chicago, ILThe Land Connection, Bloomington, ILUncommon Ground, Chicago, IL

KansasCatholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, Kansas City, KSKansas Rural Center, Whiting, KSLivingwater Aquaponics Center, Dover, KSLocal to Global Advocates for Justice, Topeka, KSPinwheel Farm, Lawrence, KSSimple Food, Paola, KSSpring Creek Farm, Baldwin City, KSTrails West Farms, Eudora, KSTropnevad LLC, Hartford, KSYellow Brick Farm, Louisburg, KS


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MassachusettsBerkshire Grown, Great Barrington, MALive Real, Dorchester, MANew England Farmers Union, Shelburne Falls, MANew Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Lowell, MANorthwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, Gloucester, MA

MarylandIzaak Walton League of America, Gaithersburg, MDJohns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Baltimore, MDMontgomery Countryside Alliance, Poolsville, MDUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension, Small Farm Program, Princess Anne, MD

Maine

Cultivating Community, Portland, ME

MichiganBeginning Farmers LLC, Lansing, MICenter for Ecojustice Education, Ypsilanti, MIFair Food Network, Ann Arbor, MIFood System Economic Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI

Lansing Urban Farm Project, Lansing, MIMichigan Land Trustees, Lawton, MIMichigan Land Use Institute, Traverse City, MIMichigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA), Lansing, MIMichigan Young Farmers Coalition, Ann Arbor, MINorthwest Michigan Food and Farming Network, Suttons Bay, MISelma Cafe, Ann Arbor, MISlow Food Huron Valley, Ann Arbor, MISlow Food West Michigan, Belmont, MIThe Brinery, Ann Arbor, MIThe Giving Garden, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI

MinnesotaCommunity Bees on Bikes, Minneapolis, MNInstitute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Minneapolis, MNIzaak Walton League of America, St. Paul, MNLand Stewardship Project, Minneapolis, MNMinnesota Catholic Conference, St. Paul, MNMinnesota COACT (Citizens Organized Acting Together), St. Paul, MNMinnesota Farmers Union, St. Paul, MNMinnesota Food Association, Marine on St. Croix, MNNdosi Enterprises, Golden Valley, MNRenewing the Countryside II, St. Paul, MNSt. Paul/Ramsey County Food and Nutrition Commission, St. Paul, MN

MissouriMissouri Rural Crisis Center, Columbia, MO

Mississippi

Rainbow Natural Grocery Cooperative, Jackson, MS

Montana

Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), Helena, MTIntertribal Agriculture Council, Billings, MTWestern Organization of Resource Councils, Billings, MT


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North CarolinaBountiful Backyards, Durham, NCCarolina Farm Stewardship Association, Pittsboro, NCEastern Carolina Organics, Pittsboro, NCFoothills Connect Business and Technology Center, Rutherfordton, NCInter-Faith Food Shuttle, Raleigh, NCNorth Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project, Durham, NCOperation Spring Plant, Inc, Henderson, NCTierra Negra Farm, Durham, NC

North Dakota

Dakota Resource Council, Dickinson, ND

Nebraska

Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, NECommunity CROPS, Lincoln, NENebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society, Ceresco, NESlow Food Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

New Hampshire

National Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH), Concord, NH

Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success, Manchester NH

New JerseyNational Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ), Hillsborough, NJ

New Mexico

Farm to Table, Santa Fe, NMNew Mexico Acequia Association, Santa Fe, NMNew Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, Santa Fe, NMRichard Rosenstock Attorney At Law, Santa Fe, NMTaos County Economic Development Corporation, Taos, NM

New YorkAgricultural Missions, Inc, New York, NYChurch Women United of New York State, Albany, NYGrowNYC/New Farmer Development Project, New York, NYJust Food, New York, NYNational Young Farmers' Coalition, Tivoli, NYNew World Agriculture and Ecology Group at Cornell, Ithaca, NYNortheast Organic Farming Association of New York, Inc. (NOFA-NY), Rochester, NYRoot 'n Roost Farm, Livingston Manor, NYRural Development Leadership Network, New York, NYSlow Food USA, New York, NYStone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, Pocantico Hills, NYTasting Awareness, New York, NYThe Second Chance Foundation, New York, NYWhyHunger, New York, NY

Oklahoma

National Women In Agriculture Association, Oklahoma City, OKOklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Wewoka, OKOkmulgee County Farmers and Ranchers, Henryetta, OK


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OregonAdelante Mujeres, Forest Grove, ORFriends of Family Farmers, Molalla, ORGorge Grown Food Network, Hood River, OROregon Rural Action, La Grande, ORRogue Farm Corps, Ashland, ORSlow Food Portland Oregon, Portland ORThe Rogue Initiative for a Vital Economy, Ashland, OR

PennsylvaniaFay-Penn Economic Development Council, Lemont Furnace, PAPennypack Farm and Education Center, Horsham, PA

Rhode Island

Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI

South CarolinaRural Advancement Fund, Orangeburg, SCUnited Farmers USA, Manning, SC

South Dakota

Dakota Rural Action, Brookings, SD

TexasSouthwest Workers Union, San Antonio, TXSustainable Food Center, Austin, TXTexas/Mexico Border Coalition CBO, San Isidro, TX

VirginiaChesapeake CRAFT, Loudoun, VAFarmers Market Coalition, Charlottesville, VALocal Food Hub, Charlottesville, VAVirginia Association for Biological Farming, Lexington, VA

VermontVermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, Montpelier, VT

WashingtonCommunity Alliance for Global Justice, Seattle, WAInstitute for Washington's Future, Seattle, WAPCC Farmland Trust, Seattle, WATilth Producers of Washington, Seattle, WAWashington Sustainable Food and Farming Network, Mount Vernon, WA

WisconsinDairy Grazing Apprenticeship, Medford WIFamily Farm Defenders, Madison, WIFarley Center, Madison, WIGrassWorks, Inc., Hudson, WIMichael Fields Agricultural Institute, East Troy, WIMidwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), Spring Valley, WIMilwaukee Food Council, Milwaukee, WIMilwaukee River Greenway Coalition, Milwaukee, WIOrganic Valley, La Farge, WISlow Food Madison, Madison, WIThe Cornucopia Institute, Cornucopia, WI


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Unitarian Universalist Church West, Brookfield, WIVictory Garden Initiative, Milwaukee, WIWisconsin Association of RC&D Councils, Inc., Medford, WIWisconsin Farmers Union, Chippewa Falls, WI

cc: Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee

Documents

BFRDP 2501 Letter