Here are links to collections of resources to help farmers and ranchers navigate the new challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Events/Training
May
26
Tue
May 26 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
In this webinar, “Weathering the Change – Climate Change & Farming/Ranching,” Elizabeth Marks, certified Holistic Management Educator and the USDA Northeast Climate Hub liaison to NRCS, will summarize the changes in weather that has happened over the last 130 years in the United States as it affects farmers and ranchers. She’ll discuss climate smart farming and ranching practices that improve ecosystem processes that farmers can implement to be resilient to those changes.
For more information or to register, visit the registration webpage, or contact Holistic Management International by email or phone (505-842-5252).
The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products by developing, coordinating, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, online sales or other direct producer-to-consumer (including direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant and direct producer-to-institutional marketing) market opportunities. A 25% match is required.
All applicants must be domestic entities owned, operated and located within the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands to be considered eligible. Entities that are eligible to apply include:
- Agricultural businesses and cooperatives
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) networks and associations
- Food Councils
- Economic development corporations
- Local governments
- Nonprofit and public benefit corporations
- Producer networks or associations
- Regional farmers’ market authorities
- Tribal governments
The deadline for submitting applications for the 2020 Request for Applications has been extended until May 26, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
For more information or to apply, visit the FMPP website, or contact Dewell Paez-Delgado by email or phone (202-720-0933).
The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Grants can be used for the planning stages of establishing or expanding a local and regional food business enterprise or to improve or expand a food business that supports locally and regionally produced agricultural products and food system infrastructure by performing feasibility studies, market research, training and technical assistance for the business enterprise and/or for producers working with the business enterprise. A 25% match is required.
Eligible entities may apply if they support local and regional food business enterprises that process, distribute, aggregate, or store locally or regionally produced food products. Such entities may include:
All applicants must be domestic entities owned, operated and located within the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands to be considered eligible. Entities that are eligible to apply include:
- Agricultural businesses and cooperatives.
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) networks and associations.
- Food councils.
- Economic development corporations.
- Local governments.
- Nonprofit and public benefit corporations.
- Producer networks or associations.
- Regional farmers’ market authorities.
- Tribal governments.
The deadline for submitting applications for the 2020 Request for Applications has been extended until May 26, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
For more information or to apply, visit the LFPP website, or contact Dewell Paez-Delgado by email or phone (202-720-0933).
The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) program supports partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. Effort is focused on building and strengthening local or regional food economy viability and resilience by alleviating unnecessary administrative and technical barriers for participating partners.
AMS is soliciting applications from eligible partnerships, which include at least one eligible entity and at least one eligible partner.
Eligible entities include:
- Producers.
- Producer networks or associations.
- Farmer or rancher cooperatives.
- Majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.
- Food councils.
- Local or tribal governments.
- Nonprofit corporations.
- Economic development corporations.
- Public benefit corporations.
- Community-supported agriculture networks or associations.
- Regional farmers’ market authorities.
Eligible partners include:
- State agencies or regional authorities.
- Philanthropic organizations.
- Private corporations.
- Institutions of higher education.
- Commercial, Federal, or Farm Credit System lending institutions.
The 2020 RFSP grant application period is now open. The deadline for submitting applications for the 2020 Request for Applications has been extended until May 26, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
For more information or to apply, visit the RFSP website, or contact Patrick Kelley by email or phone (202-205-3941).
May
27
Wed
May 27 – May 29 all-day
The Grassfed Exchange 2020 conference runs May 27-29 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Who Should Attend
Regenerative Producers
- Our mission is to help producers understand the possibility of managing and finishing cattle correctly on grass and to produce the best quality beef and dairy products possible that also ensures consistency of quality within the industry.
- Learn how to produce the highest quality beef and dairy products using 100% grass-based production models.
- Learn how to employ regenerative production practices that can rapidly improve your soil’s health and organic matter.
- Learn from experienced producers on how to implement stacked enterprises and direct marketing models to create value-added profit centers on your farm.
- Hear directly from authors, food bloggers, and top chefs that represent an entire movement of consumers that value regenerative food production practices.
Sustainable Food Supporters
- We desire to educate consumers on the health benefits of grass-fed beef, not only as it pertains to our own health, but also on the positive impact grass-fed beef production has on the health of our planet.
- Learn how human health is rooted in soil, plant, and animal health.
- Tour local farms and see first-hand how they produce nourishing, pasture-based foods.
- Take advantage of the unique opportunity to network with other families who want access to healthy foods.
- Enjoy a farm-to-fork banquet dinner prepared by local chefs.
For more information or to register, visit the conference website or contact Kathy Richburg by email or phone (256-996-3142).
Subscribe
