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Agricultural producers in counties throughout the country have an opportunity to provide local guidance for federal farm programs. The USDA Farm Service Agency is seeking candidates for the grower-elected County Committee election, November 3 to December 1, 2008. Nominations are due to the FSA county office by August 1, 2008. Read more here!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers farm commodity and conservation programs and makes loans to farmers and ranchers who are unable to obtain conventional credit.
The FSA Outreach Programs Staff coordinates and implements Agency-wide outreach activities to people, especially the underserved, who can benefit from the Agency's programs and services. The staff's goal is to increase the participation of underserved customers in its programs, with special emphasis on those who are socially disadvantaged, limited resource farmers, and members of racial minority groups.
To ensure maximum participation in FSA programs and services for underserved customers, the FSA Outreach Programs Staff works with its partners and customers to eliminate the following barriers:
- All forms of discrimination, including racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender prejudices;
- Language, communication, transportation, and FSA program requirements and signup procedures;
- Limited access to FSA programs in remote areas.
Underserved customers include:
- Farmers/ranchers and landowners/operators with limited resources, minority groups (including American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Aleuts), women, and the physically challenged who may need, but have not fully benefited from, USDA assistance;
- Individuals and groups who have not participated in or have received limited benefits from FSA programs that may improve their quality of life and/or the environment;
- Rural and urban community members;
- Members of religious minorities;
- Small specialty crop farmers, organic farmers, and other farmers with production practices that are different from most farmers in the area.
The FSA Outreach Programs Staff:
- Provides resources to assist underserved farmers and ranchers improve their income through better farm management and financial planning;
- Provides information on loans, farm commodities, and conservation programs to underserved farmers and ranchers who are unable to obtain conventional credit;
- Works with community-based organizations (including churches; social groups; 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land Grant Colleges and Universities; Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; and tribally-controlled colleges to provide technical assistance, training, and enhanced program delivery to underserved communities and other USDA agencies;
- Helps customers understand USDA programs and fill out program forms;
- Provides program and service information to all customers in a customer-friendly and timely manner.
Have Questions? Maybe we can help. Please check out our AskFSA Online Knowledge Base.
Additional information about FSA's programs and outreach projects are available at local USDA Service Centers and FSA state and county offices. The telephone numbers are usually listed in the telephone directory under the United States Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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