Jackson, MS June 22, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced its selection of 50 projects for potential award, totaling approximately $300 million. These innovative projects will help improve access to land, capital, and markets for underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. The Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access (Increasing Land Access) Program, which is funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, works to increase access to farm ownership opportunities, improve results for those with heirs’ property or fractionated land, increase access to markets and capital that affect the ability to access land, and improve land ownership, land succession and agricultural business planning.
“Land access, market access and capital are critical to the success of the hardworking producers who keep agriculture thriving,” said Thaddeus Fairley, FSA State Executive Director in Mississippi. “Underserved producers have not had access to the amount of specialized technical support that would increase opportunities to access and capital and benefit the launch, growth, resilience, and success of their agricultural enterprises. The Increasing Land Access Program is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to advancing equity for all, including people who have been underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, by providing the resources, tools and technical support needed to directly help local farmers and ensure we have a strong agricultural system across the country.”
Examples of selectees for potential award in Mississippi include:
- Black Belt Land Access Program
Project Lead Applicant: Center For Heirs Property Preservation
Project Geographic Area: Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas
Target Audience: BIPOC
Project Description: The goals of the Black Belt Land Access Program are (1) to increase land access for underserved landowners/producers so they can increase their opportunities to access capital and markets in agriculture which will result in viable farming/forestry operations and (2) build and deepen infrastructure in the subregion of East Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi for addressing Heirs Property among black producers.- Regional Collaboration to Facilitate Equitable Access to Land, Capital, and Resources by Minority and Limited Resource Producers in the Deep South
- Project Lead Applicant: Alabama A&M University
Project Geographic Area: MS TARGET COUNTIES: Clarke County, Greene County, Harrison County, Jasper County, Jacson County, Jones County, Kemper County, Lauderdale County, Lowndes County, Noxubee County, Winston County, Wayne County; TENN TARGET COUNTIES: Bedford County, Cannon County, Coffee County, Crocket County, Hardeman County, Hardin County, Haywood County, Lauderdale County, Madison County, Shelby County, Warren County, Wayne County; AL TARGET COUNTIES: Barbour County, Butler County, Dallas County, Hale County, Greene County, Lee County, Perry County, Pickens County, Sumter County, Choctaw County, Russell County, Wilcox County
Target Audience: Farmers of color
Project Description: Through aggressive delivery of technical assistance; this regional project will grow the number of farmers of color in the region by at least 25% (6,875 producers) – increasing from the current 27,677 producers (2017 Census of Agriculture) to 34,552 producers by 2027 – reflecting a combination of factors including increased producer access to land and capital, reduced land loss, and increased land retention and land ownership facilitated by this project’s education and technical assistance
See the full list of Increasing Land Access Program selected projects.
Environmental Assessment
These projects will likely result in the purchase of land, construction of farm infrastructure and other activities that could have potential impacts on environmental resources. USDA has developed a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Increasing Land Access Program to evaluate the program’s overarching environmental impacts as they relate to the National Environmental Policy Act.
The environmental assessment is available online for public review. USDA is requesting comments on the program’s potential impact on the environment. The feedback will be incorporated into the final assessment, as appropriate, prior to a decision.
USDA will consider comments received by Friday, July 14, 2023, at 5 p.m. EDT. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent possible. Comments may be submitted:
- Electronically at: Land.Access@usda.gov
- By mail at: Attn: Michael Mannigan, Grants Management Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Outreach Office, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC, 20250-0506
For more information, contact Michael Mannigan at Land.Access@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).
More Information
The Increasing Land Access Program was originally announced in August 2022 as part of a broader investment to help ensure underserved producers have the resources, tools, programs and technical support they need to succeed and is being funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Increasing Land Access Program is part of USDA’s commitment to equity across the Department and steps it has taken under Secretary Vilsack’s direction to improve equity and access, eliminate barriers to its programs for underserved individuals and communities, and build a workforce more representative of America. Earlier in the year, the USDA Equity Commission, which is comprised of independent members from diverse backgrounds, released its interim recommendations to remove barriers to inclusion and access at USDA. The program is also an important component of the Department’s and President Biden’s vision to Advance Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production; fairer markets for all producers; ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities; building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices; making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.