Organizations that assist farmers who are military veterans or in underserved communities can apply for approximately $45 million in federal funding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced recently.
The funding is provided through the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, also known as the 2501 Program, the USDA reports in its April 27 announcement. Funding from the 2501 Program funding supports "education, training, farming demonstrations and conferences on farming and agribusiness to increase access to USDA’s programs and services," the news release states.
The 2501 Program has partnered with organizations for more than 30 years to support farmers and ranchers who have had difficulty accessing services "due to racial or ethnic prejudice," the news release states. The program was expanded to include assistance to veteran farmers and ranchers in the 2014 Farm Bill; the 2018 Farm Bill boosted the program's mandatory funding through fiscal year 2023 and established a $25-million funding level for each year after, according to the release.
Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations, and a range of higher education institutions serving veteran farmers and African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities, the release reports.
The 2501 Program has awarded 615 grants totalling more than $194 million since 2010, according to the release. Recipients include the University of Alaska Fairbanks, "to help tribal communities start new gardens, farms, ranches or other endeavors that promote community food security, resiliency, and economic diversity while upholding traditional knowledge and traditional ways of securing food," the release states. The Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation used its 2501 Program funds to "help veteran farmers using programs to foster connections between veterans who are beginner farms and service providers to create a support network to enable the farms to thrive," according to the release.
“By supporting organizations that work with veterans and underserved groups, 2501 Program funding can help these individuals access and participate in USDA programs and services," USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement Director Lisa Ramirez said in the news release. "This program demonstrates USDA’s commitment to advance equity and lower barriers to USDA resources.”
