USDA Invests $4.7 Million to Provide Outreach and Technical Assistance to Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers

Seven Organizations Identified to Assist Producers in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, SC, October 8, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of $4.7 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to historically underserved farmers and ranchers. The partnerships will support participation in Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs, including those that are part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.  

Fifty-six project proposals, covering all states and territories, are being finalized to assist historically underserved farmers and ranchers in accessing FSA programs. Programs include outreach for pandemic assistance programs, including the signup re-opening of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2). These proposals will also assist in outreach for FSA’s farm programs, conservation programs, farm loans, county committee elections, disaster programs, the Heirs’ Property Relending Program, heirs’ property succession planning and the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Pandemic Response and Safety Grant program. 

“Of the 56 selected proposals, 7 will directly impact farmers and ranchers in South Carolina,” said Kenn Jameson, Acting State Executive Director for FSA in South Carolina. “These partnerships will provide important technical assistance, outreach and education and will equip farmers and ranchers with the resources needed to access and participate in FSA’s programs and services.”

The organizations and projects impacting South Carolina include:

• Rural Advancement Foundation International—USA, providing support on CFAP 2 statewide.
• National Young Farmers Coalition, Inc, providing support on CFAP 2 statewide.
• Fresh Future Farm Inc, providing support on COC and Heirs Property Farm Number in Beaufort, Charleston, Clarendon, and Richland counties, as well as St. Helena Island.
• Center for Heirs Property Preservation, providing support on CFAP, ECP, Loans, and Heirs Property Resources in Allendale, Bamberg, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter and Williamsburg counties.
• Georgia Homeless Veterans Resources, Inc, providing support on CFAP 2, farm ownership and other FSA programs statewide.
• Georgia Women in Ag. Association, Inc, providing assistance on CFAP2 and FSA Programs in Clarendon, Lee, Kershaw, Calhoun & Orangeburg counties.
• Farmer’s Legal Action Group, Inc, providing support on CFAP2 statewide.
  
  

Read about all 56 funded projects and organizations on FSA’s cooperative agreements webpage.  

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In 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 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 www.usda.gov.