2022 Intertribal Agriculture Council Annual Conference | |
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NAAF was proud to be a sponsor of the 35th Annual Intertribal Ag Council Conference in Las Vegas, NV. IAC was established to pursue and promote Native resources for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska Natives. At this conference, NAAF staff engaged with farmers, ranchers, producers, and Tribal communities to better serve Indian Country.
Learn more about panelists from the “Financing Agriculture in Indian Country” session.
Presenters
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Todd Batta, Vice President of Government Affairs at Farmer Mac
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Jackson Brossy, Assistant Administrator of U.S. Small Business Administration
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Tedd Buelow, Native American Coordinator of USDA Rural Development
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Gary Matteson, Vice President of the Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach, Farm Credit Council
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Tomie Peterson, Regenerative Economies Specialist of Intertribal Agriculture Council
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Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, CEO of Native American Agriculture Fund
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Robert White, USDA Farm Service Agency Loan Making Division
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The Native Farm Bill Coalition is developing a video series called #NativeAGvocates to highlight the perspectives of Tribal leaders and producers and the priorities for the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill.
If you are interested in sharing your story, email Associate Communications Officer Gabrielle Budder at gbudder@nativeamericanagriculturefund.org
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The Importance of the Upcoming Census of Agriculture | |
The Census of Agriculture helps inform programming and support, such as increasing access to capital and investments in infrastructure at all levels of national, state, and tribal policies. The data gather from the census is used by many entities, including NAAF, to help conduct outreach efforts to areas with high populations of Native producers to help support them through grantmaking opportunities. Native producers have been underrepresented in agricultural policies due to a lack of accurate data representation.
Filling out the Agriculture Census will provide the foundation for future advocacy initiatives and will be a step towards providing equitable policies which uplift Native agriculture. We have the chance to take control over our data and to change the nature of our current narrative.
Join us as we show the diversity and strength within Indian Country.
Deadline February 2023
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NAAF 2023 Internship Due Today | |
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The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) 2023 Internship program will provide currently enrolled college students in good standing with their university/institution an opportunity to sharpen professional development skills, offer learning experiences tailored to supporting Native agriculture, grant-making, and the space to pursue subject areas they are individually passionate about.
Interns will gain a deep understanding of the NAAF mission as they build organizational skills and complete special projects with experienced NAAF staff.
Deadline: Monday December 19, 2022 at 11:59 pm EST
What are the requirements?
- Must be an enrolled college student (undergrad or graduate),
- In good standing with your university/institution,
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Does NOT have to be an agriculture science major to apply.
Any additional questions, email Jasmine Locklear at jlocklear@nativeamericanagriculturefund.org or text/call via phone at 479-445-7853
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Save the Date for TAF Scholarship
Tribal Agriculture Fellowship is looking to fill their second cohort with the next generation of agricultural professionals and will be accepting applications from November 28th, 2022 – February 10th, 2023. The mission of the Tribal Agriculture Fellowship is to create opportunities for Indigenous students to advance their education in agriculture, increase specialized knowledge and preserve the legacy of agriculture in Tribal communities.
Who should apply:
- College students who are Native American, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian
- Member or descendant of a Tribe or Indigenous community.
- Rising and current technical, undergraduate, and graduate student
Tribal Agriculture Fellowship resources can be utilized for:
- tuition & fees,
- housing,
- meal plans,
- equipment fees and testing costs
For more information visit: www.taffellows.org or email info@taffellows.org
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Technical Assistant Specialists with Intertribal Agriculture Council | |
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IAC is hiring two Technical Assistance (TA) Specialists to provide direct assistance in the Alaska and Midwest Regions with USDA program access to Tribal producers, Tribal entities, and Tribal governments - outreach, eligibility, and program application support.
Other forms of assistance provided include agriculture and natural resource management planning, project development support, partnership leveraging, government-to-government relations, general food systems project planning, and supplemental resources identification. TA Specialists need to have a background in agriculture, Tribal food systems, natural resources management, community development, education, outreach, Tribal relations, and/or other applicable areas.
Positions are open until filled.
To learn more visit indianag.org/careers
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USDA Debt Relief to Distressed Farm Loan Borrowers: Tax Implications and What to Prepare For
The Native American Agriculture Fund hosted a webinar with Rob Holcomb, a tax expert at the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota, as a resource to Native farmers, ranchers, and producers to provide financial education as these payments are released.
This presentation and Q & A was created to learn more about the tax implications and other important information prior to the 2023 tax season as it relates to the debt relief payments to distressed farm loan borrowers.
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Second Application Period for Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP) closes December 29, 2022
Under the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP), USDA is making $500 million in grants available to increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes on U.S. farmers. Competitive grants of up to $100 million are available to support and expand independent, innovative and sustainable fertilizer and nutrient alternatives production in the U.S. and its territories to supply American farmers.
Applications are open now.
Program Application Period:
First application window closed. (45 days from 9/30/2022)
Second application window closes December 29, 2022. (90 days from 9/30/2022)
FPEP webinars
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Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP): Program Overview | |
Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP): Application Requirements | |
Do you want to be featured like the grantee's below? |
Tag us, @nativeagfund, in your social media posts and we'll reach out to you to highlight in our next newsletter!
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University of Colorado
Boulder, Co
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From 2021-2022, First Peoples Worldwide engaged Native farmers, ranchers, harvesters, fishers, chefs, and entrepreneurs in the U.S. – over 85 participants in total – to research the current state of Native food supply chains. These encompass any situation where a Native American-owned food business is sourcing from Native food suppliers, buying from or selling to other Native-owned food businesses, selling to Native customers, or working with Native-owned businesses for transportation, processing, or other aspects of the food supply chain.
The culminating report, Supply Chains and Sovereignty: Native-led Food Systems Solutions shows that Native food supply chains are a vital approach to enacting food sovereignty. Research examines overarching trends within Native food chains across industries and collates recommendations towards strengthening these chains from the perspectives of Native food producers. The report spotlights Indigenous values such as sustainability, community health, and generational approaches in Native food businesses; innovation and economic resilience after COVID-19 pandemic impacts; and an array of Native visions for food supply chains from Native food producers working today.
Overarching themes in the report include:
- Native food businesses are creating food systems that care for both Native and non-Native people, guided by Indigenous values and self-determination.
- Systemic racism and inequitable access to capital continue to have profound and far-reaching impacts on Native food systems, from lack of infrastructure to limited personnel bandwidth.
- Many of the barriers limiting the current supply of Native-produced foods can be addressed through creating sustained and equitable access to capital.
- At the broadest level, Native food producers are creating immense social value through their work, guided by Indigenous values that see the interconnections between Native food systems and individual, social, and environmental wellbeing.
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