In this edition of Around the Federation, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund's ("the Federation") electronic newsletter, we celebrate and reflect on our history and mission. Additionally, we share membership funding resources, our 2023 Farm Bill priorities, and more. | |
In the Spring of 2022, the Federation secured Cooperative Development partnerships and agreements focusing on seven states across the South- Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. We initiated efforts to identify, recruit, and support up to twenty-one (21) cooperatives this year. In January 2023, we held a kick-off meeting to assess Co-ops across the region. Our initial assessment meeting started with the Alabama cooperatives. Next stop, Louisiana. | |
Green Sumter County Cooperative, AL | |
Terence Courtney, Director of Cooperative Development & Strategic Initiatives, leading a Co-op assessment in Alabama with Marengo Cooperative. | |
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NRCS EQIP and CSP Ranking Deadlines are Approaching!
Now is a great time to apply for NRCS funding for climate-smart farming practices! For farmers interested in Climate Smart Agriculture, review this list of NRCS climate-smart practices.
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FSC/LAF Outreach Holds Information Session to Assist Black farmers & forest landowners with applying for Funding
More than 90 Black farmers and forest landowners attended the Federation's March 15th membership information session. The topics covered were project-based USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) EQIP and CSP program funding for technical and cost-share assistance.
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Listen to FSC/LAF Director of Land Retention and Advocacy, Dãnia Davy explain one of 6 Farm Bill 2023 Priorities: Conservation program funding (e.g., EQIP) to Black farmers, ranchers, and landowners rose to 13%. | |
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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: March 17, 2023: Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Dãnia Davy, Dewayne Goldmon on farm bill, farmer assistance
Release Date: March 17, 2023
Dãnia Davy, Director, Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund Land Retention & Advocacy Director joined USDA Equity Commission co-chair Dewayne Goldmon to discuss efforts to address long-standing issues facing minority farmers and recommended steps the federal government may be able to do to address them.
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FARM BILL SUMMIT | April 30 - May 2, 2023
Pointing the Farm Bill Toward Racial Justice is a summit & briefing hosted by the Federation in collaboration with Berkeley Food Institute (BFI), American University’s Center for Environment, Community, and Equity (CECE), and the Antiracist Research Policy Center (ARPC). The summit will be a historic convening of farmers, advocates, policy-makers, scholars, students, and the general public who are invested in making the 2023 Farm Bill a policy vehicle for advancing equity across each of the twelve titles in the bill. The summit will offer a comprehensive look at how the Farm Bill impacts farmers, landowners, and cooperatives as well as a collective analysis of climate justice, food system resilience, fair prices, international agricultural trade solidarity, and more. The summit will culminate with a Congressional briefing and public roundtable.
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ICYMI | In Case You Missed It | |
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January 2023 Everything Co-op
Dr. Syler-Woods, Director of Finance at the Federation, discusses the Financial side of cooperatives.
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February 2023 Georgia Farmers' Conference Recap | | |
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FEB 28th, 2023 Federation Live
Federation Director of Land Retention & Advocacy, Dãnia Davy, discusses a recent National Family Farm Coalition Farm Bill Advocacy trip to Washington D. C. with Mississippi State Coordinator Ben Burkett.
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Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grant
This USDA competitive grant program will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories: Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 27, 2023. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, local governments, and tribal governments.
Learn more and apply.
Small Farms Week
Small Farms Week highlights the programs and activities conducted by Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University that support limited-resource, small-scale, part-time, and alternative-enterprise farmers.
Date: March 27-31, 2023
Where: 3020 McConnell Road, Greensboro, N.C. 27401
Learn More
131st Annual Farmer's Conference
The Farmer's Conference at Tuskegee University is often cited as the oldest event of its type in the nation. The theme in 2023 is "Enhancing Access to Knowledge, Partnerships, and Infrastructure for Resilient Communities. This conference exists today as a two-day educational forum that features tours, panel discussions, interactive demonstrations, and concurrent workshops.
Date: March 27-30, 2023
Where: The Renaissance Hotel, Montgomery, AL
Learn More
Food & Land Justice Fund (a project of Decolonizing Wealth) announced a $1M funding opportunity for Black farmer coalitions and communities in the Southeast. Apply by March 28th. Eligible: Orgs and/or coalitions led by Black farmers and communities in the Southeast (Florida, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, and West Virginia).
MARCH 31, 2023 DEADLINE
USDA Farm Production and Conservation anonymous survey
(takes approximately 10 minutes to complete)
This survey will help improve services, making government agricultural programs more accessible, equitable, and easier to use. Your survey feedback will assist FPAC agencies in learning about ways to enhance support and improve programs and services, increase access, and advance equity for new and existing customers.
Take the Survey.
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THE 2023 APPLICATION PERIOD OPENED ON MARCH 1ST!
We are excited to partner for the 3rd year in a row with Soul Fire Farm on the Braiding Seeds Fellowship project & provide beginning BIPOC farmers with resources, professional development, and mentors.
The fellowship is an 18-month long program open to beginning BIPOC farmers from the northeast and southeast of the US. The program provides 10 selected cohort members with $50,000 stipends, 1:1 mentorship and coaching, professional development, business acumen, and community-building opportunities.
Additionally, mini-grants of $2500 will be awarded to 12 runner-ups!
Applications due May 1
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March 1st on Instagram live, Federation member & Braiding Seeds fellow, Demi Tucker of The Uyoga Farm (NC), mentioned how much FSC's Heirs Property conference helped her & her family.
(watch til the end)
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March 9-11 Braiding Seeds Retreat
We welcomed Braiding Seeds' member-fellows to our historic Rural Training & Research Center in Epes, Alabama for an in-person gathering in early March. The new and beginning farmers enjoyed bonfires, kayaking, fellowship, and more.
Freddie Davis III, Director of the Federation's Rural Training and Research Center gave the fellows a one-on-one sawmill demonstration. They made some cutting boards from gorgeous Eastern red cedar to take home!
The Federation staff took the fellows to visit the farm of Ms. Cassandra Hawkins who is a new farmer. She also works as a field accountant for the Federation. Hawkins unexpectedly came into ownership of her family’s 150-acre farm after her parents passed away. She has horses, cows, chickens, and goats. Her narrative exemplifies a lot of the challenges that farmers are faced with today and why organizations like the Federation are so necessary. She is also an inspiration to the fellows who are navigating their new farming and collective projects.
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MS Member Dee Dotson turned 100 on February 21
Last month during Black History Month the Federation celebrated Mr. Dotson who actively farms his 25-acre farm in Winston County, Mississippi. He helped found the Winston County Self-Help cooperative and has been a #fsclaf member for 38 years.
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Membership is our lifeblood. Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives join the movement today and become active owners and participants in the Federation and your community. Click below to join at the right membership level for your needs. | | | |
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Salesforce Rollout Across the Federation
On Wednesday, March 1st, we launched Salesforce as our official platform to streamline our membership outreach, communications, and programs. Special thanks to our technology partner, Fannie Mae, for supporting us.
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Do you have a passion for stewarding the land?
Apply today and join our team to serve our membership of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives in Florida as an outreach specialist.
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Feb 7, 2023
USDA Develops Simplified Direct Loan Application to Improve Customer Service
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The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund is a 56-year-old cooperative association of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives.
Our mission is to be a catalyst for the development of self-supporting communities through cooperative economic development, land retention, and advocacy. We envision sustainable rural communities supported by a network of farmers, landowners, and cooperatives based on local control and ownership.
COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT | LAND RETENTION | ADVOCACY
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From the Federation Archives | |
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WATCH:
It's Not a One-Person Thing
shows the struggle of five agricultural co-ops and their members as they strive to survive their impoverished conditions in the rural South in the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement.
Co-produced and directed by Academy Award-nominated Sally Heckel, Mark Brody, and John Zippert in 1977.
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