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Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production News |
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USDA North Central Regional Food Business Center announced $600,000 in funding to aid small and mid-sized farm-food businesses in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Learn more about the USDA Regional Food Business Centers in your area. Apply by April 30, 2024. (New)
- NIFA’s Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program brings together stakeholders across the food system to increase understanding of how to leverage federal nutrition assistance programs to improve nutrition security. Apply by May 14, 2024.
- AMS’s Local Agriculture Market Program is accepting applications for the Farmers Market Promotion Program, Local Food Promotion Program, and Regional Food System Partnerships Program. Apply by May 14, 2024.
- AMS is providing $12 million to strengthen and explore new market opportunities for U.S. agricultural products and increase access to locally grown food in communities experiencing food insecurity. Funding is available through the Acer Access and Development Program, the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program, and the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program. Apply by May 21, 2024. (New)
- NRCS New Jersey is offering a Community Garden/Farm Agreement opportunity. Apply by June 7, 2024. (New)
- NRCS’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program has $1.5 billion in funding for fiscal year 2024. NRCS strongly encourages urban agriculture proposals that address unique natural resource concerns related to energy conservation, water conservation, soil health and long-term protection of land. Visit How to Apply for additional details and upcoming webinars. Application assistance for projects that support underserved entities is available. Complete and submit the RCPP Notice of Funding Opportunity Proposal Support Questionnaire to request support. Apply by July 2, 2024. (New)
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EPA’s Community Change Grants Program supports environmental and climate justice activities. Technical assistance for grant preparation is available. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Apply by Nov. 21, 2024.
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OUAIP’s Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) funding opportunity is coming soon!
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Federal Advisory Committee |
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The ninth public meeting of the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee (UAIPAC) was held April 10, 2024. The Committee deliberated on multiple proposed recommendations for the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture including investments in Land-Grant University research, extension, and education for urban and innovative production; amendments to the NRCS High Tunnel Initiative; and increasing technical support for urban producers through the Cooperative Extension System. The Committee addressed public comments received during the January public meeting related to electricity for urban agriculture practices. The next public meeting will be announced in June 2024. For access to the Committee’s meeting materials visit the UAIPAC webpage and sign-up for newsletter updates for meeting updates. |
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The CEA Accelerator will develop a national infrastructure that will help states accelerate the integration of energy- and water-efficient Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) into communities. Partners include Resource Innovative Institute, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). OUAIP is part of the Stakeholder, Engagement, Education, and Deployment (SEED) team on this project.
- The USDA Economic Research Service is updating its popular Trends in U.S. Local and Regional Food Systems Report OUAIP is expanding the urban and innovative agriculture section and invites universities, research groups, and investigators to share papers and publications related to urban agriculture and innovative production from farm to fork for reference in the upcoming trends report. Please submit articles to OUAIP@usda.gov by April 30, 2024.
- AMS’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program is a great opportunity to connect with organic producers from across the country. Technical assistance and wrap-around support will be available for transitioning and existing organic producers. Sign-up to be a mentee or mentor as part of the program.
- Nursery Value Select (NVS) is a pilot program that allows nursery producers to select the dollar amount of coverage that best fits their risk management needs. USDA expanded the NVS crop insurance program to all counties and states and is encouraging interested nursery producers to learn more about the program through upcoming informational workshops on April 18 at 1:00 p.m. (CDT), April 18 at 6:00 p.m. (PDT), and Thursday, July 18 at 2:00 p.m. (CDT). Join the informational workshops.
- The USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Program offers a unique way for producers to access markets and verify use of sound agricultural and food safety practices. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation designed a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) grower toolkit and website to increase underserved farmers’ access to new and existing markets and USDA food safety certification programs.
- USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Veterans Webinar Series provides resources on USDA programs for the military community. The session on May 7, 1-3 p.m. (EDT) will focus on Urban Agriculture. Register for the series.
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People’s Garden Initiative |
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USDA is celebrating Earth Day on April 22 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Whitten Building in Washington, D.C.! If you are in the area, stop by to learn about USDA’s sustainability and conservation initiatives, and gather in the People’s Garden from 1-3 p.m. for fun activities.
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- Spring is finally here and for many, this is a time of hope and renewal. People's Gardens across the country are planting the seeds that will provide food and gathering spaces in their communities. As in years past, we’d like to showcase the planting season stories of People's Gardens across America through our #Plant2024 campaign. To share your photos, email us at FP.Social@usda.govwith the subject: "People's Garden Plant 2024". Include in the email your name, the name of your garden, your location (city/county and state), a photo or video with description of what is happening and image/video credit, and we may include your photos on our social media channels.
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With spring in full swing, the Headquarters People’s Garden and The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation have been busy planting in the greenhouse! This year we are expanding pollinator and beneficial insect habitats, emphasizing culturally significant produce varieties, and sharing stories. One of our favorite plants this spring is the common yarrow (Achillea millefolium). This plant is native to most of the Northern Hemisphere and is a member of the Aster family (Asteraceae). It has clusters of small white flowers that bloom from April to October attracting many pollinators, such as sweat bees, and other beneficial insects such as parasitoid wasps, syrphid flies, lady beetles, and several species of moth larvae that will feed on the leaves, stems, and roots. Common yarrow is also an important medicinal and spiritual plant in numerous cultures across the Northern Hemisphere. The poultice of crushed leaves can be applied to wounds and burns and the dried leaves can be used as a tea to soothe colds, fevers, and headaches. It has also been documented as an important ceremonial herb often used to protect, cleanse, or scare off evil. To learn more about supporting and protecting pollinators and other beneficial insects, visit the Xerces Pollinator Conservation Resource Center. |
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- Sharonte Williams, OUAIP grants and agreements lead, recently met with the Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF), an organization delivering food-based education in Birmingham, Alabama. At the Woodlawn High School Teaching Farm, they offer classes and curriculum around farm production, soil preparation, harvest, and professional development. JVTF is well known for their Good School Food program, a food education model that connects students to food, farming, and the culinary arts through standards-based, cross-curricular lessons for K-12 students. Every lesson and field trip aligns with the Alabama Course of Study. The organization received OUAIP’s Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grant to establish an urban grower’s cohort for adults to start new community gardens within the city and convene monthly educational workshops and trainings. Jones Valley Teaching Farm is demonstrating the impact of hands-on, food-based education in their community and beyond!
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In Case You Missed It
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- Join the U.S. Composting Council in celebrating International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), May 5-11, 2024. Help raise awareness on the importance of composting organics and using compost to create healthier soil. Congratulations to Ny Rindra Arison Malalaniaina, the winner of the ICAW 2024 Poster Contest!
- National Environmental Education Foundation has partnered with the School for Visual Arts, in New York City, to launch the Earth Day Gallery! This online gallery showcases original student art posters promoting sustainability and environmental education. Download free posters for your classroom or home!
- Upcoming Xerces Webinar:
- People's Garden Networking - Native Plantings for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects; April 18, 2024; 3-4:00 p.m. (EDT). Register.
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