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April 2022
This month's newsletter has resources on farmland succession planning, grant funding, and job opportunities.
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Succession Planning Resources
Succession Planning Recorded Webinars
The Office of Farmland Preservation recently participated in two workshop series hosted by the Thurston Conservation District and the Underwood Conservation District focused on succession and farm transfer planning. You can check out the resources and link to the recorded webinars by visiting the Office of Farmland Preservation website (scroll down to “Planning the Future of Your Farm Webinars”).
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Funding Opportunities
Farmers Market Promotion Program
The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), part of the Local Agriculture Market Program is currently accepting applications from eligible organizations. Approximately $13.5 million is available to fund FMPP applications. Apply by May 16, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Refer to the How to Apply for more information.
Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
USDA is committed to supporting a diverse set of farmers, ranchers and forest owners through climate solutions that increase resilience, expand market opportunities and strengthen rural America. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity provides up to $1 billion for pilot projects that create market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices. USDA is now accepting project applications for fiscal year 2022.
Proposals from $5 million to $100 million are in the first funding pool and are due by Friday, May 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET. These proposals should include large-scale pilot projects that emphasize the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production and include direct, meaningful benefits to a representative cross-section of production agriculture, including small and/or historically underserved producers.
Any general questions about the funding opportunity should be sent to climate-smart-commodities@usda.gov. If you are applying for the first funding pool, please be sure to submit those questions by April 15, 2022. Due to a high level of interest, USDA may not be able to respond to all questions received after that date prior to the first funding pool deadline. Please note that USDA cannot comment on specific project or applicant eligibility at this stage of the funding opportunity.
Please review this website for the link to the Notice of Funding Opportunity, updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), webinar recordings and other additional resources. If you are having application submission issues, please contact http://www.grants.gov directly and document your correspondence.
USDA Announces American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment to Benefit Underserved Farmers, Ranchers, and Forest Landowners
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it is accepting grant applications for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Technical Assistance Investment Program to provide historically underserved farmers, ranchers and forest landowners technical support in accessing USDA programs and services.
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will provide, at a minimum, a $25 million investment of American Rescue Plan funds, with awards normally ranging from $500,000 to $3.5 million for a five-year cooperative agreement. There is no anticipated overall maximum funding level. Applications are encouraged from partnerships and collaborations that are led by domestic nonprofit organizations and accredited public and nonprofit institutions of higher education with specialized expertise and a proven track record in working with underserved agricultural producers and/or the specific content for technical assistance. The deadline to submit applications is Jun. 1, 2022. Read the USDA press release for more information.
USDA Announces $35 Million Funding Opportunity to Support Underserved and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced approximately $35 million in available funding to community-based and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and tribal entities that help historically underserved and veteran farmers and ranchers own and operate successful farms. Funding is made 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 2501 Program is administered by the USDA Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement (OPPE).
Eligible 2501 Program applicants include not-for-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and a range of higher education institutions serving African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities.
Visit the 2501 Program page and read the USDA press release for more information on the 2501 funding opportunity.
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Resources
Water Conservation Video
The Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) partners with the Washington Grown television program to produce and share short videos featuring conservation district work. The program tells stories of the people and places around Washington that produce our food. The latest video created through the Washington Grown/SCC partnership features Benton Conservation District and their work with an orchardist at Blue Gem Farms to conserve water in the Columbia Basin. Watch the two-minute video here.
USDA to Provide Payments to Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought or Wildfire
The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that ranchers who have approved applications through the 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for forage losses due to severe drought or wildfire in 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments for increases in supplemental feed costs in 2021 through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP). Read the USDA press release for more information.
Farming on the Urban Edge Docuseries
Episode 5: “Collective Support, Advocacy, and Policy” of the Farming on the Urban Edge Docuseries is now available. This final episode discusses competing interests, policies, and collective support and advocacy for peri-urban farms. You can find all five episodes here.
USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs in Increase Equity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating its farm loan programs to better support current borrowers, including historically underserved producers. These improvements are part of USDA’s commitment to increase equity in all programs, including farm loans that provide important access to capital for covering operating expenses and purchasing land and equipment.
The 2018 Farm Bill authorized FSA to provide equitable relief to certain direct loan borrowers, who are non-compliant with program requirements due to good faith reliance on a material action of, advice of, or non-action from an FSA official. Previously, borrowers may have been required to immediately repay the loan or convert it to a non-program loan with higher interest rates, less favorable terms, and limited loan servicing.
Now, FSA has additional flexibilities to assist borrowers in such situations. If the agency provided incorrect guidance to an existing direct loan borrower, the agency may provide equitable relief to that borrower. FSA may assist the borrower by allowing the borrower to keep their loans at current rates or other terms received in association with the loan which was determined to be noncompliant or the borrower may receive other equitable relief for the loan as the Agency determines to be appropriate.
USDA encourages producers to reach out to their local loan officials to ensure they fully understand the wide range of loan and servicing options available that can assist them in starting, expanding or maintaining their operation. Read the USDA press release to learn more.
Events
No Farms, No Food: Uniting Farmers and Environmentalists to Transform American Agriculture
Join Addie Candib, American Farmland Trust's Pacific Northwest Regional Director, and author Don Stuart as they unveil the newly published book "No Farms, No Food: Uniting Farmers and Environmentalists to Transform American Agriculture." They will discuss tactics for bringing people together to work for healthy land and a healthy food system. The event takes place on Apr. 19 at 7:30 PM at The Forum at Town Hall Seattle. Tickets are $5 with both in-person and virtual attendance options. Learn more and register here.
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Job & Leadership Opportunities
WALT Seeks New Executive Director
The Washington Association of Land Trusts (WALT) seeks an Executive Director to help lead and serve a thriving statewide association of over 30 land conservation nonprofits. This is a unique opportunity to head a growing organization with a bold vision and a strong track record in delivering legislative victories, developing innovative new programs, and driving a culture of learning and growth. You can find the full position profile here.
USDA NRCS Easement Program Positions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is hiring multiple positions for the Easements Program Division (EPD). Visit USAJobs for information on the GS-11 Realty Specialist and GS-13 Realty Specialist positions. The GS-13 position is only open current USDA employees. Positions close on Apr. 18, 2022.
Veterans Conservation Corps Crew Internship with Thurston Conservation District
The Thurston Conservation District is seeking a Veterans Conservation Corps (VCC) member to assist with the monitoring and restoration of rare prairie habitat across the Chehalis watershed (Thurston, Lewis, and Grays Harbor counties) in Southwest Washington. The VCC member will work to promote responsible grazing practices and educate landowners about conservation programs.
This Thurston County based position will support the enhancement and expansion of the South Sound FarmLink program. This program connects available farmland with land-seeking farmers, ranchers, and growers. This position will specifically work to support veteran landowners and land seekers through program development and refinement, outreach material creation, land listing enrollment campaigns, successional planning and leasing assistance, and participant support and education. Support for other educational or farmland preservation events and initiatives will provide additional training and networking opportunities. This position will coordinate with their counterpart based at Lewis Conservation District to include producers in Lewis County in the South Sound FarmLink program. Visit here for more information.
EPA Seeks Nominations for the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a solicitation for nominations to serve on its Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). Established in 2008, the FRRCC provides independent policy advice, information, and recommendations to EPA’s Administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities.
The FRRCC was recently rechartered for a two-year period, and Administrator Michael S. Regan has issued a new charge for the committee to focus on advancing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for U.S. agriculture. America’s farmers and ranchers and workers find themselves on the front lines of the climate crisis, facing increasing impacts from extreme weather events like severe storms, widespread flooding, prolonged drought, and more frequent wildfires. The advice and recommendations from the rechartered FRRCC will help EPA to support farmers and ranchers in their efforts to reduce emissions and accelerate a more resilient food and agriculture system.
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Land Preservation via RCPP Conservation Easements
The following details two of the five conservation activities eligible under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS):
- S. Held Conservation Easements, and
- Entity-Held Conservation Easements.
Both easements offer a way for partners to protect, restore, manage, and enhance important lands in perpetuity.
U.S. Held Easements. RCPP U.S. held easements are acquired, held, and managed by the United States through NRCS. These easements are most like the ACEP-WRE, HFRP, and Public Law 83-566 NRCS covered programs. However, these easements offer their own set of flexibilities and characteristics:
- Land eligibility is expanded to include land uses and types other than those traditionally eligible under the covered programs. Lands eligible for an RCPP U.S. held easement may include agricultural land, non-industrial forest land, grassland, riparian areas, cropland, natural wetlands, or a mixture of land type.
- RCPP U.S. held easements are subject to three standard deed options provided by NRCS. Each deed option differs in the level of restriction offered on the easement and correlate with the amount of cost-share provided by NRCS towards the easement purchase price.
- RCPP easement plans are required for U.S. held easements to ensure long-term enhancement, restoration, and management of conservation values.
- Landowners complete an RCPP-specific producer application and enter a purchase agreement with NRCS.
- NRCS may contract RCPP partners, like Conservation Districts, to complete easement due diligence items.
- RCPP partners may facilitate the application sign-ups and participate in the development of parcel evaluation and ranking criteria.
Entity Held Easements. Entity held easements are held by eligible entities (e.g., land trusts) and are most like the ACEP-ALE NRCS covered program. Although similar to ACEP-ALE, RCPP entity held easements include their own unique set of flexibilities and characteristics:
- Land eligibility is expanded to include land uses and types other than those traditionally eligible under the ACEP-ALE covered program. Lands eligible for an RCPP entity held easement may include agricultural land, or any agriculturally linked land use, such as non-industrial private forest land, grassland, natural wetland, floodplain, riparian area, or a mixture of land type.
- RCPP entity held easements are subject to three sets of Minimum Deed Terms that differ in the level of restriction offered on the easement. Each set has two versions, one that includes a U.S. right of enforcement and one that does not. For Minimum Deed Terms that do include a U.S. right of enforcement, NRCS may provide up to 50% cost-share towards the easement purchase price regardless of restriction level. For Minimum Deed Terms that do not include a U.S. right of enforcement, NRCS pay provide up to 25% cost-share towards the easement purchase price. Entity held easements under RCPP AFA cannot include a U.S. right of enforcement and are therefore, limited to the 25% federal cost-share.
- Match is required for RCPP entity held easements and the non-federal share matching requirements are the same as ACEP-ALE. The non-federal share of the easement value may include cash from the entity, landowner donation, or third-party contribution. A 2% stewardship cost can also be applied towards the non-federal share.
- Matching funds used to pay for an easement, along with acquisition-related costs (e.g., appraisals) may count as partner contribution to the overall RCPP project if the funds are delivered during the life of the project. Landowner donation does not apply.
- RCPP easement plans are required for entity held easements that utilize moderately or highly restrictive Minimum Deed Terms.
- Eligible entities execute an RCPP-specific Program Agreement and Parcel Contract with NRCS. Landowners sign a conservation easement deed with an eligible entity.
- RCPP partners may facilitate the application sign-ups and participate in the development of parcel evaluation and ranking criteria.
Conservation Districts are eligible partners under RCPP and can facilitate RCPP projects that include RCPP easements in Washington State. To learn more about RCPP and RCPP opportunities tied to working lands conservation, visit the NRCS-Washington RCPP webpage.
Agriculture in the News
Conservation
Water & Drought
Carbon Credits
Solar
Markets
Oregon
Federal
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