Renewing The Countryside Ii

PROVIDING SUPPORT THROUGH PEER CONNECTORS WHO DELIVER CULTURALLYRELEVANT TRAININGS AND OFFER ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO ASSIST SDFS IN UNDERSTANDING AND ACCESSING USDA RESOURCES.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE FARMLAND ACCESS HUB (FAH), IN ITS SEVENTH YEAR, HAS THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF GETTING MORE BFRS SECURE AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO FARMLAND THAT ENABLES THEM TO GROW PROFITABLE, CLIMATE-SMART, ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FARM BUSINESSES. WE ENVISION A MULTITUDE OF THRIVING, DIVERSE, SMALL AND MID-SIZE FARMS SUPPORTING GENERATIONS OF FARMERS AND THEIR RURAL (AND URBAN) COMMUNITIES ACROSS THEUPPER MIDWEST. WE ARE WORKING TO INCREASE RACIAL AND ETHNIC EQUITY IN LAND ACCESS WHILE ALSO REVERSING PERSISTENT PATTERNS OF LAND LOSS AND RURAL DECLINE.OUR APPROACH IS MULTI-PRONGED: 1) DIRECT SERVICE TO BFRS (WORKSHOPS, ONLINE COURSES, AND ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE FROM NAVIGATORS AND SPECIALISTS); 2) CATALYZING CHANGES THAT IMPROVE CONDITIONS WHICH MAKE IT EASIER FOR BFRS TO GAIN SECURE AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO FARMLAND; AND 3) BUILDING STRONG CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN PARTNERS AND PROGRAMS SERVING BFRS TO LEVERAGE OUR IMPACTS.WITH THIS FUNDING WE WILLDEEPEN THE WORK OF THE FAH AND REFINE THE STRUCTURE OF THE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM TO HAVE GREATER IMPACTS FOR BFRS. BY ADDING LINK NAVIGATORS, PROVIDING ADVANCED TRAINING TO NAVIGATOR GUIDES, IMPROVING OUR INTAKE PROCESS, AND RESTRUCTURING HOW WE MATCH NAVIGATORS AND SPECIALISTS TO BFRS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BFRS WITH THE BEST-TAILORED SUPPORT TO ASSIST THEM ONTHEIR JOURNEY.

THROUGH THE FORTIFY AND MULTIPLY FARMERS' MARKETS HUBS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND FARM VIABILITY PROJECT A STRONG TEAM OF PARTNERS WILL CREATE FUNCTIONAL AND EFFICIENT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SMALL-SCALE LOCAL FARMERS,INSTITUTIONAL AND WHOLESALE BUYERS,CONSUMERS,AND THOSE SUFFERING FROM FOOD INSECURITY. AGGREGATION PROGRAMS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS TO ACCESS LOCAL BUYERS,INCREASE PROFITS,AND GROW SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES,WHILE PROVIDING BUYERS WITH EXPANDED LOCAL PRODUCT CHOICES. BY DEVELOPING AND EXPANDING TEN FARMERS' MARKET HUBS IN MINNESOTA,AGGREGATION OF PRODUCT,ONLINE ORDERING,AND UTILIZATION OF FARMERS' MARKETS HELP OVERCOME WHOLESALE BARRIERS,INCLUDING BUYERS' NEEDS FOR PRODUCT VOLUME AND CONSISTENCY,ONLINE ORDERING CAPACITY,REGULAR DELIVERY,COMPLIANCE WITH FOOD HANDLING REGULATIONS,AND REDUCING COST. FARMERS GAIN EFFICIENCIES THROUGH GROUP MARKETING,LICENSING,INSURANCE,INVOICING,AND ORDER MANAGEMENT WITHOUT ADDED COSTS OF A BRICK AND MORTAR FOOD HUB. RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE,MN FARMERS' MARKET ASSN,MN INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE,MN DEPT OF AGRICULTURE,MN STATEWIDE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIP COORDINATORS,LOCAL FARMERS' MARKETS,AND OTHERS WILL BUILD ON FIVE YEARS OF PRELIMINARY WORK TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND OUR FARMERS' MARKET HUB MODEL TO FIVE NEW HUBS AND FURTHER DEVELOP FIVE EXISTING HUBS. WE EXPECT THAT 240 FARMERS WILL GAIN THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF LOCAL FOOD SOLD AND CONSUMED WITHIN 10 COMMUNITIES. 800 FOOD INSECURE INDIVIDUALS,INCLUDING THOSE HOMEBOUND,IN TREATMENT CENTERS AND SENIORS,WILL GAIN ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD THROUGH SUBSIDIZED MARKET SHARE BOXES. OVER 60 SCHOOLS,HOSPITALS,RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS,HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ENTITIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN PURCHASING AND SERVING LOCAL FOOD.

RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE USES A NETWORK OF CONNECTORS TO REACH PRODUCERS WHICH BUILDS UPON THEIR CONNECTORS EXISTING PEER TO PEER RELATIONSHIPS. THEY HOST MEETINGS, WEBINARS AND PROVIDE PERSONAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE CONNECTOR NETWORK ACROSS THREE STATES.

EXPAND FARMERS MARKETS SEASON, PRODUCERS' ABILITY TO SELL AT MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND LOCALLY GROWN INITIATIVES.

ENGAGING <(>&<)> EMPOWERING WOMEN FARMERS <(>&<)> LANDOWNERS, INCLUDING BEGINNING <(>&<)> SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, TO LEARN ABOUT, UNDERSTAND <(>&<)> IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION PRACTICES THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ECOSYSTEM

IN THE "EXPANDING INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS TO ACHIEVE FARMLAND ACCESS FOR NEW FARMERS" PROJECT, JAN JOANNIDES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE WITH CO-PDS LORI STERN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIDWEST ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION SERVICE AND GREG PADGET, NEXT GENERATION DIRECTOR, PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA ALONG WITH PARTNERS IN ILLINOIS WILL EXPAND THE SERVICES AND NETWORK OF THE FARMLAND ACCESS HUB TO ASSIST BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS (BFRS) IN OBTAINING SECURE ACCESS TO LAND IN WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA AND ILLINOIS.WE WILL:1) HELP BFRS BECOME PREPARED TO SEEK LAND;2). ASSIST BFRS IN OBTAINING IMPROVED LEASES OR PURCHASING LAND;3). WORK WITH BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) BFRS TO REACH THESE SAME GOALS;4). GROW THE NETWORK OF FARMLAND NAVIGATORS AND SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDERS (SSPS) TO SUPPORT THE WORK;5). CREATE A THRIVING NETWORK OF 70 HUB PARTNERS TO INTEGRATE OUR WORK AND SUSTAIN LONGEVITY.WE EXPECT 96 BFS WILL PURCHASE FARMLAND OR OBTAIN FAVORABLE LEASE OR USE AGREEMENTS. AN ADDITIONAL 120, BFRS,WILL MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS ACCESSING FARMLAND. 11 NAVIGATORS WILL GUIDE BFRS TO SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE FROM 30 SSPS. A FARMLAND SUMMIT WILL STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS, BUILD STRATEGIES, AND HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF BFR FARMLAND ACCESS ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES. DEVELOPMENT OF A BUSINESS MODEL AND REVENUE PLAN WILL SUPPORT LONG LASTING IMPACT. DOZENS OF PROJECT PARTNERS WILL SUPPORT THE PROJECT.

INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS TO ACHIEVE FARMLAND ACCESS FOR NEW FARMERS

RENEWING THE COUNTRYSIDE II WILL FACILITATE THE CREATION OF ONFARM FRESTIVALS AND EVENTS ACROSS MINNESOTA DESIGNED TO STIMULATE LOCAL SALES FOSTER CUSTOMER LOYALTY AND STRENGTHEN RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT WILL ASSEMBLE EIGHT COMMUNITYBASED TEAMS COMPRISED OF FARMERS AND FOOD ADVOCATES PROVIDING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP AND EXECUTE UNIQUE EVENTS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A WEBSITE AND A TOOLKIT OF BEST PRACTICES ALONGSIDE THE IDENTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH ASSET MAPPING. THESE EFFORTS WILL INCORPORATE INPUT FROM A RANGE OF LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS AND BUSINESSES TO ENHANCE CAPACITY WITHIN ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT WILL CONDUCT COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE THESE EVENTS AND EVALUATE THEIR ECONOMIC IMPACT AND LONGEVITY.

PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE TO HELP PRODUCERS WITH THE TRADITIONAL ERP APPLICATION PROCESS.

THIS PROJECT WILL OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS BY TRAINING AND SUPORTING REGIONAL COORDINATORS IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN TOPROVIDE OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE

IMPROVE EXISTING GARDENS OR START NEW GARDENS IN THE TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA TO BENEFIT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

RME OUTREACH

RME OUTREACH

RME OUTREACH

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

INCREASING FARM TO CONSUMER CONNECTIONS THROUGH ON-FARM EVENTS AND FOOD SERVICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MARKETING RESOURCES

PROMOTE AWARENESS OF

CONDUCT OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS TO INCREASE AWARENESS ANDUNDERSTANDING AMONG AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS OF NRCS NRCS FARM BILLPROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.