US Department of Agriculture
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USDA offers a variety of programs and services that are available to Tribal Governments, Tribal communities and organizations, and individual Native Americans and Alaskan Natives. The Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) is dedicated to ensuring that Tribes have relevant information on the programs and services available at USDA. |
USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Minnesota Farmers and Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought
Minnesota agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by the ongoing, severe drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. As agricultural producers move into recovery mode and assess damages, they should contact their local USDA Service Center. to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages.
USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs for Organic Certification
Organic producers and handlers can now apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds to assist with the cost of receiving or maintaining organic certification. Applications for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) are due Oct. 31, 2022.
Intertribal Agriculture Council
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The Intertribal Agriculture Council was founded in 1987 to pursue and promote the conservation, development and use of our agricultural resources for the betterment of our people.
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National Congress of American Indians
NCAI’s Tribal Food Sovereignty Advancement Initiative (TFSAI) supports the development and strengthening of tribal nations’ efforts to build and protect the Indigenous food systems that have long sustained their citizens, communities, and cultures.
What Is “Food Sovereignty”?
TFSAI defines “food sovereignty” as the right and ability of tribal nations and peoples to:
TFSAI defines “food sovereignty” as the right and ability of tribal nations and peoples to:
- freely develop and implement self-determined definitions of food sovereignty;
- cultivate, access, and secure nutritious, culturally essential food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods”; and
- design and maintain food systems and enact policies that advance tribal priorities for ensuring that tribal citizens have the sustenance they need to thrive physically, mentally, socially, and culturally not just today, but for the generations to come.
Seeds
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North Circle Seeds
North Circle Seeds is committed to creating an ecologically diverse, equitable, and inclusive food system. We do this through an intentional relationship with our seeds and our circle of Midwestern growers, who produce regionally adapted seed using chemical-free, sustainable and organic practices. Seeds are life and seeds are relationship. The work to follow only comes with trust and is a slow process, it is generational work. That is the true intention of North Circle Seeds (NCS) --to spread that word and message. |
Seed Saver Exchange- Duluth Sales Rep. First Food Farm and Seeds 218-269-9146
Statewide Cooperative Partnership
Mini-contracts available for community organizations- If your organization wants to help inform the surveying process reach out to Helen Schnoes at [email protected] to learn more!
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Technical Assistance and Trademarks
Loans and Grants
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) tribal loans
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program: USDA is implementing updates to this program for producers of agricultural commodities in 2020 who faced market disruptions due to COVID-19. FSA will accept new and modified CFAP applications beginning April 5, 2021.
The American Rescue Plan includes provisions for USDA to pay up to 120% of loan balances, as of January 1, 2021, for Farm Service Agency Direct and Guaranteed Farm Loans and Farm Storage Facility Loans debt relief to any socially disadvantaged producer who has a qualifying loan with the Farm Service Agency.
USDA Announces Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production- May 27, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of up to $4 million for grants to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Office) is accepting proposals for planning and innovation projects, and these grants are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 30, 2021.
Training Programs
Fellowship Opportunity with Soul Fire Farm
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Soul Fire Farm has announced applications are now open for the Braiding Seeds Fellowship. This historic fellowship will provide 10 beginning farmers with a living stipend, professional development opportunities, and mentorship to support their land-based livelihood. Indigenous, Black, and people of color farmers in the northeast and southeast of the United States are eligible. The fellowship will build a strong cohort of mutual support and care among these fellows. Learn more and apply by May 15th.
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Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
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FDLTCC is pleased to announce a new Sustainable Food Systems class being offered this summer! SUST 2090 Field Experience Summer is the first course of several that will form a new track in FDLTCC’s Environmental Science program. The summer field experience course is rooted in Indigenous values and food sovereignty, aiming to translate reciprocal relationships into sustainable harvest and cultivation techniques. Modules are holistic in nature with topics in Treaty Rights, Sustainable Harvest and Seed Saving, Designing a Sustainable Food System and Green Energy Resource Management. Learning will be through a mixture of lecture, expert presentations, field tours, and utilizing the demonstration gardens and greenhouse on campus. For more information contact Courtney Kowalczak, [email protected] |
University of Minnesota Extension Cottage Food Producer Safety Training
This course focuses on food safety practices for all processes covered under the cottage food law. *Food Safety Experts will be available to answer questions throughout the training program as well.
Through this course participants will learn:
Through this course participants will learn:
- How to produce
- How to package and label
- How to store and transport food safely
Rodale Institute's Farmers Training Program
Rodale Institute’s Farmer Training (RIFT) program is a multiple-track internship that gives aspiring farmers the knowledge and experience they need to start their regenerative organic career.
Program includes:
Program includes:
- eligibility for on-site housing
- free vegetables for the length of the internship
- hourly wage based on on-site or off-site living status
- at least 40 hours/week commitment with additional weekend duties, in rotation with other interns
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Michigan State University offers an Organic Farmers Training Program
The Organic Farmer Training Program has been approved for IN-PERSON instruction for 2021! The 2021 MSU Organic Farmer Training Program (OFTP) will be a 50/50 mix of field and online learning, including 11 hands-on days at the MSU Student Organic Farm, 6 field trip days and 16 online class days.
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First Nations Development: The Business of Indian Agriculture
First Nations Development Institute is pleased to present The Business of Indian Agriculture, a curriculum designed to help farmers and ranchers succeed in managing their businesses.
The curriculum has five main modules:
Module 1: Business
Module 2: Accounting
Module 3: Financial Management
Module 4: Agribusiness Economics and Marketing
Module 5: Land Use and Management
The curriculum has five main modules:
Module 1: Business
Module 2: Accounting
Module 3: Financial Management
Module 4: Agribusiness Economics and Marketing
Module 5: Land Use and Management
Community Resources
The Sioux Chef- Committed to revitalizing Native American Cuisine and in the process re-identifying North American Cuisine and reclaiming an important culinary culture long buried and often inaccessible.
Northeast Regional Corrections Center- NERCC runs a program for meat processing and produce sales.
| Meat Processing Prices |
Tashia Hart - Tashia Hart (Red Lake Anishinaabe) is an award-winning author and illustrator of Gidjie and the Wolves (Not Too Far Removed Press, 2020) and Girl Unreserved (2015). Forthcoming works include The Good Berry Cookbook: Harvesting and Preparing Wild Rice and Other Wild Foods.
Tashia Hart - Tashia Hart (Red Lake Anishinaabe) is an award-winning author and illustrator of Gidjie and the Wolves (Not Too Far Removed Press, 2020) and Girl Unreserved (2015). Forthcoming works include The Good Berry Cookbook: Harvesting and Preparing Wild Rice and Other Wild Foods.
Indigenous First Art and Gift Shop -We carry Indigenous foods such as herbal teas, naturally harvested wild rice, maple syrup, maple sugar, honey, hominy, hazelnut flour, wild rice pancake mix, and white corn flour. We source our food from various local and regional Indigenous food producers. Our goal is to promote organic healthy foods in our local Duluth community.