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SARE's mission is to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education. SARE's vision is...

Resources: Programs and Organizations

Programs and Organizations


	- Photo by John Cosby Jr.

Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, USDA. Conducts free specialized literature searches on various topics upon request, including limited-resource issues. (301) 504-6559; afsic@nal.usda.gov; www.nal.usda.gov/afsic

Appalachian Sustainable Development. Conducts sustainable agriculture and forestry projects in southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee. Abingdon, VA; (276) 623-1121; asd@eva.org

Farm Services Agency, USDA. Administers farm commodity and conservation programs and makes loans to farmers unable to obtain conventional credit. One credit program places special emphasis on loans to limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Washington, D.C.; (202) 690-1098; www.fsa.usda.gov

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Risk Management Agency, USDA. Its Community Outreach and Assistance to Women, Limited Resource and Other Traditionally Underserved Farmers and Ranchers program funds community-based organizations and other programs geared at “under-served” groups. (202) 690-2686; www.rma.usda.gov/news/2002/06/020620outreachkit.html

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. A service, resource and advocacy association for 25,000 low-income families organized into more than 100 cooperatives in rural communities across the South. (205) 652-9676; www.farmworkers.org/fscpage.html

Natural Resources Conservation Service Social Sciences Institute, USDA. Integrates customer opinion and field work with science-based analysis to apply human behavior to natural resource conservation programs, policies, and activities. Web site includes relevant publications such as “Core Conservation Practices: Adoption Barriers Perceived by Small and Limited Resource Farmers.” www.ssi.nrcs.usda.gov/

New England Small Farm Institute. A private non-profit organization supporting beginning farmers and sustainable small-scale agriculture throughout New England. Belchertown, MA; (413) 323-4531; www.smallfarm.org

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Cooperative Extension. Educational programs and outreach emphasize improving quality of life for individuals and families without the financial resources and educational backgrounds mainstream America enjoys. (See also USDA Land Grant Universities below.) www.ag.ncat.edu/extension

Rural Action. Works to revitalize Appalachian Ohio. Trimble, OH; (740) 767-4938; www.ruralaction.org

The Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural. An alliance of over 90 culturally diverse community-based groups in the United States and Mexico who collaborate to advance social justice and sustainable development in rural areas. Washington, D.C.; (202) 628-7160; ruralco@ruralco.org www.ruralco.org

Rural Development Center, Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA). Provides agricultural training to Spanish-speaking immigrants of limited means. Salinas, CA; (831) 758-1469; http://www.albafarmers.org/

The Rural Development Leadership Network (RDLN). Supports community-based development in poor rural areas through hands-on projects, education and skills building, leadership development and networking. www.ruraldevelopment.org

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, USDA. This nationwide grants program, administered by USDA-NIFA, funds grants to researchers, educators and nonprofit organizations to develop profitable and environmentally sound farming and ranching strategies, including assistance to limited resource groups. (301) 405-7955; www.sare.org

University of California Small Farm Center. This statewide program enhances the viability of small- and moderate-scale producers by stimulating research and extension education in production systems, marketing and farm management. Davis, CA; (530) 752-8136; sfcenter@ucdavis.edu; www.sfc.ucdavis.edu

USDA Land Grant Universities. State partners of USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (NIFA), these universities provide technical assistance to farmers through their extension programs. Go to http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/partnerships.html to get contact information for the universities in your state.

NIFA Small Farm Program. Housed in the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service agency, the program aims to improve the economic viability of small farm enterprises through partnerships with the Land Grant System and other sectors by facilitating research, extension and education programs to meet the specific needs of small farmers. Includes directories of state contacts. Washington, D.C.; (800) 583-3071; asimon@csrees.usda.gov; www.csrees.usda.gov/smallfarms/

USDA Small Farms Web Site. Web site intended to be a one-stop gateway to resources, benefits and services offered by USDA for small farmers. Direct link to small farm coordinators in each state. www.usda.gov/oce/smallfarm

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