United States Department of Agriculture
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Outreach Division

The mission of the NRCS Outreach Division is to provide leadership to ensure that all programs and services are made accessible to all NRCS customers, fairly and equitably, with emphasis on reaching the underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Objectives and Responsibilities

  • Provide oversight for all proposed program and policy development to assure equity and accessibility by all customers.
  • Develop policy and programs that will allow full participation by underserved individuals and groups and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
  • Identify and address potential institutional and systemic barriers that prevent underserved customers from full participation.
  • Provide implementation strategies to increase the participation in programs and benefits to underserved clientele and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
  • Develop and implement specific outreach activity performance measures with expected outcomes and program results.  Ensure better program accountability and adjustments.
  • Provide national leadership and guidance on developing outreach plans.
  • Develop strategies to most effectively utilize 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities.  Expand and strengthen relationships in order to increase research capacity and contribute to technical and community assistance to the underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
  • Maintain effective communication and working relationships with NRCS professional organizations to engage them in fostering and promoting outreach strategies.
  • Expand and enhance partnerships and networks that provide assistance and information to underserved groups and individuals, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
  • Institutionalize outreach within all programs and services of NRCS.  Share outreach information across units at all levels increasing the agency's ability to reach more underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Contact us at:

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services
Outreach Division
5601 Sunnyside Ave. Mail Stop 5474
Beltsville, MD 20705-5000
Fax (301) 504-2248

Larry S. Holmes, Director, Outreach Division

Outreach Division Staff Directory