Equity Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements - Fiscal Year 2022

What are Equity Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements?

The Equity Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements, administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) fund two-year projects to expand the delivery of conservation assistance to farmers who are new to farming, low income, socially disadvantaged or military veterans. Projects support USDA’s broader effort to address climate change and equitable access to programs. The program encourages new partnerships and the development of state and community leadership for underserved producers. Here is a list of the agreements selected for funding in fiscal year 2022.

Fiscal Year 2022 cooperative agreements

Advocates for Urban Agriculture
Illinois
Good Practices for Growing in Chicago: Improved Conservation Practices in Urban Agriculture

Africulture
Virginia
Building Capacity for Virginia Historically Underserved farmers to enable them to access NRCS programs.

Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Arizona
Building Capacity for Climate Smart Agriculture, Conservation Leadership on Tohono O’odham Nation, Arizona and beyond.

Alabama’s Mountains, Rivers, and Valleys RC&D
Alabama
North Alabama Next Generation Agriculture: Climate Smart Agriculture Technology and Career Training for Underserved Students

Alaska Conservation Foundation
Alaska
Improving food security of underserved communities in rural and urban Alaska through cold climate agriculture

Alaska Village Initiatives
Alaska
Live from the agAlaska Studios

American Farmland Trust
North Carolina
Get Climate Smart: Food and Agricultural Systems Resilience Training

American Forest Foundation
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia
Growing the SFLR Network to Reach More Historically Underserved Landowners and Provide Climate Smart Solutions

Arkansas Land & Community Development Corp.
Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee
Arkansas Land and Community Development Corporation (ALCDC) Conservation Justice Equity and Equality Collaboration Project

Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona - Sandoval PI
Arizona
Urban Ag/Beginner Farmer Program: Demonstration Farm

Black in Appalachia: Research, Education & Support
Tennessee
Racial Equity Outreach & Support: Northeast Tennessee & Southwest Virginia

Black Thumb Farm
California
Cultivating Capacity: Improving food security, community and environmental outcomes through regenerative farming and land access

Board of Regents, Univ. of NE, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
New Mexico
Climate‐Smart Indigenous Agriculture: Drought and Conservation Planning and Adaptation with New Mexico Pueblos

California Association of Resource Conservation District
California
Advancing Equity in NRCS and RCDs Across California by Meeting Needs at the District Level

California Farm Link
California
Equity and Conservation on Working Lands for Historically Underserved Producers in California

Catholic Charities of Louisville
Kentucky
Common Earth Gardens: Developing and Supporting Refugee Farmers

Center for Rural Affairs
Nebraska
Nebraska Conservation Fellows: representatives from historically underserved audiences as advocates for farm/ranch resource conservation

Center of Southwest Culture, Inc.
New Mexico
New Mexico Farmer Equity: Culturally Relevant Training and Support Program

The Central Arkansas Sphinx Foundation; A Nonprofit Corp.
Arkansas
Assist and mobilize socially disadvantages customers\partnerships to address food insecurity utilizing urban\small-scale agriculture

Charles Sherrod Community Development Corp.
Georgia
The Climate-Smart Farm: Educating Socially Disadvantaged Farmers on Conservation, NRCS Programs, and Resilient Farming Models

Chaz J Shelton
Arizona
Climate Smart Farm for the Future: Growing Diversity. Planning and implementation of conservation practices and principles to historically underserved farmers and ranchers through the introduction of climate-smart agriculture education.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Inc.
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia
Outreach to Historically Underserved Farmers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Children Learning through Outdoor Experiences (ChLOE)
California, Missouri, Virginia
Conservation and agri culture STEM education through outdoor experiences for k 12 students, emphasizing access for underserved populations.

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Choctaw Nation Equity and Justice Conservation Outreach Project

Christopher M Wood
District of Columbia, North Carolina
The Power of Teamwork and Opportunity

Clemson University
South Carolina
Increasing adoption of agricultural practices by underserved farmers to mitigate climate change in South Carolina.

Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Idaho
Preparing for Smlich (Salmon) Reintroduction on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation and Tribal lands.

Community Alliance with Family Farmers
California
Cultivating Stewardship with Latinx Growers in California

Connecting Kids Inside Out
Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio
The AG Connection: Building a New Paradigm

Council for Healthy Food Systems
Texas
Promoting Conservation Programs for Beginning & Military Veteran Farmers in Texas

Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship
Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
Climate Smart Technical Training and Outreach for Underserved Producers in Grazing Dairy Production

Daryl A. Orage
South Carolina
Soil Stewards: Helping Small Family Farmers Implement Soil Conservation Practices across Generations

Dream Green Conservation, LLC
Mississippi
COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN THE 21st CENTURY (THE AFTERMATH OF COVID-19)

Economic Development Greater East (EDGE) Incorporated
West Virginia
Demonstrate, Educate, Invigorate and Replicate Mountain Farming and Conservation in Historically Underserved Communities

The Farm Research Cooperative
Michigan
Equity in Soil: Color of Food: Agricultural Justice

Farm Training Collective NYC INC d.b.a. Farm School NYC
New York
Seeding Sovereignty & Climate Resilience for BIPOC & LGBTQI+ New & Beginning Farmers

First Nations Development Institute
Colorado
Advancing Indigenous Ecological Stewardship through Partnership

Florida A&M University
Alabama, Florida, Georgia
Racial Equity and Justice to Enhance Conservation Efforts in FL, South AL, and South GA

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
Minnesota
Food Sovereignty on Tribal Lands: Indigenous Markets, Producer Training, and Building Intertribal Food Networks

Foodshed Alliance
New Jersey
Outreach to Historically Underserved Farmers in New Jersey to Improve Racial Equity and Combat Climate Change through Climate Smart Agriculture Practices on Preserved Land

Friends of Zenger Farm
Oregon
Mentoring Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers on Climate-Smart Agriculture, in Portland, Oregon.

Georgia Minority Outreach Network
Alabama, Georgia
Leading The Way to Conservation

Golden Triangle RC&D Council
Georgia
Outreach and Technical Assistance to Address Natural Resource Concerns for Historically Underserved Producers

GreenSky Gives Inc.
Alabama
Restoring and Sustaining Racial Equity in Agriculture: A Multi-State Proposal

Halo Hands Foundation, Inc.
North Carolina
Community Grows: Cultivating Sustainable Farming, Food Security and Healthy Outcomes in Underserved Communities

Hernan Cavazos Garcia, Solidarity Farm
California
Cultivating a Climate and Crisis Resilient Foodshed for San Diego’s BIPoC Farmers

Hiki Ola
Hawaii
He Ali.i ka .Aina - Expanding Farm Bill Program Participation by Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Holmes County Food Hub
Florida, Mississippi
Building and strengthening local food projects that provide sustainable healthy food production and economic opportunities

In Touch Community Services Inc.
Mississippi
Lifting Youth and Farmers Together (LYFT)

Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Oklahoma, South Dakota
Assessment of Grazing Management Effects on Carbon Sequestration and other Soil Parameters for Additionally

Indian Nations Conservation Alliance
New Mexico
Building Capacity for Indigenous Leaders in Conservation and Agriculture

Institute for Community Research
Connecticut
Young farmers and Climate Smart agriculture in Connecticut’s cities

Intertribal Agriculture Council
Nationwide
Embracing Culturally Relevant Outreach Techniques to Serve Socially Disadvantaged Tribal Producers

Jackson State University
Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas
HBCU Consortium To Address Food Insecurities

James Bunch
Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, North Carolina
Strengthen Historically Underserved Communities Through Healthy Food Production systems Utilizing the Seasonal High Tunnel System

Kevin Golding
New York
Provide training to underserved youth in urban communities in field of agriculture, diet, health, and the environment.

The KKAC Organization
Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina
Equity in Conservation Programs for Socially Disadvantaged Producers through Outreach

Knik Tribe
Alaska
Soil and nutrient management for small farms and beginning farmer development in historically underserved communities.

Limestone Valley RC&D
Georgia
Outreach in market gardening for NW Georgia.

Nolo Martinez
Nationwide
Champions in Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture (CCCSA) “Campeones en conservación y la agricultura climáticamente inteligente”

McIntosh SEED
Georgia
Growing the Numbers: Strengthening Historically Underserved Farms through Conservation, Marketing, New Markets, Products and Collaboration

Louis E. James
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee
Six-State Climate Smart Agriculture Outreach and Technical Assistance

Michigan Food and Farming Systems
Michigan
Great Lakes Technical Assistance Navigators Pilot Program for Climate Resiliency in Historically Underserved Communities

Mill City Grows
Massachusetts
Merrimack Valley Growers Aid (MVGA)

Mississippi Association of Cooperatives
Mississippi
Local and Regional Solutions: Working with a System-Based and Intersectional Approach to Conservation Practices

Morehouse Parish Black Farmers & Landowner Assoc.
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi
Leveling the Playing Field: Conserving the Ark-LA-Miss Delta's Natural Resources

National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association
District of Columbia, New Mexico
Project AGUA: AGUA is the acronym representing the project as “Agricultural Gains Upskill All”

National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire
Investing in Underserved Farmers to Regenerate Their Farms’ Ecologies

National Women in Agriculture
Oklahoma
A Cornucopia of Sustainably Produced Food at the Climate Change Table

New York Restoration Project
New York
Urban Grower-to-Grower Exchange Program

North Carolina A&T State University - Dr Chyi-Lyi-Liang
North Carolina
Generating Racial equity and justice by Empowering and ENgaging Underserved farmers to adopt conservation Practices (GREEN UP) FUNDING

North Jersey RC&D Area, Inc.
New Jersey
New Jersey Regenerative Farming Network: A Community Conservation Support Network to Broaden Climate-Smart Practice Implementation

Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
Ohio
Towards Equity and Justice for Ohio’s Historically Underserved Farmers: Conservation Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance

Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Inc.
Oklahoma, Texas
Empowering and Preparing Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers for Climate Resiliency

Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success
North Carolina, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Conservation Outreach for Climate-Smart Farming among Historically Underserved Farmers in New England

Pecan Street Inc.
California, Colorado, New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Texas
Improving racial equality and inclusivity in access to NRCS resources and adoption of climate-smart agriculture

Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust Inc.
Massachusetts, Rhode Island
Outreach and Technical Assistance for Veteran and Limited Resource Farmers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust
New Mexico
Middle Rio Grande Equitable Conservation Program

Rolling Hills Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.
Georgia
NRCS Education and Community Outreach Program

Roots 2Empower
Rhode Island
Roots Agriculture and Entrepreneurship Program for Low-Income and Formerly Justice Involved

Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA
Alabama, North Carolina, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, South Carolina
Conservation Resources for Resilient Farms

Rural Coalition
California, Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Texas
Effective Partnerships to Catalyze Resilient Operations for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers

Sand County Foundation
Wisconsin
Amplifying the Reach and Impact of the Land Ethic Mentorship for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers

SDFR Policy Research Center at Alcorn State University
Mississippi
Advancing the Success of SDFR in MS by addressing state leadership and natural resource issues

Shinnecock Indian Nation Environmental Department
New York
Shinnecock’s Climate Smart Agriculture Demonstration Farm Site to Encourage Underserved Growers in the Long Island Communities.

Soil & Water Conservation Society
Iowa
A Conservation Professionals’ Guide to Diversity, Equitable and Inclusive Conservation Delivery Among the Historically Underserved

South Texas Advancement Resource
Texas
2022-2024 South Texas Advancement Resource Conservation Outreach Grant Program – USDA South Texas Region

Southern Sky Center for Diverse Arts and Culture Inc.
Georgia
When Bees Rule the World Pollinator Project Training and Demonstration Farm

Southwest Indian Agricultural Association, Inc.
Arizona
Southwest Indian Natural Resources Conservation Outreach and Assistance Program

SR1
Mississippi
SR1Community Oriented Opportunities for Learning (C.O.O.L.™ ) Conservation Outreach Project

Sustaining Environments through Education and Economic Development
Florida
Pathway to Racial Equity

Texas Coalition of Rural Landowners
Texas
Building a Collaborative Partnership through Outreach and Assistance to Underserved Texas Landowners in Implementing Sustainable Conservation Practices

The 1890 Universities Foundation
District of Columbia
Preparing 1890 land-grant students for career opportunities with Federal Government by hosting Career Development Conferences

The Center for Popular Research, Education and Policy
Wyoming
The Wind River Food Sovereignty Project: Advancing Equality for Native Food Producers

Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas
Facilitating Racial Equity and Justice Conservation for Historically Underserved Southern Ranchers and Forest Landowners

The Food Group
Minnesota
Enhancing Conservation Assistance for Minnesota BIPOC Farmers through Partnerships and Hands-on Learning

The Kohala Center, Inc.
Hawaii
Ohaha Mahi‘ai: Conservation Agriculture Education and Outreach in Hamakua and Kohala on Hawai‘i Island

The Learning Center at the Euchee Butterfly Farm Inc.
Oklahoma
Food Initiative for Tribes: Assisting Native Americans in Implementing Climate Smart Agriculture and Improving Conservation

The Piney Woods School
Mississippi
The Piney Woods School Demonstration Farm

Third Sector New England, Inc.
Nationwide
Expanding Equity and Conservation for Refugee Beginning Farmers

TigerMountain Foundation
Arizona
How do You Measure Community and Personal Wealth?

Tonya Smith
Kentucky
Permaculture and Soil Education Outreach

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian (TMBCI) Agriculture Department
North Dakota
Buffalo Hemp Model for improving the environmental and economic performance of working lands in Indian Country

Tuskegee University
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi
Establishing a Climate Smart/Regenerative Agricultural Hub for Sustaining Underserved Farms in the Southeast

Tyonek Tribal Conservation District
Alaska
Participatory Conservation through Subsistence Agriculture in the Tyonek Tribal Conservation District

Uncle Jerry's Farms, Inc.
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi
Outreach to historically underserved farmers and ranchers to provide access to information via drone technology to increase economic yield, adapt to changing weather patterns, and enroll additional participation in NRCS programs.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)
Arkansas
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Racial Equity and Justice Conservation Outreach Training Program

Regents of the University of Minnesota - GLBW
Minnesota
Equipping next generation professionals to support historically underserved farmers and ranchers in implementing conservation practices

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Texas
Conservation, Community, and Equity in Food and Agriculture in the Rio Grande Valley (CEFAIR)

Urban Transformation Network
Illinois
Chicagoland Collaborative Project for the Improvement of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices

Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden
Ohio
Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden Agricultural Conservation and Farmers Market Cooperative

Waianae Community Re-Development Corporation
Hawaii
Konohiki: Growing And Empowering 21st Century Ahupuaʻa Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) & Food Systems Leaders

West Central Missouri Community Action Agency
Missouri
Farm Conservation Outreach in West Central Missouri

West Virginia National Guard Foundation
West Virginia
Increasing On-Farm Conservation Practices for Veterans and Beginning Farmers in West Virginia

Winston County Self Help Cooperative
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Stronger Together: Assisting Historically Undeserved Farmers & Ranchers Implement Natural Resources Conservation Practices Across the Rural Southern Black Belt

Wisconsin Tribal Conservation Advisory Council
Wisconsin
Supporting Conservation Practices and Local Agriculture in Tribal Communities in Wisconsin

Foundation for Community Impact & Health Equity
South Carolina
Elevating South Carolina Agricultural Practices and Education (ESCAPE)

World Farmers, Inc.
Massachusetts
Planning and Implementing Key Conservation Strategies among Immigrant and Refugee Farmers in Massachusetts
 

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Download a printable PDF list of the FY2022 Equity Conservation Agreements: