NRCS Reintroduces The StrikeForce 2.0 Initiative for Rural Growth And Opportunity in Mississippi

Jackson, Miss., January 24, 2022 – Mississippi’s United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing the Strike Force 2.0 Initiative (SFI) for Rural Growth and Opportunity renewal in Mississippi. This is a cross-agency effort to accelerate assistance to historically underserved groups and help relieve the disparity felt in rural, high-poverty areas of the country.

USDA's StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative works to address the unique set of challenges faced by many of America's rural communities. Through StrikeForce, USDA is leveraging resources and collaborating with partners and stakeholders to improve economic opportunity and quality of life in these areas. 

USDA partners with rural communities and regions on locally supported projects. In partnership with the community, USDA takes steps to provide technical assistance and explanation as needed to ensure that communities can fully access USDA programs. 

Through StrikeForce, USDA has partnered with over 400 community organizations, businesses, foundations, universities, and other groups to support 80,300 projects and ushered over $10 billion in investments into rural America. 

Landowners can submit their applications to their local NRCS field office  . The deadline to submit will be February 24, 2022. 

"USDA's StrikeForce aims to increase investment in rural communities through intensive outreach and stronger partnership," said acting state conservationist Michael Carr. "Bringing this program back to Mississippi will undoubtedly help the growth of the economy by pouring back into our rural communities."

In Mississippi, 65 counties have been identified as StrikeForce counties. These include:

Adams   Claiborne   Grenada   Lauderdale   Noxubee   Sunflower   Webster

Alcorn   Clarke   Holmes   Lawrence   Oktibbeha   Tallahatchie   Wilkinson

Amite   Clay   Humphreys   Leake   Panola   Tippah   Winston

Attala   Coahoma   Issaquena   Leflore   Pearl River   Tishomingo   Yalobusha

Benton   Copiah   Jasper   Lincoln   Pike   Tunica   Yazoo

Bolivar   Covington   Jefferson   Lowndes   Prentiss   Union

Calhoun   Forrest   Jefferson Davis   Marion   Quitman   Walthall

Carroll   Franklin   Jones   Monroe   Scott   Warren

Chickasaw   Hinds   Kemper   Montgomery   Sharkey   Washington

Choctaw   Greene   Lafayette   Neshoba   Simpson   Wayne

Historically Underserved Producer Benefits

Special provisions are also available for historically underserved producers. For EQIP, historically underserved producers are eligible for advance payments to help offset costs related to purchasing materials or contracting services upfront. In addition, historically underserved producers can receive higher EQIP payment rates (up to 90% of the average cost). NRCS sets aside EQIP, CSP, and ACEP funds for historically underserved producers. 

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our nation's lands, biodiversity, and natural resources, including our soil, air, and water. Through conservation practices and partnerships, USDA aims to enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers, and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including State, local and Tribal governments. 

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America's food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov

COVID-19 Guidance

NRCS is under Covid-19 limitations. NRCS employees are limited in the amount of direct contact we can have with customers both for your safety and ours.  This does not mean field offices will not assist you.  It only means that you may need to be more persistent and always contact the office by phone or by email before making an office visit. We’ve provided a link to our online field office locator: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov. By using this locator tool, applicants can find contact information for your local field office. Covid-19 is new for all of us, but we have found a way to operate and assist producers in an effort to treat environmental concerns. For additional information about CSP, contact your local USDA service center     . More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.