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Sunflowers grow in field in Fargo, ND. USDA photo by Bruce Fritz.

Socially Disadvantaged Initiative

Oregon's Socially Disadvantaged statewide fund pool addresses a wide variety of resource concerns on land owned or operated by those who are members of a socially disadvantaged group.

Oregon's Socially Disadvantaged Initiative

The term “Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher” means an individual or entity who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. For an entity, at least 50 percent ownership in the farm business must be held by a socially disadvantaged individual(s). A socially disadvantaged group is a group whose members have been subject to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identify as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.

These groups consist of the following:

  • American Indians or Alaska Natives
  • Asians
  • Blacks or Africa Americans
  • Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders
  • Hispanics

Note: Gender alone is not a covered group for the purposes of NRCS conservation programs. The term entities reflect a broad interpretation to include partnerships, couples, legal entities, etc.

Counties: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill

Primary Resource Concerns Addressed

  • Air Quality Emissions
  • Aquatic Habitat
  • Concentrated Erosion
  • Degraded Plant Condition
  • Field Pesticide Loss
  • Field Sediment, Nutrient and Pathogen Loss
  • Fire Management
  • Inefficient Energy Use
  • Livestock Production Limitation
  • Pest Pressure
  • Salt Losses to Water
  • Soil Quality Limitations
  • Source Water Depletion
  • Storage and Handling of Pollutants
  • Terrestrial Habitat
  • Weather Resilience
  • Wind and Water Erosion

Conservation Practices Offered
All conservation available in Oregon’s FY23 payment schedule are offered under the organic initiative. 

Ranking Questions (All counties)

  1. Does the application meet the intent of the Conservation Implementation Strategy (CIS) in the county (service area) and is only for practices currently offered in those CIS that will treat the identified priority resource concern?
  2. The “Summary Total Ranking Score” for the application when ranked in the CIS pool is:
    1. 170 to 200 pts
    2. 130 to 169 pts
    3. 100 to 129 pts
    4. 50 to 100 pts
    5. <50 pts

Ranking Questions (For Benton, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn Counties)

  1. Will the application implement Climate Smart practices as part of the plan?
    1. 1 practice
    2. 2 practices
    3. 3 practices
    4. 4 or more practices