Thursday | February 1, 2024 | |
a cooperative association of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives | |
Climate-Smart Incentives Available for Underserved Farmers | |
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund ("the Federation") was recently awarded a multi-million dollar Climate-Smart Commodities project under USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. The Federation serves as a designated USDA-Cooperator, and will provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to underserved farmer who adopt certain climate- smart practices.
USDA is supporting underserved farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, a $3.1 billion for 141 projects.
USDA's aims to expand markets for American climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, while incentivizing underserved producers with, direct and meaningful, benefits to their agricultural, operational bottom-lines.
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January 23, 2024 | Federation Live!
FSC/LAF Climate-Smart Outreach Follow-Up
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Question 1: Did you finish watching the informational video above and want to move forward with learning more about adopting climate-smart practices? | | | |
Question 2: Are you a Southern forest landowner, cattle rancher, or commodities producer (especially in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas)? | | | |
Question 3: Do you fall into the category of an underserved producer? | | | |
If your answer is YES to each question above, let's move forward with getting you signed up for FSC/LAF education, outreach, and technical assistance to see if you are a good fit for any climate-smart project(s) | | | |
Step 2:
Complete Intake Form
Move forward to learn how to adopt climate-smart practices. A Federation Outreach Team Member will call you to follow-up within a few business days of your completing the climate-smart intake form.
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Step 3:
Review USDA Climate-Smart Dashboard
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There are over 141 different projects.
Please click and search for climate-smart projects that interest you.
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What is Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) ?
Source | Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach that helps guide actions to transform agri-food systems towards green and climate resilient practices. CSA supports reaching internationally agreed goals such as the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. It aims to tackle three main objectives: sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes; adapting and building resilience to climate change; and reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions, where possible.
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What are Agriculture Commodities?
Source | USDA
Source | The Balance
A climate-smart commodity is defined as an agricultural commodity that is produced using agricultural (farming, ranching or forestry) practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon.
- Things you drink, such as sugar, cocoa, coffee, and orange juice. These are called the "soft markets."
- Grains include wheat, soybeans, soybean oil, rice, oats, and corn.
- Animals that become food, such as live cattle and pork (called "lean hogs").
- Things you wouldn't eat, such as cotton and lumber.
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What are examples of Climate-Smart practices that an Underserved Producer can receive incentives to adopt?
Source | FSC/LAF Climate-Smart Outreach Team
- No-Till
- Minimum Till
- Agroforestry
- Cover Crops
- Virtual Fencing
- Afforestation
- Rotation Grazing
- Nutrient Management
- Precision Application
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What is an Underserved Producers?
Source | 7 USC § 1508(a)(7)
(7) Adequate coverage for States and underserved producers
(A) Definitions In this paragraph:
(i) Adequately served The term “adequately served” means having a participation rate, by crop, that is at least 50 percent of the national average participation rate.
(ii) Underserved producer The term “underserved producer” means an individual (including a member of an Indian Tribe) that is—
(I) a beginning farmer or rancher;
(II) a veteran farmer or rancher; or
(III) a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher.
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Step 4:
Contact Us
Contact the Federation and let us help you adopt climate-smart practices.
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Email:
info@federation.coop
In the subject line please provide your name and state
For example:
James Daniel | Georgia
In the body of the email please provide the projects that interest you from the USDA Climate-Smart Project Dashboard, and any questions that you may have.
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Administrative Office
2769 Church Street
East Point, Georgia, 30344
(404) 765-0991
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Rural Training & Research Center
575 Federation Road
Gainesville, Alabama
(205)-652-9676
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Alabama State Association
Alabama Field Office
575 Federation Road
Gainesville, Alabama
(205)-652-9676
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Georgia Field Office
624 W Oglethorpe Blvd.
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 432-5799
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Florida Field Office
224 NW Hillsboro Street
Lake City, FL 32055
(404) 765-0991
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Louisiana Field Office
3717 Prescott Road
Alexandria, Louisiana 71301
(318) 704-2423
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Mississippi Association of Cooperatives
Mississippi Field Office
233 E. Hamilton Street
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 944-0592
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South Carolina
(404) 765-0991
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Texas Field Office
Mississippi Field Office
233 E. Hamilton Street
2002 W. Grand Parkway, North
Suite 305
Katy, TX 77449
713 -634-7385
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WATCH this historic Video from the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund Archives: It's Not a One Person Thing | |
The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund is a 57-year-old cooperative association of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives founded by twenty-two cooperatives.
Our mission is to be a catalyst for the development of self-supporting communities through cooperative economic development, land retention, and advocacy. We envision sustainable rural communities supported by a network of farmers, landowners, and cooperatives based on local control and ownership.
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