NRCS
Small Farm Program
Program Manager
Adolfo Perez
202-720-1853
adolfo.perez@usda.gov
Web-site:
www.nrcs.usda.gov
About the Natural Resources
Conservation Service
NRCS puts nearly 70 years of experience to work in
assisting owners of America's private land with
conserving their soil, water, and other natural resources.
Local, state and federal agencies and policymakers also
rely on our expertise. We deliver technical assistance
based on sound science and suited to a customer's
specific needs. Cost shares and financial incentives are
available in some cases. Most work is done with local
partners. Our partnership with local conservation districts
serves almost every county in the nation, and the
Caribbean and Pacific Basin. Participation in our
programs is voluntary.
Our Mission!
The Natural Resources Conservation
Service provides leadership in a
partnership effort to help people conserve,
maintain, and improve our natural
resources and environment.
Our Vision
Harmony between people and the land
NRCS Role & Purpose
of the Small Farm Program
To ensure that NRCS programs are
administered in a way that enables small
farmers maintain and develop economic
viability in farm operations; to ensure
NRCS technical assistance programs and
activities reach small farmers and
ranchers; and that technical practices and
information are relevant to the needs of
these farmers and ranchers.
Definition of a small farm!
A farms with less than $250,000 gross
receipts annually, on which day-to-day
labor and management are provided by
the farmer and/or the farm family that
owns the production or owns, or leases,
the productive assets".
Which is 94 % of all farms.
A Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher
is an individual directly or indirectly with gross farm sales not more than $100,000,
and
Has a total household income at or below national poverty level for a family of four, or
has less than 50 % of county median household income, in each of the previous two
years. LRF/R make up about 16.7% of all farmers and ranchers
A Beginning Farmer or Rancher
means an individual or entity who has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has
operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years.
Currently have about 1.9 million operator of those 32% have less than 10 years
according to 1997 census
NRCS Programs!
Conservation Reserve Program Resource Conservation and
(Farm Service Agency) Development
Conservation of Private Grazing Rural Abandoned Mine Program
Lands Soil Survey Programs
Conservation Security Program Snow Survey and Water Supply
Conservation Technical Forecasting
Assistance Stewardship Incentive Program
Emergency Watershed Protection (Forest Service)
Environmental Quality Incentives Watershed Protection and Flood
Program Prevention
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Watershed Rehabilitation
Program Wetlands Reserve Program
Forestry Incentives Program Wildlife Habitat Incentives
Grassland Reserve Program Program
Grazing Lands Conservation
Initiative
Programs
Conservation Technical Assistance
(CTA)
Resource Conservation and Development
(RC&D)
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP)
NRCS
Social Sciences Institute
Resources and Web-site
Kathie M. Starkweather
USDA/NRCS Sociologist
Lincoln, NE 402-437-4098
Available Tools for Outreach and
Diversity
http://www.ssi.nrcs.usda.gov/
Guidebook Reaching Out to Minority Farmers
Working with People of Different Cultures
Working with Asian and Hispanic Limited Resource Producer
How to improve Diversity on your Team
Social and Professional Skills too be Effective with Small Farmers
Social Profile
Gaining Trust with Small Farmers
Barriers and Strategies for Small-Scale Products
ALL SSI Publications
http://www.ssi.nrcs.usda.gov/publications/index.html#MI003
Questions