MINNEAPOLIS — With a goal of supporting historically underserved farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, a new project led by Renewing the Countryside and the Sustainable Farming Association builds connections between these farmers and resource support. Conservation Connections: Linking New & Underserved Farmers with Conservation Resources uniquely utilizes a “boots in the field” team of twelve Connectors to assist these farmers to tap into information and opportunities that support conservation and soil health, to create a more successful farm business.
“Conservation Connections will provide support to historically underserved farmer groups including African Americans, Asian, Latino, Indigenous, veterans and beginning farmers,” shares Jan Joannides, executive director of Renewing the Countryside and lead on this project. “Look for a variety of field days, workshops and outreach over the next two years that aim to expand awareness of programs and resources available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that foster more successful farm businesses and at the same time steward the land.”
Cultivating Connections kicks off in January with an online free webinar specifically focused on connecting Minnesota new and beginning farmers to NRCS programs: A Beginning Farmers Guide to Conservation Support, Funding & Resources. area farmers sharing their NRCS program experience along with next steps to connect with resources in your state. Area farmers will share their NRCS program experience along with next steps to connect with resources in your state.
The Minnesota webinar will be on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 1 pm CST. Beginning farmers outside of Minnesota are welcome to join. Note there is a parallel webinar on Thursday, January 14, 2021 for Wisconsin. While the general information is applicable nationally, case studies and questions will focus on these two states. The webinar will be recorded with a link sent to those registered.
“I’m excited to serve as a Farmer Connector on this new venture and share my experiences working with various conservation programs through NRCS, including funding opportunities such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP),” adds Noreen Thomas of Doubting Thomas Farm, a grain operation in Moorhead, Minnesota. “On the January 13 webinar, I’ll be sharing my experience with these programs and also how technical assistance from NRCS helped us learn how to cut hay in a way that makes sure we are not catching wildlife. It was a simple equipment adjustment that benefited the deer and birds that make a home in our fields.”
Additionally, this new project will host an informational session at the Emerging Farmers Conference featuring personal farmer stories and advice on tapping in to NRCS resources. The virtual conference offers a variety of workshops January 27 through January 30 with this Conservation Connections session on Wednesday, January 27 at 5 pm. The full conference is free for farmers to attend.
Renewing the Countryside is a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen rural areas by championing and supporting rural communities, farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, activists and other people who are renewing the countryside through sustainable and innovative initiatives, businesses, and projects. The Sustainable Farming Association advances environmental stewardship, economic resilience and strong, diverse communities through farmer-to-farmer networking, education, demonstration and research. This project is made possible with funding support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
For more information and to register for the upcoming events see: https://www.renewingthecountryside.org/conservation_connections
— Renewing the Countryside and the Sustainable Farming Association
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