NASDA Foundation-EPA Historically Underserved Farmers Grant Program
The NASDA Foundation has been awarded $3 million in cooperative agreement funding to help underserved farmers improve water quality, habitat resilience and information exchange to benefit the ecosystems within the Gulf of Mexico Watershed. This grant was awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Division.
LATEST INFORMATION
NASDA Foundation is pleased to announce 14 sub-awardees of the NASDA Foundation-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Historically Underserved Farmers Cooperative Agreement. The organizations selected will work on projects to help underserved farmers improve water quality, habitat resilience and information exchange to benefit Gulf of Mexico Watershed ecosystems.
- Appalachian Sustainable Development (VA)
- Cherokee Historical State Resort Park of Aurora (KY)
- Clinch Valley Soil and Water Conservation District (VA)
- Cowan Community Action Group, Inc. (KY)
- Cumberland River Compact (TN)
- Evergreen Soil & Water Conservation District (VA)
- Holston River Soil and Water Conservation District (VA)
- Kentucky Ag Development Advocacy (KY)
- Pasa Sustainable Agriculture (PA/WV)
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech (VA)
- Simpson County Conservation District (KY)
- Sullivan County Soil and Water Conservation District (TN)
- The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (TN)
- West Virginia Conservation Agency (WV)
PROJECT TIMELINE
- January 15, 2024: First Quarterly Report Due
- September 2023 – September 30, 2026: Maximum Grant Performance Period
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Working farms, ranches, and forests provide food, fuel, and fiber for the world, but activities can affect water quality locally and across multi-state watersheds. Implementation of soil and water conservation practices can help reduce runoff and nonpoint source pollution.
The objectives of this program are to:
- Work directly with historically underserved producers on novel or innovative techniques, methods, or approaches that reduce non-point source pollution and increase the sustainability and resiliency of their operations;
- Leverage partnerships to increase knowledge sharing and collaboration within and among historically underserved communities;
- Collect and analyze data to demonstrates the results of funded projects; and
- Disseminate results to the community to inform future conservation or management practices and expand adoption of the most cost-effective and sustainable approaches.
Funded organizations are working on at least one of the following types of activities:
- Water quality initiatives such as nutrient reduction with creative runoff treatment solutions; innovative year-round ground cover to limit erosion; planting field buffers; conservation tillage; managing livestock access to streams; address key manure nutrient management issues (e.g., phosphorus saturation in soil, ammonia emissions, alternative uses for manure nutrients); increase the implementation of nitrogen-use efficiency tools to better manage inorganic nitrogen inputs on cropland.
- Habitat restoration initiatives such as riparian zone improvement; observing environmental windows; restoration or protection of wildlife corridors; partner easements; landowner habitat planting/restoration; other innovative habitat ideas; conservation and restoration of perennially flooded grasslands and forests.
- Sustainable forest management initiatives such as utilizing sustainable forestry practices that protect and maintain water quality and habitat; improving utilization of sustainable forestry practices through training, education, and public outreach; and monitoring effectiveness of sustainable practices.
Three additional Regional EPA Grant Programs, for awards outside the Ohio-Tennessee Region, can be accessed here:
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- National Association of Conservation Districts
- Winrock International (Wallace Center)
NASDA is collaborating with the other awardees to meet EPA’s goal of reducing nonpoint pollution in the Gulf of Mexico.
PRESS RELEASES
FOR QUESTIONS AND ASSISTANCE
For more information, or technical support with your application, please contact the NASDA Foundation-EPA Historically Underserved Farmers Grant Program Support Team at epagrants@nasda.org or (571) 418-6426.