Socially Disadvantaged Farmer 2009

Funds have been set aside to assist Socially Disadvantaged Farmers to develop and maintain economic viability in their farm operations. Application eligibility will be based on the producer, entity, or joint operation farm income as outlined in the USDA 2008 Farm Bill.

Definition

According to Section 2501(e)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 USC 2279(e)(2)), a Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher (SDA) is defined as a farmer or rancher who is a member of a "Socially Disadvantaged Group." Therefore a "Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher" is defined as:

1. Socially Disadvantaged Group - a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. The definition that applies to Titles I, V, and VI includes members of a group subject to gender prejudice, while the definition that applies to Titles II, IX, XII, and XV does not. Title XIV and the Education and Risk Management Assistance provision in Title XII do not make specific reference to the statutory definition of socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher.
    
2. Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher - a farmer or rancher who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual qualities. This term means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. Specifically, a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Those groups include African Americans, American Indians or Alaskan natives, Hispanics, and Asians or Pacific Islanders.

Guidelines

1. Conduct statewide publicity of program sign-up through traditional and non-traditional avenues to reach the most potential Socially Disadvantaged (SD) participants.
2. The SD program includes all resource concerns and practices identified under county-wide concerns plus practices only available under this project.
3. Practices will be paid according to an increased payment schedule.
4. All SD applications for state-wide project will be entered into ProTracts under the SD fund code.
5. All applications will be ranked using criteria developed at the state level.
6. All applications not funded under this project can compete in county-wide concerns if desired by applicant with the exception of practice payments for mulch micro-irrigation systems and small ruminant woodland grazing systems.
7. If all special funds are not allocated in the first batching period, subsequent batching periods will be announced or funds may be reallocated to other fund codes.
8. There will be a maximum limit set for practice installation.