Progress 04/01/24 to 03/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience: • Immigrant producers • Small farms or ranches • Underserved agricultural producers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Progress notes: https://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Yr3_Progress-Notes_Compilation.pdf How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Consistent engagement and communication with the farmers we serve, including our monthly farmer newsletters and weekly mass texts. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Steps Outcome 1: Research and document market price for cultural crops Steps: Collect crop production and yield data from FMF farmers; collect market price points across farmers and market sources; compile and maintain records. Outcome 2: Add cultural crops to the federal crop list Steps: Provide data to county office to review data for reliability and refine paperwork into correct format; county office submits to county committee to put on agenda; attend county committee meeting; see paperwork go to state committee for same process; see paperwork go to FSA's Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP) for review at national level; confirm approval prior to farmer NAP application. Outcome 3: Increased awareness and understanding of USDA Steps: Hold group educational sessions on USDA; provide and individualized information on USDA to farmers; Support farmers to conceptualize USDA in a real way through follow-up discussions. Outcome 4: Relationships between farmers and USDA office staff Steps: Host USDA field staff at farm sites for farm visits and/or workshops; Facilitate email communication to USDA with farmers; Accompany farmers to USDA field offices; Bring farmers to regional or national convenings to engage with national USDA representatives. Outcome 5: Farmers gain understanding of importance of record keeping Steps: Host group training in importance of record keeping. Outcome 6: Farmers properly keep necessary records for taxes Steps: Provide individualized TA in record keeping tips and tricks; Provide hands on support to farmers on in-season record keeping techniques. Outcome 7: Farmers have established retail markets Steps: Support farmers in farmers' market applications and acquiring insurance for markets; support with other retail market needs as farmer requests arise.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Delivery: https://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Y3_Delivery_Compilation.pdf Outcomes: https://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Y3_Outcomes_Compilation.pdf Participants Served: https://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Y3_Participants-Served_Compilation.pdf

Publications

Progress 04/01/23 to 03/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience: Audience Emphasis: • Immigrant producers • Small farms or ranches • Underserved agricultural producers ? Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Full narrative of our accomplishments and opportunities provided to farmers included here: http://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Progress-Notes_Compilation-for-Year-2.pdf How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Specialized TA, as Requested by USDA As part of our program's efforts to support farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and disaster years (2020-2021), World Farmers engaged with 27 farmers to pursue applications for the Pandemic Assistance Relief Program (PARP). The primary objective was to help these farmers recoup losses incurred during the specified period. During the initial stages of engagement, World Farmers staff provided specialized technical assistance training to the farmers. The training focused on providing a clear understanding of the program's intended goals and benefits, which involved compensation for financial losses during COVID-19 or a disaster year. Our staff took the time to explain the terms, definitions, and eligibility criteria used by USDA to determine compensation amounts. Moreover, we conducted practical demonstrations, utilizing spreadsheets with mock data, to illustrate the compensation calculation process. The objective was to ensure that farmers comprehended the procedures and could confidently navigate the application process. Throughout the engagement, we offered hands-on assistance in filling out the required forms and addressing any concerns and questions raised by the farmers. At least one meeting was held for each farmer we supported. We ended up conducting multiple meetings with most farmers, with each session lasting around two hours on average. The personalized training approach allowed us to cater to the specific needs of each farmer and facilitate their application process effectively. USDA technical assistance training played a vital role in enhancing farmers' understanding of the PARP program. Farmers who engaged in the training showed increased confidence in pursuing assistance, leading to the successful submission of 10 applications for the program. The specialized training not only clarified program goals and eligibility but also helped alleviate concerns about government inquiries into personal financial information. By providing step-by-step guidance through the paperwork, we addressed farmers' overwhelmedness, ensuring they had the necessary support to navigate the application process. Throughout our engagement with farmers, World Farmers staff utilized various USDA resources, forms, and program materials to facilitate the application process. These resources proved essential in guiding farmers through the required procedures and documentation. The utilization of USDA resources, forms, and program materials significantly streamlined the application process for farmers. By providing clear and standardized forms, USDA minimized confusion and ambiguity in documentation, ensuring consistency across applications. The materials made available by USDA were instrumental in explaining the terms and definitions used in the application process. This clarity reduced the likelihood of errors or misunderstandings, promoting accurate submissions. However, it is worth noting that despite the availability of these resources, some farmers remained uninterested in pursuing assistance or did not qualify based on their sales revenues for the applicable years. This emphasizes the importance of personalized technical assistance training to address individual concerns and barriers faced by farmers. Additionally, World Farmers staff worked with the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to complete the Agricultural Census. In this performance period, World Farmers facilitated Census paperwork for 8 farmers. The deadline for the Agricultural Census was within this performance period, and so this concludes our work on the NASS Agricultural Census. A comprehensive reflection on our work to get small-scale farmers counted is included in the Project Successes section of this report. World Farmers' program supported 27 farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and disaster years (2020-2021) by assisting them in applying for the Pandemic Assistance Relief Program (PARP). The program involved specialized technical training to help farmers understand PARP's goals and benefits, including compensation for financial losses. This took significant time on behalf of staff, as it did on behalf of FSA, as it was a new program. Practical demonstrations and hands-on assistance were provided to all qualifying farmers, resulting in increased confidence among farmers and the successful submission of 10 PARP applications. Utilizing USDA resources and program materials streamlined the application process, ensuring clarity and reducing errors. However, some farmers were not interested or did not qualify, highlighting the need for personalized assistance to address individual concerns and barriers. This was unimportant reflection, and one that many small-scale farmers experience - that the time and resources it would take to submit the application, and learn how to fold into their taxes, would not outweigh the small financial benefit from the program. Farmers whose applications were successfully are awaiting to receive their corresponding payments. We had a call with our country FSA agent to inquire, and she said she was still awaiting directive from State and National FSA. USDA project managers requested Cooperators to learn about the two simultaneous FSA efforts being implemented thanks to Sections 22006 and 22007 of the IRA, to move forward a new discrimination claims process, and relief for distressed borrowers. World Farmers joined all requested calls of Cooperators, and also joined calls hosted by the Rural Coalition, a national coalition of which we are a part, to learn more about the opportunity for farmers. After attending multiple calls to learn more, World Farmers determined that farmers would not qualify for 22006, as all FMF farmers who had received loans were paid up to our knowledge, and we did not suspect many farmers would qualify for 22007 given our intensive Technical Assistance over the last decade or more. We did however put notice of these opportunities in our Farmer Newsletter, in case farmers made their own determinations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Outcome 1: Research and document market price for cultural crops Steps: Collect crop production and yield data from FMF farmers; collect market price points across farmers and market sources; compile and maintain records. Outcome 2: Add cultural crops to the federal crop list Steps: Provide data to county office to review data for reliability and refine paperwork into correct format; county office submits to county committee to put on agenda; attend county committee meeting; see paperwork go to state committee for same process; see paperwork go to FSA's Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP) for review at national level; confirm approval prior to farmer NAP application. Outcome 3: Increased awareness and understanding of USDA Steps: Hold group educational sessions on USDA; provide and individualized information on USDA to farmers; Support farmers to conceptualize USDA in a real way through follow-up discussions. Outcome 4: Relationships between farmers and USDA office staff Steps: Host USDA field staff at farm sites for farm visits and/or workshops; Facilitate email communication to USDA with farmers; Accompany farmers to USDA field offices; Bring farmers to regional or national convenings to engage with national USDA representatives. Outcome 5: Farmers gain understanding of importance of record keeping Steps: Host group training in importance of record keeping. Outcome 6: Farmers properly keep necessary records for taxes Steps: Provide individualized TA in record keeping tips and tricks; Provide hands on support to farmers on in-season record keeping techniques. Outcome 7: Farmers have established retail markets Steps: Support farmers in farmers' market applications and acquiring insurance for markets; support with other retail market needs as farmer requests arise.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Find here links to a compilation of our reports for Delivery (meetings), Outcomes, and Participants Served totals: • Delivery: http://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Delivery_Compilation-for-Year-2.pdf • Outcomes: http://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Outcomes_Compilation-for-Year-2.pdf • Participants Served: http://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Participants-Served_Compilation-for-Year-2.pdf

Publications

Progress 04/01/22 to 03/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Audience Emphasis: Immigrant producers Small farms or ranches Underserved agricultural producers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Full narrative of our accomplishments and opportunities provided to farmers included here https://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Progress-Notes_Compilation-for-Year-1.pdf How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Specialized TA, as Requested by USDA World Farmers attended the USDA-organized convening of the ARPTAI Cooperators in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2022. World Farmers staff engaged in the many discussions and sessions led by USDA staff and affiliated leadership. In one particular session, World Farmers staff provided input on the RVS reporting system to the Clearinghouse Team at UMN, to assist in shaping the system to fit the reporting needs of us as Cooperators. World Farmers also engaged in an individual call with the Office of Customer Experience team in July, 2022. There were three USDA staff on the call to inform us of their role and intention as a new USDA agency, formed within the last two years. Their intention is to work with the collaborators to develop solutions, and to hear from us regarding what we are seeing on the ground. They encouraged us to stay in touch and to not hesitate to reach out. One of the recommendations we provided on the call was that USDA develop a directory of the Cooperators for public and farmer access, and that the directory include the Cooperators' services, the audience and producer type they specialize in serving, the areas or regions in which they work, and any cost of services (hopefully services are free). World Farmers provided significant support to the National Agricultural Statistics Survey (NASS) in enrolling farmers in the Agricultural Census, which takes place every five years. Over the past four months, World Farmers staff have been actively engaging with FMF farmers to gather information for the Ag Census and compile into the Census forms. Through a combination of in-person meetings and phone calls, staff has been able to discuss with them their crop yields, expenses, successes, and failures in 2022. In total, approximately 35 hours were spent meeting with FMF farmers to gather this valuable data. World Farmers is proud to report that our efforts have resulted in the successful submission of 100 Census forms to our enumerator as of April 24th, 2023. World Farmers staff met with and spoke to the MA field enumerator roughly twice per month during this performance period, including follow up calls to confirm the readability of the handwritten Census forms. In addition to getting more farmers counted this cycle, we identified a handful of farmers who had previously been counted which we could mark as no longer farming, or retired. FMF farmers' participation in the NASS survey will provide important data for the agricultural industry and aid in the development of policies and programs to support our farming communities. We will continue this work through to the final NASS deadline. World Farmers also provided support to other organizations working with other socially disadvantaged farmers to be counted, particularly with farmers in Western MA where we linked the organization to the MA Field Enumerator. World Farmers staff also coordinated with NASS staff to identify the best approach for partners in Puerto Rico working with farmers to be counted. World Farmers had conversations with both our local Field Enumerator as well as the State Lead for the Census to confirm the appropriate path forward for our partners in Puerto Rico, whom we connected with the appropriate Field Enumerator. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Outcome 1: Research and document market price for cultural crops Steps: Collect crop production and yield data from FMF farmers; collect market price points across farmers and market sources; compile and maintain records. Outcome 2: Add cultural crops to the federal crop list Steps: Provide data to county office to review data for reliability and refine paperwork into correct format; county office submits to county committee to put on agenda; attend county committee meeting; see paperwork go to state committee for same process; see paperwork go to FSA's Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP) for review at national level; confirm approval prior to farmer NAP application. Outcome 3: Increased awareness and understanding of USDA Steps: Hold group educational sessions on USDA; provide and individualized information on USDA to farmers; Support farmers to conceptualize USDA in a real way through follow-up discussions. Outcome 4: Relationships between farmers and USDA office staff Steps: Host USDA field staff at farm sites for farm visits and/or workshops; Facilitate email communication to USDA with farmers; Accompany farmers to USDA field offices; Bring farmers to regional or national convenings to engage with national USDA representatives. Outcome 5: Farmers gain understanding of importance of record keeping Steps: Host group training in importance of record keeping. Outcome 6: Farmers properly keep necessary records for taxes Steps: Provide individualized TA in record keeping tips and tricks; Provide hands on support to farmers on in-season record keeping techniques. Outcome 7: Farmers have established retail markets Steps: Support farmers in farmers' market applications and acquiring insurance for markets; support with other retail market needs as farmer requests arise.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Find here links to a compilation of our reports for Delivery (meetings), Outcomes, and Participants Served totals: Delivery:https://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Delivery_Compilation-for-Year-1.pdf Outcomes:https://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Outcomes_Compilation-for-Year-1.pdf Participants Served:https://www.worldfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Participants-Served_Compilation-for-Year-1.pdf

Publications