Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is Native Buffalo caretakers and producers that either own or manage family and community based herds. We are currently working wtih 12 Native owned and/or operated buffalo projects that are moslty in South Dakota. However, there is one in Texas, one in Minnesota. Through the course of this last year, we have done site vites to all except one of the projects. At these sites visits, the technical assistance worked with the project manager/caregiver on a business plan and conservation plan. We have had the Buffalo Project work on busines plans and conservation plans. We also had two in person meetings where producers where given training on buiness plannning and finance options. They were also given information on what Tanka Resilient Agriculture Company is doing; Natural Resrouces Conservation Program gave an update, and South Dakota State Center of Bison Excellence also gave an update on health issues concerning buffalo producers Changes/Problems:The challenge is the finincail obligations of the buffalo projects and finding a way to assess the local market . Two of the reservations have a local processing plant, but are unable to get enought buffalo meat into the the plants for resale of meat to the local market. Buffalo projects are saling young animals that are not ready for processing. It is hard financially for buffalo projects to hold on to the animals until they are of age to process due to the need for income and the space needed for the growing animals. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Tanka Fund had two different trainings for buffalo producers over the last year. This included providing informaton on financing options and business planning to help projects become more sustainable. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service gave a talk on funding and contract available; South Dakota State Center of Bison Excellence also gave information on health and disease issues affecting buffalo. A tour and talk was given by one of the buffalo project managers on his operation. Project producers/caregivers also gave updates on their projects. Some of the project producers/caregivers also attened the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association meeting which information was giving on feeding, fencing, marketing options. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Buffalo Meat Feasibility study will going to pring in December and will be disseminated to all collaborating participants and those that have an interest What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The plan is to have one more training for the project producers/caregivers. This will include information on more marketing opportuntiites, updates from USDA NRCS and Farm Service Agency. Also, to visit about the potential for a mobile processing facility and grass finished harvesting plan. We will also continue to work with our partners on avenues to provide more opportunties for funding and technical assistance. The projects are working together on how to collaborate on equipment that is needed for buffalo management but not necessairly on an every day bases. Tanka Resilient Agriculture Company is working on a work plan that would model how producers/caregivers could have a company or cohort that would market meat locally.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Tanka Fund worked with 12different Native owned/operated buffalo ranches, with 4 being on the Pine Ridge Reservation. A survey was developd to assess the needs; issues and marketing plans for the projects. A bussiness plan is being developed individually for each of the projects that will help to determine marketing inititiatives. The goal is to see how these projects can serve the local food needs not only on Pine Ridge Reservation, but also on the Standing Rock, Rosebud and Sisseton Reservations in South Dakota. Tanka Fund has engaged the Lakota Food Soverienty Coalition; Makoce Agriculture Development projects and the buffalo ranchers in a feasibility study. Six different projects have now finished a businss plan for the buffalo project. Five of the projects also have implemented conservation plans. A Buffalo Meat Feasibility assessment has been completed. This will provide information on ways to implement buffalo meat back to the Pine Ridge Reservation. Tanka Fund has been working with the local food hubs which include Makoce Agriculture Development Company and also having conversations with One Spirit, which is food distribution project that works with the local meat house. We helped all 12 projects wtih completing a business plan for their buffalo operation and also a conservation plan. We also worked to help 11 of the 12 projects transfere 88 buffalo from the Nature Conservancy. This will help increase genetic diversity and two of the projects where first time to have animals. One of those projects is transitioning from cattle to buffalo. Tanka Fund with Native American Natural Foods, is working on a grass-finished plan that would help projects retain ownership until animals are ready for harvesting.
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is Native Buffalo Producers/Caregivers. There is currently 19 Native projects in three states that Tanka Fund is working with on 6 different land holdings or reservatons. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Tanka Fund provided 3 in person trainings that where focused on collaboration, financing, and technical assistance. We also encouraged and sponsored producers/caregivers to go to other trainings held by InterTribal Buffalo Association, National Bison Association and Dakota Territory Association. Those trainings consisted of inviting USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to share information and several Native CDFI to talk about financing. We periodically gave updates on the buffalo feasibility project. We also conducted 18 sites visits to the Native owned and operated buffalo projectsover the course of the grant to better understand the needs and goals of the projects. This included working with the projects on business plans and conservaton plans How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Each Native Buffalo Project is supported by their local families and communities. The results of the Buffalo Meat Feasibility have been distributed. We also have started a new web page where interested people can see what Tanka Fund is doing and highlight different events and happenings. We are in the process of developing a new website to be more interactive. We are had 5 buffalo blogs out over the course of the grant. We also did a facebook training on buffalo 101 in November. We also submitted 15 newsletters over the course of the grant. We currently have over 3,000 emails that the newsletter goes to. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Tanka Fund is currently working with 19 Native Buffalo Producers on various accpects of buffalo (bison) production and caregiving. Tanka Fund over the course of this grant helped to work on 10 business plans. We also completed a Meat Feasibility Study on Pine Ridge Reservatoin in South Dakota that explored avenues to produce buffalo to be able to grow them on a local market. We worked closely with Makoce Agirculture Development Company to work develop local food hubs. We worked with 10 of these projects on sustainable business and conservation plans. We developed a cohort of Native buffalo producers that are part of our planning process. We helped 12 projects of the course of the grant with funding near $300,000 from variouse donations and foundation. We continue to develop marketing options with Tanka Resilient Agriculture Company and explore ways in which we can support Native American Natural Foods, developer of the traditional meat and fruit bar - Tanka Bar. We looked a different avenues of sustainablity models through organic, grassfed and GAP certifications. We are currently a sub awardee of a USDA Commodity Smar Grant with South Dakota State Univeristy. We are partnering with the Unversity and National Bison Assocation. Tanka Funds role will be recruit Native Beef and Bison producers to work on commodity smart animal production which will include rangemanagment, Sylva culture and native grass plantings. We continue to look at local meat needs on the reservatoins, which will include mobile harvesting facilities, field harvesting by families and work with Makoce Agriculture Company on local food needs. We are also working with One Spirit who also has a food distribution center and a processing facility that they are upgrading to be state and possibly USDA inspected. We also have vistied with a the Cheyenne River Processing facility in South Dakota about a partnership that would include giving premium prices for Native Raised Buffalo.
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiience are Native Ranchers that are interested in buffalo/bison production. We have identified 12 different buffalo projects that we will be working with that either have buffalo or are working to get buffalo. We are also working with communinty members and schools on two different Native Reservations on getting buffalo meat in the school system Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have worked with 5 producers on conservation plans and business plans for their buffalo projects. We will continue to assist on planning and assist wtih marketing needs. Tanka Fund Sent 4 producers to the National Bison Association Winter conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Tanka Fund will have at least 4 Native producers with businees plans that will show how they can market their meat locally. We will have a buffalo meat feasibility study in progress. Continue to work with Makoce Agriculture on upgrade of the local meat packing facility and providing buffalo meat to food hubs We will continue to outreach to other Native producers about raising buffalo and provide Techncial Asistance. .
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We have identified over 12 Native buffalo producers. We are working with at least 4 of those on a local food system. We are also working on a project of Tanka Fund that will be called TRAC (Tanka Resilient Agriculture Company) This will help local buffalo producers and cattle producers interested in organic/grassfed meat to provide local and regional markets for valued added meat. We have been working with Makoce Agriculture Development on a buffalo feasiltity study that will outline what the needs are for buffalo meat; what the issues are to get buffalo meat to the local food distribution centers; and what price that the meat needs to be sold at to have a profit. We are working with several companies that are looking at added value meats. We have explored several different optionswith GAP, organic, humanely raised, etc for added value to buffalo meat. We are working with one local cut and pack processing facilitiy that is run locally to help them upgrade to a state inspected facility. We have hired a thrid party evaluator for this project. We are working closely with Native American Natural Foods (Tanka Bar) on outreach and delivery for fund raising for Native buffalo projects.
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