1. Funding provided by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
Outreach Education and Technical Assistance for Beginning, Small, Socially Disadvantaged, and Veteran Farmers
Dr. Saima Bashir, Project Director
Dr. Erick Kitenge, Co-Project Director
Dr. Fidelis Ikem, Co-Project Director
Mrs. JoAnn Danik, Project Administrator
College of Business
Mr. Paul Salchak
Veteran Owned Business (VOB), Ohio

2. OBJECTIVES
Engage and build relationships between current and prospective farmers;
Introduce, inform, and partnership with USDA agencies;
Reach out to beginning, small, socially disadvantage, and veteran farmers to increase participation in USDA programs;
Develop pathways to leverage university research and science and the business of sustainable agriculture practices;
Expand adult-learners to socially disadvantaged, limited resources, underrepresented, and under-served farmers, and non-traditional student involvement through cross generational and cross-discipline opportunities.

3. FOCUS AREAS We will Focus on: Beginning farmer and entrepreneurship
Farm management
Business development for small farms (urban and rural)
Agriculture in stabilization and Vocational Rehabilitation
Precision agriculture technology
Operating and technology innovations to enhance profitability and new markets for small/medium farms
Packaging, and distribution
Food hubs and co-operatives development
Healthy food initiatives; and 10) the partnerships that connect people to these emerging opportunities.

4. NETWORK AND USDA’s SUPPORT

5. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
NRCS​ and its partners provide services to land users to address concerns and problems related to the use of natural resources :
Maintenance and improvement of private lands and their management
Implementation of land management technologies
Protection and improvement of water quality and quantity
Maintenance and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat
Enhancement of recreational opportunities
Maintenance and improvement of the aesthetic character of private land
Exploration of opportunities to diversify agricultural operations and
Development and application of sustainable agricultural systems

6. NETWORK AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Because of high fluctuations in farmers’ income, typical financial institutions are reluctant to lend money to farmers.
Market failure
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) serves America’s farmers, ranchers and anyone interested in agriculture through a network of over 2,000 offices in nearly every rural county in the United States, providing localized services.

7. TYPES OF LOANS

8. CATEGORAZITION OF LOANS
Financial Loans from the USDA can be categorized in many ways:
By source of funding: Guaranteed Loans and Direct Loans
By the loan amount: Microloans (=< $50,000) and other loans (Macro loans, > $50,000)
By the use of loans: Farm Ownership (FO) loans, Operating Loans (OL).
Within these FO and OL loans, there are many types of loans such as, but not limited to, unique program services.

9. LIST OF AVAIABLE LOANS Farm Ownership loans (FO) Operating Loans (OL)
Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL)
Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs)
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

10. FARM SERVICE AGENCY UNIQUE PROGRAM SERVICES
Who are the farmers with unique needs?
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Small Farmers/Non-Traditional Farmers
Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers
Farmers with Emergency Needs
Youth Loan

11. Thank you Questions/Comments