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

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.

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.

NETWORK AND USDA’s SUPPORT

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

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.

TYPES OF LOANS

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.

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)

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

Thank you Questions/Comments