**United States**

**Department of**

**Agriculture**

Office of Congressional

Relations

Office of External and

Intergovernmental Relations

Program Aid

Number 1924

February 2007

> **American Indians and Alaska Natives: A Guide to USDA Programs**

**United States**

**Department of**

**Agriculture**

Office of Congressional

Relations

Office of External and

Intergovernmental Relations

February 2007

> **American Indians and Alaska Natives: A Guide to USDA Programs**

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status,
familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic
information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an
individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not
all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities
who require alternative means for communication of program information
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of Discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office
of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA
is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

**Contents**

**Preface 5**

**Introduction 7**

**1 Office of Congressional Relations 9**

Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs Programs 9

Office of Native American Programs 9

**2 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 11**

Office of Civil Rights 11

Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center 12

Office of Outreach 12

**3 Departmental Administration 14**

Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 14

Federal Small Business Programs 15

**4 Natural Resources and Environment 17**

Natural Resources Conservation Service 17

Forest Service 26

**5 Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services 34**

Farm Service Agency 34

Risk Management Agency 45

Foreign Agricultural Service 46

**6 Rural Development 50**

Utilities Programs 51

Housing and Community Facilities Program 53

Business and Cooperative Programs 58

Community Development Programs 61

**7 Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services 65**

Food and Nutrition Service 66

Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion 71

**8 Food Safety 74**

Food Safety and Inspection Service 74

**9 Research, Education, and Economics 82**

Agricultural Research Service 82

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 83

Economic Research Service 92

National Agricultural Library 93

National Agricultural Statistics Service 94

**10 Marketing and Regulatory Programs 96**

Agricultural Marketing Service 97

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 97

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 102

**Bibliography 104**

**Appendixes 112**

**Appendix 1:** President Bush's Executive

Memorandum on Government-to-Government

Relations With Native American Tribal Governments 113

**Appendix 2:** USDA Departmental Regulation 1340-006:

Policies on American Indians and Alaska Natives 114

**Preface**

*American Indians and Alaska Natives: A Guide to USDA Programs* is a
reference for American Indian and Alaska Native tribal leaders and
members, planners, community leaders, producers, and others who work
with American Indians and Alaska Natives on any of the numerous USDA
programs available to the Native American community. The *Guide* is
intended as a resource for decisionmakers seeking to identify USDA
programs that will best serve an individual or community's needs as well
as for facilitating improved access to USDA programs and services.

President George W. Bush's administration continues to work with tribal
governments, providing American Indians and Alaska Natives with new
economic and educational opportunities. Indian education programs remain
a priority, so that no American child---and no Native American
child---is left behind.

The Bush Administration has worked hard to see that Native Americans
have access to economic and educational opportunities, investing more
than \$177 million in distance learning and telemedicine programs so
that 3,635 rural education facilities could expand their access to
modern telecommunications technology and 1,650 health care institutions
could develop technologies needed to enhance local medical care.

The Administration has also taken the following steps to enhance
partnerships with Indian tribes:

-   President Bush signed an Executive Memorandum on July 3, 2002, for
    Tribal colleges and universities, ensuring that his administration
    will continue to maintain a close relationship with Indian tribes.

-   The President established the Klamath River Basin Federal Working
    Group on March 1, 2002, to address concerns among the tribes as well
    as farmers and fishermen about the drought in the basin.

-   President Bush signed an Executive Memorandum on September 23, 2004,
    reiterating his Administration's adherence to a
    government-to-government relationship and support for tribal
    sovereignty and self-determination.

In President Bush's 2005 proclamation of National American Indian
Heritage Month, he announced a move to enhance energy opportunities and
a desire to strengthen tribal economies. The President also stated that
his administration is working to ease the barriers associated with
tribal energy development. The President signed the Energy Policy Act of
2005, which allocated \$2 billion in the form of grants, loans, and loan
guarantees for exploration, development, and production of energy to
ensure that the latest technologies are being used throughout the United
States.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is finalizing
\$3 million in funds for States and Tribes to conduct field trials in
animal identification. APHIS has already awarded \$27 million in funds
to States and Tribes to advance the National Animal Identification
Initiative.

In his 2001 proclamation for National American Indian Heritage Month,
President Bush stated,

Since our Nation's birth, pluralism and diversity have been hallmarks of
the

American experience and success. In 1782, the Founding Fathers chose as
our

national motto "E Pluribus Unum," which means "out of many, one." Today,

America's unity, derived from a mix of many diverse cultures and people,

grandly embodies the vision expressed by our Founders. American Indian

and Alaska Native cultures have made remarkable contributions to our

national identity. Their unique spiritual, artistic, and literary
contributions,

together with their vibrant customs and celebrations, enliven and enrich
our land.

President Bush believes that education is the key to a successful
nation, and that is why he has provided Indian nations with funds for
school construction and signed an Executive Order to help Indian
children and college students reach their highest potential through
education.

On September 21, 2004, the Nation celebrated the opening of the National
Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
On September 23, 2004, in honor of the opening of the Museum, President
Bush welcomed a number of tribal leaders, congressional representatives,
Government officials, and others to the White House, stating:

> The National Museum of Indian Affairs affirms that this young country
> is home to an ancient, noble and enduring native culture. And all
> Americans are proud of that culture. Like many Indian dwellings, the
> new museum building faces east, toward the rising sun. And as we
> celebrate this new museum and we look to the future, we can say that
> the sun is rising on Indian country.

USDA is pleased to offer this *Guide* for the use of Native American and
Alaska Native communities throughout the Nation.

**Introduction**

*American Indians and Alaska Natives: A* *Guide to USDA Programs*
describes the vast array of USDA programs and services available to
American Indian and Alaska Native communities. As we look into the
future, it is important to acknowledge the past and to identify
historical highlights of American Indian agriculture and the
contributions that American Indian farmers have made not only to the
United States but also to the world. These highlights provide an
important context for American Indian agriculture today and suggest how
USDA can work in partnership with Indian tribes on a
government-to-government basis to further the development of American
Indian and Alaska Native agriculture.

Indians were the first farmers in North America, and agriculture has
been a mainstay of the American Indian culture and economy for thousands
of years. In fact, the Indians of Central America and Mexico were
engaged in agriculture 7,000 years before Europeans settled in the
present-day United States.

Archaeological evidence indicates that American Indians began farming in
what later became the continental United States by 5000 B.C., using
indigenous agricultural practices as well as practices learned from
Mexican and Central American cultures. By A.D. 1000, American Indian
farmers had developed a productive and complex agricultural system based
on corn, beans, and squash, commonly referred to as the "three sisters."
These American Indian farmers were primarily women; the men hunted and
fished.

There has been variety in American Indian agriculture and economies.
Before contact with European civilization, American Indians in the
Northern United States cultivated the river valleys and flood plains
with bones, wooden hoes, and digging sticks. American Indian women
raised traditional crops consisting of beans, squash, and many varieties
of corn---the most important crop. Furthermore, in the upper Great
Lakes, the Ojibwa (Chippewa) and the Assiniboine sowed, harvested,
dried, threshed, and stored wild rice. Over time, American Indian
farmers in the Southern United States cultivated squash and bottle
gourds and traded them in market centers.

American Indians used highly developed agricultural methods and
practices. The Southwest Indian farmers developed a new type of corn,
which provided the foundation for southwestern Indian civilization;
cultivated several varieties of squash and beans; grew cotton; developed
water-conservation practices; and used several methods of irrigation.
From A.D. 800 to 1400, the Hohokam Indians in the Southwest, called the
"canal builders," constructed major systems of irrigation canals that
were 150 miles long or more. Although the Plains Indians relied mainly
on hunting and gathering, by A.D. 1000 the Indians of the central Plains
practiced well-developed agriculture---with corn, beans, squash,
sunflowers, and tobacco being the important crops.

R. Douglas Hurt, writing on "The Native American Experience" in
*American Agriculture: A Brief History,* states:

> In retrospect, the history of Indian agriculture is the story of
> supreme achievement. Nearly three millennia before the arrival of
> white settlers, Native American farmers learned to cultivate plants of
> local and Mesoamerican origins. They discovered how to select the
> seeds that would yield maximum harvests in local soil and climatic
> conditions. By so doing, they made great strides toward farming in
> harmony with nature.

When Hernando DeSoto's expedition landed on the coast of Florida in
1539, his food supply was nearly depleted. American Indian agriculture
was so bountiful that the Spaniards appropriated a 3-month supply of
corn from the fields, enabling the expedition to continue. Later, the
American Indian farmers showed European settlers which plants to
cultivate, particularly corn, beans, pumpkins, and tobacco, and how to
make maple sugar and prepare hominy.

American Indian agriculture has had a significant effect on agriculture
and the economy worldwide. Jack Weatherford, in his book *Indian Givers:
How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World,* pointed out that
Indians cultivated more than 300 food crops and contributed to the world
three-fifths of the crops now in cultivation. The Indian farmers of
North and South America gave the world corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes,
tomatoes, beans, pumpkins, squash, chocolate, vanilla, papayas,
persimmons, jicama, pecans, chilies, hickory nuts, peanuts, cassava,
sunflower seeds, maple syrup, tapioca, and avocados.

American Indian agricultural crops have spread from American farmers to
farmers in other parts of the world. Today, farmers grow corn over a
larger area of the world than any other cultivated food. The white
potato spread from Bolivia and Peru to Ireland and across Europe to
Russia, providing more calories and nutrition per acre than any grain.
Corn and cassava contributed to the increase in Africa's population in
the nineteenth century and throughout the twentieth century. Sweet
potatoes and corn were cultivated in areas in Asia where rice did not
grow. Farmers grew corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, and chilies
in new areas of China. Today, many countries are economically dependent
on these American Indian crops.

Clearly, American Indians' historic agricultural achievements have made
important contributions to the United States and the world. These
accomplishments provide an instructive perspective on USDA's
government-to-government relations with Indian tribes.

USDA programs and services available to members of American Indian and
Alaska Native tribes are described in the following pages. USDA
administers these programs through seven mission areas: Natural
Resources and Environment; Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Rural
Development; Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services; Food Safety;
Research, Education, and Economics; and Marketing and Regulatory
Programs. USDA staff offices supporting USDA in implementing programs in
all of these areas include the Office of Congressional Relations' Office
of External and Intergovernmental Relations, the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, and Departmental Administration, as well as
other offices**.**

**1. Office of Congressional Relations**

The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Congressional Relations
serves as the Department's liaison with members of Congress and their
staffs. This office also works closely with the members and staffs of
various House and Senate Committees---including the House Agriculture
Committee and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry---to communicate USDA's legislative agenda and budget
proposals.

The Office of Congressional Relations includes the Office of External
and Intergovernmental Relations and, within it, the Office of Native
American Programs. Each of these offices and its activities is described
briefly below.

**Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs**

The Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs (OEIA) is USDA's
liaison with State, local, and tribal governments and with national
organizations representing these constituents. OEIA responds to
inquiries and requests from officials of these groups either directly or
through the appropriate government agencies. OEIA also facilitates
meetings between such groups and USDA officials and serves as a
clearinghouse for information related to USDA's operations and services.

**Office of Native American Programs**

USDA's interaction with Indian tribes is governed by the President's
Executive Memorandum on Government-to-Government Relations with Native
American Tribal Governments (Appendix 1) and by USDA's Departmental
Regulation 1340-006, "Policies on American Indians and Alaska Natives"
(Appendix 2). USDA's "Policies on American Indians and Alaska Natives"
states that the Office of Native American Programs has primary
responsibility for coordinating USDA programs serving American Indians
and Alaska Natives.

The position of Director of Native American Programs is located under
the Office of the Secretary in the Office of External and
Intergovernmental Affairs. The Director of Native American Programs, who
serves as USDA's primary contact with tribal governments and their
members, is responsible for:

-   Serving as the principal adviser and representative on all matters
    related to USDA policies and programs that affect and are available
    to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

-   Meeting with tribal representatives regarding policy, program
    delivery, and services to Indian tribes; facilitating opportunities
    for tribal representatives to meet with the Secretary of Agriculture
    and other USDA officials; and providing appropriate staff
    assistance.

-   Working with the Office of Congressional Relations and the Office of
    External and Intergovernmental Affairs, with the USDA mission areas,
    and with USDA's Office of Communications to develop materials and
    communicate information about USDA programs and services directly to
    all federally recognized Indian tribes, intertribal organizations,
    and the American Indian and Alaska Native news media.

-   Chairing USDA's Native American Working Group, which reports to the
    Secretary. The Native American Working Group provides advice,
    support, and other assistance to the Director to help coordinate and
    guide USDA policies and programs that affect Indian tribes.

-   Participating in meetings, conferences, and events conducted by
    Indian tribes, national and regional intertribal organizations,
    USDA, and other Federal Government departments.

-   Participating in subgroups of the Working Group on American Indians
    and Alaska Natives, which President Bush established as part of the
    White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. The purpose of the
    working group is to share and coordinate information on Indian
    tribes and programs, to provide a forum for resolution of issues
    among Federal agencies, to ensure the implementation of Presidential
    directives on American Indian policy, and to promote initiatives to
    better serve Indian tribes and their members.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** Director of Native American Programs, Office of
External and Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of Congressional
Relations, USDA, Room 544-A, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20250 (telephone: 202-690-1615; fax: 202-720-7170; e-mail:
<Patrick.Atagi@usda.gov>).

**Administering Agency:** Office of External and Intergovernmental
Affairs, USDA, Room 219-A, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone: 202-720-6643).

**2. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights**

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR), an office
authorized by Section 10704 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002 ("Farm Bill"), is the key advisor to the Secretary on
matters concerning civil rights and equal employment opportunity as it
relates to employment and delivery of the Department of Agriculture
(USDA) programs and services.

The ASCR is responsible for ensuring that all agencies and programs of
the Department are in compliance with all civil rights and related laws;
for coordinating the administration of civil rights laws and regulations
for employees and participants of USDA programs; and for ensuring that
necessary and appropriate civil rights components are properly
incorporated into all strategic planning initiatives within the
Department.

In addition, the ASCR works to ensure that all aspects of the
President's Management Agenda Initiatives---*Strategic Management of
Human Capital, Competitive Sourcing, Improved Financial Performance,
Expanded Electronic Government,* and *Budget and Performance
Integration---*are implemented within the organization.

ASCR is composed of the Office of Civil Rights; the Conflict Prevention
and Resolution Center; and the Office of Outreach. Each of these offices
and its activities is described briefly below.

**Office of Civil Rights**

The Office of Civil Rights provides coordination and leadership for the
Department in the civil rights arena, implements and interprets civil
rights policies established in conjunction with the ASCR, provides
technical assistance and training to USDA agencies, oversees compliance
with civil rights laws and regulations, and investigates, adjudicates,
and resolves administrative complaints of discrimination brought by USDA
employees and customers.

It is the policy of USDA that all employees and customers shall be free
from reprisal or discrimination based on race, color, national origin,
sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital or familial
status, political beliefs, parental status, receipt of public
assistance, or protected genetic information (not all bases apply to all
programs). No person is to be subjected to prohibited discrimination in
employment or in programs conducted by USDA or programs that receive
Federal financial assistance from USDA.

**Special Emphasis Programs**

The Special Emphasis Program Managers are located in the Office of Civil
Rights. They coordinate special emphasis observance events, oversee
affirmative employment activities, and assist with special projects such
as compliance reviews and annual reports. The Special Emphasis Program
Managers also have primary responsibility for completing the activities
set forth in the *Equal Employment Opportunity Commission* *Management
Directive 715* for achieving a Model EEO Program.

**Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center**

The Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center (CPRC) helps USDA
customers and employees to better handle conflict. The ultimate purpose
of the CPRC is to resolve workplace and programmatic disputes.

To reach this goal, the CPRC focuses on developing employee skills for
managing conflict effectively and on using alternative dispute
resolution (ADR) methods to resolve disputes. The CPRC works to increase
the use of ADR in USDA by promoting awareness of its benefits, with
emphasis on fairness, use of a neutral third party in the dispute
resolution process, and confidentiality. Additional information is
available on the ASCR Web site
([http://www.ascr.usda.gov](http://www.ascr.usda.gov/); use "CPRC" as a
search term.)

**Office of Outreach**

The Office of Outreach provides national leadership and coordination for
programs and services across USDA to ensure equal and timely access to
USDA programs for all constituents, with emphasis on the underserved.
The office works proactively with community and faith-based
organizations, minority-serving colleges and universities, and other
governmental agencies to promote partnerships and strategic solutions to
outreach challenges**.** USDA outreach programs include the 1890 and
1994 programs, which are described below.

*USDA/1890 Program*

The USDA/1890 Program aims to:

-   Attract minority students into careers in agriculture and related
    fields, including food sciences and agricultural sciences.

-   Share expertise and resources in areas such as agricultural
    research, extension and teaching programs, technology development,
    limited-resource farmer and minority farmer programs, and rural
    development programs.

-   Increase the involvement of the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions and
    Tuskegee University in the delivery of USDA programs.

For additional information about the USDA/1890 Program, contact:
USDA/1890 Program, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9478,
Washington, DC 20250 (telephone: 202-205-5692; e-mail:
<1890init@usda.gov>).

*USDA/1994 Program*

The USDA/1994 Program aims to:

-   Attract American Indian students into careers in agriculture and
    related fields, including food and agricultural sciences.

-   Share expertise and resources in areas such as agricultural
    research, extension and teaching programs, technology development,
    limited-resource farmer and minority farmer programs, and rural
    development programs.

-   Increase the involvement of the 1994 Land-Grant Institutions in the
    delivery of USDA programs.

For additional information about the USDA/1994 Land-Grant Institutions
(Tribal Colleges) Program, contact: USDA/1994 Program Office, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9477, Washington, DC 20250
(telephone: 202-720-4679; fax: 202-205-3831).

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Margo McKay,
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Room 240W, Whitten
Building, USDA, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20250 (telephone: 202-720-3808; fax: 202-690-1782; e-mail:
<Margo.McKay@usda.gov>). Additional key contacts include Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Annabelle Romero (202-720-3808;
<Annabelle.Romero@usda.gov>); Associate Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights Clyde Thompson (202-720-3808; <Clyde.Thompson@usda.gov>); Office
of Civil Rights Director Sadhna True (202-720-5212;
<Sadhna.True@usda.gov>); American Indian/Alaska Native Program Manager
Richard Regan (202-720-1670; <Richard.Regan@usda.gov>); USDA/1994
Program Director Yolanda Garcia (202-720-7265;
<Yolanda.Garcia@usda.gov>); Office of Outreach Director Gladys Gary
Vaughn (202-205-6350; <Gladys.Vaughn@usda.gov>); and Conflict Prevention
and Resolution Center Director Dale Gentry (202-720-4040;
<Dale.Gentry@usda.gov>).

**Administering Agency:** Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, Room 240-W, Whitten Building, USDA, 14th Street and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone: 202-720-3808; fax:
202-690-1782; Web site:
[http://www.ascr.usda.gov](http://www.ascr.usda.gov/)).

**3. Departmental Administration**

Departmental Administration is USDA's central administrative management
organization. It provides support to policy officials of the Department
as well as overall direction and coordination for USDA administrative
programs and services. In addition, Departmental Administration manages
the USDA Headquarters Complex and provides direct customer service to
Washington, D.C.-area USDA employees.

**Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization**

The USDA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU),
located within Departmental Administration, was established on June 26,
1979, and tasked with responsibility for fostering the use of small and
small disadvantaged (OSDBU) businesses as Federal contractors. OSDBU
provides Departmentwide leadership in the implementation and execution
of programs under Sections 8 and 15 of the Small Business Act, as
amended. OSDBU's goal is to provide as much information, guidance, and
technical assistance as possible to assist the small business community
in increasing its competitiveness through increased participation in
USDA's procurement and program activities.

OSDBU Customer and Outreach Services include the following:

-   Guides and advises small business representatives on strategies for
    marketing to USDA agencies.

-   Coordinates and monitors the small business program for the
    Department.

-   Identifies and eliminates contracting barriers that prevent or
    severely restrict small businesses' access to USDA procurements.

-   Updates small businesses on contracting regulations.

-   Educates small businesses on how to obtain certifications.

-   Promotes the use of small business, section 8(a), HUBZone, and
    service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-asides.

-   Mediates disputes between contractors and the contracting activity
    to resolve misunderstandings.

-   Publishes, updates, and disseminates brochures, fact sheets, and
    forecasts for USDA's contracting programs.

-   Holds Monthly Vendor Outreach Sessions. These sessions give small
    businesses the opportunity to meet on a regularly scheduled basis
    with USDA contracting officials. At these sessions, USDA is
    introduced to new businesses that procurement offices may use to
    increase their small business resource base. Additionally, small
    businesses are provided marketing strategies and information on how
    to market their capabilities to USDA in one central location.

-   Hosts First Tuesday Trade Association Meetings. These meetings are
    designed to provide various trade associations an opportunity to
    voice their concerns, opinions, and ideas concerning current small
    business issues and to take their findings back to the small
    businesses they represent.

**Federal Small Business Programs**

Federal Small Business Set-aside Programs permit competition on certain
solicitations among small businesses only. These programs are described
briefly below.

*Section 8(a) Program*

The Section 8(a) Program (started in 1968 under the authority of Section
8(a) of the Small Business Act, as amended) is administered by the Small
Business Administration (SBA). The 8(a) program allows USDA to enter
into contracts for supplies and services with SBA, which then
subcontracts these requirements to approved socially and economically
disadvantaged firms.

*Small Disadvantaged Business Program*

The Small Disadvantaged Business Program allows the Department to take a
proactive role in ensuring that contracts are competitively awarded to
disadvantaged businesses. Prime contractors can receive evaluation
credit for using SBA-certified small disadvantaged business
subcontractors.

*Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses*

Congress has enacted two laws and the President has issued an Executive
Order to assist small businesses owned and controlled by
service-disabled veterans. The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small
Business Development Act of 1999 (P.L. 106--50) set a 3-percent
Federal-wide procurement goal for contracts and subcontracts for
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs).

The Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (P.L. 108--183) enables SDVOSBs to
receive sole-source and restricted-competition contracts for goods and
services used by the U.S. Government. Executive Order 13360
(Service-Disabled Veterans Executive Order) provides increased Federal
contracting and subcontracting opportunities for service-disabled
veteran businesses.

*Women-Owned Business Program*

The Women-Owned Business Program requires best-faith effort to increase
procurements from women-owned firms by apprising them of opportunities
to bid on solicitations. A Federal 5- percent contracting goal is
mandated for small women-owned businesses.

*Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program*

The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program is the
SBA program for qualified small businesses located in historically
underutilized business zones. The program is designed to increase
employment opportunities, stimulate capital investment in those areas,
and empower communities by creating and sustaining successful small
business enterprises. To participate in the HUBZone Program, a business
must be a "qualified HUBZone small business concern."

A firm can qualify as a HUBZone concern if: (1) it is small, (2) it is
located in a "historically underutilized business zone" (HUBZone), (3)
it is owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizens; and (4) at
least 35 percent of its employees reside in a HUBZone.

*The Subcontracting Program*

The Subcontracting Program requires prime contractors (except small
businesses) with contracts over \$500,000 (\$1 million for construction)
to establish subcontracting plans that provide the maximum utilization
of small business concerns.

*The Small Business Competitiveness Program*

This program studies the ability of small businesses to compete
successfully in four designated industry groups: Construction, Refuse
Systems and Related Services, Architectural and Engineering Services
(including surveying and mapping), and Ship Building and Repair. The
purpose is to increase procurements in 10 industry categories lacking
small business participation. USDA's targeted industry categories are
Maintenance and Repair/Automated Data Processing (ADP) Equipment,
Installation of ADP Equipment, Technology Studies, Other Photo/Mapping/
Printing Services, Vocational/Technical Training, Leasing Special
Industrial Machinery, Chemical Products, ADP Central Processing Units,
Bags and Sacks, and Outerwear (Men's).

**Additional Information**

**Whom to Contact:** Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization, Departmental Administration, USDA, Room 1085, South
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone:
202-720-7117; toll-free line: 1-877-99OSDBU; fax: 202-720-3001; Web
site:
[http://www.usda.gov/da/smallbus](http://www.usda.gov/da/smallbus/)).

**Administering Agency:** Departmental Administration, USDA, Room 209-A,
Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250
(telephone: 202-720-3291; fax: 202-720-2191; <http://www.usda.gov/da>).

**4. Natural Resources and Environment**

For many reasons, Native American and Alaska Native tribes realize that
living in harmony with nature is no simple task, but they continue to be
prime keepers of the environment, watching over their lands' natural
resources for future generations. Native American communities currently
hold 4 percent of U.S. land and constitute the second-largest holding
interest after the Federal Government.

Natural resources on tribal lands are culturally and historically
sensitive areas for tribal communities. USDA's Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) and Forest Service recognize these concerns
and identify with the conservation issues and policies involved.

Over the past two decades, NRCS has implemented an extensive joint
outreach effort with the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC), the
Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA), and other partners to
increase awareness of USDA services available to American Indian and
Alaska Native communities. The IAC and INCA are nonprofit corporations
and/or organizations of member Indian tribes devoted to improving
conservation and agriculture as a source of economic development for
American Indian communities.

NRCS has designated full-time American Indian Liaisons in regions
significantly populated by Native Americans to work more closely with
the IAC, INCA, tribal leaders, and tribal members. The agency continues
to work with tribal governments and their leaders to establish new
Tribal Conservation Districts under tribal law. Currently, there are 26
Tribal Districts, and several more are under development.

NRCS and the Forest Service will continue to manage Federal programs
that attempt to meet tribal demands for improved environmental quality.
These include environmental and conservation amenities---such as the
conservation of crop, pasture, and rangelands; rural landscape services;
wildlife habitat; wetlands; and improved water and air quality---along
with food, fiber, and timber production.

NRCS and the Forest Service also have a strong commitment that extends
well beyond the traditional farm and ranch homestead. These agencies
seek to engage in ongoing Government-to-Government consultation with
Indian Nations to accommodate traditional, historical, and cultural
values and to deliver technical assistance and programs effectively to
American Indians and Alaska Natives.

**Natural Resources Conservation Service**

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a Federal agency, was
created in 1935 within USDA as the Soil Conservation Service. In 1994,
the agency's name was changed to the Natural Resources Conservation
Service to better reflect the current role of the agency.

NRCS works through local conservation districts to address natural
resource problems by providing financial and technical assistance to
individuals, groups, organizations, cities, towns, States, and tribal
governments. NRCS also works with Native Americans and Alaska Natives to
conserve the natural resources on their lands.

The agency helps land users and tribal communities approach conservation
planning and implementation with an understanding of how natural
resources relate to one another and how those activities affect us all.
NRCS is dedicated to helping people and cultures utilize partnerships
and technology to ensure the future of a healthy environment.

The 2002 Farm Bill promotes conservation of natural resources on
agricultural land and land under the jurisdiction of a federally
recognized Indian tribe. It provides for voluntary participation, offers
incentives, and focuses on equity in accessing all USDA programs and
services. NRCS recognizes that federally recognized American Indian and
Alaska Native tribes have a special relationship with the U.S.
Government.

**NRCS Programs**

The scope of environmental concerns has expanded over the last few years
to include a wider range of NRCS conservation policy instruments and
cultural values, which are now used to address conservation issues.
American Indians and Alaska Natives are eligible to participate in all
of these NRCS programs and may have unique status as provided by statute
or regulation.

The Secretary of Agriculture may also provide special incentives for
federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and
beginning or limited-resource farmers and ranchers to encourage
participation in conservation programs, special projects, or innovative
activities. Enhanced NRCS programs include streamlined delivery of
technical and financial assistance; improved programs and services; and
flexibility in decisionmaking, with most decisions made locally at the
tribal, State, or local levels.

NRCS assistance is provided in a range of areas, including conservation
planning on cropland, pastureland, and rangeland; application of
rangeland management and improvement practices; irrigation water
development structures and management; brush control; erosion control
structures; agriculture; forestry; salinity control; land treatment for
watershed program activities; no-till conservation tillage; soil
interpretation for various land uses; farmland protection; wildlife
habitat improvement; and wetlands restoration.

NRCS also provides technical assistance and works closely with
individual landowners and operators, organizations, and city, county,
State, and tribal governments to ensure that soil and water conservation
practices are carried out according to specifications while community
values are also taken into consideration.

The majority of NRCS' work is conducted through more than 3,000 local
soil and water conservation districts in the United States. NRCS also
provides technical and financial help for watershed protection and flood
prevention, along with the other conservation programs. Natural resource
information is available to tribal land use officials for planning and
maintaining housing, schools, water supply, highways, and recreational
facilities.

NRCS's National Tribal Relations Coordinator works with Indian tribes,
the Intertribal Agricultural Council, the Indian Nation Conservation
Alliance, and other American Indian groups and organizations to increase
participation in NRCS programs.

In addition, most States with federally recognized tribal reservations
within their exterior boundaries have a State and/or local American
Indian Outreach Coordinator. These individuals are available to help
tribes become familiar with and access NRCS programs and services. The
Outreach Coordinators are in contact with each tribe in their areas to
provide assistance and to evaluate their agencies' ability to better
serve tribal needs. The Outreach Coordinators can be reached at the
State NRCS offices or in a local office in the State in which your
tribal headquarters is located.

Primary NRCS programs are described below. Additional information on any
of these programs is available on the NRCS Web site
([http://www.nrcs.usda.gov](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/)) or from your
local NRCS office, State NRCS office, Tribal or Local Conservation
District, Conservation District office, or nearest USDA Service Center.
USDA offices are generally listed in the telephone book under the
Federal Government headings (look for "U.S. Department of Agriculture").

*Technical Assistance Program*

Through its field offices and local conservation districts, NRCS has
assisted numerous tribal and individual landowners who need information
to better facilitate the adoption or use of more environmentally sound
conservation practices. NRCS has helped tribal land owners and
agricultural operators plan and apply more than 100 types of
conservation practices to manage, conserve, improve, and develop soil,
water, and related resources. Educational and technical assistance has
provided data on soil quality, water quality, and wildlife habitat and
has facilitated the dissemination of information on ways to use that
data and as well as ways to apply sustainable production techniques and
new technologies.

NRCS has expertise in resource assessment and planning, agronomy, range
management, forestry, agricultural engineering, soils, water management,
wildlife habitat management, recreation, aquaculture, rural development,
resource inventories, and watershed and flood protection. The Service
generally provides technical assistance to American Indian communities
through tribal and other local conservation districts and through tribal
governments and departments that handle natural resource and agriculture
conservation programs in addition to other rural development activities.

*Technical Service Providers*

The 2002 Farm Bill authorizes certified Technical Service Providers
(private individuals, nongovernmental organizations, and Tribal, State,
or local governments) to provide assistance to agricultural producers
and landowners and to receive payments for that service. The intent is
to increase the number of qualified technical experts available to help
tribal and individual landowners conserve natural resources on their
lands.

Several tribes have taken advantage of this certification program to
hire non-NRCS personnel as technical consultants to help satisfy a
portion of their unmet conservation needs. These technical service
conservation agents are often tribal members.

Tribes are also utilizing their natural resource, environmental, and
agriculture departments to contract with NRCS for Technical Service
Providers to help meet the tribe's environmental conservation needs.
Tribes that utilize this program can also ensure that tribal, cultural,
and traditional values will be considered when applying conservation
needs and services.

*Environmental Quality Incentives Program*

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was reauthorized in
the 2002 Farm Bill to provide a voluntary conservation program for
farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and
environmental quality as compatible national goals. This program offers
financial and technical help to assist eligible participants in
installing or implementing structural and management conservation
practices on eligible agricultural land.

EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends 1 year after the
implementation of the last scheduled practices and a maximum term of 10
years. These contracts provide incentive and cost-share payments to
implement conservation practices. Persons who are engaged in livestock
or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in EQIP.

Participating producers follow an EQIP plan of operations that they help
develop and that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or
practices for addressing their resource concerns. Planned practices are
subject to NRCS technical standards that have been adapted to local
conditions. The local conservation district approves the plan.

EQIP may cost-share up to 75 percent of the costs of certain
conservation practices. Incentive payments may be provided for up to 3
years to encourage producers to carry out management practices they may
not otherwise use without the incentive. However, limited-resource
producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible for
cost-shares of up to 90 percent. Farmers and ranchers may elect to use a
certified third-party provider for technical assistance. An individual
or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share or
incentive payments that, in the aggregate, exceed \$450,000 for all EQIP
contracts entered into during the term of the Farm Bill. Tribes and
Alaska Native corporations may exceed the \$450,000 limitation on
condition that they certify that no individual directly or indirectly
exceeds the \$450,000 limit.

In addition, the program offers a Conservation Innovative Grants (CIG)
component that is intended to stimulate the development and adoption of
innovative approaches and technologies. Under CIG, competitive grants
are awarded yearly to non-Federal governmental and nongovernmental
organizations, tribes, and individuals who work with NRCS to address
some of the Nation's most pressing natural resource concerns.

*Conservation Security Program*

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is authorized by the 2002 Farm
Bill. CSP, a voluntary program administered by NRCS, provides financial
and technical assistance to producers who advance the conservation and
improvement of soil, water, air, energy, and plant and animal life and
who promote other conservation purposes on tribal and private working
lands. Such lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved
pasture, and rangeland as well as forested land and other noncropped
areas that are an incidental part of an agricultural operation.

Agricultural producers are important stewards of America's working
lands, and CSP supports this ongoing stewardship by providing financial
and technical assistance for producers to maintain and enhance
resources. The purpose of CSP is to:

-   Identify and reward farmers and ranchers meeting the very highest
    standards of conservation and environmental management, particularly
    in the ongoing production of clean water and clean air.

-   Create powerful incentives for other producers to meet those same
    standards of conservation performance on their operations.

-   Provide public benefits for generations to come.

The program is available to all eligible producers on privately owned or
tribal lands in any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United
States, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.

*Grazing Land Conservation Initiative*

The Grazing Land Conservation Initiative provides technical,
educational, and related assistance to those who own and manage private
grazing land. Healthy and productive grazing land is a substantial
component of the agricultural economy and is the largest of all
agricultural land uses, with more than 575 million acres being grazed in
the United States.

Technical assistance supports and encourages better grazing management,
improved livestock production, protection of the soil from wind and
water erosion, reduction of drought impacts, control of invasive weeds,
and the use of energy-efficient production techniques. It also provides
opportunities for water conservation, wildlife habitat development,
stream bank protection, and water quality improvement. Technical
assistance ensures that the resources remain healthy and productive.

*Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program*

The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) provides matching
funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and
ranchland in agricultural uses. Working through existing programs, USDA
partners with State, Tribal, or local governments and nongovernmental
organizations to acquire conservation easements or other interests in
land from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the fair market
value of the conservation easement.

To qualify, farm and ranch land must be part of a pending offer from a
farm and ranch land protection program of a State, tribal, or local
government or nongovernmental organizational farm land protection
program; be privately owned; have a conservation plan for highly
erodible land; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be
accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate
infrastructure and agricultural support services; and have surrounding
parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production.
Depending on funding availability, proposals must be submitted by the
eligible entities to the appropriate NRCS State Office during the
application period.

*Wetlands Reserve Program*

The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering landowners
the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their
property. NRCS provides technical and financial support to help
landowners with their wetland restoration efforts.

The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values,
along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the
program. This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish
long-term conservation and wildlife practices and protection.

*Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program*

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program
that provides technical and financial assistance to enable eligible
participants to protect, restore, develop, or enhance habitat for upland
wildlife, wetland wildlife, threatened and endangered species, fish, and
other types of wildlife in an environmentally beneficial and
cost-effective manner. The purpose of the program is to develop
high-quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife populations of
local, State, and national significance. WHIP agreements between NRCS
and participants generally last 5 to 10 years.

WHIP has proven to be a highly effective and widely accepted program. By
encouraging wildlife habitat projects on all non-Federal lands and
aquatic areas, WHIP provides assistance to conservation-minded
landowners who are unable to meet the specific eligibility requirements
of other USDA conservation programs.

*Soil Survey Program*

Led by NRCS, the [National Cooperative Soil
Survey](http://soils.usda.gov/partnerships/ncss/) Program (NCSS) is a
partnership of Federal land management agencies, State agricultural
experiment stations, and State and local units of government that
provide soil survey information necessary for understanding, managing,
conserving, and sustaining the Nation's limited soil resources. NRCS
leads the federal part of the NCSS partnership.

Soil surveys provide an orderly, on-the-ground, scientific inventory of
soil resources that includes maps showing the locations and extent of
soils, data about the physical and chemical properties of those soils,
and information derived from that data about potentialities and problems
of use on each kind of soil. The inventory information is provided in
sufficient detail to meet all reasonable needs of farmers, agricultural
technicians, community planners, engineers, and scientists in planning
and transferring the findings of research and experience to specific
land areas. Soil surveys provide the [basic
information](http://soils.usda.gov/) needed to manage soil
sustainability. They also provide information needed to protect water
quality, wetlands, and wildlife habitat.

Soil surveys provide a basis for predicting the behavior of a soil under
alternative uses, its potential erosion hazard, its potential for ground
water contamination, and its suitability and productivity for cultivated
crops, trees, and grasses. Such surveys are important to individuals
such as planners, engineers, zoning commissions, tax commissioners,
homeowners, developers, and agricultural producers. Soil surveys also
provide a basis for predicting the effect of global climate change on
worldwide agricultural production and other land-dependent processes.
The [NRCS Soil Survey Division](http://soils.usda.gov/contact/ssd/),
through its [World Soil Resources
Staff](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/worldsoils/), helps gather and
interpret soil information for global use.

NRCS provides [soil surveys](http://soils.usda.gov/survey/) for the
privately owned non-Federal lands of the Nation and, through its
[National Soil Survey Center](http://soils.usda.gov/contact/nssc/)
(NSSC), provides scientific expertise to enable the NSSC to develop and
maintain a uniform system for mapping and assessing soil resources so
that soil information from different locations can be shared, regardless
of which agency collects it. NRCS provides most of the training in soil
surveys to Federal agencies and assists other Federal agencies with
their soil inventories on a reimbursable basis.

*Resource Conservation and Development Program*

The purpose of the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program
is to accelerate the conservation, development, and utilization of
natural resources; improve the general level of economic activity; and
enhance the environment and standard of living in designated RC&D areas.
The program improves the capability of States, tribes, local units of
government, and local nonprofit organizations in rural areas to plan,
develop, and carry out programs for resource conservation and
development. The program also establishes or improves coordination
systems in rural areas.

Current program objectives focus on improvement of quality of life
through natural resources conservation and community
development---leading to sustainable communities, prudent use
(development), and the management and conservation of natural resources.
RC&D areas are locally sponsored areas designated by the Secretary of
Agriculture for RC&D technical and financial assistance program funds. A
map of RC&D areas can be accessed online
(<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/rcd/photos/m8594.gif>).

*Agricultural Management Assistance*

Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) provides cost-share payments to
agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water
management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating
conservation into their farming operations. Producers may construct or
improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant
trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk
through production diversification or resource conservation practices
such as soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition
to organic farming.

NRCS has leadership for the AMA's conservation provisions. The
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is responsible for an organic
certification cost-share program, and the Risk Management Agency (RMA)
is responsible for mitigation of financial risk through an insurance
cost-share program.

AMA is available in 15 States in which participation in the Federal Crop
Insurance Program is historically low: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

A conservation plan is required for the area covered in the application
and becomes the basis for developing the AMA contract. NRCS works with
the landowner to develop a conservation plan. Landowners must agree to
maintain cost-shared practices for the life of the practice. Contracts
are for 3 to 10 years.

The NRCS State conservationist, in consultation with the State Technical
Committee, determines eligible structural and/or vegetative conservation
practices using a locally led process. The Federal cost share is 75
percent of the cost of an eligible practice. Participants will be paid
upon certification of completion of the approved practice.

*Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program*

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (P.L. 83-566), of
August 4, 1954, as amended, authorizes NRCS to cooperate with States and
local agencies to carry out works of improvement for soil conservation
and for other purposes such as flood prevention; conservation,
development, utilization, and disposal of water; and conservation and
proper utilization of land.

NRCS implements the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act
through three programs:

Watershed Surveys and Planning; Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention Operations; and

Watershed Rehabilitation.

*Plant Materials Centers*

The purpose of this program is to provide native plants that can help
solve natural resource problems. Beneficial uses for which plant
material may be developed include biomass production, carbon
sequestration, erosion reduction, wetland restoration, water quality
improvement, stream bank and riparian area protection, coastal dune
stabilization, and other special conservation treatment needs.

Scientists at the [Plant Materials
Centers](http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/) seek out plants that
show promise for meeting an identified conservation need and test their
performance. After species are proven effective, they are released to
the private sector for commercial production. The work at the 26 centers
is carried out cooperatively with State and Federal agencies, commercial
businesses, and seed and nursery associations.

*Emergency Watershed Protection Program*

The purpose of the Emergency Watershed Protection program is to
undertake emergency measures, including the purchase of flood plain
easements, for runoff retardation and soil erosion prevention to
safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of
erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood, or any other natural
occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of the
watershed.

**Tribal Conservation Districts**

NRCS has assisted in the establishment of 26 Tribal Conservation
Districts (with more under development) that are providing the essential
local leadership to effectively target conservation planning and
conservation program assistance in tribal country. The agency provides
all American Indian and Alaska Native governments with information on
conservation district options and processes for their consideration.

If a Tribal Conservation District is formed, NRCS will work with the
newly formed district and the Indian tribe or Alaska Native corporation
to establish a cooperative working agreement between the Indian tribe,
the Tribal Conservation District, and the NRCS State conservationist.
The cooperative working agreement provides an opportunity to establish
the tribal government's role and to resolve any issues between the tribe
and NRCS as well as to establish levels of service from NRCS.

A Tribal Conservation District provides guidance to NRCS for
prioritizing program assistance. As a locally led initiative, a Tribal
Conservation District may wish to interact with the USDA local advisory
committee that establishes local conservation priorities for USDA
programs.

**Additional Information**

**Whom to Contact:** Most States with federally recognized tribal
reservations within their exterior boundaries have a State and/or local
American Indian Outreach Coordinator. These individuals are available to
help tribes become familiar with and access NRCS programs and services.
The Outreach Coordinators are in contact with tribes in their areas to
provide assistance and to evaluate their agencies' ability to better
serve tribal needs. The Outreach Coordinators can be reached at the
State NRCS offices or in a local office in the State in which your
tribal headquarters is located.

Additional information on any of these programs is also available on the
NRCS Web site ([http://www.nrcs.usda.gov](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/)) or
from your local NRCS office, State NRCS office, Tribal or Local
Conservation District, Conservation District office, or nearest USDA
Service Center. USDA offices are generally listed in the telephone book
under the Federal Government headings (look for "U.S. Department of
Agriculture").

**Administering Agency:** Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone: 202-720-2847;
fax: 202-690-0639; Web site:
[http://www.nrcs.usda.gov](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/)).

**The Forest Service**

USDA's Forest Service is a Federal agency that manages public lands in
national forests and grasslands. In addition, the Forest Service---the
largest forestry research organization in the world---provides technical
and financial assistance to State, tribal, and private forestry
agencies. The Forest Service was established in 1905 to provide quality
water and timber for the Nation's benefit.

The Forest Service motto, "Caring for the Land and Serving People,"
captures the spirit of its mission, which is accomplished through five
main activities:

-   Protection and management of natural resources on National Forest
    System lands.

-   Research on all aspects of forestry, rangeland management, and
    forest resource utilization.

-   Cooperation with State, tribal, and local governments, forest
    industries, and private landowners to help protect and manage
    non-Federal forest and associated range and watershed lands and to
    improve forest and natural resource conditions.

-   International assistance in formulating policy and coordinating U.S.
    support for the protection and sound management of the world's
    forest resources.

-   Achieving and supporting an effective workforce that reflects the
    full range of diversity of the American people.

**Forest Service Programs**

The Forest Service is a leader in the conservation and wise use of the
Nation's forests and rangelands. In addition to assisting with numerous
tribal forest lands, it is also the steward of 155 national forests
comprising 193 million acres in 44 States. The agency consults and works
directly with sovereign Indian Nations throughout the United States.

The Forest Service works with tribal governments, tribal communities,
and Indian farmers and ranchers operating on tribal trust lands
primarily through its State and Private Cooperative Forestry Programs,
including the Forest Stewardship Program and its small diameter
utilization and wood-to-energy initiatives.

In 2004, the Forest Service created an Office of Tribal Relations. This
office was established to facilitate consistency and effectiveness in
Forest Service program delivery and to institutionalize long-term
collaborative relationships with tribal governments through policy and
direction.

The Office of Tribal Relations' purpose is to:

-   Implement new and existing policy and direction regarding tribes.

-   Ensure that Forest Service programs affecting tribes are based on
    respectful, supportive government-to-government relationships that
    strengthen external and internal coordination and communication
    about tribal concerns.

-   Prepare policy and direction outlining the legal requirements of
    government-to-government relationships and to clarify the agency's
    trust responsibilities and authorities when working with tribes.

-   Emphasize education and train agency employees to work effectively
    with tribal governments.

-   Facilitate and improve implementation of the Forest Service's
    American Indian and Alaska Native policies (e.g., by updating the
    *Forest Service National Resource Book on American Indian and Alaska
    Native Relations).*

-   Manage national forest system lands and resources with adjacent
    Indian tribes. The Forest Service honors American Indian water
    rights and reserved rights to hunt, fish, gather, and graze on
    present-day national forests through consultation and agreements
    with the affected Indian tribes. The agency is engaged in
    consultation with Indian tribes to accommodate traditional cultural
    sites on public lands and to facilitate research, technology
    transfer, and other assistance in this regard.

In addition to assisting State forestry organizations and private
landowners, the Forest Service assists American Indian communities in
applying worthy forest practices. The Forest Service also provides
technical assistance and performs research to find better ways to manage
and use the Nation's resources. The agency prides itself on its work
with indigenous communities in other parts of the world through its
Office of International Programs.

An important USDA Forest Service resource is the *Forest Service
National Resource Book on American Indians and Alaska Native Relations.*
This national resource book was developed to improve the implementation
of specific policies regarding American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Copies of the book may be requested from the Forest Service's Office of
Tribal Relations, and an updated edition will soon be accessible online
on the Forest Service's Office of Tribal Relations Web site
(<http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/tribalrelations>).

**Tribal Forest Protection Act**

The Tribal Forest Protection Act, Pub. L. 108-278 (2004), authorizes the
Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to enter into agreements and
contracts with tribal governments to carry out projects on Federal lands
to protect adjacent Indian forest land, rangeland, or communities.
Indian tribes submit project proposals to the Forest Service and the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for projects on Forest Service or BLM
land bordering or adjacent to tribal land.

The projects are intended to address fire, disease, and other threats to
Indian forest or rangeland as well as situations in which the FS or BLM
land is in need of restoration. The Secretaries are to respond to tribal
project proposals within 120 days from the date a project proposal is
submitted. The decision on whether to authorize tribes' project
proposals is wholly at the discretion of the Secretaries.

*Primary Forest Service Programs*

For information on these programs, contact your regional Forest Service
office (see table below). The point of contact is your regional tribal
program manager. All Forest Service offices are generally listed in the
telephone book under the Federal Government headings: Look for "U.S.
Department of Agriculture."

USDA Forest Service Regional Offices

+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region**       | **Tel    | # Fax   | **Address**                |
|                  | ephone** |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region 01**    | **406-32 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service      |
|                  | 9-3348** | 406-329 | Northern Region**          |
| **(MT, nID, ND,  |          | -3132** |                            |
| nwSD)**          |          |         | **Federal Building**       |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **200 E. Broadway**        |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **Missoula, MT 59802**     |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
|                  |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region 02**    | **303-27 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service      |
|                  | 5-5760** | 303-275 | Rocky Mountain Region**    |
| **(CO, KS, NE,   |          | -5754** |                            |
| SD, eWY)**       |          |         | **740 Simms Street**       |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **Golden, CO 80401-4720**  |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
|                  |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region 03**    | **505-84 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service      |
|                  | 2-3424** | 505-842 | Southwestern Region**      |
| **(AZ, NM)**     |          | -3165** |                            |
|                  |          |         | **333 Broadway SE**        |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **Albuquerque, NM 87102**  |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
|                  |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region 04**    | **801-62 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service      |
|                  | 5-5820** | 801-625 | Intermountain Region**     |
| **(ID, NV, UT,   |          | -5716** |                            |
| wWY)**           |          |         | **324 25th Street**        |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **Ogden, UT 84401**        |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
|                  |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region 05**    | **707-56 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service      |
|                  | 2-8919** | 707-562 | Pacific Southwest Region** |
| **(CA, HW, US    |          | -9052** |                            |
| affiliated       |          |         | **1323 Club Drive**        |
| Pacific Is)**    |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **Vallejo, CA 94592**      |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
|                  |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region 06**    | **503-80 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service      |
|                  | 8-2603** | 503-808 | Pacific Northwest Region** |
| **(OR, WA)**     |          | -2467** |                            |
|                  |          |         | **333 SW First Street**    |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **P.O. Box 3623**          |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **Portland, OR 97204**     |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
|                  |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region 08**    | **318-47 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service      |
|                  | 3-7177** | 318-473 | Southern Region**          |
| **(AL, AR. FL,   |          | -7180** |                            |
| GA, KY, LA, MS,  |          |         | **Kisatchie National       |
| NC, OK, PR, SC,  |          |         | Forest**                   |
| TN, TX, VI,      |          |         |                            |
| VA)**            |          |         | **2500 Shreveport**        |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **Pineville, LA            |
|                  |          |         | 71360-2009**               |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
|                  |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region 09**    | **414-29 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service      |
|                  | 7-3777** | 414-944 | Eastern Region**           |
| **(CT, DE, IL,   |          | -3966** |                            |
| IN, IA, ME, MD,  |          |         | **626 E. Wisconsin Avenue, |
| MA, MI, MN, MO,  |          |         | Suite 800**                |
| NH, NJ, NY, OH,  |          |         |                            |
| PA, RI, VT, WV,  |          |         | **Milwaukee, WI 53202**    |
| WI)**            |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
|                  |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Region 10**    | **907-58 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service      |
|                  | 6-7089** | 907-586 | Alaska Region**            |
| **(AK)**         |          | -7852** |                            |
|                  |          |         | **709 W. 9^th^ Street**    |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **P.O. Box 21628**         |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **Juneau, AK 99802-1628**  |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
|                  |          |         |                            |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+
| **Washington     | **202-20 | **      | **U.S. Forest Service**    |
| Office**         | 5-1514** | 202-205 |                            |
|                  |          | -1773** | **Office of Tribal         |
|                  |          |         | Relations**                |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **USDA**                   |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **1400 Independence        |
|                  |          |         | Avenue, SW**               |
|                  |          |         |                            |
|                  |          |         | **Washington, DC           |
|                  |          |         | 20250-0003**               |
+------------------+----------+---------+----------------------------+

*Range Management Program*

Three types of grazing permits are issued by the Forest Service.
Temporary Grazing Permits serve for short periods to handle special
circumstances, Livestock Use Permits authorize incidental use but not
commercial livestock production on national forest lands, and Term
Grazing Permits---common throughout the West---apply for up to 10 years.
For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Range Management, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-0003 (telephone: 202-205-0893; fax: 202-205-1096;
Web site: [http://www.fs.fed.us](http://www.fs.fed.us/)).

*Special Land Use Program*

A special use permit or other appropriate authorization allows occupancy
and use of National Forest System lands for specific purposes and under
specific conditions. Participants may use lands for pastures, fences,
roads and trails, buildings, water developments, resorts, and commercial
enterprises.

Persons proposing use on lands within a national forest or national
grassland should contact the local Forest Service office responsible for
the affected lands to identify potential constraints and consider the
proposal in light of land management plans so that the Forest Service
can schedule application processing. Prospective participants apply by
bid, in response to a prospectus, or by letter to the district ranger or
forest supervisor with jurisdiction over the affected land.

The district ranger or forest supervisor may request additional
information before approving or denying an application, but will process
the application in a timely fashion. The approving official conveys no
privileges until he or she has issued a special use permit.

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Lands Management, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-0003 (telephone: 202-205-1248; fax: 202-205-1243;
Web site: [http://www.fs.fed.us](http://www.fs.fed.us/)).

*Timber Sale Program*

Available for sale are national forest timber products such as logs for
lumber and plywood, wood fiber for paper, fuel wood, posts, poles, and
Christmas trees. The local district ranger handles these transactions.

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service Office or
the USDA Forest Service, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-0003 (telephone: 202-205-0893; fax:
202-205-1045; Web site: [http://www.fs.fed.us](http://www.fs.fed.us/)).

*Biomass*

Forest biomass products are nonmerchantable materials or precommercial
thinnings that are by-products of treatments. These products can be
trees, wood, brush, thinnings, chips, or slash removed from the forest
to reduce hazardous fuels or to reduce disease or insect infestation and
restore forest health. Biomass products can be used for electric energy,
useful heat, transportation fuels, and other commercial purposes.

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-0003 (telephone: 970-295-5947; fax:
970-295-5927; Web site: [http://www.fs.fed.us](http://www.fs.fed.us/)).

*Forest Health Protection*

This program provides technical and financial assistance to tribes for
minimizing the spread of established invasive species and lessening the
damage caused by native insects and diseases on tribal lands. The
program protects and improves America's forests by using cutting-edge
technology to rapidly respond to forest health threats.

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0003 (telephone: 703-605-5340; fax:
703-605-5353; Web site: [http://www.fs.fed.us](http://www.fs.fed.us/)).

*Rural Community Fire Protection Program*

Rural areas and communities with populations under 10,000 receive
cost-sharing for organizing, training, and equipping rural firefighting
forces. Unprotected or poorly protected communities receive priority.
Federal excess property is available to rural communities for
firefighting, though it may need modification or upgrading.

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0003 (telephone: 202-205-1054; fax:
202-690-5792; Web site: [http://www.fs.fed.us](http://www.fs.fed.us/)).

*Forestry Incentives Program*

Private non-industrial forest land owners, including Indian tribes,
receive cost-sharing for tree planting and timber stand improvement. To
qualify, a person must own land that is:

-   Of no more than 5,000 acres;

-   Suitable for forestation and timber stand improvement, and

-   Capable of producing industrial wood crops that meet minimum
    productivity standards.

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Mailstop 1103, Washington, DC 20250-1103 (telephone: 202-205-0893;
fax: 202-205-1045; Web site:
[http://www.fs.fed.us](http://www.fs.fed.us/)).

*Forestry Stewardship Program*

The Forest Stewardship Program, implemented through the State forestry
agencies, helps private forest landowners and Indian tribes and
individuals develop plans for managing their forests. The Forest Service
offers direct assistance to tribes to help protect and improve soil,
water, range, aesthetics, recreation, timber, and fish and wildlife
resources.

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Cooperative Forestry, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20078-5500 (telephone: 202-205-1389; fax:
202-205-1271; Web site:
[http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop](http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/)).

*Forestland Enhancement Program*

Providing technical, educational, and cost-share assistance to eligible
private nonindustrial landowners, including Indian tribes, this program
promotes improvement and protection of soil and water, fish and
wildlife, aesthetics, and forest recreation. To qualify, a person must
privately own a tract of land with no more than 1,000 acres of eligible
forest land (or 5,000 acres with a waiver from the State forester).

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Cooperative Forestry, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20078-5500 (telephone: 202-205-1389; fax:
202-205-1271; Web site:
[http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop](http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/)).

*Economic Action Program*

The Economic Action Program (EAP) assists rural communities in building
skills, networks, and strategies to address social, environmental, and
economic changes. EAP helps communities and businesses to find new and
expanded business opportunities based on forest resources and to develop
new markets for natural-resource-based goods and services. The program
also funds a grant program that provides financial and technical
assistance to tribal forest-dependent communities for heritage tourism
and historic preservation.

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Cooperative Forestry, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20078-5500 (telephone: 202-205-1389; fax:
202-205-1271; Web site:
[http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop](http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/)).

*Urban and Community Forestry*

The Urban and Community Forestry program enhances the livability of
towns, communities, and cities by providing technical and financial
assistance to plan, protect, establish, and manage trees, forests, and
related resources. The program also aims to restore and sustain the
health and quality of the natural and human environments in urban areas
and to increase public awareness of, and participation in, activities to
improve the natural, social, and economic environments of the Nation's
urban and community areas.

For additional information, contact your local Forest Service office or
the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0003 (telephone: 202-205-1389; fax:
202-205-1271; Web site:
[http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf](http://www.fs.fed.us/ucf/)).

*Job Corps Program*

In partnership with the Department of Labor, the Forest Service Job
Corps Program operates 18 Job Corps Centers on national forest lands,
and some of them offer natural-resource-related training and work. The
Job Corps is America's oldest, largest, and most comprehensive
residential training program for at-risk youth ages 16 to 25, preparing
millions of young men and women for meaningful work and assisting them
in finding jobs. All programs are self-paced to best meet the needs of
each student.

To learn more about the Forest Service Job Corps Program, call the
toll-free Job Corps Hotline at 1-800-733 JOBS (5627) or access the
Department of Labor's Job Corps Web page at http://jobcorps.doleta.gov.
You can also visit the nearest State employment service and ask for a
Job Corps counselor, or call or write the USDA Forest Service, Youth
Programs, Rosslyn Plaza Building E, 1621 North Kent Street, Arlington,
VA 22209 (telephone: 703-605-4829).

*Senior Community Service Employment Program*

The Senior Community Service Employment Program allows senior citizens
to share their time, talent, and experience through the Forest Service.
The threefold purpose is to provide:

-   Part-time employment and supplementary income for elderly,
    low-income people.

-   Training that enhances these individuals' opportunity for transition
    into the regular labor market.

-   An opportunity for senior citizens to participate in community
    service work.

Participants must be at least 55 years old and meet the low-income
eligibility guidelines established by the Employment and Training
Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor. Enrollment priority is
given to persons over age 60 and to qualified spouses of veterans.

For additional information, access the U.S. Department of Labor's
Employment and Training Administration Web page
([http://www.doleta.gov](http://www.doleta.gov/)) or contact your local
One-stop Center through the Toll-Free Help Line at 1-877-US-2JOBS
(1-877-872-5627) or TTY at 1-877-889-5627. Information is also available
from the USDA Forest Service, Senior Programs, Rosslyn Plaza Building E,
1621 North Kent Street, Arlington, VA 22209 (telephone: 703-605-4829).

*Youth Conservation Corps*

A summer employment program for young men and women ages 15 to 18, the
Youth Conservation Corps seeks to accomplish needed conservation work on
public lands, provide gainful employment, and develop an understanding
and appreciation of the Nation's natural environment and heritage.
Projects are located on lands administered by the Forest Service and the
U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service and Fish and
Wildlife Service.

Application forms are available on the Forest Service Web site
(<http://www.fs.fed.us/people/volunteer/ycc.htm>). Information is also
available from the USDA Forest Service, Youth Programs, Rosslyn Plaza
Building E, 1621 North Kent Street, Arlington, VA 22209 (telephone:
703-605-4829; fax: 703-605-4832; Web site:
[http://www.fs.fed.us/people/volunteer](http://www.fs.fed.us/people/volunteer/)).

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** For additional information on Forest Service
programs, contact your regional Forest Service office. The point of
contact is your regional tribal program manager. All regional Forest
Service offices are generally listed in the telephone book under the
Federal Government headings: Look for "U.S. Department of Agriculture."
These offices are also listed on the Forest Service Web site
([http://www.fs.fed.us](http://www.fs.fed.us/)); select "National
Offices and Programs" and "9 regions."

**Administering Agency:** USDA Forest Service, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-0003; telephone: 202-205-8333; fax:
202-358-4063; e-mail: <Webmaster@fs.fed.us>; Web site:
[http://www.fs.fed.us](http://www.fs.fed.us/)).

**3. Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services**

USDA's Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS) mission area helps
to keep America's farmers and ranchers in business as they face the
uncertainties of weather and markets. This mission area delivers
commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and emergency assistance
programs that help improve the stability and strength of the Nation's
agricultural economy.

FFAS also delivers programs and services that support USDA strategic
goals to enhance the international competitiveness of American
agricultural producers, including American Indian and Alaska Native
tribes and their members. The mission area conducts its activities in
support of the following five key objectives:

-   Expand and maintain international export opportunities.

-   Support international economic development and trade capacity
    building.

-   Expand alternative markets for agricultural products and activities.

-   Provide risk management and financial tools to farmers and ranchers.

-   Protect and enhance the Nation's natural resource base and
    environment.

Farm loans and income support programs are key components of USDA's
efforts to provide America's farmers and ranchers with an economic
safety net to help them maintain their operations during difficult
times. These programs improve producer access to capital and mitigate
market losses, including those resulting from disasters. They also
contribute to the success of farms and ranches, a market-based
agricultural sector, and thriving agricultural communities.

The work of the FFAS mission area is carried out by its three agencies,
the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Risk Management Agency (RMA), and the
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The Commodity Credit Corporation
(CCC) is the source of funding for most of the conservation and
commodity programs administered by FSA and of the export programs
administered by FAS.

**Farm Service Agency**

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) assists American agricultural producers in
stabilizing their farm income, helps farmers conserve land and water
resources, provides credit to existing, beginning, or socially
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain credit elsewhere,
and helps farm operations recover from the effects of disasters. The
vision statement for the agency is relevant to all agricultural
producers, including American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, their
members, and others who certify they are Native American: "A
customer-driven agency with a diverse and multi-talented work force,
dedicated to achieving an economically and environmentally sound future
for American Agriculture."

Though the FSA name has changed over the years, the agency's
relationship with farmers goes back to the 1930s. FSA was set up when
the Department was reorganized in 1994, incorporating programs from
several agencies, including the Agricultural Stabilization and
Conservation Service, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation
(subsequently moved to the Risk Management Agency), and the Farmers Home
Administration.

In the 1930s, Congress set up a unique system under which Federal farm
programs were to be administered locally. (FSA Farm Loan Programs,
however, are not administered at the local level.) Agricultural
producers eligible to participate in FSA farm programs elect a three- to
five-person county committee, which reviews county office operations and
makes decisions on how to apply farm programs. This grassroots approach
gives all agricultural producers a much-needed say in how Federal
actions affect their communities and their individual operations. After
more than 60 years, it remains a cornerstone of FSA's efforts to
preserve and promote American agriculture.

FSA is committed to providing timely program information to the farmers
and ranchers among American Indian and Alaska Native tribes so they can
make the best possible decisions for their businesses.

**Farm Service Agency Outreach**

Since 1996, the FSA Outreach staff has created the following programs:

-   Native American Outreach

-   Agricultural Mediation Program

-   African American Outreach

-   Asian and Pacific Islander Outreach

-   Hispanic Outreach

-   Resource Conservation and Development Outreach

-   Women Outreach

Through these programs, the FSA Outreach staff:

-   Assists limited-resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and
    ranchers in improving their income through better farm management
    and financial planning.

-   Assures that underserved, limited-resource, and socially
    disadvantaged farmers and ranchers participate fully in FSA State
    and county committee elections.

-   Works with community-based organizations (including churches and
    social groups; 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant colleges and
    universities; Hispanic-serving institutions; and tribally controlled
    colleges) to provide technical assistance and training to
    limited-resource and socially disadvantaged family farmers.

-   Partners with community-based ranchers and organizations to enhance
    program delivery to underserved communities.

For additional information, contact Mike Hill, Director, Outreach Staff,
FSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250
(telephone: 202-690-1299; e-mail: <Mike.Hill@wdc.usda.gov>) or visit the
FSA Outreach Web site
([http://www.fsa.usda.gov/outreach](http://www.fsa.usda.gov/outreach/)).

**County Office Committee Elections**

Farmers and ranchers elect representatives from their community to serve
on their local County Office Committees (COCs), which work with local
FSA staff to administer programs, provide policy direction, and guide
eligibility requirements for programs in their own communities. COCs
provide important insight into how farm programs affect local
communities.

COCs may also include minority advisors. These advisors highlight
special concerns and represent additional views on program
implementation and administration, ensuring that all producers have a
voice in the COC system. All agricultural producers who participate in
or cooperate with programs administered within the jurisdiction of a COC
are eligible to be nominated and to vote. It is imperative that COCs
reflect the diversity of farming communities they represent.

Additional information is available on the FSA Web site
([http://www.fsa.usda.gov](http://www.fsa.usda.gov/)).

**FSA Program Tools**

The primary mission of FSA is to help farmers and ranchers secure
benefits from programs such as farm loans, commodity price support,
disaster relief, conservation, food aid, and other available resources.
FSA is dedicated to improving the economic stability of the Nation's
agricultural sector and to ensuring an optimal quality of life for
future generations.

Approximately 2,500 State, district, and county FSA offices are at the
forefront of the agency's efforts and remain the primary contact for
program participation. The agency encourages all Native American and
Alaska Native community members and individuals to speak with the staff
at their local FSA offices concerning ways in which the agency can be of
service. The FSA Web site
([http://www.fsa.usda.gov](http://www.fsa.usda.gov/)) also provides
information about FSA programs and services, including the location of
local FSA Service Centers.

FSA seeks to build lasting relationships with Native Americans and
Alaska Native people and communities and to work in partnership with
them to solve problems and abolish barriers.

The agency is committed to informing all farmers and ranchers about FSA
programs and services and to aiding participation in FSA programs on the
part of the all eligible persons, including limited-resource farmers and
those who are socially disadvantaged or members of racial minority
groups.

**Primary FSA-Administered Programs**

FSA administers a number of programs, most of which utilize funds of the
CCC. Some of these programs are only authorized by Congress from time to
time, and all programs are subject to regulations as well as involving,
often, program contracts.

For information on any of these programs, contact your local or State
FSA office or visit the FSA Web site
([www.fsa.usda.gov](http://www.fsa.usda.gov/)). USDA offices are
generally listed in the telephone book under the Federal Government
headings: Look for "U.S. Department of Agriculture." FSA publishes
factsheets that summarize the terms of the present year's program for
various commodities as well as on topics such as loan programs and
conservations. Fact sheets are available online on the FSA Web site
([http://www.fsa.usda.gov](http://www.fsa.usda.govo/)).

**Farm Programs**

*American Indian Livestock Feed Program*

When funded, this program can provide financial assistance to livestock
producers who purchased feed for livestock that occupied tribal-governed
land during a natural disaster. The tribe governing the land used for
livestock production will determine if the livestock producer meets the
eligibility requirements.

*Conservation Reserve Program*

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary land retirement
program available to agricultural producers to help safeguard
environmentally sensitive land. Producers enrolled in CRP plant
long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water,
control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. In return, the CCC,
through FSA, provides participants with rental payments and cost-share
assistance. The contract duration is between 10 and 15 years.

*Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program*

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), a derivative
program of CRP, is a voluntary land-retirement program that helps
agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease
erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface
water. The program involves a partnership among producers; tribal,
State, and Federal governments; and, in some cases, private groups.

*Crop Disaster Program*

From time to time, CCC, when authorized by Congress, provides crop-loss
disaster assistance for producers (with some exceptions) who have
suffered losses caused by damaging weather and related conditions.

*Dairy Indemnity Payment Program*

The Dairy Indemnity Payment Program pays dairy producers when a public
regulatory agency directs them to remove their raw milk from the
commercial market because it has been contaminated by pesticides,
nuclear radiation or fallout, or toxic substances and chemical residues
other than pesticides. Payments are made to manufacturers of dairy
products only for products removed from the market because of pesticide
contamination.

*Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program*

The Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program (DCP) provides income
support to producers of eligible commodities according to historically
based acreage and yields rather than the current production choices of
the farmer. DCP was authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002 (the 2002 Farm Bill) for farms enrolled for the 2002 through
2007 crop years for barley, corn, grain sorghum (including dual-purpose
varieties), oats, canola, crambe, flax seed, mustard seed, rapeseed,
safflower, sesame seed and sunflower seed (including oil and non-oil
varieties), peanuts, rice (excluding wild rice), soybeans, upland
cotton, and wheat.

*Emergency Conservation Program*

This program provides funding for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate
farmland damaged by wind erosion, floods, hurricanes, or other natural
disasters and for carrying out emergency water conservation measures
during periods of severe drought. The natural disaster must create new
conservation problems that, if not treated, would impair or endanger the
land; would materially affect the productive capacity of the land; would
represent unusual damage which, except for wind erosion, is not the type
likely to recur frequently in the same area; and would be so costly to
repair that Federal assistance is required to return the land to
productive agricultural use.

*\
Farmable Wetlands Program*

The Farmable Wetlands Program is a voluntary program intended to restore
up to 1 million acres of farmable wetlands and associated buffers by
improving those lands' hydrology and vegetation under CRP.

*Farm Storage Facility Loan Program*

CCC, through FSA, may make loans to producers to build or upgrade
on-farm storage and handling facilities for rice, soybeans, dry peas,
lentils, small chickpeas, peanuts, sunflower seeds, canola, rapeseed,
safflower, flaxseed, mustard seed, and other oilseeds. Corn, grain
sorghum, oats, wheat, and barley are also eligible, subject to program
requirements.

*Grassland Reserve Program*

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program for
landowners to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands on their
property. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, FSA, and Forest
Service implement GRP to conserve vulnerable grasslands from conversion
to cropland or other uses and to conserve valuable grasslands by helping
maintain viable ranching operations.

*Hard White Wheat Incentive Program*

When available, this program serves to increase the supply of hard white
wheat available for domestic milling and export.

*Livestock Assistance Program*

When available, this assistance provides payments to eligible livestock
producers for grazing losses that occurred in an eligible year if a
producer's grazing land is in a county that was declared a primary
disaster area under a Presidential or Secretarial declaration. Producers
in contiguous counties are not eligible.

*\
Milk Income Loss Contract Program*

The Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program financially compensates
dairy producers when domestic milk prices fall below a specified level.
MILC payments are made monthly when the milk price falls below the
established price per hundredweight.

*\
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program*

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial
assistance to eligible producers affected by drought, flood, hurricane,
or other natural disasters. NAP covers noninsurable crop losses and
planting prevented by disasters for losses on crops for which Federal
catastrophic crop insurance is not available. Landowners, tenants, or
sharecroppers who share the risk of producing an eligible crop are
eligible.

Eligible crops include commercial crops and other agricultural
commodities produced for food, including livestock feed or fiber for
which the catastrophic level of crop insurance is unavailable. Also
eligible for NAP coverage are controlled-environment crops (mushrooms
and floriculture), specialty crops (honey and maple sap), and value loss
crops (aquaculture, Christmas trees, ginseng, ornamental nursery, and
turfgrass sod).

*\
Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loan*

*and Loan Deficiency Payment Programs*

Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs) provide producers interim
financing at harvest time to meet cash flow needs without having to sell
their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows.
MALs allow producers to store production at harvest and facilitate more
orderly marketing of commodities throughout the year. MALs for covered
commodities are nonrecourse because the commodity is pledged as loan
collateral, and producers have the option of delivering the pledged
collateral to the CCC at maturity in full satisfaction of the loan
obligation.

A producer who is eligible to obtain a loan, but who agrees to forgo the
loan, may obtain a Loan Deficiency Payment (LDP). The LDP rate equals
the amount by which the applicable loan rate where the commodity is
stored exceeds the alternative loan repayment rate for the respective
commodity.

*Recourse Seed Cotton Loans*

CCC makes recourse seed cotton loans available through March 31 of the
year following the calendar year in which the cotton crop is normally
harvested. Seed cotton pledged as collateral for a loan must be tendered
to CCC by an eligible producer and must be in existence and in good
condition at the time of disbursement of loan proceeds, in addition to
other requirements.

The seed cotton loan principal, interest, and charges must be repaid
before the cotton is pledged for a non-recourse loan or before a loan
deficiency payment can be approved. Seed cotton loans mature on demand
by CCC, but no later than May 31 following the calendar year in which
such crop is normally harvested.

*\
Sugar Loan Program and Sugar Marketing Allotments*

The Sugar Loan Program provides non-recourse loans to processors of
domestically grown sugarcane and sugar beets to stabilize America's
sugar industry. CCC establishes marketing allotments for sugar from
domestically produced sugar beets and sugarcane.

Allotments are assigned based on estimates of sugar consumption, stocks,
production, and imports for a crop year, with the intent that the total
allotment quantity minimizes forfeitures of sugar to CCC under the sugar
loan program.

*Sugar Storage Facility Loan Program*

CCC may make loans to processors of domestically produced sugarcane and
sugar beets for the construction or upgrading of storage and handling
facilities for raw sugars and refined sugars. Loans may be made only for
the purchase and installation of eligible storage facilities or
permanently affixed handling equipment or for the remodeling of existing
facilities.

*\
Tobacco Transition Payment Program*

CCC provides payments over a 10-year period to former quota holders and
producers of quota tobacco to help them make the transition from the
federally regulated tobacco marketing quota and price support loan
programs. Eligible tobacco quota holders and producers can receive
payments under this program in 10 installments in each of the 2005
through 2014 fiscal years.

New contract listings for FY 2006 were posted on May 1, 2006. Additional
information can be found on the FSA Web site
(http://[www.fsa.usda.gov/tobacco](http://www.fsa.usda.gov/tobacco)).

*Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers*

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers (TAA) provides technical
assistance and cash benefits to eligible producers of raw agricultural
commodities, such as fish or blueberries, after an associated industry
group petitions the Secretary for assistance. Producers may be eligible
for TAA assistance if the national average price in the most recent
marketing year for a commodity is less than 80 percent of the national
average price in the preceding 5 marketing years as a result of
increased imports of that commodity. The program is authorized through
2007.

*\
Tree Assistance Program*

The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) provides assistance to eligible
producers of trees or tree products to replant trees, bushes, and vines
grown for the production of an annual crop but lost due to a natural
disaster. The tree losses must meet the criteria in TAP regulations. CCC
provides funding when authorized.

*Youth Loans*

FSA makes loans to individual rural youths between the ages of 10 and 20
years to establish and operate income-producing projects of modest size
in connection with their participation in 4‑H clubs, FFA, and similar
organizations. Each project must be part of an organized and supervised
program of work. The project must be planned and operated with the help
of the organization adviser, produce sufficient income to repay the
loan, and provide the youth with practical business and educational
experience.

**Farm Loan Programs**

*Agricultural Mediation Program*

The Agricultural Mediation Program helps agricultural producers, their
lenders, and other persons directly affected by the actions of USDA to
resolve disputes. A trained, impartial mediator reviews conflicts,
identifies options, and assists in settling disputes between
participants in many different USDA program areas. These include farm
loans, farm and conservation programs, wetland determinations, rural
water loan programs, grazing on national forest system lands,
pesticides, rural housing loans, rural business loans, crop insurance,
and other issues as the Secretary may subsequently consider appropriate.

*Beginning Farmer and Rancher Loans*

FSA provides direct and guaranteed loans to beginning farmers and
ranchers who are unable to obtain financing from commercial credit
sources. A beginning farmer or rancher is an individual or entity who
(1) has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years, (2) meets
the loan eligibility requirements of the program to which he or she is
applying, (3) substantially participates in the operation, and (4) for
farm ownership loan purposes, does not own a farm greater than 30
percent of the average-size farm in the county.

*Boll Weevil Eradication Loan Program*

The Boll Weevil Eradication Loan Program provides low-interest loans to
nonprofit organizations that work collaboratively with State agencies,
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the National
Cotton Council to eradicate the boll weevil. The program objective is to
assist producers and State government agencies in the eradication of
boll weevils from cotton-producing areas.

*Debt for Nature Program*

The Debt for Nature Program, also known as the Debt Cancellation
Conservation Contract Program, is available to persons with FSA loans
secured by real estate who may qualify for cancellation of a portion of
their FSA indebtedness in exchange for a conservation contract with a
term of 50, 30, or 10 years. A conservation contract is a voluntary
legal agreement that restricts the type and amount of development that
may occur on part of a landowner's property. Contracts may be
established on marginal cropland and other environmentally sensitive
lands for conservation, recreation, and wildlife purposes.

*Direct Farm Ownership Loan Program*

FSA direct farm ownership loans help recipients to purchase farmland,
construct or repair buildings and other fixtures, and promote soil and
water conservation. To qualify for a direct farm ownership loan, the
applicant must be unable to obtain commercial credit, show sufficient
repayment ability, pledge enough collateral to fully secure the loan,
and meet all eligibility requirements.

*Direct Operating Loan Program*

FSA direct farm operating loans help recipients to purchase items such
as livestock, farm equipment, feed, seed, fuel, farm chemicals, and
insurance and to cover other operating expenses. These loans can also
serve to pay for minor improvements to buildings, costs associated with
land and water development, family subsistence, and refinancing debts
under certain conditions.

*Down Payment Farm Ownership Loans*

Down Payment Farm Ownership loans were developed to help beginning
farmers and ranchers purchase a farm or ranch. These loans provide a way
for retiring farmers to transfer their land to a future generation of
farmers and ranchers.

*Emergency Loan Program*

FSA provides emergency loans to help producers recover from production
and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters,
or quarantine. Emergency loans may be made to farmers and ranchers who
own or operate land located in a county declared by the President as a
disaster area or designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as a
disaster area or quarantine area. (For physical losses only, the FSA
Administrator may authorize emergency loan assistance. Tribal chair
persons, or leaders, may request that their federally recognized
reservation, or portion thereof, be designated a Secretarial disaster
area.) Emergency loan funds may be used to restore or replace essential
property, pay all or part of production costs associated with the
disaster year, pay essential family living expenses, reorganize the
farming operation, and refinance certain debts.

*Guaranteed Farm Ownership Loan Program*

These FSA-guaranteed loans provide lenders (banks, Farm Credit System
institutions, credit unions) with a guarantee of up to 95 percent of the
loss of principal and interest on a loan. Farmers and ranchers apply to
an agricultural lender, which then arranges for the guarantee.

The FSA guarantee permits lenders to make agricultural credit available
to farmers who do not meet the lender's normal underwriting criteria. A
percentage of guaranteed loan funds are targeted to beginning farmers
and ranchers and socially disadvantaged applicants. These loans may be
made to purchase farmland, construct or repair buildings and other
fixtures, develop farmland to promote soil and water conservation, or
refinance debt.

*\
Guaranteed Operating Loan Program*

These FSA-guaranteed loans provide lenders (banks, Farm Credit System
institutions, or credit unions) with a guarantee of up to 95 percent of
the loss of principal and interest on a loan. Farmers and ranchers apply
to an agricultural lender, which then arranges for the guarantee.

The FSA guarantee permits lenders to make agricultural credit available
to farmers who do not meet the lender's normal underwriting criteria. A
percentage of guaranteed loan funds are targeted to beginning farmers
and ranchers and to socially disadvantaged applicants.

Guaranteed Operating Loans may be made to purchase livestock, farm
equipment, feed, seed, fuel, farm chemicals, repairs, and insurance and
to cover other operating expenses. Guaranteed Operating Loans also can
be used to pay for minor improvements to buildings, costs associated
with land and water development, family living expenses, and the
refinancing of debts under certain conditions.

*Homestead Protection Program*

If FSA has exhausted all loan servicing options and forecloses on a
property as required by law, then this program allows the borrower to
lease, for up to 5 years, property containing the borrower's primary
residence, as well as up to 10 adjoining acres of land. The lease may
contain an option to purchase.

*Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Program*

These acquisition loans enable Indian tribes to purchase privately held
lands that lie within their reservations. Loan funds may pay for
expenses incidental to the purchase of the land, but not for land
development.

*Primary Loan Servicing Program*

The Primary Loan Servicing Program gives options to borrowers who, for
reasons beyond their control, are unable to make the scheduled payments
on their debt to the U.S. Government. These options may include
consolidation, loan rescheduling, deferral, or interest rate reduction.
The program allows the delinquent FSA borrower to attain, or maintain, a
current loan status while at the same time regaining a solid financial
footing for the long term.

**Commodity Operations**

*Domestic and Foreign Food Assistance Program*

USDA, through FSA, donates food to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and to
Federal, tribal, State, and other private and nonprofit agencies in the
United States. USDA-contributed food items are used in school lunch
programs; summer camps for kids; the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children; and other organizations,
charities, and programs that help needy persons.

In addition, agricultural commodities are donated to foreign or
international relief agencies to help feed people around the world. FAS
organizes the delivery of the donated food to international development
and humanitarian organizations operating in dozens of other countries.
Food donations also assist in the FAS Food for Progress program, which
helps countries working to transition to market-oriented economies.

*Extra Long Staple Cotton Competitiveness Payments*

This program provides commodity certificates or cash to domestic users
and exporters of extra long staple cotton when certain price conditions
exist.

*United States Warehouse Act*

The United States Warehouse Act (USWA) authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture to license warehouse operators who store agricultural
products. Warehouse operators that apply must meet USDA standards
established within the USWA and its regulations. Application is
voluntary. Applicants agree to be licensed under the USWA, observe the
rules for licensing, and pay associated user fees.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** For additional information on FSA programs, contact
your local or State FSA office or visit the FSA Web site
([www.fsa.usda.gov](http://www.fsa.usda.gov/)). USDA offices are
generally listed in the telephone book under the Federal Government
headings: Look for "U.S. Department of Agriculture."

FSA publishes factsheets that summarize the terms of the present year's
program for various commodities as well as covering topics such as loan
programs and conservations. The factsheets are available online on the
FSA Web site ([http://www.fsa.usda.gov](http://www.fsa.usda.govo/)).

If you have FSA-specific questions to which you would like an expert to
respond, you can submit them online through the "Ask FSA" feature on the
FSA Web site (select "Contact Us" and "Ask FSA."

**Administering Agency:** Farm Service Agency, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-0506 (Web site:
[http://www.fsa.usda.gov](http://www.fsa.usda.gov/)). Office of External
Affairs---telephone: 202-720-3865; fax: 202-720-4034.

**Risk Management Agency**

The Risk Management Agency (RMA), created in 1996, helps producers
manage their business risks through effective, market-based risk
management solutions. RMA's mission is to promote, support, and regulate
sound risk management solutions to preserve and strengthen the economic
stability of America's agricultural producers. As part of this mission,
RMA operates and manages the crop insurance programs for the Federal
Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), founded in 1938.

The agency currently has three divisions: Insurance Services, Product
Management, and Compliance. Insurance Services is responsible for
program delivery (i.e., managing the contracts with the private
insurance companies that sell and service the crop insurance policies),
risk management education, and management of underwriting field offices
providing local program administration and support. Product Management
is responsible for overseeing product analysis, product administration,
and actuarial and product design. Compliance evaluates policy and
procedures, monitors compliance with program provisions by both
producers and the private insurance companies that sell and service
policies, and manages the compliance field offices.

On behalf of FCIC, RMA reinsures crop insurance policies sold and
serviced by private crop insurance companies. These policies cover
losses due to natural causes such as drought, excessive moisture, hail,
wind, frost, insects, and disease. RMA, on behalf of FCIC, develops or
approves the premium rate, administers premium and expense subsidy, and
approves and supports products with respect to the crop insurance
policies FCIC reinsures.

In addition, RMA sponsors educational and outreach programs and seminars
on the general topic of risk management. The RMA Web site features
additional information about RMA, including agency news, State profiles,
and other publications; summaries of insurance sales; information on
pilot programs; downloadable crop policies; and agency-sponsored events.
The site also features online tools and applications. The most popular
applications are the Agent Locator, the Premium Calculator, and the
Summary of Business.

**Additional Information**

**Whom to Contact:** For additional information, visit the RMA Web site
([http://www.rma.usda.gov](http://www.rma.usda.gov/)) or contact the
Administrator, Risk Management Agency, USDA, Room 6092, South Building,
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0801
(telephone: 202-690-2803; fax: 202-690-2818; e-mail:
<rma.mail@rma.usda.gov>).

Regional RMA offices, which serve all 50 States and Puerto Rico, keep in
close contact with local producers, grower groups, universities, and
government agencies. Information on the locations of these offices,
additional RMA information, and crop or livestock protection insurance
agent locator information are available from the Risk Management Agency,
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0801 or from
the RMA Web site ([http://www.rma.usda.gov](http://www.rma.usda.gov/)).

**Administering Agency:** Risk Management Agency, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0801 (telephone:
202-690-2803; e-mail: <rma.mail@rma.usda.gov>; Web site:
[http://www.rma.usda.gov](http://www.rma.usda.gov/)).

**Foreign Agricultural Service**

With headquarters in Washington, D.C., and offices worldwide, the
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) works to improve foreign market
access for U.S. products, build new markets, improve the competitive
position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace, and provide food
aid and technical assistance to foreign countries.

FAS has the primary responsibility for USDA's international activities,
including market development, trade agreements and negotiations, and the
collection and analysis of statistics and market information. It has a
global network of agricultural economists, marketing experts,
negotiators, and other specialists that few organizations can equal.

FAS agricultural counselors, attachés, trade officers, and locally
employed staff in more than 90 countries support U.S. agricultural
interests. The agency's overseas offices serve as the Department's "eyes
and ears" for monitoring international issues.

The agency makes trade assistance available to U.S. exporters. The FAS
Web site ([http://www.fas.usda.gov](http://www.fas.usda.gov/)) provides
the names of FAS contacts at embassies located throughout the world as
well as other helpful information on exporting from the United States.

In addition, FAS administers USDA's export credit guarantee and food aid
programs and helps increase income and food availability in developing
nations by mobilizing expertise for agriculturally led economic growth.
The agency also works to enhance U.S. agriculture's competitiveness by
providing linkages to global resources and international organizations.

**Market Access Program**

The Market Access Program (MAP) uses funds from CCC to aid in the
creation, expansion, and maintenance of foreign markets for U.S.
agricultural products. MAP forms a partnership between USDA and
nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade associations, U.S. agricultural
cooperatives, nonprofit State-regional trade groups, and small U.S.
businesses to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional
activities such as consumer promotions, market research, trade shows,
and trade servicing. Each year, MAP helps launch and expand sales of
U.S. agricultural, fish, and forest products overseas. Among MAP
recipients is a Native American organization that supports international
marketing.

**Foreign Market Development Program**

For more than 50 years, the Foreign Market Development Program has
fostered a trade promotion partnership between USDA and U.S.
agricultural producers and processors represented by nonprofit U.S.
commodity or trade associations called Cooperators. Under this
partnership, USDA and the Cooperators pool their technical and financial
resources to conduct overseas market development activities.

The Cooperator program benefits U.S. farmers, processors, and exporters
by assisting their organizations in developing new foreign markets and
increasing market share in existing markets. Overseas promotions focus
on generic U.S. commodities rather than individual brand-name products
and target long-term development.

The Cooperator program has helped support growth in U.S. agricultural
exports by enlisting private sector involvement and resources in
coordinated efforts to promote U.S. products to foreign importers and
consumers around the world.

**Emerging Markets Program**

The Emerging Markets Program provides funding for technical assistance
activities to promote exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and
products to emerging markets. The program helps public and private
organizations to improve market access by developing, maintaining, or
enhancing U.S. exports to low- and middle-income countries that have
market-oriented economies and can be viable markets. Funding may be used
only to support exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and products
through generic activities. Projects that endorse or promote branded
products are not eligible for the program.

**Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops**

The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program funds projects that
address phytosanitary or other technical barriers that prohibit or
threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. The program covers all
cultivated plants and their products produced in the United States
except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and
tobacco. Activities include seminars, workshops, study tours, field
surveys, pest and disease research, and pre-clearance programs. Any U.S.
organization is eligible to participate, including Federal agencies,
State agencies, nonprofit trade associations, universities, agricultural
cooperatives, and private companies.

**Quality Samples Program**

The Quality Samples Program helps U.S. agricultural trade organizations
provide small samples of their agricultural products to potential
importers overseas. Manufacturers overseas can use the samples to assess
how U.S. food and fiber products can best meet their production needs.
Any U.S. private or government entity with a demonstrated role or
interest in exporting U.S. agricultural commodities may apply to
participate in the program.

**Export Credit Guarantee Program**

The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers a short-term export
credit guarantee program for commercial financing of U.S. agricultural
exports. The Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) protects U.S.
exporters or U.S. financial institutions against risk if the importer's
foreign bank fails to make a payment.

**Facility Guarantee Program**

The Facility Guarantee Program provides payment guarantees to facilitate
the financing of goods and services to improve or establish
agriculture-related facilities in emerging markets. By supporting such
facilities, the Facility Guarantee Program intends to enhance sales of
U.S. agricultural commodities and products to emerging markets where the
demand for such commodities and products may be constricted because of
inadequate storage, processing, or handling capabilities for such
products.

**Food Aid**

FAS helps provide U.S. agricultural commodities to feed millions of
hungry people in needy countries. The Food for Progress program,
authorized by the Food for Progress Act of 1985, provides for the
donation or sale on credit terms of U.S. commodities to developing
countries and emerging democracies that have made commitments to
introduce or expand free enterprise elements in their agriculture
economies. Donations have accounted for all food aid under this program.
CCC funds may be used to purchase commodities for use in the program.

The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition
Program provides for donations of U.S. agricultural products, as well as
financial and technical assistance, to carry out school feeding programs
in foreign countries to improve food security, reduce hunger, and
improve education and to carry out maternal and child nutrition
programs. The commodities are made available for donation through
agreements with private voluntary organizations, cooperatives,
intergovernmental organizations, and foreign governments. Commodities
may be donated for direct feeding or for local sale to generate proceeds
to support school feeding and nutrition projects.

**Food and Agriculture Trade Shows**

Each year, FAS sponsors and endorses about 25 food and agricultural
trade shows that provide good avenues for entering the best potential
markets for U.S. products. FAS works with show organizers to provide a
range of marketing and public relations services as well as guidance for
new-to-market and new-to-exporting companies. Participation in all shows
is on a first-come, first-served basis.

**Trade Capacity Building**

FAS carries out a broad array of international training, technical
assistance, and other collaborative activities with developing and
transitional countries to facilitate trade and promote food security. In
order to increase the benefits to developing nations participating in
global agricultural markets, the agency offers numerous
trade-capacity-building programs.

FAS helps nations understand and prepare for meeting World Trade
Organization (WTO) requirements. The agency also helps countries focus
on the critical role that science and technology can play in raising
agricultural productivity in an environmentally sustainable way. This
includes assistance in developing appropriate policies and institutions
to facilitate research and technology transfer in order to increase
incomes, reduce hunger, and improve nutrition.

The agency's Cochran and Borlaug Fellowship Programs bring
agriculturists to the United States to expose them to U.S. economic
policies, agricultural technologies, business practices and products,
biotechnology benefits and safeguards, and other areas. Around the
globe, FAS responds to special needs as they arise (e.g., contributing
to reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and helping countries
develop agricultural institutions and policies).

**Additional Information**

**Whom to Contact:** For information on FAS programs, contact the Public
Affairs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, AG Box 1004,
Washington, DC 20250-1004 (telephone: 202-720-3448). Information on FAS
and its programs can also be found on the FAS Web site
([http://www.fas.usda.gov](http://www.fas.usda.gov/)). (For additional
staff contacts, select "Contact Us" on the FAS Web site.)

**Administering Agency:** Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone: 202-720-3448;
Web site: [http://www.fas.usda.gov](http://www.fas.usda.gov/)).

**4. Rural Development**

USDA Rural Development is committed to helping improve the economy and
quality of life in all of rural America by providing financial programs
to support essential public facilities and services such as water and
sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities,
and electric and telephone service. Rural Development promotes economic
development by providing loans, loan guarantees, and other assistance to
applicants such as banks and community-managed lending pools while also
helping communities to participate in community empowerment programs.
The mission statement for Rural Development is "to increase economic
opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural Americans."

All of Rural Development's funding resources can be used on reservations
and for Native American homeowners, homebuyers, and entrepreneurs.
Successful partnerships with individuals and tribes are a priority for
Rural Development. Rural Development has financed tribal water systems,
housing, businesses, health clinics, and other essential community
facilities and modern telecommunications, including broadband and
electric generation systems. In order to recognize tribal sovereignty
and the trust status of tribal lands, it is often necessary to work in
cooperation with tribal councils, tribal ordinances, or other agencies
such as the Indian Health Service of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of
the Interior, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Rural Development is always working to eliminate substandard housing
from rural America by helping rural customers buy, build, or rent decent
housing. We also create jobs by funding the growth and creation of
businesses and cooperatives. In a typical year, Rural Development
programs create or preserve more than 100,000 rural jobs, enable 40,000
to 50,000 rural Americans to buy homes, and help nearly 500,000
low-income rural tenants rent apartments or other housing.

Other Rural Development programs help rural communities build or improve
community facilities such as schools, health clinics, and fire stations.
Rural Development also has programs that help rural communities build or
extend utilities such as water, electricity, and telecommunications
services.

Assistance is available in many ways, including direct or guaranteed
loans, grants, technical assistance, research, and educational
materials. To accomplish its mission, Rural Development often works in
partnership with State, local, and tribal governments as well as with
rural businesses, cooperatives, and nonprofit agencies.

Rural Development delivers programs in four areas:

-   The Utilities Programs address rural America's need for basic
    services such as clean running water, sewage and waste disposal;
    electricity; and telecommunications.

-   The Housing Programs address rural America's need for single-family
    and multi-family housing as well as health facilities, fire and
    police stations, and other community facilities.

-   The Business Programs provide help to rural areas that need to
    develop new job opportunities, allowing businesses and cooperatives
    to remain viable in a changing economy.

-   The Community Development Programs provide special initiatives to
    demonstrate effective community development techniques and address
    unique and pressing economic development issues.

In summary, Rural Development works in partnership with other
entities---such as State, local, and tribal governments, private and
nonprofit organizations, and member-owned cooperatives---to revitalize
rural areas.

Rural Development programs are available across the Nation through 47
State offices and 800 area and local offices. Information on your
nearest Rural Development State Office can be accessed on the Rural
Development Web site
([http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)) at
<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html>.

**Utilities Programs**

Modern utilities came to rural America through some of the most
successful government initiatives in American history. To carry out
these initiatives, USDA worked with rural cooperatives, nonprofit
associations, public bodies, and for-profit utilities.

Today, USDA Rural Development carries on this tradition by helping rural
utilities to expand and update their technology and to establish new and
vital services such as distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband
Internet connectivity. The public-private partnership forged between
Rural Development and these industries results in billions of dollars in
rural infrastructure development and creates thousands of jobs for the
rural American economy.

Planning for, developing, and maintaining a community's physical
infrastructure is essential both for service to current residents and
for future economic competitiveness. For the Nation's rural areas to
succeed, citizens must have affordable access to water, sewerage, solid
waste disposal, electricity, telecommunications services, and high-speed
broadband, spurring business growth and increasing residence in rural
areas.

**Rural Development Utilities Program Tools**

USDA Rural Development is able to offer loans and competitive grants for
all types of community infrastructure. In addition, we work with our
partners to provide technical assistance to communities to help local
leaders make infrastructure decisions and obtain financing from multiple
sources.

The utilities program provides water and waste disposal loans and
grants, solid waste management grants, broadband, distance learning and
telemedicine loans and grants, and other technical assistance and
training grants. Electric and telephone loans are available through
rural utilities field representatives.

Below are descriptions of primary utilities programs. For more
information about any of these program areas, contact Rural Development
at a local office or State office, or the nearest USDA Service Center.
USDA offices are generally listed in the telephone book under the
Federal Government headings: look for "U.S. Department of Agriculture."

*Electric Program*

Providing reliable, affordable electricity is essential to the economic
well-being and quality of life for all of the Nation's rural residents.
The Electric Program provides leadership and capital to upgrade, expand,
maintain, and replace America's vast rural electric infrastructure.
Under the authority of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, Rural
Development makes direct loans and loan guarantees to electric utilities
to serve customers in rural areas. Through the Electric Program, the
Federal Government is the majority note holder for more than 700
electric systems.

In addition, the Electric Program makes loans and loan guarantees to
finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission, and
generation facilities, including system improvements and replacement
required to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas to meet
changing environmental requirements. Loans and loan guarantees also
support demand-side management, energy conservation programs, and
on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems.

The Electric Program makes loans to corporations, States, Indian tribes,
territories and subdivisions, and agencies such as municipalities,
people's utility districts, and cooperative, nonprofit,
limited-dividend, or mutual associations that provide retail electric
service to rural areas or supply the power needs of distribution
borrowers in rural areas. The Electric Program also provides financial
assistance to rural communities with extremely high energy costs to
acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy
generation, transmission, or distribution facilities. Rural
Development's Electric Program services approximately 700 active
electric borrowers in 47 States.

*Water and Environmental Program*

The Water and Environmental Program (WEP) provides a combination of
loans, grants, and loan guarantees for drinking water, sanitary sewer,
solid waste, and storm drainage facilities in rural areas and cities and
towns of 10,000 or less. Public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and
recognized Indian tribes may apply for assistance. WEP also makes grants
to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and training
to assist rural communities with water, wastewater, and solid waste
management.

*Telecommunications Program*

The Telecommunications Program provides many programs for financing
rural America's telecommunications infrastructure. The "traditional"
infrastructure loan program, consisting of hardship rate, Treasury rate,
and guaranteed loans, provides financing of broadband and other advanced
services such as the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program (DLT).
The DLT program continues its mission to wire our schools and improve
health care delivery in rural America. Through the Community Connect
Grant Program, unserved areas may be eligible to receive grants that
provide, on a "community-oriented connectivity" basis, broadband
transmission service that fosters economic growth, delivers enhanced
education and health care, and provides for public safety.

Since 1995, every telephone line constructed with Telecommunications
Program financing has been capable of providing broadband service using
digital subscriber loop (DSL) technology.

In addition, the Telecommunications Program has been tasked with
administering several new and developing programs for improving the
quality of life in rural America. The Broadband Program, a loan program
designed specifically to increase the rate of deployment of technology
to small towns in rural areas, has enabled Rural Development to step
beyond its traditional definition of rural (towns of 5,000 or less), and
fund borrowers serving communities of up to 20,000 inhabitants. Another
program, the Weather Radio Grant Program, provides funding for weather
radio transmitters in rural areas, enabling the installation of early
warning systems that save lives.

The borrowers of the Telecommunications Program have been at work for
more than 50 years to solve challenges associated with serving rural
America. Rural carriers are providing more access and a higher
deployment rate of access. Rural Development hopes to continue to help
those carriers continue that trend through its financing programs.

**Additional Information**

**Whom to Contact:** Utilities Programs, National Office, USDA Rural
Development, Room 4051-S, Mail Stop 1510, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-1510 (telephone: 202-720-9540; TTY: 800-877-8339
\[Federal Information Relay Service\]; fax: 202-720-1725; Web site:
http://[www.usda.gov/rus](http://www.usda.gov/rus)).

**Administering Agency:** USDA Rural Development, Room 205-W, Mail Stop
0107, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0107
(telephone: 202-720-4581;\
TTY: 800-877-8339 \[Federal Information Relay Service\]; fax:
202-720-2080; Web site:
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)).

Rural Development programs are available across the Nation through 47
State offices and 800 area and local offices. Information on your
nearest Rural Development State Office can be accessed on the Rural
Development Web site
([http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)) at
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.

**Housing and Community Facilities Program**

One of Rural Development's key goals is to improve the quality of life
in rural areas. In 2004, USDA marked its 55th year of financing homes
for rural residents.

Rural Development helps rural communities and individuals by providing
loans and grants for housing and community facilities. Funding supports
single-family homes, apartments for low-income persons or the elderly,
housing for farm laborers, childcare centers, fire and police stations,
hospitals, libraries, nursing homes, schools, and other needed
facilities.

In partnership with nonprofit organizations, Indian tribes, State and
Federal Government agencies, and local communities, Rural Development
creates packages of technical assistance and loan and grant funds. These
resources not only strengthen existing partnerships, but cultivate and
sustain relationships with borrowers and grantees as well.

**Rural Development Housing Program Tools**

Providing safe and affordable housing for low and moderate-income rural
Americans is central to Rural Development's mission. Quality housing
provides an economic benefit to communities and gives individuals and
families a sound footing, enabling their success.

The housing program delivers its services through direct and guaranteed
single-family home loans, self-help housing loans, loans and grants for
housing improvement and renovation, and housing preservation grants.
Rural rental housing loans allow for construction and renovation of
rental units for low-income residents in rural areas. Rental assistance
provides subsidized rent to low-income individuals, families, and
elderly resident occupants of USDA-financed rental properties.

Below are descriptions of primary housing programs. For more information
on any of these programs, contact your local Rural Development office,
State Rural Development office, or the nearest USDA Service Center. USDA
offices are generally listed in the telephone book under the Federal
Government headings: look for "U.S. Department of Agriculture."

*Single Family Housing Program*

The Single Family Housing Program offers two types of home-ownership
loans: guaranteed and direct. The purpose is to provide home ownership
opportunities to low- and moderate-income rural families and individuals
through financing---with no down payment and at favorable rates and
terms---either through a direct loan with the Single Family Housing
Program or with a loan from a private financial institution that is
guaranteed by the Housing Program. These loans are for the purchase,
construction, rehabilitation, or relocation of a home. Grants are also
available for home repair, rehabilitation, self-help technical
assistance, and other ventures. Here is a full list of programs in the
Single Family Housing Program:

-   Rural Housing Guaranteed Loans

-   Rural Housing Direct Loans

-   Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Loans

-   Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Grants

-   Self-Help Technical Assistance Grants

-   Mutual Self-Help Loans

-   Rural Housing Site Loans

-   Individual Water and Waste Grants

-   Housing Application Packaging Grants

Individual applicants are eligible if they meet income limits and other
eligibility requirements for the specific type of assistance requested.

*Multi-Family Housing Program*

This program is designed to increase the supply of affordable
multi-family housing through partnerships between Rural Development's
Housing Program and major lending sources, as well as State, tribal, and
local housing finance agencies and bond insurers. The program provides
effective new forms of financing for the development of affordable
multi-family housing. Following is a full list of programs in the
Multi-Family Housing Program:

-   [Farm Labor Housing Loans and
    Grants](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/mfh/brief_mfh_flh.htm)

-   [Rural Rental
    Housing](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/mfh/brief_mfh_rrh.htm)

-   [Housing Preservation
    Grant](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/mfh/brief_mfh_hpg.htm)

-   [Guaranteed Rental
    Housing](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/mfh/brief_mfh_grrh.htm)

-   [Rental Assistance
    Program](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/mfh/brief_mfh_rra.htm)

The applicant in the Guaranteed Rental Housing Program is the lender,
who will use the guarantee as a credit enhancement and so be more likely
to make the loan. The lender must be approved by the Housing Program or
HUD, or be a State Housing Finance agency. The projects must be located
in rural areas as defined by USDA Rural Development. Occupants must be
very-low-income, low-income, moderate-income, elderly, handicapped, or
disabled. Income may not exceed 115 percent of the area median income.

*Community Facilities Programs*

Community Facilities go hand in hand with economic development. For
rural towns and communities to succeed, they must have an affordable
means of providing water, sewerage and solid waste disposal, and
electric and telecommunications services. Communities are also enhanced
when they can obtain affordable financing for single-family and
multi-family housing and the schools, libraries, hospitals, fire
stations, and other facilities needed and desired by their residents.
Rural Development can assist in all these areas either directly through
our programs or indirectly by accurate referrals to partner agencies.

Rural Development's Community Facilities Program offers and coordinates
capacity building, technical assistance, and financing assistance for
rural communities and Indian tribes. It also delivers the agency's
Community Facilities Loan and Grant Programs, which can contribute
financing to local governments and nonprofits for buildings and/or
equipment related to essential community services such as education,
health care, libraries, and fire protection.

The Community Facilities Program administers programs designed to
finance and facilitate the development of essential community facilities
and services in rural areas. These facilities include hospitals,
clinics, elder care facilities, child care, fire and rescue stations,
police stations, community centers, public buildings, vocational and
medical rehabilitation centers, group homes, schools, educational and
cultural facilities, and public transportation.

The following table provides examples of projects that may be eligible
for essential community facilities under the Community Facilities Loan
and Grant Programs.

**Examples of Projects That May Be Eligible**

**For Essential Community Facilities**

Community Health Care

-   Dental Clinic

-   Nursing Home

-   Assisted Living Facility

-   Physicians Clinic

-   Boarding Home for the Elderly

-   Hospital (General and Surgical)

-   Medical Rehabilitation Center

-   Psychiatric Hospital

Outpatient Clinic

Cultural and Educational

-   All Purpose Buildings/College Campus

-   Colleges

-   Educational Camp for Physically and Mentally Challenged

-   Library

-   Museum

-   Outdoor Theatre

-   Public School

-   School Maintenance and Equipment Service Center

Vocational School

Energy Transmission and Distribution

-   Electric Equipment Maintenance Building

-   Low Head Hydro-Electric Facility

Natural Gas Distribution

Fire, Rescue, and Public Safety

-   Civil Defense Building

-   Communications Center

-   Fire Department Building

-   Fire Trucks

-   Jail

-   Mobile Communications Center

-   Multi-Service Fire/Rescue Building

-   Equipment Building

Jaws of Life

Community Support Buildings and Improvements

-   Adult Day Care Center

-   Child Day Care Center

-   City Hall

-   Community Health Department

-   County Office Building

-   Community Center

-   County Courthouse

-   Courthouse Annex

-   

-   Data Processing Center

-   Food Preparation Center

-   Food Storage and Distribution Center

-   Heating Plant for Public Buildings

-   Home for Delinquents

-   Public Maintenance Building

Transportation

> Airport Hanger
>
> Airport
>
> Bridge
>
> City Airport
>
> Municipal and County Garage
>
> Off-street Parking
>
> Municipal Dock

Special Transportation Equipment

> Sidewalks
>
> Street Improvements
>
> Infrastructure for Industrial Park
>
> Railroad
>
> Town Bus Service/Equipment
>
> Marina

Utility

> Telemedicine/Distance Learning

Natural Gas

Other

-   Agricultural Fairgrounds

-   Animal Shelter

-   Dike

-   Oceanfront Protection

-   Special Services Building

Sprinkler System

Direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants for eligible projects are
available to public entities such as tribal governments, municipalities,
counties, special-purpose districts, and nonprofit corporations. In
addition, applicants must have the legal authority to borrow and repay
loans, to pledge security of loans, and to construct, operate, and
maintain the facilities. They must also be financially sound and able to
organize and manage the facility effectively. Repayment of the loan must
be based on tax assessments, revenues, fees, or other sources of funds
sufficient for operation and maintenance, reserves, and debt retirement.

**Additional Information**

**Whom to Contact:** Housing Programs, National Office, USDA Rural
Development, Room 5014-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 0701,
Washington, DC 20250-0701 (telephone: 202-690-1533; TTY: 800-877-8339
\[Federal Information Relay Service\]; fax: 202-690-0500; Web site:
<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs>).

Housing Programs Centralized Servicing Center: P.O. Box 66889, St.
Louis, MO 63166 (telephone: 1-800/414-1226 \[toll free\]; TTY:
800-438-1832 \[toll free\]; fax: 314-206-2805).

**Administering Agency:** USDA Rural Development, Room 205-W, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 0107, Washington, DC 20250-0107
(telephone: 202-720-4581;\
TTY: 800-877-8339 \[Federal Information Relay Service\]; fax:
202-720-2080; Web site:
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)).

Rural Development programs are available across the Nation through 47
State offices and 800 area and local offices. Information on your
nearest Rural Development State Office can be accessed on the Rural
Development Web site
([http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)) at
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.

**Business and Cooperative Programs**

The mission of Rural Business and Cooperative Programs is "to enhance
the quality of life for rural Americans by providing leadership in
building competitive businesses, including sustainable cooperatives that
can prosper in the global marketplace." Rural Development meets these
goals by investing financial resources in and providing technical
assistance to businesses and cooperatives located in rural communities
and by establishing strategic alliances and partnerships that leverage
public, private, and cooperative resources to create jobs and stimulate
rural economic activity.

**Rural Development Business and**

**Cooperative Program Tools**

The Rural Business and Cooperative Programs deliver support through
business and industry loan guarantees, the Intermediary Relending
Program, Rural Business Enterprise Grants, and Rural Business
Opportunity Grants as well as through the cooperative program.

Promoting a dynamic business environment in rural America is the goal of
the Rural Development Business Programs (BP). BP works in partnership
with the private sector and community-based organizations to provide
financial assistance and business planning. It also helps fund projects
that create or preserve quality jobs and/or promote a clean rural
environment.

The financial resources of BP are often leveraged with those of other
public and private credit source lenders to meet business and credit
needs in underserved areas. Recipients of these programs may be
individuals, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, public bodies,
nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes, and private companies.

Below are descriptions of primary business programs. For more
information on any of these programs, contact your local Rural
Development office, State Rural Development office, or the nearest USDA
Service Center. USDA offices are generally listed in the telephone book
under the Federal Government headings: look for "U.S. Department of
Agriculture."

*Business and Industry Loan Guarantees*

 \
A central objective of Rural Development is to participate in the
improvement, development, or financing of business and industry and to
improve the employment and economic climate in rural communities. This
objective is achieved through bolstering the existing private credit
structure by providing up to 90 percent guarantees on quality loans to
provide lasting job creation and community benefits. It is not intended
that the guarantee authority be used for marginal or substandard loans
or to "bail out" lenders with such loans.

[**\
**](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nv/business/bid.htm)*Intermediary
Re-lending Program*

BP helps to finance business facilities and community development
projects in communities of 25,000 or less by making these loans to
nonprofit intermediaries, which in turn provide loans to businesses in a
rural area.

*Rural Business Enterprise Grants*

Rural Development can make rural business enterprise grants to Indian
tribes, public bodies, and nonprofits to assist small and emerging
private business enterprises. Funds may be used to conduct feasibility
studies, provide technical assistance, or establish a revolving loan
fund.

*Rural Business Opportunity Grants*

Rural Development can make rural business opportunity grants to Indian
tribes, public bodies, and nonprofits to promote economic development
initiatives in rural communities with exceptional needs. This is
accomplished by providing planning, technical assistance, and training.

*Rural Economic Development Loans*

To promote rural economic development and job creation projects, Rural
Development can provide a "zero interest" Rural Economic Development
loan to an electric or telephone utility that it finances.

*Rural Economic Development Grants*

Rural Development can provide grants from the business and cooperative
programs to rural communities through rural utilities borrowers. These
grants can be used for revolving loan funds, for community facilities
and infrastructure, and for assistance in conjunction with an REDL.

*Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program*

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the Farm Bill)
established the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency
Improvements Program under Title IX, Section 9006. This program
currently funds grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and
rural small businesses for assistance with purchasing renewable energy
systems and making energy efficiency improvements.

*Cooperatives Program Overview*

The mission of Rural Development's Cooperative Program is to promote
understanding and use of the cooperative form of business as a viable
organizational option for marketing and distributing agricultural
products. We serve cooperative members, directors, management,
educational institutions, organizations, rural residents, and all others
with an interest in the cooperative form of business. We strive to
assist them to use cooperatives effectively to improve their economic
well-being and quality of life.

Across the Nation, the Cooperative Program has assisted small
agricultural producers in forming business cooperatives to stabilize and
increase incomes. Other small business owners may find it beneficial to
form a cooperative for reasons such as shared marketing, supply
purchases, or research and development.

The Cooperative Program helps rural residents not only form new
cooperative businesses but also improve the operations of existing
cooperatives. To accomplish this, the program provides technical
assistance, conducts cooperative-related research, and produces
informational products to promote public understanding of cooperatives
and give a wide range of assistance to people interested in forming
cooperatives. This help varies from an initial feasibility study to the
creation and implementation of a business plan.

*Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program*

Rural Cooperative Development grants help establish and operate centers
for cooperative development, primarily to encourage development of new
cooperatives and improve operations of existing ones. The development of
effective cooperative organizations in rural America is an important
part of Rural Development's efforts.

*Value-Added Producer Grants*

Grants may be used for planning activities and for working capital for
marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable
energy. Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and
rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and
majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.

**Additional Information**

**Whom to Contact:** Business and Cooperative Programs, National Office,
USDA Rural Development, Room 5045-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail
Stop 3201, Washington, DC 20250-3201 (telephone: 202-690-4730; TTY:
800-877-8339 \[Federal Information Relay Service\]; fax: 202-690-4737;
Web site: <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs>).

**Administering Agency:** USDA Rural Development, Room 205-W, Mail Stop
0107, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0107
(telephone: 202-720-4581;\
TTY: 800-877-8339 \[Federal Information Relay Service\]; fax:
202-720-2080; Web site:
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)).

Rural Development programs are available across the Nation through 47
State offices and 800 area and local offices. Information on your
nearest Rural Development State Office can be accessed on the Rural
Development Web site
([http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)) at
<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html>.

**Community Development Programs**

Rural Development administers community development programs. Each
program and initiative promotes self-sustaining, long-term economic and
community development in rural areas. The programs demonstrate how every
rural community can achieve self-sufficiency through innovative and
comprehensive strategic plans developed and implemented at a grassroots
level. The programs stress continued local involvement and
decisionmaking that is supported by partnerships among private, public,
and nonprofit entities.

This effort promotes self-sustaining, long-term economic and community
development in areas of pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general
distress. The program works by helping distressed communities develop
and implement innovative, comprehensive strategic plans supported by
partnerships among private, public, and nonprofit entities. This
assistance is available through Rural Development field offices to rural
communities throughout the United States. The help includes technical
assistance and support in obtaining additional financial resources and
assistance in forging local and regional partnerships.

Rural Development's Community Development Programs offer three rural
community empowerment efforts: Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities
(EZ/EC), Champion Communities, and Rural Economic Area Partnership
Zones. The Community Development Programs office also administers the
State Rural Development Councils through the National Rural Development
Partnership.

Below are descriptions of primary community development programs. For
more information on any of these programs, contact your local Rural
Development office, State Rural Development office, or the nearest USDA
Service Center. USDA offices are generally listed in the telephone book
under the Federal Government headings: look for "U.S. Department of
Agriculture."

**Rural Community Empowerment Program**

**\
**The goal of the EZ/EC Program is to create empowered communities.
These communities are able to implement self-generated strategic plans
that solve economic and social challenges. The EZ/EC Program promotes
Federal, State, and local agencies working cooperatively and in
partnership with the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and
communities. Applications were accepted for this program in three
separate competitive funding rounds. Currently, applications are not
being accepted, and the last EZ/EC designations are set to expire in
2009.

**National Rural Development Partnership**

The National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP) builds collaborations
among key rural institutions, enabling them to work more effectively and
efficiently. The Partnership brings together partners from local, State,
tribal, and Federal governments and from the for-profit and nonprofit
sectors through State Rural Development Councils. Councils currently
operate in about 40 States.

NRDP acts as a nonpartisan forum for identifying, discussing, and acting
on issues affecting rural America. The Partnership does not supplant,
duplicate, or compete with any program, but rather facilitates
coordination and collaboration among its partners to improve
implementation of rural programs.

**Technical Assistance**

Technical assistance is provided to local communities and groups in
planning rural development activities, partnership building, and
essential community projects. Assistance often includes helping
communities inventory their resources and identify the resources of
others for local use. The program also offers support in obtaining
additional financial resources and assistance in forging local and
regional partnerships.

**Additional Information**

**Whom to Contact:** Community Development Programs, National Office,
USDA Rural Development, Room 266, 300 7th Street, SW, Mail Stop 3203,
Washington, DC 20250-3203 (telephone: 202-619-7980; TTY: 800-877-8339
\[Federal Information Relay Service\]; fax: 202- 401-7420; Web site:
<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ocd>).

**Administering Agency:** USDA Rural Development, Room 205-W, Mail Stop
0107, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0107
(telephone: 202-720-4581;\
TTY: 800- 877-8339 \[Federal Information Relay Service\]; fax:
202-720-2080; Web site:
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)).

Rural Development programs are available across the Nation through 47
State offices and 800 area and local offices. Information on your
nearest Rural Development State Office can be accessed on the Rural
Development Web site
([http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)) at
<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html>.

**Rural Development's Support of American Indian**

**and Alaska Native Customers**

Rural Development employs a Native American Coordinator in the National
Office in Washington, DC. Rural Development's Native American
Coordinator has five major roles:

1.  To provide policy and program guidance to key agency personnel as it
    relates to the delivery of programs and resources to American Indian
    and Alaska Native clients.

2.  To represent Rural Development in reaching out to Indian tribes,
    tribal officials, and advocacy organizations.

3.  To coordinate policies and initiatives with other Federal agencies,
    financing institutions, and constituency groups.

4.  To oversee and manage data analysis and research on American Indian
    and Alaska Native issues.

5.  To initiate training initiatives and provide direct training to all
    Rural Development staff on a breadth of Native American issues.

Rural Development also has a Native American Coordinator in each State
that has a Federal- or State-recognized Indian tribe within its borders.
The primary role of the individuals in these field positions is to
coordinate the outreach efforts of Rural Development with the Indian
tribes within their respective States.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** Tedd Buelow, Acting Native American Coordinator,
USDA Rural Development, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Stop 3250,
Washington, DC 20250 (telephone: 202-690-1681; fax: 202-205-3215).

#### You may find more information on Rural Development opportunities and activities with tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal members on Rural Development's Web site for American Indian and Alaskan Native customers ([**http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/aian**](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/aian)). The Web site also includes a State-by-State directory of American Indian and Alaska Native Program Information AI/AN Coordinators.

**Administering Agency:** USDA Rural Development, Room 205-W, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 0107, Washington, DC 20250-0107
(telephone: 202-720-4581;\
TTY: 800-877-8339 \[Federal Information Relay Service\]; fax:
202-720-2080; Web site:
[http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)).

Rural Development programs are available across the Nation through 47
State offices and 800 area and local offices. Information on your
nearest Rural Development State Office can be accessed on the Rural
Development Web site
([http://www.rurdev.usda.gov](http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/)) at
<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html>.

**5. Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services**

USDA's Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) mission area works
to harness the Nation's agricultural abundance to improve nutrition and
health in the United States. FNCS ensures access to nutritious,
healthful diets for all Americans, including American Indian
communities.

Through its nutrition assistance and nutrition education programs for
consumers, FNCS encourages consumers to make healthful food
choices. Today, rather than simply providing food, FNCS works to empower
consumers with knowledge of the link between diet and health and with
dietary guidance based on research.

**Benefits to American Indian and**

**Alaska Native Tribes**

Through FNCS' Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and Center for Nutrition
Policy and Promotion (CNPP), three types of programs provide benefits to
American Indian and Alaska Native tribes:

1\. American Indians or Indian tribes are included among designated
beneficiaries of the Food Stamp Program, the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

> Provisions of the law (or regulations, in the case of CSFP) routinely
> permit Indian Tribal Organizations to administer the CSFP and WIC,
> where appropriate.
>
> All low-income households, including American Indian households, may
> be eligible for the Food Stamp Program, while low-income households
> with pregnant and postpartum women and their infants and young
> children may also be eligible for WIC or CSFP. CSFP also serves the
> elderly.

2\. Designed to benefit entire communities, the Food Distribution
Program on Indian Reservations serves low-income households living on
Indian reservations and low-income American Indian households living in
approved service areas near reservations or in Oklahoma.

3\. Programs not specifically naming American Indians or Indian tribes
as beneficiaries do nevertheless benefit them. These include the
following child nutrition programs: the National School Lunch Program,
the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the
Special Milk Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. Children who
participate in the Food Stamp Program or the Food Distribution Program
on Indian Reservations, described in this guide, are automatically
eligible to receive free meals or free milk under these programs.

In addition, FNS provides surplus commodities, as available, to needy
people in charitable institutions, and to States, Indian Tribal
Organizations, and elderly nutrition projects under the Older Americans
Act.

FNS also donates food to needy persons in declared areas through
disaster relief agencies.

**Food and Nutrition Service**

The Food and Nutrition Service seeks to improve the quality of
nutritional intake, increase food security, and reduce hunger in
partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and
low-income people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition
education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires
public confidence.

FNS also administers the nutrition assistance programs of USDA. The
mission of FNS is to provide children and needy families better access
to food and a more healthful diet through its nutrition assistance
programs and comprehensive nutrition education efforts. FNS has elevated
nutrition and nutrition education to a top priority in all its programs.
In addition to providing access to nutritious food, FNS also works to
empower program participants with knowledge of the link between diet and
health.

**FNS Programs**

FNS was established as a separate agency on August 8, 1969, although
many of the nutrition assistance programs long predated it. The Food
Stamp Program, now the cornerstone of USDA's nutrition assistance, began
in its modern form in 1961. It originated in the Food Stamp Plan to help
the needy in the 1930s.

The National School Lunch Program also has its roots in Depression-era
efforts to help children. The Needy Family Program, which evolved into
the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, was the primary
means of food assistance for low-income Americans during the Great
Depression.

Above all, FNS is an action-oriented agency that works with other
Federal and State agencies, Indian tribes, agricultural interests, and
the general public to carry out its mission. FNS nutrition assistance
programs provide a safety net to help the most vulnerable in our society
meet their nutritional needs.

FNS strives, through its programs, to empower all consumers with
knowledge of the link between diet and health and to encourage consumers
to make healthful food choices through nutrition education and promotion
activities. The goal is to continue a long history of helping families
and individuals secure a nutritious diet and to build on this success
with targeted improvements in three areas---increasing program access,
promoting better eating habits, and strengthening stewardship of
taxpayer dollars.

Primary FNS programs that are federally funded through FNS but
administered at the State and local levels are described below. For
national, State, and local contacts for each of the programs, contact
the Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 926,
Alexandria, VA 22302 (telephone: 703-305-2062).

You may also obtain local office information about an FNS field or
satellite office on the FNS Web site
([http://www.fns.usda.gov](http://www.fns.usda.gov/)), or you may wish
to contact an FNS Regional Office near you (to access a listing of FNS
Regional Offices, select "Contact Us" on the FNS Web site). USDA offices
are generally listed in the telephone book under the Federal Government
headings: look for "U.S. Department of Agriculture." You can also find
contact information on the FNS Web site
([http://www.fns.usda.gov](http://www.fns.usda.gov/)) for the State
agencies that administer the programs.

**Food Distribution Program**

**on Indian Reservations**

The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) provides
commodity foods to low-income households living on Indian reservations
and to low-income American Indian households residing in approved
service areas near reservations or in Oklahoma. Many households
participate in the FDPIR as an alternative to the Food Stamp Program
because they do not have easy access to food stamp offices or authorized
food stores.

FNS administers this program at the Federal level. Locally, Indian
Tribal Organizations or an agency of a State government are in charge.
Currently, there are approximately 90,000 people participating monthly
in FDPIR in 257 tribes administered through 98 Indian Tribal
Organizations and 5 State agencies.

In this program, USDA purchases commodities to ship to the Indian Tribal
Organizations and State agencies. The commodities are selected from a
list of available foods. The administering agencies store and distribute
the food, determine applicant eligibility, and provide nutrition
education to recipients. USDA provides the administering agencies with
funds for program administrative costs.

Low-income American Indian and non-Indian households that reside on a
reservation, and low-income households living in approved service areas
near a reservation or in Oklahoma and containing at least one person who
is a member of a federally recognized tribe, are eligible to participate
in FDPIR. The income threshold is 100 percent of the poverty level or
below. Households are certified based on income and resource standards
set by the Federal Government and must be recertified at least every 12
months. Households may not participate in FDPIR and the Food Stamp
Program in the same month. For more information, e-mail FDPIR at
<fdd-psb@fns.usda.gov> to request a factsheet.

**Food Stamp Program**

The Food Stamp Program (FSP) provides low-income households with
benefits on an electronic card that they can use to purchase approved
foods at most grocery stores to ensure that they have access to a
healthful diet. FSP, which is the cornerstone of the Federal food
assistance programs, provides crucial support to needy households and to
those making the transition from welfare to work. FSP is currently
serving about 26 million people, including nearly 400,000 Native
Americans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers FSP at the Federal level
through FNS. State agencies administer the program at State and local
levels, determining eligibility, allotments, and distribution of
benefits.

Households must meet eligibility requirements and provide
information---and verification---regarding their household
circumstances. U.S. citizens and some immigrants who are admitted for
permanent residency may qualify. The statute limits benefits for
unemployed, able-bodied, childless adults.

Local food stamp offices can provide information about eligibility. Most
States also have a toll-free information and/or hotline number. USDA
operates a toll-free number (800-221-5689) for people wishing to receive
information about FSP. Income eligibility is set at 130 percent of
poverty, based on the number of persons in the household. There is also
a limit on household resources and certain nonfinancial eligibility
criteria. The Office of Management and Budget establishes Federal
poverty guidelines, and the Department of Health and Human Services
updates the income figures annually.

**Special Supplemental Nutrition Program**

**for Women, Infants, and Children**

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC) serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant,
breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5
who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement
diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care at no
cost. Participants must meet income guidelines and a State residency
requirement and must be individually determined to be at "nutritional
risk" by a health professional.

To be eligible on the basis of income, applicants' gross income (i.e.,
before taxes are withheld) must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S.
Poverty Income Guidelines. Participation in certain other benefit
programs, such as the Food Stamp Program, or participation of a family
member in Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,
automatically causes the applicant to meet the income eligibility
requirement.

WIC is not an entitlement program in that Congress does not set aside
funds to allow every eligible individual to participate in the program.
Instead, WIC is a Federal grant program for which Congress authorizes a
specific amount of funding each year for program operations.

FNS administers the program at the Federal level and provides funds to
WIC State agencies (State health departments or comparable agencies) to
pay for WIC foods, nutrition counseling and education, and
administrative costs. Indian Tribal Organizations, bands, groups, or
their authorized representatives that are recognized by the Bureau of
Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior or the appropriate
area office of the Indian Health Service of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services may also serve as WIC State agencies. The
program is available in all 50 States, 34 Indian Tribal Organizations,
the District of Columbia, and American Territories. These 90 WIC State
agencies administer the program through 2,200 local agencies and 9,000
clinic sites for 8.1 million participants, including about 130,000
Native Americans.

**Child and Adult Care Food Program**

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) plays a vital role in
improving the quality of day care by making it more affordable for
low-income providers and by encouraging centers to serve nutritious
meals to eligible children attending day care. Children receive
nutritious meals and snacks for which providers receive reimbursements
through CACFP.

The program also provides meals and snacks to adults who receive care in
nonresidential adult day care centers. CACFP reaches even further to
provide meals to children residing in homeless shelters, as well as
snacks and suppers to youths participating in eligible after-school care
programs.

**Commodity Supplemental Food Program**

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) works to improve the
health of low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, other new mothers
up to 1 year postpartum, infants, children up to age 6, and elderly
people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with
nutritious USDA commodity foods. CSFP provides food and administrative
funds to administering States and Indian Tribal Organizations to
supplement the diets of these groups.

**WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program**

Associated with WIC, the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program was
established by Congress in 1992 to provide fresh, unprepared, locally
grown fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets to WIC participants.
The program was also established to expand the awareness of, and sales
at, farmers' markets. Each State agency is responsible for authorizing
individual farmers, farmers' markets, or both. Currently, 45 State
agencies and 5 Indian Tribal Organizations administer the FMNP.

**Food Assistance for Disaster Relief**

FNS also has the primary responsibility of supplying food to disaster
relief organizations such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army for
mass feeding or household distribution. Disaster organizations request
food and nutrition assistance through State agencies that administer
USDA's nutrition assistance programs. State agencies notify USDA of the
types and quantities of food that relief organizations need for
emergency feeding operations.

**National School Lunch Program**

Under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), participating school
districts and independent schools receive cash reimbursements and
donated commodities from USDA for each meal they serve. In return, they
must serve lunches that meet Federal requirements, and they must offer
free or reduced-price lunches to eligible low-income children. School
districts can also be reimbursed for snacks served to children through
age 18 in after-school educational or enrichment programs.

**School Breakfast Program**

The School Breakfast Program operates in the same manner as NSLP. School
districts and independent schools that choose to take part in the
breakfast program receive cash reimbursement from USDA for each meal
they serve. In return, they must serve breakfasts that meet Federal
requirements, and they must offer free or reduced-price breakfasts to
eligible children.

**Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program**

This program awards grants to States, U.S. Territories, and federally
recognized Indian tribal governments to provide low-income seniors with
coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets,
roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs.

**Special Milk Program**

Under the Special Milk Program, participating schools and institutions
receive reimbursement from USDA for each half-pint of milk served. They
must operate their milk programs on a nonprofit basis. They agree to use
the Federal reimbursement to reduce the cost of milk to all children.

**Summer Food Service Program**

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free, nutritious meals
and snacks to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they
need to learn, play, and grow during school vacations. Children who are
age 18 and under, and people over age 18 who are determined by a State
educational agency to have a mental or physical disability, may receive
meals through the SFSP when school is out. SFSP meals are accessible to
children through local sponsors who provide meals at feeding sites such
as schools, community centers, parks, churches, pools, housing projects,
playgrounds, migrant centers, or Indian reservations.

**The Emergency Food Assistance Program**

Under The Emergency Food Assistance Program, FNS provides administrative
funds and commodity foods to States. The States provide the food to
local agencies that they have selected, usually food banks, which, in
turn, distribute the food to soup kitchens and food pantries that
directly serve the public. States also "pass-through" at least 40
percent of the administrative funds to help support the storage and
distribution of the commodities at the local level.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** For national, State, and local contacts for each of
the programs, contact the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park
Center Drive, Room 926, Alexandria, VA 22302 (telephone: 703-305-2062).

You may also obtain local office information about an FNS field or
satellite office on the FNS Web site
([http://www.fns.usda.gov](http://www.fns.usda.gov/)), or you may wish
to contact an FNS Regional Office near you. (To access a listing of FNS
Regional Offices, select "Contact Us" on the FNS Web site.) USDA offices
are generally listed in the telephone book under the Federal Government
headings: look for "U.S. Department of Agriculture." You can also find
contact information on the FNS Web site
([http://www.fns.usda.gov](http://www.fns.usda.gov/)) for the State
agencies that administer the programs.

**Administering Agency:** Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center
Drive, Room 926, Alexandria, VA 22302 (telephone: 703-305-2062; Web
site: http://www.fns.usda.gov).

**Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion**

The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) was created in USDA
on December 1, 1994. Its mission is to improve the health of Americans
by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific
research to the nutrition needs of consumers.

CNPP is responsible for the *Dietary Guidelines for Americans,*
MyPyramid, the Thrifty Food Plan, and the Interactive Healthy Eating
Index, which are the core of nutrition promotion in FNS' nutrition
assistance programs. The Center uses these and other tools to promote
nutrition to all Americans. CNPP reports to the Office of the Under
Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services.

The staff at CNPP is composed primarily of nutritionists, nutrition
scientists, dietitians, economists, and policy experts who help to
define and coordinate nutrition education policy within USDA and to
translate nutrition research into information and materials for
consumers, policymakers, and professionals in health, education,
industry, and the news media.

CNPP carries out its mission to improve the health of Americans by
advancing and promoting food and nutrition guidance for all Americans,
assessing diet quality, and advancing consumer, nutrition, and food
economic knowledge.

The Center is best known for the MyPyramid food guidance system as well
as for its work on the *Dietary Guidelines for Americans.* The Center
can be accessed online at
[http://www.MyPyramid.gov](http://www.MyPyramid.gov/) and
[http://www.cnpp.usda.gov](http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/).

CNPP publishes a variety of dietary guidance materials in addition to
the annual report "Expenditures on Children by Families." In conjunction
with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Center
publishes the *Dietary Guidelines for Americans.* The Center also
maintains and updates the Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plan
as well as the Thrifty Food Plan, which serves as the nutritional basis
for determination of Food Stamp Program benefits.

**CNPP Projects**

*Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005*

The *Dietary Guidelines for Americans* are the foundation of Federal
nutrition policy and nutrition education activities. The *Dietary
Guidelines* are issued by USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services and are updated every 5 years. The most recent *Dietary
Guidelines* were issued in January 2005.

*MyPyramid*

MyPyramid, released in April 2005, replaces the original Food Guide
Pyramid. MyPyramid is a widely recognized nutrition education tool that
translates nutritional recommendations into the kinds and amounts of
food to eat each day. MyPyramid stresses the importance of moderation,
personalization, proportionality, variety, activity, and gradual
improvement.

*MyPyramid for Kids*

MyPyramid for Kids, released in September 2005, replaces the Food Guide
Pyramid for Young Children and is an adaptation of MyPyramid. The tool
is designed to simplify educational messages and focus on young
children's food preferences and nutritional requirements.

MyPyramid for Kids contains an online game for children, the Blast Off
game, which allows children to learn how to build a healthy diet while
attempting to "blast off" to Planet Power.

*MyPyramid Tracker*

MyPyramid Tracker is an online dietary and physical activity assessment
tool that provides information on your diet quality and physical
activity status as well as related nutrition messages and links to
nutrient and physical activity information. The Food Calories/Energy
Balance feature automatically calculates your energy balance by
subtracting the energy you expend in physical activity from your food
calories/energy intake.

Use of this tool helps you better understand your energy balance status
and enhances the link between good nutrition and regular physical
activity. MyPyramid Tracker translates the principles of the *2005
Dietary Guidelines for Americans* and other nutrition standards
developed by USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
into information for the individual user.

*My Pyramid Plan*

MyPyramid Plan is an online dietary assessment tool that provides
information on diet quality and physical activity status. By entering
age, gender, and physical activity-level information, you can determine
the amount of food you should eat from each food group.

*USDA Food Plans*

The Thrifty, Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Plans each represent a
nutritious diet at a different cost. The Thrifty Food Plan is used as
the basis for food stamp benefits.

*Interactive Healthy Eating Index*

The USDA Healthy Eating Index is a summary measure of overall diet
quality. It provides a picture of the type and quantity of foods people
eat and the degree to which diets comply with specific dietary
recommendations. CNPP has developed an interactive version of the
Healthy Eating Index, the IHEI, which can be accessed on the Internet to
assess a person's diet.

*The Nutrient Content of the U.S. Food Supply*

The Nutrient Content of the U.S. Food Supply is a historical data
series, which began in 1909, on the amounts of nutrients available for
consumption on a per person/per day basis. An interactive version of
this series allows users to query nutrient and pyramid servings
information online.

*Expenditures on Children by Families*

Expenditures on Children by Families provide estimates of the cost of
raising children from birth through age 17. USDA has provided these
estimates since 1960, and they are used in developing State child
support guidelines, foster care payments, and family educational
programs. The expenditure estimates are provided for major components of
the budget (e.g., housing, transportation, clothing, and food) by age of
the child, family income, and region of residence.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, USDA,
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1034, Alexandria, VA 22302-1594 (telephone:
703-305-7600; fax: 703-305-3300; Web site:
[http://www.cnpp.usda.gov](http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/)). Information on
the MyPyramid food guidance system is accessible at
[http://www.MyPyramid.gov](http://www.MyPyramid.gov/).

**Administering Agency:** Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion,
USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1034, Alexandria, VA 22302-1594
(telephone: 703-305-7600; fax: 703-305-3300; Web sites:
[http://www.cnpp.usda.gov](http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/) and
[http://www.MyPyramid.gov](http://www.MyPyramid.gov/)).

**6. Food Safety**

USDA's Food Safety mission area ensures that the Nation's commercial
supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and
properly labeled and packaged. This mission area also plays a key role
in the President's Council on Food Safety and has been instrumental in
coordinating a national food safety strategic plan among various partner
agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This section provides an
overview of the Department's food safety activities and organizations.

**Food Safety and Inspection Service**

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is USDA's primary food
safety agency. It regulates processors and importers of meat, poultry,
and egg products and is responsible for ensuring that the Nation's
commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome,
and correctly labeled and packaged. FSIS is a valuable resource for
those operating or wishing to establish food processing facilities.

To meet the increased demand from the American Indian and Alaska Native
community for a healthier diet consisting of traditional native foods
and to increase economic development, many tribes are developing
business plans to establish reservation-based processing facilities. A
few tribes are currently producing and retailing meat products, while
others are in the development phase. Tribes contemplating the
development of slaughter, processing, and retail facilities for meat,
poultry, and egg products on Indian lands should first contact the FSIS
Office of Field Operations and request information on regulatory and
food safety requirements as well as on available technical assistance.

FSIS has a variety of other programs offering assistance to enhance food
safety and public health---farm-to-table---that may be of interest to
tribal communities.

**Background**

FSIS' principal authorities include the Federal Meat Inspection Act
(FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, *et. seq.)*, the Poultry Products Inspection Act
(PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, *et. seq.),* and the Egg Products Inspection Act
(EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 103, *et. seq.*).

The Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service reports to
the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety and is responsible
for food safety and inspection regulations, policies, and programs. FSIS
has more than 9,000 professional, scientific, and technical personnel
assigned to approximately 6,300 inspected establishments, approximately
130 import stations, the Technical Service Center, and headquarters
locations. The Under Secretary also chairs the U.S. Codex Steering
Committee, which provides guidance concerning international food
standards to U.S. delegations to the international Codex Alimentarius
Commission.

FSIS offers information and assistance in five major areas:

-   Regulations and Inspection of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products.

-   Food Safety Support Programs.

-   Food Safety Education and Outreach.

-   Food and Agriculture Defense.

-   Technical Assistance, Cooperative Agreements and Training.

**Regulations and Inspection of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products**

FSIS deals with both Federal and State regulations and inspection
programs, as described below.

*Federal Inspection Programs*

Under authority of the Federal Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
Inspection Acts, FSIS inspects and monitors all meat, poultry, and egg
products sold in interstate and foreign commerce to ensure that products
are safe and otherwise in compliance with regulatory requirements. The
1996 Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) final rule is in effect in all meat and poultry slaughter and
processing establishments. HACCP requires in-plant systems to prevent
problems before they occur.

FSIS provides inspection at approximately 6,300 plants that slaughter
cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks,
guineas, ratites, and squabs, as well as plants that process a wide
range of products including hams, sausage, stews, eggs, and frozen
dinners. Fifteen district offices coordinate inspection throughout the
country.

In addition, FSIS regulates related commercial activities to ensure that
meat, poultry, and egg products sold commercially are safe, wholesome,
and properly labeled and packaged. The agency conducts compliance
reviews of federally inspected or exempted products at warehouses,
distributors, retail stores, etc., and inspects imported products
through a comprehensive system of import controls. FSIS collaborates
with States, the Food and Drug Administration, and other Federal
agencies on issues that cross jurisdictional lines.

Additional information is available on the FSIS Web site
([http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations & policies/Federal Inspection
Programs](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations & policies/Federal Inspection Programs)).

*State Inspection Programs*

FSIS has cooperative agreements with 28 States that operate their own
meat and poultry inspection (MPI) programs. Establishments producing
products for sale only within a State with its own MPI program have the
option to apply for State inspection.

Under an agreement with FSIS, State programs must enforce requirements
"at least equal to" those imposed under the Federal Inspection Acts. In
exchange, FSIS provides approximately \$43 million annually to support
State MPI programs.

State MPI programs are an integral part of the Nation's food safety
system. They inspect about 2,100 meat and poultry establishments. All of
these establishments are small or very small businesses.

Additional information is available on the FSIS Web site
([http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations & policies/state inspection
programs](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations & policies/state inspection programs)).

**Import and Export**

The FSIS Office of International Affairs (OIA) manages international
food safety activities. Imports are permitted only from countries
determined by FSIS to have inspection programs that apply standards
equivalent to those of USDA.

In addition, FSIS reinspects imported meat, poultry, and egg products at
ports of entry. After the requirements of the U.S. Customs Service and
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are met, shipments
imported into the United States must be reinspected by FSIS at an
approved import inspection facility. FSIS has about 75 inspectors who
carry out reinspection in approximately 125 official import
establishments.

FSIS assists exporters by publishing the import requirements of other
countries and provides certifications as needed. For most countries, all
USDA federally authorized meat, poultry, and egg product establishments
are eligible to export provided that all requirements of the receiving
country are met. Some countries, including the European Union, require
U.S. establishments to be approved, registered, and/or reviewed prior to
export.

Because other countries' requirements vary, exporters should first
consult the export requirements for a specific country. This information
is obtained by FSIS through direct, government-to-government
communication with country officials and is posted on the FSIS Web site.

Export requirements are generally organized under the following
headings:

-   Product Eligibility

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-   Labeling

-   Processing Requirements

-   Documentation

-   Other Requirements

-   Plant Eligibility

Once an establishment is approved for export to a particular country,
exporters may export their products and, where required, are added to
the list of Eligible U.S. Establishments. These lists change frequently
as new plants are added or changes occur in a plant number or name.
Foreign countries may periodically audit establishments exporting to
them.

**Food Safety Education and Outreach**

The Office of Public Affairs, Education and Outreach (OPAEO) is the
public and community relations arm of FSIS. OPAEO is responsible for
communicating with three main audiences: Congress, the media, and
constituents.

Additionally, OPAEO handles executive correspondence and ensures
compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act.
Constituent outreach is focused primarily on consumers, industry
(especially small businesses), and other government agencies with which
FSIS cooperates on food safety.

*Consumer Education*

The Food Safety Education Staff (FSES) educates consumers about the
importance of safe food handling and how to prevent foodborne illnesses.
Available educational programs that can be found on the FSIS website
([http://www.fsis.usda.gov](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/)) include the
following:

-   *The Meat and Poultry Hotline,* which provides information on safe
    food storage, handling, and preparation; product dating and
    labeling; and other topics.

-   *Fight BAC!™---*a food safety education campaign of the Partnership
    for Food Safety Education, a nonprofit organization representing all
    aspects of the food industry as well as government and consumers.
    Fight BAC!™ strives to educate consumers on four simple steps they
    can take to fight foodborne bacteria and reduce their risk of
    foodborne illness. Further information is accessible on the Fight
    BAC!™ Web site
    ([http://www.fightbac.org](http://www.fightbac.org/)).

-   *Is It Done Yet? ---*provides information about cooking. By using a
    food thermometer to check whether meat, poultry, or egg dishes are
    done, you can prevent overcooking and eliminate guesswork. *Thermy,*
    FSIS' thermometer mascot, encourages checking temperatures.
    Information on the *Is It Done Yet?* campaign can be requested by
    e-mailing FSIS
    ([IsItDoneYet@fsis.usda.gov](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/contact_us/Email_Form/index.asp?rcpt=isitdoneyet@fsis.usda.gov)).

-   *Ask Karen---*a "virtual" food safety representative answers online
    questions from the public about the prevention of foodborne illness
    as well as the safe handling, preparation, and storage of meat,
    poultry, and egg products, drawing upon an extensive database of
    food safety information.

-   *USDA Food Safety Mobile---*an eye-catching education and outreach
    vehicle that has reached millions of consumers with food safety
    messages. Information on the USDA Food Safety Mobile is available by
    e-mailing FSIS
    ([foodsafetymobile@fsis.usda.gov](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/contact_us/Email_Form/index.asp?rcpt=foodsafetymobile@fsis.usda.gov)).

-   *Meat and Poultry Hotline---*The hotline (1-888-MPHotline or
    1-888-674-6854; TTY: 1-800-256-7072; e-mail:
    <Mphotline.fsis@usda.gov>) is used to answer consumer food safety
    questions and provide support for food safety educators and
    communicators. For further information, contact the Food Safety
    Education Staff (301-504-0195).

**Outreach to Industry and Regulatory Partners**

The Office of Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships, and Outreach Staff
(SIPO) seeks to promote understanding and support of agency regulations
and policies with key constituencies, partners, and the public. It
provides informational materials and programs to field personnel, small
and very small inspected establishments, and inspection-exempt meat and
poultry operations. SIPO also coordinates the activities of the National
Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection.

SIPO provides technical guidance and outreach assistance to Federal,
State, and tribal government partners and to underserved populations.
Through universities and USDA Extension around the country, staff
members arrange for training and technical assistance for small and very
small plants that may need assistance with their HACCP and related food
safety programs. FSIS has provided a network of HACCP contacts and
coordinators in all 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands. Additional information is accessible on the FSIS Web
site (<http://www.fsis.usda.gov/business>).

**Food and Agricultural Defense**

The Nation's food safety and agriculture defense strategy is an FSIS
responsibility. The agency works closely in this area with Federal,
State, tribal, and other partners, including the Food and Drug
Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control,
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. Additional information is accessible on the FSIS Web site
([http://www.fsis.usda.gov/about fsis/Associated Agencies &
Partners).](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/about fsis/Associated Agencies & Partners). )

FSIS' Office of Food Defense and Emergency Response (OFDER) prepares for
and coordinates responses to acts and events threatening the U.S. food
supply. With support from the Office of Public Health Service, OFDER
coordinates all homeland security activities to ensure that
policymakers, management, scientists, and field staff are prepared to
respond to and recover from emergencies resulting from non-intentional
as well as intentional contamination or disasters that may affect
domestic meat, poultry, and egg production. OFDER conducts public food
security education, awareness, and deterrence activities.

The OPHS Food Emergency Response Network Division works with OFDER and
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug
Administration to expand and manage an existing group of more than 90
Federal, State, and local laboratories with the capability to detect and
identify biological, chemical, and radiological agents in food.

OFDER can provide food defense training and information to Indian tribes
with meat, poultry, and egg processing facilities and other food
operations. This training can teach tribes how to deter attacks on the
food supply by assessing vulnerabilities and implementing food security
plans. OFDER has also developed a number of guidelines, listed below, on
food defense.

Printed information available from FSIS includes *Food Security
Guidelines for Food Processors;* *Safety and Security Guidelines for the
Transportation and Distribution of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products; Food
Safety and Food Security: What Consumers Need to Know; FSIS Model Food
Security Plans;* and *[Industry Self-Assessment Checklist for Food
Security](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Self_Assessment_Checklist_Food_Security.pdf).*

Information is also available on the FSIS Web site
([http://www.fsis.usda.gov](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/); select Food
Safety and Emergency Preparedness). The FSIS Washington, D.C., contact
is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Food Defense and
Emergency Response (202-720-5643).

**Technical Assistance, Cooperative Agreements, and Training**

*Technical Assistance*

The FSIS Technical Service Center, located in Omaha, Nebraska, provides
technical guidance and information on the interpretation and application
of regulatory requirements. It also designs systems, methods,
guidelines, and procedures for reviewing foreign, State, and domestic
programs.

For additional information, contact the FSIS Technical Service Center
(telephone: 402-344-5000; fax: 402-344-5005; hotline: 1-800-233-3935;
e-mail: <TechCenter@fsis.usda.gov>).

*Cooperative Agreements*

FSIS continually seeks out new ideas and strategies to reduce the
incidence of food-borne illnesses associated with meat, poultry, and egg
products.  The agency strengthens its public health capabilities and
support for food safety innovation through the funding of cooperative
agreements in five specific areas:

-   Food animal production, transportation, and marketing.

-   Technical materials for small and very small federally and
    State-inspected establishments.

-   Retail stores, food service establishments, and other
    inspection-exempt enterprises subject to State, local, or tribal
    regulations that process or otherwise handle meat, poultry, and egg
    products.

-   New technology cooperative agreements, which are used to encourage
    the development of new methodologies to keep pace with emerging
    technologies.

-   Enhancement of the laboratory testing capability of the Food
    Emergency Response Network for microbiological threat agents, and
    integration of data from Federal, State, or local levels to enhance
    and improve detection of public health hazards.

Materials produced under these agreements are made available for public
use.

Funding opportunities are announced and published through the Federal
Register, the FSIS Constituent Update, and the FSIS Web site. Public
awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is
important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the public and in
particular minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of
this notice, FSIS announces it online on the FSIS Web site
(<http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations>).

*Training*

Using the latest in technology and the assistance of regional trainers
and Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis Officers, FSIS provides a
wide variety of training on food safety and food defense to its widely
dispersed and diverse audiences. Although most FSIS training activity is
focused on FSIS employees, training materials used for the training of
agency personnel are available to State and local regulators and are of
interest to members of the meat and poultry industry in developing their
own training programs. FSIS provides information to producers and
agricultural businesses to help them maintain compliance with federally
defined regulations for their establishments.

Notable training programs include:

**Food Safety Regulatory Essentials Training**---This training teaches
how inspectors verify that an establishment's HACCP and other systems
are effective. The training covers the Rules of Practice; Sanitation
Performance Standards; Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures; HACCP
verification; Pathogen Reduction; and Food Safety Sampling.

**Entry Training for the Public Health Veterinarian**---FSIS has
tailored this training program to prepare the Public Health Veterinarian
to work as part of an in-plant team in establishments that slaughter
various animal species and process various types of food products.

**Enforcement Investigation and Analysis Training**---This training
focuses on enacting and documenting administrative enforcement action in
cases involving the violation of food safety requirements. FSIS has
trainers assigned to five regional training centers who provide
enforcement, investigation, and analysis training for FSIS Consumer
Safety Officers, Public Health Veterinarians, and Compliance Officers.

[**Slaughter Inspection
Training**](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Employees/Slaughter_Inspection_Training/index.asp)---Slaughter
inspection training provides basic information that covers the
regulatory environment, ante and post mortem inspection, and
professionalism and provides a food security overview, a HACCP overview,
and other types of information needed by the online inspector. There are
two versions of this training---poultry or livestock---depending on the
employee's assignment.

**Other Online Training and Resources**---To centralize food safety
news, information, and training for various government agencies, the
[www.foodsafety.gov](http://www.foodsafety.gov/) Web site was developed.
The site contains current news and information for the Food Safety and
Inspection Service, the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug
Administration, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Further
information is available on the FSIS Web site
([http://www.foodsafety.gov](http://www.foodsafety.gov/)).

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** *The Meat and Poultry Hotline* (1-888-MPHotline or
1-888-674-6854; TTY: 1-800-256-7072; e-mail: <Mphotline.fsis@usda.gov>);
Assistant Administrator for the Office of Food Defense and Emergency
Response (202-720-5643); FSIS Technical Service Center (telephone:
402-344-5000; fax: 402-344-5005; hotline: 1-800-233-3935; e-mail:
<TechCenter@fsis.usda.gov>).

Federal Relay Service: Federal Relay Service Communication Assistants
act as intermediaries for telecommunications between hearing individuals
and individuals who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, and/or have
speech disabilities. Call 1-800-877-8339 (TTY).

**Administering Agency:** Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone: 202/720-7025;
Web site: [http://www.fsis.usda.gov](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/)).

**7. Research, Education, and Economics**

The Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area is dedicated
to the creation of a safe, sustainable, competitive U.S. food and fiber
system as well as strong communities, families, and youth through
integrated research, analysis, and education.

REE provides Federal leadership for the discovery and dissemination of
science-based knowledge to address the wide-ranging problems and
opportunities that come under the broad heading of food and agriculture.
The public increasingly expects sound science, accurate data, and
objective analysis to be an integral part of public decisionmaking.

Building on the extraordinary possibilities of cutting-edge research and
new technologies, REE is more capable than ever of delivering
environmentally and economically sound solutions to new challenges in
production agriculture, food safety, and nutrition. It is also well
positioned to ensure that new knowledge and technologies generated by
the REE agencies are transferred to the farmers, ranchers, consumers,
food processors, and others who will use them.

REE consists of the Agricultural Research Service; the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service; the Economic Research
Service; the National Agricultural Library; and the National
Agricultural Statistics Service. These agencies provide leadership and
overall guidance in shaping the food and agricultural research agenda
for the Nation, bringing together and listening to the research and
stakeholder community regarding common interests and concerns.

The REE agencies work with other agencies across all facets of
government and research organizations across the country. They conduct
programs spanning the biological, physical, and social sciences related
to agricultural research, economic analysis, statistics, outreach, and
higher education.

Since its inception, the REE mission area and agencies have sought the
advice of customers, partners, and stakeholders in establishing program
directions and priorities. Today, more than ever before, these diverse
perspectives are valued and solicited by the mission area and its
agencies in setting priorities, shaping and implementing programs, and
disseminating results. This increased effort to involve stakeholders,
partners, and customers is based on a mission area belief that their
input and participation will lead to programs that are stronger and more
relevant to the issues and problems confronting farmers, ranchers, food
processors, and consumers today.

**Agricultural Research Service**

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is USDA's principal in-house
scientific research agency. ARS provides the scientific knowledge and
technologies needed to ensure the viability of American agriculture. It
conducts research to address agricultural problems of high national
priority and aggressively works to transfer research results to the
marketplace.

The work of ARS provides the scientific base for the quality,
affordability, safety, and variety of the food and agricultural products
that all Americans enjoy. One of its primary jobs is finding solutions
to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day, from the field
to table. Following are program areas that ARS research covers:

-   Protecting crops and livestock from pests and disease.

-   Improving the quality and safety of agricultural products.

-   Determining the best nutrition for people from infancy to old age.

-   Sustaining our soil and other natural resources.

-   Ensuring profitability for farmers and processors.

-   Keeping costs down for consumers.

-   Providing research support to other Federal agencies.

ARS research always targets specific problems threatening the Nation's
food and fiber supplies, contributes to rural revitalization, and
increases knowledge of human nutrition. ARS research also lays the
foundation for future commercial development beneficial to all
consumers.

The agency operates research facilities strategically located in major
farm and rangeland ecosystems throughout the United States. This enables
ARS to bring research expertise to bear on agricultural production and
utilization problems of national scope from many different geographic
vantage points.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** If you would like to submit comments, questions or
provide general feedback on the ARS Web site, please access and submit
the Feedback Form on the ARS Web site
([http://www.ars.usda.gov](http://www.ars.usda.gov/); select "Contact
Us" and "Feedback Form"). If you have specific USDA questions to which
you would like a response from an expert, please access and submit an
Ask the Expert form
([http://www.ars.usda.gov](http://www.ars.usda.gov/); select "Contact
Us" and "Ask The Expert Form"). Please remember that an e-mail address
is required for a response.

**Administering Agency:** ARS Headquarters: Whitten Building, USDA, Room
302-A,1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone:
202-720-3656; fax: 202-720-5427; Web site:
[http://www.ars.usda.gov](http://www.ars.usda.gov/)). ARS Headquarters
staff: George Washington Carver Center, USDA, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue,
Beltsville, MD 20705.

**Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service**

The unique mission of USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service (CSREES) is to advance knowledge for agriculture, the
environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting
research, education, and extension partnerships in the land-grant
university system and other partner organizations. Land-grant university
partners are located in each State and Territory as well as the District
of Columbia and include more than 130 colleges of agriculture; 59
agricultural experiment stations, with more than 9,500 scientists
conducting research; 57 cooperative extension services, with more than
9,600 local extension agents working in 3,150 counties; 63 schools of
forestry; 16 1890 Land-Grant Institutions (Historically Black Colleges)
and Tuskegee University; 27 colleges of veterinary medicine; 42 schools
and colleges of family and consumer sciences; 190 Hispanic-Serving
Institutions, and 31 1994 Land-Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges). The
31 Land-Grant Tribal Colleges are listed below.

**The Land-Grant Tribal Colleges**

Bay Mills Community College

12214 West Lakeshore Drive\
Brimley, MI 49715\
Telephone: 906-248-3354\
Fax: 906-248-3351

[Blackfeet Community College](http://www.bfcc.org/)\
P.O. Box 819\
Browning, MT 59417\
Telephone: 406-338-7755\
Fax: 406-338-3272

[Cankdeska Cikana Community
College](http://hoopster.little-hoop.cc.nd.us/)\
P.O. Box 269\
Fort Totten, ND 58335\
Telephone: 701-766-4415\
Fax: 701-766-4077

[Chief Dull Knife College](http://www.cdkc.edu/)\
P.O. Box 98\
Lame Deer, MT 59043\
Telephone: 406-477-6215\
Fax: 406-477-6219

[College of the Menominee Nation](http://www.menominee.edu/)\
P.O. Box 1179\
Keshena, WI 54135\
Telephone: 715-799-4921\
Fax: 715-799-1308

[Crownpoint Institute of Technology](http://www.cit.cc.nm.us/)\
P.O. Box 849\
Crownpoint, NM 87313\
Telephone: 505-786-4100\
Fax: 505-786-5644

[Diné College (formerly Navajo Community
College)](http://www.dinecollege.edu/)\
P.O. Box 126\
Tsaile, AZ 86556\
Telephone: 928-724-6669\
Fax: 928-724-3327

[Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College](http://www.fdltcc.edu/)\
2101 14th Street\
Cloquet, MN 55720-2964\
Telephone: 218-879-0800\
Fax: 218-879-0814

[Fort Belknap Community College](http://www.fbcc.edu/)\
P.O. Box 159\
Harlem, MT 59526\
Telephone: 406-353-2607\
Fax: 406-353-2898

[Fort Berthold Community College](http://www.fbcc.bia.edu/)\
P.O. Box 490\
New Town, ND 58763\
Telephone: 701-627-4738\
Fax: 701-627-3609

[Fort Peck Community College](http://www.fpcc.edu/)\
P.O. Box 398\
Poplar, MT 59255\
Telephone: 406-768-6300\
Fax: 406-768-6301

[Haskell Indian Nations University](http://www.haskell.edu/)\
155 Indian Avenue

Box 5030\
Lawrence, KS 66046-4800\
Telephone: 785-749-8404\
Fax: 785-749-8411

[Institute of American Indian Arts](http://www.iaiancad.org/)\
Box 20007\
83 Avan Nu Po Road\
Santa Fe, NM 87508\
Telephone: 505-424-2300\
Fax: 505-424-0050

[Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community
College](http://www.lco-college.edu/)\
13466 W. Trepania Road\
Hayward, WI 54843\
Telephone: 715-634-4790\
Fax: 715-634-5049

[Leech Lake Tribal College](http://www.lltc.org/)\
P.O. Box 180\
Cass Lake, MN 56633\
Telephone: 218-335-4200\
Fax: 218-335-4209

[Little Big Horn College](http://www.lbhc.cc.mt.us/)\
P.O. Box 370\
Crow Agency, MT 59022\
Telephone: 406-638-3100\
Fax: 406-638-3169

[Little Priest Tribal College](http://www.lptc.bia.edu/)\
P.O. Box 270\
Winnebago, NE 68071\
Telephone: 402-878-2380\
Fax: 402-878-2355

[Nebraska Indian Community College](http://www.thenicc.edu/)\
P.O. Box 428\
Macy, NE 68039\
Telephone: 402-837-5078\
Fax: 402-837-4183

[Northwest Indian College](http://www.nwic.edu/)\
2522 Kwina Road\
Bellingham, WA 98226\
Telephone: 360-676-2772\
Fax: 360-738-0136

[Oglala Lakota College](http://www.olc.edu/)\
P.O. Box 490\
490 Piya Wiconi Road\
Kyle, SD 57752\
Telephone: 605-455-6000\
Fax: 605-455-2787

[Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College](http://www.sagchip.org/tribalcollege)\
2274 Enterprise Drive\
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858\
Telephone: 989-775-4123\
Fax: 989-775-4528

[Salish Kootenai College](http://www.skc.edu/)\
P.O. Box 117\
Pablo, MT 59855\
Telephone: 406-275-4800\
Fax: 406-275-4801

[Sinte Gleska University](http://www.sinte.edu/)\
205 Main Street\
Mission, SD 57555\
Telephone: 605-856-5880\
Fax: 605-856-5401

[Sisseton Wahpeton Community College](http://www.swc.tc/)\
P.O. Box 689\
Sisseton, SD 57262\
Telephone: 605-698-3966\
Fax: 605-698-3132

[Sitting Bull College](http://www.sittingbull.edu/)\
1341 92nd Street\
Fort Yates, ND 58538\
Telephone: 701-854-3861\
Fax: 701-854-3403

[Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute](http://www.sipi.bia.edu/)\
P.O. Box 10146\
Albuquerque, NM 87184\
Telephone: 505-346-2347\
Fax: 505-346-2343

[Stone Child College](http://www.montana.edu/wwwscc/)\
RRI, Box 1082\
Box Elder, MT 59521\
Telephone: 406-395-4875\
Fax: 406-395-4836

[Tohono O'odham Community College](http://www.tocc.cc.az.us/)\
P.O. Box 3129\
Sells, AZ 85634\
Telephone: 520-383-8401\
Fax: 520-383-0029

[Turtle Mountain Community College](http://www.tm.edu/)\
P.O. Box 340\
Belcourt, ND 58316\
Telephone: 701-477-7862\
Fax: 701-477-7807

[United Tribes Technical College](http://www.uttc.edu/)\
3315 University Drive\
Bismarck, ND 58504\
Telephone: 701-255-3285\
Fax: 701-530-0605

[White Earth Tribal and Community College](http://www.wetcc.org/)\
210 Main Street South\
P.O. Box 478\
Mahnomen, MN 56557\
Telephone: 218-935-0417\
Fax: 218-935-0708

CSREES has target areas of interest in 59 identified programs that are
grouped in the following [National Emphasis
Areas](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/emphasis_area.html):

-   [Agricultural and Food
    Biosecurity](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/ag_biosecurity/ag_biosecurity.html)

-   [Agricultural
    Systems](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/ag_systems/ag_systems.html)

-   [Animals and Animal
    Products](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/animals/animals.html)

-   [Biotechnology and
    Genomics](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/biotech/biotech.html)

-   [Economics and
    Commerce](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/economics/economics.html)

-   [Families, Youth and
    Communities](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/family/family.html)

-   [Food, Nutrition and
    Health](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/food/food.html)

-   [Natural Resources and
    Environment](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/nre/nre.html)

-   [Pest Management](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/pest/pest.html)

-   [Plants and Plant
    Products](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/plants/plants.html)

-   [Technology and
    Engineering](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/technology/technology.html)

**CSREES Program Tools**

CSREES is the Federal partner in a vast network of thousands of
scientists, educators, and extension staff and volunteers who execute
its programs throughout the United States, its territories, and beyond.
Most of these partners work at or through land-grant colleges and
universities.

Starting in 1862, the Federal Government granted federally owned land
(hence the name "land-grant") to each State for the development of a
university that would serve the citizens of the State by providing
agricultural and technical education. Other land-grant universities were
designated in 1890 (historically African American institutions) and in
1994 (Native American institutions).

While nearly all universities have research and education as their core
responsibilities, land-grant universities have a third critical
mission---extension. "Extension" means "reaching out," and along with
teaching and research, land-grant institutions extend their resources,
addressing public needs with college or university resources through
nonformal, noncredit programs.

Below are descriptions of primary CSREES programs. For more information
on any of these programs, visit the CSREES Web site
([http://www.csrees.usda.gov](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/)) or contact
your State or tribal land-grant institution. You may also contact your
local Cooperative Extension office (check the county government listings
in your telephone book).

**Cooperative Extension Programs**

Cooperative extension is a nationwide educational network that brings
the research and knowledge of land-grant institutions to people in their
homes, workplaces, and communities. Extension links the resources and
expertise of county extension offices, land-grant colleges and
universities, and the Federal Government.

Extension educators deliver research-based programs through workshops,
home-study courses, Web-based curricula, and other methods. The programs
are designed to advance knowledge of agriculture and to enhance
community resource and economic development; family development and
resource management; 4-H and youth development; leadership and volunteer
development; natural resources and environmental management; and
nutrition, diet, and health. The emphasis of Extension programs is on
enabling learners to modify behaviors in line with learner-identified
goals.

The *Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program* (formally the
Extension Indian Reservation Program) supports extension education on
Indian reservations and tribal jurisdictions to address the unique needs
and problems of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal nations. The
target audience is Native American individuals and communities on large
reservations.

This program assists American Indians in adopting profitable farming and
ranching techniques; enhancing the protection and safety of the Nation's
food supply, natural resources, and environment; improving nutrition and
health; and providing 4-H and other developmental experiences for tribal
youth. In each State, the land-grant university supplies qualified
extension agents who bring educational programs and resources to tribal
communities, and the tribal nation provides office space and utilities.

A local advisory committee works with the agent to identify community
priorities. Agents often live on the reservations, sharing daily
experiences with their neighbors. Agents also meet annually to discuss
their successes, share program ideas, and investigate additional sources
of program support.

Funding for Extension activities at the 1994 Institutions *(Tribal
Colleges Extension Program)* is available through a competitive
application process. Current projects are working to improve health
through nutrition and traditional foods programs, to enhance the tribal
agricultural producers' economy, to develop youth leaders, to enhance
stewardship of natural resources, and to enhance family and community
development.

**Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants Program**

The Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants Program enhances educational
opportunities for Native Americans by strengthening instructional
programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Funds are awarded
equally among the 1994 land-grant institutions upon approval of each
institution's application for a grant, including a plan of work related
to each institution's long-range goals.

**Tribal Colleges Endowment Fund**

The [Tribal Colleges Endowment
Fund](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/awards/formula/tribal.html)
benefits the 1994 land-grant institutions by promoting capacity
development in teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences.
The Tribal Colleges Endowment Fund, as a teaching capacity development
program, is a companion to the Tribal Colleges Education Equity Grants
Program. It differs primarily from the Education Equity Grants Program
in two respects: (1) Endowment funds may be escrowed indefinitely and
used for major obligations relating to the allowable activities and (2)
since October 1, 2001, Endowment funds have been able to be used for
facility renovation, repair, construction, and maintenance in support of
and in addition to specific targeted areas of support.

Targeted areas of support include curricula design and instructional
materials development; faculty development and preparation for teaching;
instruction delivery systems; student experiential learning; equipment
and instrumentation for teaching; and student recruitment and retention.
Only 1994 land-grant institutions are eligible to receive funds under
this program.

**Tribal College Research Grants Program**

The Tribal College Research Grants Program assists the 1994 land-grant
institutions in conducting agricultural research that addresses
high-priority concerns of tribal, national, or multistate significance.
Funds are awarded on a competitive basis.

**Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving**

**Institutions Education Grants Program**

The Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving (ANNH)
Institutions Education Grants Program promotes and strengthens the
ability of these institutions to carry out education, applied research,
and related community development programs within a broadly defined
arena of food and agricultural sciences. The ANNH program aims to
attract, retain, and graduate outstanding students capable of enhancing
the Nation's food and agricultural scientific and professional
workforce.

Projects may involve individual institutions, consortia, or cooperative
initiatives between two or more ANNH institutions or with other colleges
and universities, units of government, or the private sector. Targeted
areas of support include curriculum design, materials development, and
library resources; faculty preparation and enhancement of teaching;
instruction delivery systems; scientific instrumentation for teaching
and research; student experiential learning; student recruitment,
retention, and educational equity (including the provision of student
financial assistance); applied studies in the food and agricultural
sciences; applied research support systems; technology delivery systems;
and other applied research and community development applications.

**Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged**

**Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program**

The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and
Ranchers Competitive Grants Program (also known as the 2501 Program)
provides funds to organizations to conduct outreach and technical
assistance in order to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged
farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches and to
participate in agricultural programs. The program supports a wide range
of outreach and assistance activities in farm management, financial
management, marketing, application and bidding procedures, and other
areas.

The primary purpose of the program is to deliver outreach and technical
assistance to assure opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers
and ranchers to successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain farms and
ranches and to assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA
programs. Institutions and organizations eligible to apply include 1862
Land-Grant Institutions; 1890 Land-Grant Institutions; 1994 Land-Grant
Institutions; Hispanic-serving institutions; Native American Tribal
Governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations
(not federally recognized Tribal Governments); nonprofits with 501(c)(3)
IRS status, other than institutions of higher education; nonprofits
without 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher
education; State-controlled institutions of higher education;
postsecondary educational institutions; and community-based
organizations, networks, or coalitions of community-based organizations
that meet certain criteria.

**National Research Initiative**

**Competitive Grants Program**

The National Research Initiative (NRI) is the office in CSREES charged
with funding research on key problems of national and regional
importance in the biological, environmental, physical, and social
sciences relevant to agriculture, food, the environment, and communities
on a peer-reviewed, competitive basis. To address these problems, NRI
advances fundamental scientific knowledge in support of agriculture and
coordinates opportunities to build on these scientific findings. The
resulting new scientific and technological discoveries then necessitate
efforts in education and extension to deliver science-based knowledge to
people, allowing informed practical decisions.

The NRI supports a spectrum of research that bridges the basic and
applied sciences and results in practical outcomes. From its inception,
the NRI has supported projects for fundamental and applied research, and
in fiscal year 2004 CSREES was given the authority to use up to 20
percent of the available NRI funds to carry out a competitive grants
program for projects combining research, education, and/or extension,
termed "integrated projects."

The competition is open to scientists at all academic institutions,
Federal research agencies, and private and industrial organizations. It
is also open to scientists as individuals.

**National Water Quality Program**

The goal of the CSREES National Water Quality Program (NWQP) is to
protect or improve the quality of water resources throughout the United
States and its territories, particularly in agriculturally managed
watersheds. The program seeks to address this goal at the national,
regional, State, and local levels.

NWQP brings university scientists, instructors, and extension educators
into more effective and efficient partnerships with Federal interagency
priority programs to address water quality issues in U.S. agriculture. A
key emphasis of the program is the integration of extension, research,
and educational resources to solve water quality problems at the local
level. The program is guided by a unique model for shared leadership
that includes representatives from each of 10 regional projects
(Environmental Protection Agency regions) and representatives from 1890
and 1994 institutions as well as the CSREES National Program Leader for
Water Quality.

A collaborative effort with representatives of land-grant universities
and colleges has identified eight key "themes" that represent critical
challenges affecting the quality of our Nation's water resources in
agricultural and rural watersheds. These themes are:

-   Animal manure management

-   Drinking water and human health

-   Environmental restoration

-   Nutrient and pesticide management

-   Pollution assessment and prevention

-   Water management and conservation

-   Water policy and economics

-   Watershed management

**The Small Business Innovation**

**Research Program**

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program makes
competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses to support
high-quality, advanced-concepts research on important scientific
problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant
public benefit, if successful.

The objectives of the SBIR Program are to:

-   Stimulate technological innovations in the private sector.

-   Strengthen the role of small businesses in meeting Federal research
    and development needs.

-   Increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived
    from USDA-supported research and development efforts.

-   Foster and encourage participation by women-owned and socially and
    economically disadvantaged small business firms in technological
    innovations.

SBIR research topics are as follows:

-   Forests and related resources

-   Plant production and protection---biology

-   Animal production and protection

-   Soil and water resources

-   Food science and nutrition

-   Rural and community development

-   Aquaculture

-   Industrial applications

-   Marketing and trade

-   Animal manure management

-   Small and mid-size farms

-   Plant production and protection---engineering

The SBIR program office directs all activities required under the SBIR
law and executes the policy established by the Small Business
Administration. CSREES exclusively administers the SBIR program at USDA.

SBIR program awards are based on the scientific and technical merit of
investigator-initiated ideas. The SBIR Program does not make loans and
does not grant awards for the purpose of helping a business get
established.

SBIR Phase I grants are limited to \$80,000 and a duration of 8 months.
SBIR Phase II grants are limited to \$350,000 and a duration of 24
months (with no gap in funding between Phase I and Phase II). SBIR
program funds are allocated in proportion to the number of proposals
received over 12 broad topic areas. Proposals are reviewed through a
confidential peer review process using outside experts from nonprofit
organizations. All applicants receive verbatim copies of reviews.

For additional information, visit the SBIR Web site
(http://www.[reeusda.gov/sbir](http://reeusda.gov/sbir)), or contact Dr.
Charles Cleland, SBIR National Program Manager, CSREES/USDA, Stop 2243,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-2243 (telephone:
202-401-4002; fax: 202-401-6070; e-mail: <ccleland@csrees.usda.gov>).

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** For more information on any of these programs,
visit the CSREES Web site
(http://[www.csrees.usda.gov](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/)) or contact
your State or tribal land-grant institution. You may also contact your
local Cooperative Extension office (check the county government listings
in your telephone book).

**Administering Agency:** Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Stop 2201,
Washington, DC 20250-2201; telephone: 202-720-7441; Web site:
[http://www.csrees.usda.gov](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/)).

**Economic Research Service**

The Economic Research Service (ERS) provides economic analysis on
efficiency, efficacy, and equity issues in agriculture, food, the
environment, and rural development to improve public and private
decisionmaking. ERS economic analysis is shaped primarily for use in the
decisionmaking process by policymakers, though the ultimate
beneficiaries of informed public and private decisionmaking are the
American people.

ERS is the main source of economic information and research from USDA.
Located in Washington, D.C., with approximately 450 employees, ERS
produces information and analysis for use by the general public and to
help executive and legislative branches develop, administer, and
evaluate agricultural and rural policies and programs.

ERS publications cover a wide variety of topics, including policies that
affect farmers and the population of rural America. In addition to
studies on rural America as a whole, ERS has focused on American Indian
and Alaska Native demography, the state of American Indian farming, and
the history of American Indian contributions to American agriculture.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** For additional information on ERS, visit the ERS
Web site ([http://www.ers.usda.gov](http://www.ers.usda.gov/)). For
information on ERS products, services, and subject specialists or for
help in finding a report, contact the ERS Information Center (e-mail:
<InfoCenter@ers.usda.gov>; telephone: 202-694-5050). To order ERS
publications and other products, call the USDA Order Desk
(1-800-999-6779).

**Administering Agency:** Economic Research Service, USDA,1800 M Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20036-5831; telephone: 202-694-5000; fax:
202-694-5757; Web site:
[http://www.ers.usda.gov](http://www.ers.usda.gov/)).

**National Agricultural Library**

As the Nation's primary source for agricultural information, the
National Agricultural Library (NAL) has a mission to increase the
availability and utilization of agricultural information for
researchers, educators, policymakers, consumers of agricultural
products, and the public. The Library is one of the world's largest and
most accessible agricultural research libraries and plays a vital role
in supporting research, education, and applied agriculture.

The National Agricultural Library ensures and enhances access to
agricultural information for a better quality of life. The mission of
the National Agricultural Library is as follows:

-   Serve as a National Library of the United States and as the Library
    of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

-   Acquire, organize, manage, preserve, and provide access to
    information and provide quality stewardship of its unique
    collection.

-   Assist, train, and educate people according to their information
    needs.

-   Provide leadership in information management.

-   Maximize access to information through collaborative efforts and
    utilization of technology.

-   Enhance global cooperation through international exchange of
    information and the provision of services and technical assistance.

The National Agricultural Library was created as the departmental
library for USDA in 1862 and became a national library in 1962. One of
four national libraries of the United States (with the [Library of
Congress](http://www.loc.gov/), the [National Library of
Medicine](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/), and the [National Library of
Education](http://www.ed.gov/NLE)), it also coordinates a national
network of State land-grant and USDA field libraries.

In an international role, the National Agricultural Library serves as
the U.S. center for the international agricultural information system,
coordinating and sharing resources and enhancing global access to
agricultural data. The National Agricultural Library's collection of
more than 3.3 million items and its leadership role in information
services and technology applications combine to make it the foremost
agricultural library in the world. NAL works to make a difference and to
enrich the lives of people everywhere.

**National Agricultural Statistics Service**

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) serves the basic
agricultural and rural data needs of the people of the United States,
including agricultural workers and rural residents, by objectively
providing important, usable, and accurate statistical information and
services needed to make informed decisions. NASS statistics keep those
involved with America's agriculture well informed, provide the basic
information necessary to keep agricultural markets stable and efficient,
and help maintain a "level playing field" for all users of agricultural
statistics.

Through NASS, American agriculture is continually counted, measured,
priced, analyzed, and reported to provide the facts needed by people
working throughout this vast industry. The employees of USDA's National
Agricultural Statistics Service conduct hundreds of surveys and prepare
reports covering virtually every facet of U.S. agriculture---for
example, production and supplies of food and fiber, prices paid and
received by farmers, farm labor and wages, and farm aspects of the
industry. In addition, NASS's 46 field offices publish data about many
of the same topics for local audiences.

NASS publications cover a wide range of subjects, from traditional crops
such as corn and wheat to specialties such as mushrooms and flowers;
from calves born to hogs slaughtered; and from agricultural prices to
land in farms. The abundance of information produced has earned NASS
employees the title, "The Fact Finders of Agriculture."

**Census Coverage of American Indian**

**Farmers and Ranchers**

Every 5 years, NASS conducts the Census of Agriculture, providing a
source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data at the national,
State, and local levels. NASS has done considerable list-building to
increase census coverage of American Indian farmers and ranchers who
operate land off reservations. In addition, NASS received a
recommendation from the Secretary of Agriculture's Advisory Committee on
Agriculture Statistics to collect more complete reservation-level data
on the 2002 census.

In response to this recommendation and to honor a commitment to publish
improved demographic data on American Indian operators, NASS conducted
the 2002 Census of Agriculture pilot project in Montana, North Dakota,
and South Dakota. These States were selected for the pilot project
because there is a significant amount of agricultural production on
their reservations. Also, the reservation agriculture is similar in
size, type, and operating arrangements to nonreservation agriculture.
The data will be used by NASS to develop future plans for providing more
complete American Indian reservation agricultural statistics records.

A new section has been added to the census report form for farm and
ranch operators to self-report agricultural activity on American Indian
reservations. NASS will also continue to implement special procedures to
account for American Indian farm and ranch operators on tribal lands. In
addition to collecting total agricultural production information data
from the reservation headquarters, NASS will also collect data on the
number of individual farm operations that are on the reservations.

Previously, the census of agriculture included data showing only the
number of American Indians operating farms and ranches located off the
reservations. Each reservation was normally counted as a single-farm
operation. Thus, the count of American Indian operators has
traditionally been seriously understated. The current procedures will
provide more complete agricultural statistics on American Indian farms
and ranches, and soon all American Indians engaged in agriculture will
be fully accounted for in the census.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** For additional information, see the National
Agricultural Statistics Service Web site
([http://www.nass.usda.gov](http://www.nass.usda.gov/)), visit the NASS
Customer Service Center at USDA, Room 5038, South Building, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250; call the toll-free
Agricultural Statistics Hotline (800-727-9540); or e-mail NASS
(<NASS@NASS.usda.gov>).

**Administering Agency:** National Agricultural Statistics Service,
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone:
202-720-6643; Web site:
[http://www.nass.usda.gov](http://www.nass.usda.gov/)).

**8. Marketing and Regulatory Programs**

The USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) mission area
facilitates domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural
products and strives to ensure the health and care of animals and
plants. MRP agencies are active participants in setting national and
international standards with broad responsibility for assisting and
protecting agriculture and our Nation's food supply. These agencies
safeguard our animals (including wildlife), crops, and environment from
pests, diseases, or other harmful agents; monitor the agricultural
marketing system; ensure fair trade practices; and assure value and
quality in agricultural products that are bought and sold.

MRP programs strive to meet tribal expectations for improved and fair
marketing competitiveness for their agricultural products and protect
the Nation's agricultural resources by keeping foreign pests and
diseases out of the country, minimizing damage caused by wildlife, and
protecting certain animals from inhumane treatment. The effects of the
efforts of these agencies can be seen in the wholesome, affordable foods
we buy at the grocery store; in the ships that leave American ports
filled with U.S. grain that feeds the world; and, even at the airport,
where MRP works with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to
intercept prohibited products and thus to protect us from pest and
disease contamination from outside our borders.

Three agencies comprise the MRP mission area: the Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS),
and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).
These agencies are committed to facilitating the marketing of U.S.
agricultural products and are dedicated to working with their customers
to meet their needs and to better serve American agriculture.

**Working With Native Americans and Alaska Natives**

USDA recognizes the historic and continuing rights of sovereign tribal
governments to govern themselves and manage their resources, and it
directs its agencies to meet their responsibilities toward tribal
governments. MRP agencies are committed to building day-to-day working
relationships with Native American governments and to respecting tribal
heritage and cultural values in planning and initiating their programs.

AMS, APHIS, and GIPSA acknowledge their obligations under treaties and
statutes to protect and maintain the lands, resources, and traditional
use areas of American Indians and Alaska Natives. This includes
retaining utilization of and access to off-reservation lands and natural
resources by American Indians for purposes of hunting, gathering food
and cultural and medicinal plants, grazing livestock on open and
unclaimed lands, and fishing in usual and customary places. MRP
officials work cooperatively with tribal governments and other Federal
agencies, program areas, and departments as well as with State and local
organizations to enlist interest and support in efforts that are
mutually beneficial to all parties involved.

Over the years, program specialists have established and maintained
networking systems to better consult with Native American leaders about
tribal concerns and needs. Managers and program coordinators within all
three MRP agencies consider the impact of decisions on tribal trust
resources and consult with tribal governments to ensure that tribal
rights, issues, and concerns are factored in during the development of
projects, programs, and policies.

**Agricultural Marketing Service**

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) includes six commodity
programs---Cotton, Dairy, Fruit and Vegetable, Livestock and Seed,
Poultry, and Tobacco. The programs employ specialists who provide
standardization, grading, and market news services for those
commodities. They also enforce such Federal laws as the Perishable
Agricultural Commodities Act and the Federal Seed Act.

AMS commodity programs oversee marketing agreements and orders,
administer research and promotion programs, and purchase commodities for
Federal food programs, including over \$4 million for bison purchases
from tribal producers. The agency also administers a program involving
financial grants to States and tribes for marketing improvements.

In addition, AMS assists in the planning and design of marketing
facilities, processes, and methods in cooperation with State, tribal,
and local governments; universities; farmer groups; and other segments
of the U.S. food industry. This program enhances the overall
effectiveness of the food marketing system, provides better quality
products to the consumer at reasonable cost, improves market access for
growers with small- to medium-sized farms, and promotes regional
economic development.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** Lloyd C. Day, Administrator (telephone:
202-720-5115; e-mail: <lloyd.day@usda.gov>) or Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator (telephone: 202-720-4276; e-mail:
<Kenneth.Clayton@usda.gov>). To learn more about the AMS Civil Rights
Program, contact Ruihong Guo (telephone: 202-720-0583; e-mail:
<ruihong.guo@usda.gov>). For additional staff contacts, visit the AMS
Web site ([http://www.ams.usda.gov](http://www.ams.usda.gov/)) and
select "Contact Us" or access the organizational chart directly
(<http://www.ams.usda.gov/admin/amsorg.htm>). For questions or comments
on the Web page, contact the AMS Webmaster (AMSWebmaster@usda.gov).

**Administering Agency:** Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 14th
Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone:
202-720-5115; Web site:
[http://www.ams.usda.gov](http://www.ams.usda.gov/)).

**Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service**

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is an
action-oriented agency that works with other Federal agencies, Congress,
States, Indian tribes, agricultural interests, and the general public to
carry out its mission of providing an umbrella of protection for the
Nation's plant and animal resources. APHIS is responsible for protecting
and promoting U.S. agricultural health, administering the Animal Welfare
Act, and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. The agency
accomplishes its mission through the efforts of six diverse field
programs: Animal Care, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, International
Services, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Veterinary Services, and
Wildlife Services.

In recent years, the scope of APHIS' protective function has expanded
beyond traditional pest and disease management. While APHIS has always
demonstrated its technical expertise and leadership in assessing and
regulating the risks associated with agricultural imports, the agency
now has assumed an even greater role in the global agricultural arena.

APHIS uses its scientific resources to respond to other countries'
animal and plant health import requirements and to negotiate
science-based standards. The agency addresses sanitary and phytosanitary
trade barriers to ensure that America's agricultural exports, worth more
than \$62 billion annually, are protected from unjustified trade
restrictions.

Additionally, in response to needs expressed by the American people and
Congress, APHIS' protection role also includes wildlife damage
management, the welfare of animals, human health and safety, and
protection of ecosystems vulnerable to invasive pests and pathogens.
Finally, APHIS ensures that biotechnology-derived agricultural products
are safe for release into the environment.

As of July 2005, APHIS employed 8,225 people with a wide range of
scientific, technical, and administrative skills working in all 50
States, several Territories, and some 37 countries around the world. The
agency's workforce is organized into six operational program units,
three management support units, the Office of Civil Rights, and the
Office for Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

APHIS expended more than \$1.34 billion in fiscal year 2005 to carry out
its mission. The bulk of the agency's funding comes from Congressional
appropriations. The agency also receives funding through other sources,
including user fees, cooperative agreements, and international trust
fund arrangements.

For additional information on any APHIS program, contact your local
APHIS office. APHIS offices are generally listed in the blue pages of
the telephone book under the Federal Government, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. You may also contact anyone on the list of APHIS Native
American Working Group State Representatives or write to USDA, APHIS,
Native American Working Group, 12345 W. Alameda Parkway, Suite 204,
Lakewood, CO 80228. You can visit the APHIS Web site at
[http://www.aphis.usda.gov](http://www.aphis.usda.gov/) (where the list
of State Representatives is displayed) or e-mail APHIS
(<APHIS.Web@aphis.usda.gov>).

Like all USDA agencies, APHIS acknowledges the historic and continuing
rights of sovereign tribal governments to govern themselves and manage
their resources. Agency officials work cooperatively with tribal
governments, other Federal agencies and departments, and State and local
organizations to enlist their interest and support in mutually
beneficial efforts for all parties involved. APHIS managers and
coordinators also consult with Native American leaders about tribal
concerns and needs in relation to agency policies and activities.

**Native American Working Group**

APHIS has several ongoing programs with Indian tribes that focus on
agriculture or on the protection of natural resources, facilities, or
human health and safety. To enhance its program delivery, APHIS has
chartered the APHIS Native American Working Group (ANAWG). The ANAWG
recommends, develops, and implements policies and activities designed to
increase the delivery of program services and to facilitate active
partnerships with American Indian tribes, committees, and organizations.

ANAWG has representatives from all APHIS program areas. The group
provides assistance and advice to the existing APHIS programs and
advises APHIS' top management about ways to enhance program delivery and
accessibility to tribes, intertribal committees, and related
organizations. ANAWG functions under the direction of the APHIS
Administrator, who retains authority for establishing agency policy
relating to all APHIS activities and programs of interest to Native
Americans. The Chair of ANAWG sits on USDA's Native American Working
Group.

Additional information is available on the ANAWG Web site
(<http://www.aphis.usda.gov/anawg>).

**Primary APHIS Programs**

*Animal Care*

Animal Care administers the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse
Protection Act (HPA). The AWA helps ensure the humane care and treatment
of animals used in research, exhibited to the public, and transported by
common carriers. The Act also regulates pets at the wholesale (breeder)
level and dealers who sell animals at auctions.

The AWA requires that minimum standards of care and treatment be
provided for most warmblooded animals bred for commercial sale, used in
research, transported commercially, or exhibited to the public. This
includes animals exhibited in zoos, circuses, and marine-mammal
facilities as well as pets transported on commercial airlines. The AWA
also prohibits staged dogfights, cock fighting, bear and raccoon
baiting, and similar animal fighting ventures.

The Horse Protection Act ensures that trainers of gaited horses, such as
Tennessee Walkers, do not use painful and cruel methods, called soring,
to condition their horses to display the accentuated gait known as the
"Big Lick."

For additional information, contact Animal Care, USDA/APHIS/AC, 4700
River Road, Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234 (telephone: 301-734-7833;
fax: 301-734-4978; e-mail: <ace@aphis.usda.gov>).

*Biotechnology Regulatory Services*

Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) regulates the field testing,
movement, and importation of genetically engineered organisms that are
known to be, or could be, plant pests. BRS issues various types of
permits for each of these activities. BRS also evaluates petitions for
deregulation to ensure that products being considered for removal from
regulation do not pose a threat to U.S. agricultural or environmental
health. For more information, visit the BRS Web site
(<http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs>).

For additional information, contact Biotechnology Regulatory Services,
USDA/APHIS/BRS, Unit 147, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737
(telephone: 301-734-5301; e-mail: <biotechquery@aphis.usda.gov>).

*International Services*

International Services works outside the United States to protect U.S.
agriculture and enhance agricultural trade. The unit maintains a
comprehensive information network, exchanges technical information, and
provides expertise to foreign governments and international groups.

In addition, International Services negotiates with foreign agricultural
officials concerning entry requirements for U.S. agricultural products;
conducts cooperative agricultural pest and disease programs in foreign
locations; and manages preclearance programs for agricultural products
shipped to the United States.

For additional information, contact International Services,
USDA/APHIS/IS, Stop 3432, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20250.

*Plant Protection and Quarantine*

APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) unit protects the Nation's
agricultural and natural resources from the risks associated with the
entry, establishment, or spread of animal and plant pests, diseases,
pathogens, and noxious weeds. PPQ's team of scientists, program
specialists, and support personnel executes its complex mission through
various means, including collection and analysis of pest data, both in
the mainland United States and offshore; surveying for and detecting
exotic pests and diseases in the United States; developing quarantine
policies and regulatory requirements for agriculture commodities and
plant resources; inspecting propagative plant materials for importation;
and responding to plant health threats. In addition, the unit develops
plant health regulations and oversees their enforcement by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection agency
at airports, seaports, and border check stations.

PPQ assists American farmers and exporters by providing phytosanitary
inspection and certification for plants and plant products being shipped
to foreign countries. These phytosanitary certificates, as required by
the importing country, certify that the products are pest and disease
free. The unit also helps to maintain and expand market access for U.S.
farmers and exporters by engaging in trade negotiations with foreign
nations.

As the lead program for detecting and responding to new plant pests
introduced from other countries, PPQ works to develop emergency response
capacity and cooperation with States and tribes in the event of a new
serious plant pest introduction. For plant pests of limited distribution
within the United States, PPQ works with States and tribes to help
ensure that plant pests are contained or controlled to protect other
areas of the country.

PPQ's Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST) provides
scientific support for PPQ. CPHST develops state-of-the-art technologies
for detecting, identifying, and mitigating risks of exotic pests. In
addition, CPHST leads PPQ's scientific research activities in areas such
as pest detection, molecular diagnostics, risk assessment, mass-rearing
of sterilized insects, and integrated pest management, including
biological control.

For additional information, visit the PPQ Web site
(<https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq>); or contact APHIS Plant Protection
and Quarantine by telephone (Emergencies: 301-734-8247; Pest Detection:
301-734-8717; Pest Programs: 301-734-0771; Smuggling: 970-494-7510
\[Western Region\] or 919-855-7342 \[Eastern Region\]; Cargo Inspection
Policy or Treatment: 301-734-8295; Commodity Preclearance: 301-734-4910;
Permits: 301-734-0841) or e-mail (<APHIS.Web@aphis.usda.gov>).

*Veterinary Services*

Veterinary Services (VS) protects the health of the Nation's livestock,
aquaculture, and poultry resources by regulating the entry of imported
animals and animal products. The unit is prepared to take emergency
action against foreign diseases and, with the States and tribes,
operates eradication programs for domestic animal diseases. VS provide
health certification for exported animals and animal products and also
conducts diagnostic tests and issues licenses for veterinary biological
products and manufacturers.

People benefit from the work of VS in a variety of ways. Improvements in
animal health, for example, provide consumers with plentiful, safe
supplies of animal products at reasonable prices. Licensed and inspected
veterinary biologics manufacturers assure animal owners that vaccines
for their animals will be available and effective.

VS has been working actively with tribes for several years to develop
effective programs of animal health monitoring and protection. This has
been done with concerted efforts to train tribal officials and producers
on animal health issues and management**---**in developing Memoranda of
Understanding with tribes to assist in animal health emergencies and
other programs, developing Emergency Response planning procedures and
plans, and in monitoring and controlling specific diseases. As part of
these efforts, VS has initiated a pilot Tribal Cooperative Veterinarian
program with three tribes in the Southwest to improve surveillance and
monitoring for diseases on tribal lands and to assist the tribes in
achieving their animal health goals.

For additional information, visit the VS Web site
(<https://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs>); or contact APHIS Veterinary Services
(Animal-Related Issues---telephone: 301-734-8364; fax: 301-734-4704;
Importing Animal Products---telephone: 301-734-3277; fax: 301-734-8226;
Exporting Animal Products---telephone: 301-734-3278; fax: 301-734-0571;
Importing and Exporting Live Animals---telephone: 301-734-8364; Select
Agents and Organisms and Vectors---telephone: 301-734-5960; fax:
301-734-3652; Regionalization and International Trade Negotiations---
telephone: 301-734-734-4356; fax: 301-734-3222; or Sanitary
International Standards---telephone: 301-734-5324; fax: 301-734-8818) or
e-mail (<APHIS.Web@aphis.usda.gov>).

*Wildlife Services*

Wildlife Services works to reduce wildlife damage to agriculture and
natural resources, minimize potential wildlife threats to human health
and safety, and protect threatened and endangered species. The unit
cooperates with tribal governments, foreign governments, international
organizations, and other governmental and private organizations on
animal and bird damage and nuisance control.

Wildlife is a valuable natural resource enjoyed by Americans across the
Nation. But as increased urbanization leads to a reduction in wildlife
habitat and as wildlife populations continue to expand, conflicts
between people and wildlife are all too frequent. Wildlife can destroy
crops; kill livestock; damage property and natural resources; and pose
serious risks to public health and safety. Wildlife Services provides
Federal leadership and expertise to resolve these conflicts and create a
balance that allows people and wildlife to coexist peacefully. With
incidents of wildlife damage on the rise, the knowledge and skills of
Wildlife Services personnel are constantly in demand.

Wildlife Services has established strong relationships with many tribes
and has Memoranda of Understanding with these tribes for assistance with
specific programs and a focus to achieve tribal goals. These include
training tribal officials in animal handling techniques; disease
monitoring and protection programs for tribal wildlife and feral
animals; and cooperatively hiring employees to work for both the tribe
and APHIS to build stronger relationships.

For additional information, visit the Wildlife Services Web site
(<https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws>) or contact APHIS Wildlife Services
(USDA/APHIS/WS, 4700 River Road, Unit 87, Riverdale, MD 20737).

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 312-E, Whitten Building,
1400 Independence Avenue, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone: 202-720-3668;
Web site: [http://www.aphis.usda.gov](http://www.aphis.usda.gov/)).

**Administering Agency:** Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 312-E, Whitten Building, 1400
Independence Avenue, Washington, DC 20250 (telephone: 202-720-3668;
e-mail: <APHIS.Web@aphis.usda.gov>).

**Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration**

USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)
facilitates the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals,
oilseeds, and related agricultural products and promotes fair and
competitive trading practices for the overall benefit of consumers and
American agriculture.

As a part of the Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area, GIPSA
is helping to ensure a productive and competitive global marketplace for
U.S. agricultural products. As an impartial, third-party entity, GIPSA
helps ensure a fair and competitive marketing system for all involved in
the merchandising of grain and related products, livestock, meat, and
poultry.

**Federal Grain Inspection Service**

GIPSA's Federal Grain Inspection Service helps move our Nation's harvest
into the marketplace by providing farmers, handlers, processors,
exporters, and international buyers with sampling, inspection, process
verification, weighing, and stowage examination services that accurately
and consistently describe the quality and quantity of the commodities
being bought and sold.

GIPSA facilitates the marketing of U.S. grain and related agricultural
products by establishing standards for quality assessments, regulating
handling practices, and managing a network of Federal, State, and
private laboratories that provide impartial, user-fee-funded, official
inspection and weighing services.

**Packers and Stockyards Program**

GIPSA's Packers and Stockyards Program (P&SP) administers the Packers
and Stockyards Act (P&S Act) to promote fair and competitive marketing
in livestock, meat, and poultry for the benefit of consumers and
American agriculture. The P&S Act is intended to protect producers,
other market participants, and consumers from unfair, discriminatory,
fraudulent, or deceptive practices that might be carried out by those
subject to the Act.

**Additional Information**

**Whom To Contact:** Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and
Stockyards Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 3601,
Room 2055, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20250-3601 (telephone: 202-720-0219). To report violations, call the
Violation Hotline (1-800-998-3447).

**Administering Agency:** Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2055, South
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3601
(telephone: 202-720-0219; Web site:
[http://www.gipsa.usda.gov](http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/)).

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Plateau." *Soil Science Society of America Journal* 67.1 (2003):
225--234.

Pomper, K.W., D.R. Layne, S.C. Jones, and M.G. Kwantes. "Growth
Enhancement of Container-Grown Pawpaw Seedlings as Influenced by Media
Type, Root-Zone Temperature, and Fertilization Regime." *Hort Science: a
Publication of the American Society for Horticulture Science* 37.2
(2002): 329--333.

# Community and Education

Antell, J., A. Blevins, and K. Jensen. "American Indian Casino Gambling:
Issues of Tribal Sovereignty and Economic Development." *Journal of the
Community Development Society* 31.1 (2000): 1--34.

Berardi, G., and S. Donnelly. "Rural Participatory Research in Alaska:
the Case of Tanakon Village." *Journal of Rural Studies* 15.2 (1999):
171--178.

Campbell, Dan. "A Closer Look at Yakama Power Tribal Utility." *Rural
Cooperatives* 68.2 (2001): 25.

Delany-Barmann, G., and S. Donnelly. "Preparing Native American Special
Education Teachers: Lessons Learned From the Rural Special Education
Project." *Rural Special Education Quarterly* 16.4 (1997): 10--15.

Dwyer, K., L.D. Fowler, T. Seekins, C. Locust, and J. Clay. "Community
Development by American Indian Tribes: Five Case Studies of Establishing
Policy for Tribal Members with Disabilities." *Journal of Community
Development Society* 31.2 (2000): 196--215.

Flora, C. "Rural Community College Initiative: Implementing a Vision for
the 21st Century." *Rural Development News* 26.1 (2002): 1--3.

Harala, K., C. Smith, C. Hassel, and P. Gailfus. "New Moccasins:
Articulating Research Approaches Through Interviews with Faculty and
Staff at Native and Non-Native Academic Institutions." *Journal of
Nutrition, Education and Behavior* 37.2 (2005): 67--76.

Patterson, L. "Tribal and Reservation Libraries." *Rural Libraries* 22.1
(2002): 19--24.

Pickering, K. "Alternative Economic Strategies in Low-Income Rural
Communities: TANF, Labor Migration, and the Case of the Pine Ridge
Indian Reservation." *Rural Sociology* 65.1 (2000): 148--167.

Richards, L., C. Farr, and C. Gaitros. "Environmental Influences on
Dress: Creek Nation." *Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal*
25.4 (1997): 369--389.

Ward, C., E. Feinauer, R. Hiwalker, and J. Davis. "Implications of
Welfare Reform for Community Development: a Case Study Comparing Tribal
and County Food Assistance Programs Serving the Northern Cheyenne
Nation." *Journal of the Community Development Society* 31.2 (2000):
254--276.

# Fish and Wildlife

Becker, R.R., and T.S. Corse. "The Flathead Indian Reservation:
Resetting the Clock with Uneven-Aged Management." *Journal of Forestry*
95.11 (1997): 29--32.

Gerstenberger, S.L., and J.A. Dellinger. "PCBs, Mercury and
Organochlorine Concentrations in Lake Trout, Walleye and Whitefish from
Selected Tribal Fisheries in the Upper Great Lakes Region."
*Environmental Toxicology* 17.6 (2002): 513--519.

Gerstenberger, S.L., D.R. Tavris, L.K. Hansen, J. Pratt-Shelley, and
J.A. Dellinger. "Concentrations of Blood and Hair Mercury and Serum PCBs
in an Ojibwa Population That Consumes Great Lakes Region Fish." *Journal
of Toxicology (Clinical Toxicology)* 35.4 (1997).

Kawamura, H. "Symbolic and Political Ecology among Contemporary Nez
Perce Indians in Idaho." *Agriculture and Human Values* 21.2-3 (2004):
157--169.

Stoffolano, J.G., and B. Wright, Jr. "An Important Insect in the Hopi
Katsina Pantheon." *American Entomologist* 51.3 (2005): 174--179.

Wilson, P.I. "Wolves, Politics and the Nez Perce: Wolf Recovery in
Central Idaho and the Role of Native Tribes." *Natural Resources
Journal* 39.3 (1999): 543--564.

# Food and Nutrition

Algert, S.J. "Teaching Elementary School Children About Healthy Native
American Foods." *Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior* 35.2
(2003): 105.

Archer, S.L., K.J. Greenlund, R. Valdez, M.L. Casper, S. Rith-Najarian,
and J.B. Croft. "Differences in Food Habits and Cardiovascular Disease
Risk Factors Among Native Americans With and Without Diabetes: the
Inter-Tribal Heart Project." *Public Health Nutrition* 7.8 (2004):
1025--1032.

Bell, R.A., S.A. Quandt, J.G. Spangler, and L.D. Case. "Dietary Calcium
Intake and Supplement Use Among Older African American, White and Native
American Women in a Rural Southeastern Community." *Journal of the
American Dietetic Association* 102.6 (2002): 844--847.

Borchers, A.T., C.L. Keen, and J.S. Gershwin. "Inflammation and Native
American Medicine: the Role of Botanicals." *American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition* 72.2 (2000): 339--347.

Burrows, N.R., L.S. Geiss, M.M. Engelgau, and K.J. Acton. "Prevalence of
Diabetes Among Native American and Alaska Natives." *Diabetes Care*
23.12 (2000): 1786--1790.

Carter, J.S., G.E. Perez, and S.S. Gillard. "Communicating Through
Stories: Experience of the Native American Diabetes Project." *Diabetes
Educator* 25 (1999): 179--188.

Costacou, T., S. Levin, and Mayer-Davis E.J. "Dietary Patterns Among
Members of the Catawba Indian Nation." *Journal of the American Dietetic
Association* 100.7 (2000): 833--835.

Damhoureyeh, S.A., and D.C. Hartnett. "Effects of Bison and Cattle on
Growth." *American Journal of Botany* 84.12 (1997): 1719--1728.

Dillinger, T.L., S.C. Jett, M.J. Macri, and L.E. Grivetti. "Feast or
Famine? Supplemental Food Programs and Their Impacts on Two American
Indian Communities in California." *International Journal of Food
Sciences and Nutrition* 50.3 (1999): 173--187.

Fitzgerald, C.J., P. Havisto, and C. Dobbe. "Creation of a
Cookbook---Tribal Cooking: Traditional Stories and Favorite Recipes."
*Journal of Nutrition Education* 30.5 (1998): 340D.

Gittelsohn, J., E.G. Toporoff, M. Story, M. Evans, J. Anliker, S. Davis,
A, Sharma, and J. White. "Food Perceptions and Dietary Behavior of
American-Indian Children, Their Caregivers, and Educators: Formative
Assessment Findings from Pathways." *Journal of Nutrition* 32.1 (2000):
2--13.

Griffin, J.A., S.S. Gilliard, G. Perez, D. Upson, and J.S. Carter.
"Challenges to Participating in a Lifestyle Intervention Program: the
Native American Diabetes Project." *Diabetes Educator* 26.4 (2000):
681--689.

Hanley, A.J., S.B. Harris, J. Gittelsohn, T.M. S. Wolever, B. Saksvig,
and B. Zinman. "Overweight Among Children and Adolescents in a Native
Canadian Community: Prevalence and Associated Factors." *American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition* 71.3 (2000): 693--700.

Harnack, L., M. Story, B.H. Rock, D. Neumark-Sztainer, R. Jefferey, and
S. French. "Nutrition Beliefs and Weight Loss Practices of Lakota Indian
Adults." *Journal of Nutrition Education* 31.1 (1999): 10--15.

Hassel, C.a. "Woodlands Wisdom: a Nutritional Program Interfacing
Indigenous and Biomedical Epistemologies." *Journal of Nutrition
Education and Behavior* 38.2 (2006): 114--120.

Ikeda, J.P., S. Murphy, R.A. Mitchell, N. Flynn, I.J. Mason, A. Lizer,
and C. Lamp. "Dietary Quality of Native American Women in Rural
California." *Journal of the American Dietetic Association* 98.7 (1998):
812--814.

Koehler, K.M., L. Cunningham-Sabo, L.C. Lambert, R. McCalman, B.J.
Skipper, and S.M. Davis. "Assessing Food Selection in a Health Promotion
Program: Validation of a Brief Instrument for American Indian Children
in the Southwest United States." *Journal of the American Dietetic
Association* 100.2 (2000): 205--211.

Lin, D.S., and W.E. Connor. "Fecal Steroids of the Coprolite of a
Greenland Eskimo Mummy AD 1475: a Clue to Dietary Sterol Intake."
*American Journal of Clinical Nutrition* 74.1 (2001): 44--49.

Lohman, T.G., B. Caballero, J.H. Himes, C.E. Davis, D. Stewart, L.
Houtkooper, S.B. Going, S. Hunsberger, and J.L. Weber. "Estimation of
Body Fat from Anthropometry and Bioelectrical Impedance in Native
American Children." *International Journal of Obesity and Related
Metabolic Disorders: Journal of the International Association for the
Study of Obesity* 24.8 (2000): 982--988.

Narayan, K.M., R.L. Hanson, C.J. Smith, R.G. Nelson, S.B. Gyenizse, D.J.
Pettitt, and W.C. Knowler. "Dietary Calcium and Blood Pressure in a
Native American Population." *Journal of the American College of
Nutrition* 17.1 (1998): 59--64.

North, K.E., H.H. Goring, S. Cole, V. Almasy, S. Latson, T. Cantu, B.
Howard, E. Lee, L. Best, R. Fabritz, and J. Maccluer. "Linkage Analysis
of LDL Cholesterol in American Indian Populations: the Strong Heart
Family Study." *Journal of Lipid Research* 47.1 (2006): 59--66.

Poinar, N.H., M. Kuch, K.D. Sobolik, I. Barnes, A. Stankiewicz, T.
Kuder, W.G. Spaulding, V.M. Bryant, A. Cooper, and S. Paabo. "A
Molecular Analysis of Dietary Diversity for Three Archaic Native
Americans." *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the
United States of America* 98.8 (2001): 4317--4322.

Rinderknecht, K., and C. Smith. "Social Cognitive Theory in an
After-School Nutrition Intervention for Urban Native American Youth."
*Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior* 36.6 (2004).

Singh, R.B., U.C. Gupta, N. Mittal, M.A. Niaz, S. Ghosh, and V. Rastogi.
"Epidemiologic Study of Trace Elements and Magnesium on Risk of Coronary
Artery Disease in Rural and Urban Indian Populations." *Journal of the
American College of Nutrition* 16.1 (1997): 62--67.

Story, M., D. Neumark-Sztainer, M.D. Resnick, and R.W. Blum.
"Psychosocial Factor and Health Behaviors Associated with Inadequate
Fruit and Vegetable Intake among American-Indian and Alaska-Native
Adolescents." *Journal of Nutrition Education* 30.2 (1998): 100--106.

Taylor, C.A., K.S. Keim, and A.C. Gilmore. "Impact of Core and Secondary
Foods on Nutritional Composition of Diets in Native-American Women."
*Journal of the American Dietetic Association* 105.3 (2005): 413--419.

Toporoff, E.G., S.A. French, M. Story, J.H. Himes, M.P. Snyder, M.
Dubray, B.H. Rock, and S. Hunsberger. "Do Children Eat What They Say?
Validity of Intended Food Choices among Native American School
Children." *Obesity Research* 5.2 (1997): 87--92.

Vaughan, L.A., D.C. Benyshek, and J.F. Martin. "Food Acquisition Habits,
Nutrient Intakes, and Anthropometric Data of Havasupai Adults." *Journal
of the American Dietetic Association* 97.11 (1997): 1275--1282.

Wertz, S.K. "Maize: the Native North American's Legacy of Cultural
Diversity and Biodiversity." *Journal of Agricultural and Environmental
Ethics* 18.2 (2005): 131--156.

Wharton, C.M., and J.S. Hampl. "Beverage Consumption and Risk of Obesity
among Native Americans in Arizona." *Nutrition Reviews* 62.4 (2004):
153--159.

Will, J.C., K.F. Strauss, J.M. Mendlein, C. Ballew, L.L. White, and D.G.
Peter. "Diabetes Mellitus among Navajo Indians: Findings from the Navajo
Health and Nutrition Survey." *Journal of Nutrition* 127.10S (1997):
2106s--2113s.

**Forestry**

Ando, C., R. Segawa, C. Gana, L. Li, J. Walters, R. Sava, T. Barry, K.S.
Goh, P. Lee, and D. Tran. "Dissipation and Offsite Movement of Forestry
Herbicides in Plants of Importance to Native Americans in California
National Forests." *Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and
Toxicology* 71.2 (2003): 354--361.

Bengston, D.N. "Listening to Neglected Voices: American Indian
Perspectives on Natural Resource Management." *Journal of Forestry*
102.1 (2004): 48--52.

Carroll, M.S., P.J. Cohn, and K.A. Blatner. "Private and Tribal Forest
Landowners and Fire Risk: a Two-Country Case Study in Washington State."
*Canadian Journal of Forest Research* 34.10 (2004): 2148--2158.

Corquodale, S.M., R.H. Leach, G.M. King, and K.R. Bevis. "The Yakama
Indian Reservation: Integrating Native American Values into Commercial
Forestry." *Journal of Forestry* 95.11 (1997): 15--18.

Gordon, J., J.F. Franklin, K.N. Johnson, D. Patton, J. Sedell, J.
Sessions, and E. Williston. "An Independent Report on Tribal Forestry:
Redefining the Government's Role." *Journal of Forestry* 95.11 (1997):
10--14.

Morishima, G.S. "Indian Forestry: From Paternalism to
Self-Determination." *Journal of Forestry* 95.11 (1997): 4--9.

Rekmans, L. "The North Shore Tribal Council---A Profile of Forestry
Activities." *Forestry Chronicle* 74.3 (1998): 376--377.

Rice, D. "Community Based Forest Management: the Experience of the
Ikalahan." *Forest Trees Livelihood* 11.2 (2001): 127--148.

Thomson, A.J. "Elicitation and Representation of Traditional Ecological
Knowledge, for Use in Forest Management." *Computers and Electronics in
Agriculture* 27.1/3 (2000): 155--165.

Turner, N.J., and W. Cocksedge. "Aboriginal Use of Non-Timber Forest
Products in Northwestern North America: Applications and Issues."
*Journal of Sustainable Forestry* 13.3/4 (2001): 31--57.

Yazzie-Durglo, V. "The Right to Change Tribal Forest Management."
*Journal of Forestry* 96.11 (1998): 33--35.

# Health 

Acton, K.J., R. Shields, S. Rith-Najarian, B. Tolbert, J. Kelly, K.
Moore, L. Valdez, B. Skipper, and D. Gohdes. "Applying the Diabetes
Quality Improvement Project Indicators in the Indian Health Service
Primary Care Setting." *Diabetes Care* 24.1 (2001): 22--26.

Burrows, Nilka R., Andrew S. Narva, Linda S. Geiss, Michael M.
Engelegau, and Kelly J. Acton. "End-Stage Renal Disease Due to Diabetes
among Southwestern American Indians." *Diabetes Care* 28.5 (2005):
1041--1044.

Caballero, B., S. Davis, C.E. Davis, B. Ethelbah, M. Evans, T. Lohman,
L. Stephenson, M. Story, and J. White. "Pathways: a School-Based Program
for the Primary Prevention of Obesity in American Indian Children."
*Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry* 9.9 (1998): 535--543.

Goins, R.T., R. Bell, R. Herrell, S.M. Manson, D. Buchwald, and A. Jr
Bryant. "Health Differences among Lumbee Indians Using Public and
Private Sources of Care." *Journal of Rural Health* 20.3 (2004):
231--236.

Griffin, J.A., S.S. Gilliland, G. Perez, D. Helitzer, and J.S. Carter.
"Participant Satisfaction with a Culturally Appropriate Diabetes
Education Program: the Native American Diabetes Project." *Diabetes
Educator* 25.3 (1999): 351--363.

Hartwell, T.S., J.M. McDowall, K. Moore, A. Fagot-Campagna, S.D.
Helgerson, and D. Ghodes. "Establishing Surveillance for Diabetes in
American Indian Youth." *Diabetes Care* 24.6 (2001): 1029--1032.

Hopkins, A.S., J. Whitetail-Eagle, A.L. Corneli, B. Person, P.J.
Ettestad, M. Dimenna, J. Norstog, J. Creswell, A.S. Khan, and J.G.
Olson. "Experimental Evaluation of Rodent Exclusion Methods to Reduce
Hantavirus Transmission to Residents in a Native American Community in
New Mexico." *Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases* 2.2 (2002): 61--68.

Joe, J.R., and S. Frishkopf. "Recommendations for Health Care Providers
Working with Native Families." *Healthy Weight Journal* 13.5 (1999):
75--76.

Landen, M.G. "Alcohol-Related Mortality and Tribal Alcohol Legislation."
*Journal of Rural Health* 13.1 (1997): 38--44.

Landon, B., J. Loudon, M. Selle, and S. Doucette. "Factors Influencing
the Retention and Attrition of Community Health Aides/Practitioners in
Alaska." *Journal of Rural Health* 20.3 (2004): 221--230.

Pargee, D., E. Lara-Albers, and K. Puckett. "Building on Tradition:
Promoting Physical Activity with American Indian Community Coalitions."
*Journal of Health Education* 30.2 (1999): s37--s43.

Percy, C., D.S. Freedman, T.J. Gilbert, L. White, C. Ballew, and A.
Mokdad. "Prevalence of Hypertension among Navajo Indians: Findings from
the Navajo Health and Nutrition Survey." Found in: *Journal of
Nutrition* 127.10S (1997): 2114s--2119s.

Roubideaux, Y.D., K. Moore, C. Avery, B. Muneta, M. Knight, and D.
Buchwald. "Diabetes Education Materials: Recommendations of Tribal
Leaders. Indian Health Professionals and American Indian Community
Members." *Diabetes Educator* 26.2 (2000): 290--294.

Schuhly, W., I. Kahn, and N.H. Fischer. "The Enthromedicinal Uses of
Magnoliaceae from the Southeastern United States as Leads in Drug
Discovery." *Pharmaceutical Biology* 39 (2001): 63--69.

Stevens, J., C. Suchindran, K. Ring, C.D. Baggett, J.B. Jobe, M. Story,
J. Thompson, S.B. Going, and B. Caballero. "Physical Activity as a
Predictor of Body Composition in American Indian Children." *Obesity
Research* 12.12 (2004): 1974--1980.

Stevens, J., M. Story, A. Becenti, S.A. French, J. Gittelsohn, S.B.
Going, Levin Juhaeri, and D.M. Murray. "Weight-Related Attitudes and
Behaviors in Fourth Grade American Indian Children." *Obesity Research*
7.1 (1999): 34--42.

Story, M., J. Stevens, M. Evans, C.E. Cornell, Juhaeri , J. Gittelsohn,
S.B. Going, T.E. Clay, and D.M. Murray. "Weight Loss Attempts and
Attitudes toward Body Size, Eating and Physical Activity in American
Indian Children: Relationship to Weight Status and Gender." *Obesity
Research* 9.6 (2001): 356--363.

Yeo, A.S.S., M.A. Schiff, G. Montoya, M. Masuk, L. Van Asselt-King, and
T.M. Becker. "Serum Micronutrients and Cervical Dysphasia in
Southwestern American Indian Women." *Nutrition and Cancer* 38.2 (2000):
141--150.

Yip, R., P.J. Limburg, D.A. Ahlquist, H.A. Carpenter, A. O'Neill, D.
Kruse, S. Stitham, B.D. Gold, E.W. Gunter, and A.C. Looker. "Pervasive
Occult Gastrointestinal Bleeding in an Alaska Native Population with
Prevalent Iron Deficiency: Role of Helicobacter Pylori Gastritis."
*Journal of the American Medical Association* 277.14 (1997): 1135--1139.

# Soil and Water

Barrett, S.W., T.W. Swetnam, and W.L. Baker. "Indian Fire Use: Deflating
the Legend." *Fire Management Today* 65.3 (2005): 31--34.

McCool, D. "Indian Water Settlements: Negotiating Tribal Claims to
Water." *Water Resources Update* 107 (1997): 28--32.

Norton, J.B., F. Bowannie, Jr., P. Peynetsa, W. Quandelacy, and S.F.
Siebert. "Native American Methods for Conservation and Restoration of
Semiarid Ephemeral Streams." *Journal of Soil and Water Conservation*
57.5 (2002): 250--258.

Stein, J.F. "The McCarran Amendment and the Administration of Tribal
Reserved Water Rights." *Water Resources Update* 107 (1997): 9--15.

Williams, S.M. "Overview of Indian Water Rights." *Water Resources
Update* 107 (1997): 6--8.

**Appendixes**

**Appendix 1**

**Executive Memorandum**

**The White House Office of the Press Secretary**

For Immediate Release September 23, 2004

**Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies**\
Government-to-Government Relationship with Tribal Governments

The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with
Indian tribes and a special relationship with Alaska Native entities as
provided in the Constitution of the United States, treaties, and Federal
statutes. Presidents for decades have recognized this relationship.
President Nixon announced a national policy of self-determination for
Indian tribes in 1970. More recently, Executive Order 13175, entitled
Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, was issued
in 2000. I reiterated my Administration\'s adherence to a
government-to-government relationship and support for tribal sovereignty
and self-determination earlier this year in Executive Order 13336,
entitled American Indian and Alaska Native Education.

My Administration is committed to continuing to work with federally
recognized tribal governments on a government-to-government basis and
strongly supports and respects tribal sovereignty and self-determination
for tribal governments in the United States. I take pride in
acknowledging and reaffirming the existence and durability of our unique
government-to-government relationship and these abiding principles.

This commitment begins at the White House, where my Director of
Intergovernmental Affairs serves as my White House liaison with all
Indian nations and works with federally recognized tribal governments on
an intergovernmental basis. Moreover, it is critical that all
departments and agencies adhere to these principles and work with tribal
governments in a manner that cultivates mutual respect and fosters
greater understanding to reinforce these principles.

Accordingly, the head of each executive department and agency (agency)
shall continue to ensure to the greatest extent practicable and as
permitted by United States law that the agency\'s working relationship
with federally recognized tribal governments fully respects the rights
of self-government and self-determination due tribal governments.
Department or agency inquiries regarding this memorandum, specifically
those related to regulatory, legislative, or budgetary issues, should be
directed to the Office of Management and Budget.

This memorandum is intended only to improve the internal management of
the executive branch and is not intended to, and does not, create any
right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity, by a party against the United States,
its agencies, entities, or instrumentalities, its officers or employees,
or any other person.

GEORGE W. BUSH

**Appendix 2**

**Departmental Regulation 1340-006**

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Washington, D.C. 20250

+----------------------------------+-------------------+--------------+
|  **DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION**     |                   | Number:      |
|                                  |                   |              |
|                                  |                   | 1340-006     |
+----------------------------------+-------------------+--------------+
| SUBJECT: Policies on American    |  DATE:            |              |
| Indians and Alaska Natives       |                   |              |
|                                  | October 16, 1992  |              |
+----------------------------------+-------------------+--------------+
|                                  | OPI: Office of    |              |
|                                  | Intergovernmental |              |
|                                  | Affairs, Office   |              |
|                                  | of Public Affairs |              |
+----------------------------------+-------------------+--------------+

  

1 PURPOSE

> The purpose of this document is to outline the policies of the United
> States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its interactions with
> Indians, Alaska Natives, tribal governments, and Alaska Native
> Corporations (ANC). USDA policies are based on and are coextensive
> with Federal treaties and law. These policies pertain to Federally
> recognized Tribes and ANCS, as appropriate, and provide guidance to
> USDA personnel for actions affecting Indians and Alaska Natives. These
> policies do not involve USDA interactions with State-recognized
> Tribes, Indians, or Alaska Natives who are not members of Tribes with
> respect to matters provided for by statute or regulation.

2 DEFINITIONS

> a Indian tribe (or tribe). Any Indian tribe, band, nation, Pueblo, or
> other organized group or community which is recognized as eligible for
> the special programs and services provided by the United States to
> Indians because of their status as Indians.
>
> b Alaska Native Corporation. Any Alaska Native village or regional
> corporation established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims
> Settlement Act, Pub. L. No. 92-203 (ANCSA).
>
> c Indian. A member of an Indian tribe.
>
> d Alaska Native. As defined by section 3(b) of ANCSA, a citizen of the
> United States who is a person of one-fourth degree or more Alaska
> Indian (including Tsimshian Indians not enrolled in the Metlakla
> Indian Community) Eskimo, or Aleut blood, or a combination thereof.
> The term includes any Native as so defined either or both of whose
> adoptive parents are not Natives. It also includes, in the absence of
> proof of a minimum of blood quantum, any citizen of the United States
> who is regarded as an, Alaska Native by the Native village or Native
> group of which he/she claims to be a member of whose father or mother
> is (or, if deceased, was) regarded as Native by any village or group.
>
> e Tribal government. The governing body of an Indian tribe that has
> been officially recognized as such by the Federal Government.

3 BACKGROUND

> The United States Government has a unique, legal and political
> relationship with Indians and their tribal governments as defined
> through treaties, statutes, court decisions, and the United States
> Constitution. The United States Government has obligations under
> treaties and statutes to protect and maintain the lands, resources,
> and traditional use areas of Indians. Tribal governments have powers
> similar to those of State governments. In Alaska, the relationship
> with ANCs is defined by ANCSA, as amended.

4 POLICIES

> a USDA is the lead agency of the Federal Government for providing
> effective and efficient coordination of Federal agricultural and rural
> development programs. USDA recognizes that Indians possess the right
> to govern themselves and manage their resources. Therefore, USDA
> supports and seeks to further the principles of self-governance as
> delineated in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
> Act of 1975.
>
> b Consistent with applicable law, USDA officials will consult with
> tribal governments and ANCs regarding the influence of USDA activities
> on water, land, forest, air, and other natural resources of tribal
> governments and ANCS.
>
> c USDA recognizes that tribal governments and ANCs manage land for
> such agricultural activities as farming, grazing, hunting, fishing,
> subsistence agriculture, and gathering of plants, animals, and plant
> products. USDA further recognizes that such resources may hold a
> unique meaning in the spiritual as well as everyday lifeways of many
> Indians and Alaska Natives. Consistent with applicable law, USDA
> officials will solicit input from tribal governments and ANCs on USDA
> policies and issues affecting tribes and will seek to reconcile Indian
> and Alaska Native needs with the principles of good resource
> management and multiple use.
>
> d USDA agencies will observe the American Indian Religious Freedom
> Act, Pub. L. No. 95-341.
>
> e USDA officials will work with the tribal governments, tribal high
> schools, colleges and universities to encourage the development of
> agribusiness skills, awareness and, where needed, curricula. USDA will
> share information through the exchange of technical staffs and skills.
>
> f USDA officials will work with other Federal and state agencies with
> responsibilities to tribal governments and ANCs and will encourage
> early communication and cooperation among all such organizations.
>
> g Consistent with applicable law or regulation, USDA managers will
> facilitate tribal and ANC participation in USDA program planning and
> activities.

5 RESPONSIBILITY

> The Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for insuring that this
> policy is followed. The Secretary has delegated authority to certain
> USDA agencies for carrying out these policies. The Office of Public
> Affairs, Native American Programs Office, has primary responsibility
> for coordinating USDA agencies\' programs serving Indians and Alaska
> Natives. The Office of Advocacy and Enterprise has primary
> responsibility for coordinating USDA\'s equal employment, civil
> rights, and employment-related outreach to Indians and Alaska Natives.

6 INQUIRIES

> Questions or comments pertaining to this regulation may be directed to
> the Office of Public Affairs, Native American Programs Office, Room
> 112-A, Washington, D.C., 20250-1300. Telephone 202-720-3805.
>
> Further information on USDA programs will be available in the \"Guide
> to USDA Programs for Native Americans.\"
>
>  
>
>