USDA Announces Urban Agriculture Investments

The Department of Agriculture last week announced $43 million in grants and cooperative agreements to help deliver key USDA programs to urban producers. 

Specifically, USDA is investing $10.2 million in new cooperative agreements to expand compost and food waste reduction efforts and $14.2 million in new grants to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects. 

Additionally, $18.7 million will fund 75 grant proposals from the 2021 application cycle, which was oversubscribed. 

Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Cosby says, “These projects will help for urban farmers create new, more affordable, and better local market options.” 

USDA’s Farm Service Agency is also standing up six more urban county committees, which help deliver farm loans, disaster assistance, safety net and conservation programs. 

FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux adds, “These new urban county committees will work to encourage and promote urban agriculture and address areas such as food and program access, community engagement and food security.”

(Story Courtesy of the NAFB News Service)