Are you a Winneshiek County farmer--and a woman or "person of color?" The FSA wants to hear from you

If you're a woman or a "person of color," the U.S. Department of Agriculture considers you part of a minority among farmers.

That's why the Farm Service Agency is inviting minority farmers and ranchers in Winneshiek County to voluntarily join the USDA Minority Farm Register.  By joining the Register, minority producers may receive outreach materials, newsletters, and program announcements for USDA agencies.  They may also receive information and assistance from other USDA-approved outreach partners, such as community based organizations, faith-based organizations and minority–serving educational institutions.  USDA will carefully control access to and use of the Register.

"The new Minority Farm Register is an outreach tool to reach underserved farmers and ranchers who are not currently enrolled in USDA loan, farm or conservation programs," said Winneshiek County FSA county executive director Julie Vulk.  "The Register is a shared outreach list that will help USDA, community based organizations and minority-serving educational institutions to communicate with minority farmers and ranchers."
 
Individuals wishing to join the Register must sign and date a form that provides their name and address.  Providing phone numbers, e-mail address, race, ethnicity, gender and farm or ranch location will be voluntary, although the additional information increases the producer's opportunities for receiving timely assistance.
 
The Register pamphlet with the registration form is available at the Winneshiek County USDA Service Center or from the FSA web site (www.fsa.usda.gov) under "Forms".