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RAFI

Announcing Recipients of 2025 Farmer Grants

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Events and Trainings

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Webinar: Farm Disaster Prep and Recovery

September 24, 2025 2:00 pm ET

Join RAFI and fellow agriculture experts on Wednesday, September 24, at 2:00 pm ET to learn how to prepare your farm before a disaster and what to do afterward. We’ll cover how to assess farm damage, work with local FSA offices to apply for Disaster Assistance Programs, check for water contamination, and stay compliant with […]

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Webinar: USDA FSA Online Application Guidance

Are you looking to apply for an FSA Loan online but don’t know where to start? NYFC and RAFI gave a webinar on September 4, which demonstrated a walk-through on how to access and complete the FSA Loan application online, as well as the requirements for completing the application. Please spread the word!

Watch

The Farmstand Blog

Why and When should you apply to the NRCS?

NRCS provides funding and technical support through programs like EQIP and CSP to help you make conservation improvements on your farm. Applications are accepted year-round, but each state sets a ranking deadline — applying early improves your chances of being funded in 2026. Now’s a great time to plan projects like pasture improvements, cover crops, or wildlife habitat and get your application started.
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RAFI Announces 2025 Farmer Grant Recipients

RAFI is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 farmer grants: 42 farmers across 10 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands received $261,319 in support for infrastructure improvements, start-up costs, and innovative projects that strengthen farms and communities. Since 2020, RAFI has distributed more than $1.4 million to 241 farmers, continuing a legacy of grantmaking that helps small- and mid-scale farmers thrive.
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Stories from the Soil

Though often seen as a summer pursuit, many farmers provide food year-round using high tunnels, row cover, storage crops, and careful planning. In Virginia, Cameron Terry of Garden Variety Harvests cultivates diversified vegetables and leafy greens, sustaining sales with both fresh and pickled produce. In North Carolina, Tracy Lafleur of Sugar Hill Produce is known for carrots harvested through winter and stored for months, supported by walk-in coolers. Both farmers show how strategy and innovation make fall and winter farming possible.
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RAFI’s Hurricane Farmer Relief Fund Activity Wraps Up 

RAFI’s Hurricane Farmer Relief Fund raised over $290,000 to help farmers recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton with emergency grants, rebuilding support, and technical assistance. Building on this response, RAFI has created a permanent Disaster Response Team to strengthen readiness for future climate-driven disasters.
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Job Posting: Farmer Advocate

The Farmer Advocate will provide one-on-one technical assistance to financially distressed farmers, helping them assess options, access credit, and stabilize operations. This role is instrumental in achieving positive outcomes and supporting farms of all types and descriptions.
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Puerto Rico Farmers Learn Solar Pumping Techniques

On July 30, RAFI hosted a field day at Finca Don Cotto in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, where about 20 farmers learned to install and use solar-powered water pumps. Led by RAFI staff and a solar electrician, the hands-on workshop addressed irrigation challenges and cost barriers. RAFI is helping reduce equipment costs through bulk purchases. More field days are planned to expand access to sustainable, affordable water solutions across the island.
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Birthing Sovereignty: Soul Fire Farm’s Model for Land-Based Liberation

What does it mean to return to the land — not just to farm it, but to reclaim it? Hope Ostane-Baucom of RAFI’s Farmers of Color Network reflects on her powerful week at Soul Fire Farm’s BIPOC farmer immersion, where farming becomes a practice of healing, resistance, and liberation. This is not just a training — it’s a homecoming.
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Hemp in field

Hemp Unraveled

When chronic pain hit close to home, Ellis Monroe turned to an unexpected ally: hemp. What began as a search for relief on a small urban farm in Durham, NC, soon became a mission—and a movement. Discover how Monroe and other farmers are reclaiming hemp’s healing potential, resisting corporate takeover, and rebuilding agriculture through care, science, and community. A fall 2024 Living Roots article.
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Our Come to the Table Conference is March 12-13, 2026 in Winston Salem. Now accepting proposals for presenters and storytellers!LEARN MORE