RAFI Staff

635 posts

Job Opening: Southeast (SE) Cohort Project Manager

The Southeast Cohort Project Manager is a full-time RAFI role leading a regional cohort of Direct Service Providers who help Southeastern farmers navigate financial distress. Reporting to the DBAN Project Manager, duties include supervising DSPs, coordinating trainings, managing operations, and planning events.
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Drought Conditions and Disaster Support for Southeast US Farmers

With much of the Southeast U.S. experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions, RAFI presents a new guide on drought and disaster assistance for farmers. Understand current conditions and forecasts, find emergency financial assistance opportunities, and explore mitigation strategies for smaller scale producers.
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Record Keeping & Reporting

Keeping accurate crop records not only helps you manage your farm business, but also can unlock access to USDA programs, loans, crop insurance, and disaster assistance. Here's some record keeping and reporting best practices for small and beginning farmers.
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NRCS 2026: Step-by-Step Instructions to Apply

NRCS offers cost-share support through programs like EQIP and CSP, but applying can feel confusing — and timing matters. With a new nationwide January 15, 2026 batching deadline and a new Regenerative Pilot Program, this blog explains what’s changed and how to decide your next steps.
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[CLOSED] 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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USDA paper files on shelf

The Power of a Paper Trail: Print and Save USDA Documents

Protect your farm. NPR reports DOGE staff can now view and edit sensitive USDA farmer data. Now's a good time to request hard copies of your FSA and NRCS records. In related news, USDA also ended use of the “socially disadvantaged” designation. Farmers of color and women may want to update their CCC-860 to reflect other statuses.
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Food & Control Event Recap

On July 8, Come to the Table hosted a Food & Control gathering in Rocky Mount, NC alongside RAFI’s policy team. We addressed the topic of corporate power and competition in the food system, particularly in rural areas across NC. Using RAFI’s Grocery Gap Atlas, participants explored their own area and discussed the impacts and solutions to market consolidation.
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Food & Stigma

Listen, and don’t respond.  These were the instructions given to the food and faith leaders that gathered in Asheville to learn about Food & Stigma with Come to the Table. . The opening activity prompted participants to share about a place they loved growing up and then about a time they received hospitality with a small group – none of whom could respond in any way until they were finished. Listeners were to offer only a simple “thank you” at the end of each story.
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Come Together

Farmers engage in both formal and informal mutual aid networks to help their neighbors in times of crisis. Learn from the stories of organizations and ordinary folk who stepped up to support and empower their communities through last fall's extreme weather events.
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Navigating Federal Disaster Assistance for Farmers

Emergency assistance from USDA and other federal agencies can help you get on the road to recovery, but navigating the maze of different program requirements can be tricky. Know what to expect and what agencies to contact for assistance so that your farm can be prepared for the unexpected.
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