Farm Service Agency County committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of USDA/FSA and allow grassroots input and local administration of federal farm programs.
RAFI is hiring an FSA Loans Technical Assistance Contractor to support farmers in the Southeast U.S. with Farm Service Agency loan programs. This remote six to 12-month contract will provide one-on-one help with farm numbers, loan applications, farm financials, loan restructuring, and borrower responsibilities. The contractor will also track cases, coordinate with RAFI staff and partners, and support farmer outreach and education.
On the brink of the 2026 growing season, RAFI teamed up with Faithfull Farms to host an in-person Four-Season Market Garden Planning Workshop led by Howard Allen.
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program from USDA Rural Development exists to help address those challenges, and the next application cycle is approaching quickly.
As policymakers and agricultural institutions look toward solutions for a fractured food system, they would do well to look to Briarwood, where community is the model, and waste has no place.
RAFI mourns the passing of Michael Sligh on November 7, 2025 at home, lovingly cared for by his wife Janet and surrounded by family and friends. We are honored to have worked with Michael, who was RAFI’s Just Foods Program Director for 29 years.
When you visit Injertia Manases today, you’ll find a thriving nursery filled with lush cacao, citrus, and avocado trees, each one a testament to years of dedication, faith, and resilience.
We seek a resourceful self-starter who can flexibly handle multiple projects simultaneously. Strong candidates for this position will have a knowledge of or interest in sustainable agriculture and food systems and be enthusiastic about RAFI's mission.
Today we honor Edna Rodriguez on her last day as RAFI’s Co-Executive Director. For thirteen years, Edna has led with vision and resolve — expanding support for small and underserved farmers across North Carolina, the Southeast, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She strengthened RAFI’s financial and organizational foundations and ensured resources and decision-making moved directly into farmers’ hands. We thank Edna for her leadership, courage, and unwavering belief that all farmers deserve fairness, voice, and choice.
