The Farmstand is a blog written by the staff and guests of the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, covering key issues relevant to the development of markets, policies, and communities that support thriving, socially just, and environmentally sound family farms.
Recent Posts
- RAFI-USA Grants $130,500 to Support Members of its Farmers of Color Network (7/29/2020) - RAFI-USA today announced the first-ever round of grants from its new Farmers of Color Network Infrastructure Fund. The program provides grants up to $5,000 to farmers for projects to increase farm viability, support farmers’ local food economies, and preserve traditional farming practices. A total of $131,500 was granted to 27 farmers in NC, SC, and Virginia. ...>Read More
- CTTT Technical Assistance Spotlight: Calvary Memorial UMC (7/20/2020) - A conversation with Come to the Table grantee, Patty Herring of Calvary Memorial United Methodist Church in Snow Hill, to learn more about Calvary Memorial’s food ministry and the impact of the grant. ...>Read More
- What does a typical week look like for RAFI-USA staff? (7/16/2020) - Beyond our titles do you wonder what a typical week is like for RAFI-USA staff? Take a look below to see how we generally spend our days at RAFI-USA. ...>Read More
- The Trauma of Betrayal in Farm Loss (7/14/2020) - Join RAFI-USA this Wednesday at 2pm EST for a virtual workshop on the Trauma of Betrayal in Farm Loss. This Zoom session will help farmers and those who provide assistance to farmers who have experienced or are experiencing financial crisis on the specifics of farmer betrayal; a betrayal committed by someone a farmer thought was going to help them during their financial crisis. ...>Read More
- RAFI-USA Distributes over $120,000 in Pandemic Assistance to North Carolina Farmers and Communities (7/10/2020) - Emergency small grants help farmers with household bills, and connect church feeding programs with local food producers. ...>Read More
- Raising Awareness, Church-by-Church (6/25/2020) - Right before the coronavirus shut everything down, RAFI-USA held a screening of our documentary film 'Under Contract: Farmers and the Fine Print' at the Congregational Church of Pinehurst, United Church of Christ. We recently spoke with Kathy Nekton, chair of the church’s Mission, Peace, and Justice team to learn about her experience viewing the film. ...>Read More
- Community Conversation Series: “What Does Community Disaster Resilience Look Like?” (6/24/2020) - Join RAFI-USA and Rural Forward NC online on July 14, 2020 from 6-8pm for a Community Conversation with Pastor Anthony Gibson and Dr. Dawn Baldwin Gibson of Peletah Ministries. ...>Read More
- Action Alert: Securing Support for Farmers in Senate C4 Bill (6/18/2020) - Two months ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act to address the coronavirus pandemic, which included provisions related to agriculture. In order for any part of the bill to become law, the Senate will need to pass its own version. ...>Read More
- RAFI-USA Stands with People of Color Against Police Brutality (6/3/2020) - RAFI-USA stands against racism, police brutality, racist vigilante violence, and state violence. As an agricultural advocacy organization, we recognize that the food and farming system in the U.S. was and continues to be based on the exploitation of marginalized people. ...>Read More
- Understanding the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) (6/2/2020) - We at RAFI-USA want to give you the best information and assistance we can to navigate the complicated federal COVID-19 relief programs available. This communication is about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). ...>Read More
- Farm Aid-funded COVID-19 Farmer Resilience Initiative Mini-grants (5/29/2020) - Applications for Farm Aid-funded emergency relief grants are now available to farmers in Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, and the US Virgin Islands. ...>Read More
- A Message from Edna Rodriguez, RAFI-USA’s Executive Director (5/21/2020) - In this time of uncertainty, RAFI-USA's work continues. Our staff are carrying out our programs while also responding to COVID-19, a crisis unlike any we’ve seen in recent times. ...>Read More
- CTTT Technical Assistance Spotlight: Red Oak United Methodist Church (5/21/2020) - RAFI-USA's Come to the Table program interviews Reverend David Joyner of Red Oak Methodist Church to learn more about their food ministry and the impact of the grant they received. ...>Read More
- Support the ‘Relief for America’s Small Farmers’ Act (5/12/2020) - RAFI-USA endorses the Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act to provide debt relief to small family farms. The most rapid way to ease financial pressures on farmers who are most at risk is forgiveness of USDA direct loan debt. ...>Read More
- Farmer Eligibility for SBA COVID-19 Relief Programs (4/23/2020) - The Small Business Administration (SBA) opened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program specifically for agricultural businesses. RAFI-USA recommends that farmers and ranchers in need apply as soon as possible, since demand for the funds will be high. ...>Read More
- Take Action: Ask the NC General Assembly to expand Medicaid (4/13/2020) - The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis on a scale we haven’t seen before. As those who have the ability and means to self-isolate stay at home, essential workers continue to keep our health care, food, transportation and other systems running. ...>Read More
- Crop Insurance and COVID-19 (4/13/2020) - The current COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted production and marketing of agricultural goods globally. It is critical that producers understand eligible causes of loss in crop insurance when making difficult production decisions. ...>Read More
- Applications Now Open! Emergency Relief Mini-Grants for NC Farmers (4/8/2020) - As the impacts of COVID-19 continue to unfold day to day, RAFI-USA recognizes that farmers across the country are facing extreme difficulties. To help lessen the financial toll of this outbreak, RAFI-USA is distributing emergency relief grants in the amount of $500 for NC farmers who have seen drastic impacts to their business and household as a result of COVID-19. ...>Read More
- Take Action: Relief Should Support Farm Families – Not Big Ag (4/7/2020) - The USDA is deciding how to spend the more than $23.5 billion earmarked for farmers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. They have already had discussions with Corporate Agriculture representatives on how to spend the money, dividing up what was meant for small, independent family farmers. RAFI-USA encourages everyone to email their Congressional representatives and ask for help. ...>Read More
- RAFI-USA COVID-19 Policy Response Recommendations (4/6/2020) - RAFI-USA continues to monitor the evolving impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on farmers and farmworkers. The policy recommendations within are in response to what we know so far. This post will grow and change as the situation changes and we continue to hear from those who keep us fed. ...>Read More