Mississippi Outreach Initiative

INTRODUCTION                                               

NRCS in Mississippi can direct attention to numerous projects in the state that have provided (and is currently providing) assistance to Historically Under-served Individuals and Groups (HUIGs).  Some of these projects include: (1) The Choctaw Watershed Project; through the Small Watershed and RC&D Program, NRCS in Mississippi has facilitated a treatment system for forty HUIG families in Bolivar County, MS. (2) The Small Farmer and Technical Outreach Program with Alcorn State University provides outreach for USDA programs in fourteen Mississippi counties with strong anticipation of expanding. (3) The Hambrick Sub-division Project in Tunica County, MS provided an outlet to the sewage treatment facility for approximately sixty HUIG's. (4) The South Lee County Special Project provided funding for conservation practices and sewage treatment facilities for historically underserved farmers in Lee County, MS.  Also, NRCS is entering the fourth year of the Small Farmer Initiative-- an initiative to improve technical service and program participation in all USDA programs through improved outreach efforts to Small Scale and Limited Resource Farmers.  This Initiative's target audience is small farmers that historically have not participated in nor ever ranked high enough to be selected for a contract.

These are just a few projects involving outreach that NRCS, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Land Grant Institutions and Community Based Organizations and groups in Mississippi join together in partnership to implement.  This partnership has been only moderately successful because many people, especially members of traditionally underserved groups, are still unfamiliar with NRCS and USDA programs and services.  Therefore, it is imperative that an accelerated program is responsive to the challenges that face farmers and ranchers with limited resources, minority landowners and operators, and other non-traditional clients and beneficiaries of NRCS programs and services.

NRCS in Mississippi is committed to ensuring that its programs and services are accessible to all our customers, fairly and equitably, with emphasis on reaching the under-served and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.  It is our aim to identify and address potential barriers that could prevent our under-served customers from full participation in agency programs.

The Vision of Outreach 2007 is a dynamic delivery system that reaches out to all citizens and communities; recognizes their unique traits and treats everyone with dignity and respect.

The Mission of Outreach 2007 is to assure equal access to all USDA programs in order to foster a strong natural resource base and a sustainable community

What is Outreach?

Outreach is a way of conducting business to ensure that the under-served individuals and groups throughout the United States and its territories are made aware of, understand and have a working knowledge of USDA programs and services.  Outreach will ensure that these programs and services are equitable and made accessible to all.

Who are the Under-served?

The Under-served Individuals and Groups include those who have not participated in or have received limited benefits from USDA or NRCS programs that may improve their quality of life and/or the environment.  Historically the under-served are farmers/ranchers and landowners/operators with limited resources, minority groups that includes American Indians, Alaskan Natives and Aleuts, women and the physically challenged.

Who are limited resource producers?

Limited Resource Producer (LRP) is a term used to describe those farmers who, when compared to other farmers and farm operations in a given geographic area, such as a state, county, or project area, have distinct disadvantages in obtaining USDA program assistance.

Who are the socially disadvantaged?

A Socially Disadvantaged Group is one whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.  Those groups are African American, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics and Asians, or Pacific Islanders.

What is our purpose?

The purpose of Outreach 2007 is to ensure that outreach programs and services in the state of Mississippi are made accessible to all NRCS customers.  By accomplishing this, we will increase participation and benefits to all  under-served and non-traditional customers in this state.

Saving Rural America Conference

State Contact

Wilson Murray, Outreach Coordinator
Phone: 601-965-4339 ext. 165
Email: Wilson Murray

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