Partnerships With Tribal Nations

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides financial assistance programs including disaster assistance, safety net, farm loans, price support and conservation programs that help Tribal producers. If you’re new to working with USDA, FSA will help you register your agricultural operation with a farm number and, depending on what you raise or grow, help you file an annual acreage report as required to establish eligibility for many programs. Tribal agricultural producers and landowners are encouraged to add their voices by serving on FSA’s producer-elected County Committees and voting in the elections.

Learn more about FSA or find your local Service Center at farmers.gov/service-center-locator.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to improve land stewardship and productivity through the application of conservation best practices. Tribal Nations and tribal organizations assist NRCS in improving programs to make them more meaningful and accessible on Tribal Lands and lands owned fee simple by tribal producers. NRCS has local teams of professionals and technicians to work with you to develop and implement conservation plans based on your goals for your land. NRCS also has programs that cover a significant portion of the cost of implementing conservation practices on your land.

Learn more about NRCS or find your local Service Center at farmers.gov/service-center-locator.

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) administers federal crop insurance through Approved Insurance Providers to help farmers prepare for the future. RMA strengthens the economic stability of agricultural producers and rural communities by increasing the availability and effectiveness of Federal crop insurance. RMA manages the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to provide innovative crop insurance products to America’s farmers and ranchers. Special provisions are available to beginning and underserved farmers.

Visit the RMA website to find a regional or compliance office or find an insurance agent near you.

In 2022, for first time in agency history, FSA entered into three historical Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) agreements with Tribes in the Great Plains. Additional tribes are working with FSA on CREP partnership opportunities to address priority conservation needs on their lands.

Through these Tribal CREP agreements, farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers voluntarily enter into contracts with the federal government for 10-to-15-years, agreeing to maintain an existing vegetative cover of permanent grasses and legumes, while retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices and operations related to the production of forage and conservation of existing ground cover. In return, FSA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance for establishing permanent fencing and livestock watering facilities needed to support livestock grazing. View Frequently Asked Questions for Tribal Grasslands CREP.

Tribal Nations interested in learning more about tribal partnerships with FSA can contact USDA in their state or submit a request to tribal.fpac@usda.gov.

NRCS is working with tribal subject matter experts to develop conservation practice technical standards based on tribal knowledge including managing land for bison, sugar bush, wild rice, blueberries, traditional farming, and traditional gardening. 

Tribal subject matter experts help NRCS better understand the role of low intensity burns in the management of ecosystems and production of forest and rangeland foods. Tribal Nations also involve NRCS in their work to overcome aquatic organism passage barriers to reconnect stream ecosystems. 

As a result of these collaborations, NRCS provides more meaningful technical assistance, and comprehensive financial assistance, to Tribal Nations and tribal producers in implementing conservation practices to meet their land stewardship goals. The NRCS deeply appreciates the sustained commitment from tribal leadership and their staffs in these collaborative efforts.

Tribal Nations interested in learning more about tribal partnerships with NRCS can contact USDA in their state or submit a request to tribal.fpac@usda.gov.

RMA works closely with the Intertribal Agriculture Council and other partner organizations to educate and inform producers in Tribal communities how best to utilize risk management tools, particularly crop insurance.

RMA funded several projects to support these efforts through the Risk Management Education Program and recently launched a new service to assist minority-serving institutions and underserved stakeholder groups with applications for this program.  

Interested organizations are encouraged to reach out to RMA at RMA.risk-ed@usda.gov. 

In recognition of traditional animals, FSA updated its disaster assistance programs to ensure coverage of livestock losses. FSA also updated certain livestock disaster assistance programs to include horses maintained on eligible grazing land. Many family farms and ranches use their forage to raise horses to augment their other agriculture endeavors. Additionally, Mycoplasma bovis for bison losses is now an eligible cause of loss for the Livestock Indemnity Program. For more information, visit farmers.gov/recover.

Indigenous foods that generate revenue on a farm can be covered by federal crop insurance under the Whole Farm Revenue Protection or Micro Farm policies. You can find a licensed and qualified Approved Insurance Provider in your area through the RMA Agent Locator Tool.  An insurance agent can help you determine if any offered policies are right for you.

USDA is committed to serving all facets of agriculture, including gardens, farms, and even indoor operations in urban, suburban, and tribal communities. Learn more at farmers.gov/urban.

USDA offers a wide variety of programs and services to producers to help start, expand, and improve operations. This includes land and water conservation, disaster assistance, crop insurance, farm operating and ownership loans, and safety-net programs.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is NRCS’ flagship conservation program helping Tribal Nations, tribal producers, and other farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. This program can help increase agricultural productivity though prescribed grazing, high tunnel systems, agroforestry, and more.

The Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP), part of FSA’s CRP program, helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland, and certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. The program emphasizes support for grazing operations, plant and animal biodiversity, and grassland and land containing shrubs and forbs under the greatest threat of conversion. For more information, contact your local USDA service center.

USDA supports access to on-farm storage and handling for new, small and mid-sized farms through FSA’s Farm Storage Facility Loan Program. These low-interest loans help producers build or upgrade facilities to store commodities, acquire storage and handling trucks and/or related handling equipment.