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Woody Colbert, RC Policy Specialist:
Another large tornado touched down in the southwest part of Oklahoma City a few moments ago and they are reporting that it was similar in size and direction of travel as the May 3, 1999 tornado, the worst tornado in American History. The reports on the TV are horrific. The tornado hit a school in the area and school was in session. Many homes in the area are completely leveled or blown away.
We have been working tirelessly to make sure the rights, needs, and interests of African-American, American-Indian, Asian-American, Euro-American, Latino, and women farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and rural communities in the United States are included in the 2013 Farm Bill. We are also seeking a Fair Farm Bill that includes Equity for ALL. We do this at the local level with our member groups building relationships with their district representatives, at a national level with their congressional representatives and U.S.
The 2013 Farm Bill Debate continues today with committee action moving to the House Side. CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES!
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To learn more about the 2501 program, check out the Rural Coalition's program Brief Summary: Click to view RC's 2501 Program Brief
The Outreach and Assistance Program for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) is a historic and remarkably successful program adopted in Section 2501 of the 1990 Farm Bill. It was part of a years-long effort to halt land loss by diverse producers traditionally underserved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Many community-based organizations, 1890 and 1994 land grant institutions, and Hispanic Serving Colleges and Universities fought to ensure that this vital program as well as other equity and access provisions were developed and passed in the Minority Farmers Rights section of the 1990 Farm Bill and subsequent legislation. In the 2008 Farm Bill, the program began to achieve broader success with increased funding. Notable in FY 2010 and 2011, the OASDFR Program awarded a total of $38 million in competitive grants. The program has served more than 100,000 rural constituents and has been an invaluable resource for the more than 35 states.
