Our Programs

The Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural is an alliance of over 70 regionally and culturally diverse organizations working to build a more just and sustainable food system which brings fair returns to minority and other small farmers and rural communities, establishes just and fair working conditions for farmworkers, protects the environment and brings safe and healthy food to customers. Our programs include advocating for national policies that support these goals, as well as economic development efforts such as bridging the digital divide and helping our diverse members market the products of their small farms. Our programs are summarized below:

Rural Coalition Assembly is a gathering of Rural Coalition's members and friends to explore current social and political issues, their effects on the world, and our response to them. The assembly is a chance to connect with others who share your values and passion for justice, equity and sustainability. The next Assembly will be _______________________.
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Food 'N Justice Campaign is Rural Coalition's grassroots policy campaign which promotes comprehensive food, farm, labor, immigration and trade policies in Congress to build a more equitable and sustainable food system for small and limited resource farmers and ranchers, farmworkers, rural communities, consumers and the environment.
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Equal Access to Agriculture Programs and Opportunities is an effort to end racial discrimination at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and to reestablish viable and sustainable minority farm agriculture. Minority farmers, facing farm crises, discrimination, and neglect are on a long road to extinction. With them goes the largest source of minority-held equity in the South and an important base of economic development. This project is designed to broaden collaboration among minority and limited resource farmers, increase their participation in USDA programs, work with the USDA on concrete strategies to address barriers encountered, develop outreach programs and improve USDA services to producers and farmworkers. USDA programs and services are explained in outreach training sessions for farmers and farmworkers who return to their own communities and educate others. In regular meetings with USDA staff we identify barriers to participation, and offer specific recommendations to make the programs more accessible and monitor changes.
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Community Research Network on Agriculture and Environmental Justice allows Rural Coalition members to use community-based research to identify, quantify, and develop solutions to community issues related to agriculture, human rights, and the environment. The research process has helped communities strengthen their organizations and build partnerships with other communities, universities, and young researchers. Project Summaries are below.
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Meeting the Risk Management Needs of Small, Limited Resource
and Minority Producers

The goal of this project is to enhance the economic viability of a diverse population of limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and specific tools necessary to ensure that their risk management needs are equitably met. This risk management outreach project will:

  1. work with the insurance industry to train insurance agents to deliver crop insurance and related products to limited resource farmers with the high quality customer service these farmers require;
  2. train partner organizations to develop a revolving loan fund as a risk management tool for small, limited resource, and minority producers;
  3. develop the record keeping systems necessary to produce the financial records required for both revenue protection type of insurance and revolving loan funds, and providing training in their use.

Project Period: October 1, 2003 - September 30, 2004

Past Events:

A project of Rural Coalition in partnership with: Casa Del Llano, Growing Power, Hmong American Community, Homeworkers Organized for More Employment, Intertribal Agriculture Council, Land Loss Prevention Project, Minnesota Food Association, National Crop Insurance Services and its members, Operation Spring Plant, Rural Advancement Fund, Rural Community Development Resources, Dr. John Green of Delta State University, and funded by the Risk Management Agency.

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Reducing Risk Exposure and Increasing Health and Safety Through
Farmworker-Farmer Partnerships and Training

In collaboration with regional Risk Management Agencies, farmers, and farmworkers, we are working to develop methods to foster and sustain relationships between farmers and farmworkers. The partners will develop methods and tools to enhance farmworker health and safety, building on the health and safety training tools developed by our farmworker partners in the past. Project partners will also investigate and assess the key factors that contribute to high costs for workers compensation insurance in the state of California (one of the states with the highest number of agriculture workers covered). In partnership with insurance companies, we will develop and test a revised compliance, training, and workplace assessment tool. The partners will then explore the possibility of certification of workers and workplaces based on the use of this tool, and whether such certification has the potential to be recognized by insurance companies as of value in reducing risk exposure on the particular farm.

Project partners will also develop strategies, methods, and tools to build and sustain work relationships between small farmers and farmworkers.

Through this project we are hoping to place value on the reality that protecting and improving the livelihood and quality of life for farmworkers may improve the farm enterprise overall.

Project Period: October 1, 2003 - September 30, 2006

Past Events:

A project of Rural Coalition in partnership with: Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation, Farmworker Association of Florida, Hispanic Farmers association, Hispanic Organizations Leadership Alliance, Milliman USA, National Crop Insurance Services, North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project, Organización en California de Lideres Campesinas, Rain and Hail LLC, Sin Fronteras Organizing Project, Star Alliance Insurance Services, Dr. John Green of Delta State University, and funded by Risk Management Agency.

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Women in Agriculture: A Needs Assessment

Taking into account that few research projects have been directed toward developing a better understanding of the needs of limited resource and minority farmers who are also women, this project proposes additional analysis and focus groups designed specifically to reach women to further understand their roles in agriculture and how they contribute to farming operations.

Through this research, we will also work to identify women farmers' needs, if they are being met by current federal agriculture programs, and then suggest strategies to improve programs and services. The Rural Coalition will conduct a needs assessment to identify, document and address the potentially unique and unmet needs of diverse women producers. Along with focus group data, additional analysis of past research will be used to make recommendations to the Farm Service Agency for follow up research and action.

Past Events:

A project of Rural Coalition in partnership with the Environmental and Community Health Organization, Inc., of Covington, KY, the Women's Food and Agriculture Network, Atlantic, Iowa; Operation Spring Plant; and Rural Advancement Fund, and funded by USDA Farm Services Agency.
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Join Us on December 3, 2009!

Register Today!
Download RSVP Form.
The 4th Annual Rural Coalition Capitol Gala will take place at the National Press Club on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. For more information, contact Nadine Chatman.