{"id":4288,"date":"2022-01-10T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CAIiEB9cTsnajlY4Yh0yNWkCa6QqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowi5GXCzDuuK4DMP2CywY"},"modified":"2022-01-10T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-01-10T08:00:00","slug":"usda-approves-connecticuts-state-hemp-production-plan-hemp-grower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=4288","title":{"rendered":"USDA Approves Connecticut’s State Hemp Production Plan – Hemp Grower"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In 2021, growers from marginalized groups received funds and government assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), but not by the same means\u2014or in the same amount\u2014that many of them had hoped.<\/p>\n

A federal judge blocked a massive debt relief program that Congress outlined in the American Rescue Plan Act<\/a>. However, the agency has provided historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other institutions with grant funding for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers, veterans, immigrants, and refugees.<\/p>\n

USDA Grants, Loans, and Assistance<\/strong><\/p>\n

The USDA\u2019s 2021 funded projects included nearly $18.7 million in grants for its Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, also known as the 2501 Program.<\/p>\n

According to the USDA, the group of \u201csocially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers,\u201d sometimes referred to by the agency as “SDFRs,” \u201cincludes producers who are one or more of the following: Black\/African American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Hispanic\/Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A list of the 2501 grants<\/a> to institutions such as universities and non-profit associations include descriptions of the recipient projects. These descriptions do not specifically mention hemp; however, they highlight broad agriculture-related education, including workshops and trainings focused on agri-tourism, good agricultural practices, and \u201cagribusiness management literacy trainings.\u201d The institutions receiving the grants, which include HBCUs, aim to work with groups such as BIPOC farmers, veterans, immigrants, and refugees.<\/p>\n

Socially disadvantaged producers and members of historically underserved communities are eligible for all USDA programs, a USDA spokeswoman told HG<\/em>. They are also eligible for specific provisions, such as priority in ranking and funding applications, waived fees, and higher payment rates, under various titles of the 2018 Farm Bill.<\/p>\n

The agency doesn\u2019t track the background of producers for all programs, though it does for some, the spokeswoman said. She outlined the following for fiscal year 2021:<\/p>\n