Seven Wins for Indian Country in Farm Bill

Quapaw cattle. Native News Online photo by Levi Rickert

Published December 12, 2018

WASHINGTON — The United States Senate on Tuesday voted 87 – 13 to approve the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill now heads to the House where it is expected to be voted on as early as Thursday.

Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, proposed the following seven tribal provisions in the farm bill that are considered wins for Indian Country:

Expands Tribal Self-Determination to USDA – Authorizes tribal self-determination demonstration projects to USDA for the first time. A Tribal Self-Determination Project for Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Food Procurement, which will allow tribal food programs to better serve the nearly 90,000 Native FDPIR participants with greater access to traditional and nutritional foods, and a Tribal Self-Determination Project for forestry functions, which will allow tribes to enter into administrative and management contracts with the Forest Service and BLM.  This provision will help reduce wildfire threats on Federal lands adjacent to Native communities.

Tribal Advisory Committee on Agriculture – Establishes a permanent tribal advisory committee within USDA to provide technical assistance, guidance, and direction on all polices implemented by the USDA and its Office of Tribal Relations. This provision will ensure that Indian Country’s unique needs are considered early on to maximize efficiency and facilitate the federal government-to-government relationship.

Tribal Promise Zones – Ensures the Tribal Promise Zone initiative will continue to provide improved access to resources and technical assistance from federal agency partners to Native communities. Promise Zones rely on collaborative relationships with local communities and federal agencies to optimize federal resources.

International Trade Missions – Facilitates greater participation on international trade missions by Native American farmers and ranchers, allowing tribal producers the opportunity to sell traditional crops and tribal products in the international market.

Research at Tribal Colleges and Universities – Enhances grant and research opportunities for tribal colleges and universities by expanding access to nearly $11.3 million in USDA research and extension funding, including the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program; the Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Program; and the Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP).

Establishment of Rural Development Technical Assistance Program for Indian Country – Establishes a Technical Assistance Program tailored to tackle the unique challenges of Tribal government, Tribal businesses and entities in accessing USDA’s rural development resources.

Study of the Farm Credit System – Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the agricultural credit needs of farms, ranches and agricultural businesses to determine whether the institutions of the Farm Credit System need to be improved  to meet the unique needs of Indian Country.