Indigenous agriculture encompasses the foods and medicines grown on farms and harvested from the land and water. In an effort to support Tribal Nations in their pursuit of protecting and revitalizing agriculture, USET established the Agriculture Program within the Office of Environmental and Resource Management. Current projects include propagation and restoration of river cane, youth engagement programs, and direct technical assistance to USET member Tribal Nation farms and farmers. The farms among the USET membership are as diverse as the Tribal Nations themselves, ranging from massive maple syrup operations to small buffalo herds and community gardens. If you want to learn more about how we support agriculture within the region, please email OERM Agriculture Program Manager Lea Zeise at lzeise@usetinc.org.
Projects at a glance:
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- Youth Projects
- Culturally Significant Plants
- Tribal Conservation Advisory Councils
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Events
Past Webinars
- Cover Crops and Indigenous Corn Discussion (March 2021)
- Grant Overview: Food Safety Outreach Program (February 2021)
- Small Equipment on Tribal Farms Discussion (February 2021)
Federal Resource Partners: A quick overview of USDA Agencies
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Natural Resources Conservation Service: For farms – Conservation plans and cost-share programs for conservation practices
- Rural Development: For Tribal Nations, Cooperatives, and Non-profits – Grants and loans supporting rural business development
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): For Tribal Nations and farms – Invasive species and pest management assistance
- Farm Service Agency: For Tribal Nations and farms – Large and small loans for capital and operating costs
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture: For Tribal Nations, farms, and cooperatives – Grants for sustainable agriculture projects through Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Organization Resource Partners
- Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative: Food law and policy allies
- Intertribal Agriculture Council: Technical assistance for Tribal farms and farmers
- Akiptan: Innovative loans for Tribal farms and farmers
- Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance: Source for webinars, workshops, resources