This action approves an award in the amount of $3,000,000 to the national association of state departments of agriculture research foundation

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 awarded a $3 million cooperative agreement to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Research Foundation. The award is part of the EPA's Geographic Programs - Gulf of Mexico Program (CFDA #66.475) and will provide assistance to underserved farmers to protect and improve water quality and habitat in the Ohio and Tennessee regions (HUCs 05 and 06).

Under the September 1, 2022 to February 28, 2027 award, the Foundation will develop a grants management system to track subawards and work with 17 regional subawardees to provide technical assistance directly to underserved farmers. Activities will implement programs to prevent and reduce nonpoint source pollution like nutrients and plastic pollution. Anticipated outcomes include farmers adopting sustainability practices that reduce nutrient losses and improve water quality, with intended benefits to underserved communities in the target regions.

The purpose of this award is to provide assistance to underserved farmers to protect and improve water quality and habitat. Activities:the activities to be performed are to develop a grants management system for tracking sub-awards and to work with sub-awardees to provide technical assistance to underserved farmers to protect and improve water quality and habitat. Programs will be implemented to prevent or reduce nonpoint source pollution, including nutrients and plastic pollution.subrecipient:the activities to be implemented through sub-awards include developing and deploying a grants management system for monitoring other sub-awardees, working directly with underserved farmers through 17 regional sub-awards, and providing platform support for the grants management system.outcomes:anticipated deliverables are that farmers or farming communities will adopt sustainability/resiliency practices and practices that lead to reduced nutrient losses and improved water quality. Expected outcomes are nutrient reduction, habitat improvement, and/or sustainable forests protected. Intended beneficiaries are underserved farmers and residents in the ohio and tennessee regions (hucs 05 and 06) who will benefit from improved water quality.