To assist predominately african american socially disadvantaged, limited resource farmers and ranchers (SDLRFRS) in rural, poverty-stricken mississippi counties: choctaw, scott, wayne, and winston

This $372,475.90 Cooperative Agreement awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (CFDA 10.912 Environmental Quality Incentives Program) aims to assist predominantly African American, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource farmers and ranchers in the rural, poverty-stricken Mississippi counties of Choctaw, Scott, Wayne, and Winston. The funding will support the Winston County Self Help Cooperative, a small agricultural cooperative and minority-owned business, in providing educational programs, technical assistance, and outreach services to empower these historically underserved farmers and ranchers to achieve sustainable agricultural practices and retain land ownership. The award period runs from September 15, 2024 to June 30, 2026, aligning with the cooperative's mission to shape sustainable and equitable rural development in the region.