Underserved and Veteran Farmers, Ranchers, and Foresters
Register today for the 6th Annual 2501 Partnership Symposium!
This year’s theme will be “Empowering the Future of Agriculture: Ensuring Equity and Inclusion in Farming and Ranching.”
September 27-28, 2023
Austin, TX
This symposium is for existing 2501 grantees as well as organizations that work with underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers and foresters who want to learn more about the 2501 Program.
The 2501 Program
The 1990 Farm Bill created the 2501 Program to help underserved farmers, ranchers, and foresters, who have historically experienced limited access to USDA programs and services. The 2014 Farm Bill expanded the 2501 Program to include veterans. The 2501 Program is officially called Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program.
The objective of the 2501 Program is to show USDA’s commitment to ensuring that underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers, and foresters can equitably participate in USDA programs. Grants are awarded to community-based and non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and eligible Tribal entities with at least 3 years of experience in working with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers or veteran farmers and ranchers. Individual farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply for 2501 Program grants.
Because of differences in demographics, culture, economics, language, and other factors, there is no one single approach to identifying solutions that can benefit underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers, and foresters. 2501 Program partners are based in local communities and rural areas, where they serve a critical role in maximizing USDA’s outreach efforts, by identifying systemic barriers that need to be removed and working to increase equitable participation in USDA’s programs and services. Projects funded under the 2501 Program include, but are not limited to, conferences, workshops, and demonstrations on various farming techniques, and connecting underserved farmers and ranchers to USDA local officials to help communities increase their awareness of USDA’s programs and services.
Since 2010, the 2501 program has awarded 615 grants totaling more than -$194 million.
2501 Fact Sheet 2023 (PDF, 437 KB)
Funding Opportunity Information
- The Fiscal Year 2023 notice of funding opportunity for the 2501 Program has been announced on www.grants.gov
- The 2501 grant deadline for 2023 is July 25, 2023.
- The following recorded webinars provide an overview of the fiscal year 2023 grant application process:
2501 Program Partners Symposium
The next 2501 Program Partners Symposium, to be organized by USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), will take place on September 27-28, 2023. The agenda will be posted shortly.
Video recordings of the 2022 2501 Program Symposium are featured below.
Click to view day one: 2501 Symposium Day One – September 21, 2022
Click to view day two: 2501 Symposium Day Two – September 22, 2022
We have included approximate timecodes on this listing of speakers to help you navigate more quickly to the speakers that interest you.
English or Spanish subtitles are available. Please select your preference from the first icon at the bottom right-hand side of the screen.
The second day of the recording is accompanied by a sign language interpreter.
The recordings will be available for public viewing until December 21, 2023.
Program Agenda of 2022 symposium (PDF, 86.3 KB)
Funded Projects
- FY 2022 Funded Projects (PDF, 769 KB)
- FY 2021 Funded Projects
- FY 2020 Funded Projects
- FY 2019 Funded Projects (PDF, 325 KB)
- FY 2018 Funded Projects (PDF, 805 KB)
- FY 2017 Funded Projects (PDF, 172 KB)
- FY 2016 Funded Projects (PDF, 352 KB)
- FY 2015 Funded Projects (PDF, 365 KB)
- FY 2014 Funded Projects (PDF, 371 KB)
- FY 2010-2012 Funded Projects (PDF, 468 KB)
- Infographic: 2501 Program Statistics, FY 2014-2017 (PDF, 1.0 MB)
Training and Educational Resources
- Find your local USDA Service Center
- www.farmanswers.org
- USDA New Farmers website
- USDA Veterans website
- AskUSDA
Socially Disadvantaged Policy Research Center
Alcorn State University administers the Socially Disadvantaged Policy Research Center with support from the 2501 Program. The Center makes policy recommendations to Congress to improve the success of socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers through research, stakeholder engagement, and outreach.
Learn more about the Policy Research Center.
Contact Us
Benjamin Chan
Program Director
USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
Phone: 202-720-6350
Email: 2501Grants@usda.gov
