Outreach Definitions

Outreach- Conducting business to ensure that NRCS programs and services are made accessible to all customers, with emphasis on the underserved.  Applies to all programs, and all customers. 

Underserved- Individuals or groups who have not participated in, or have received limited benefits from, USDA or NRCS programs.  Historically, the underserved include tribes, minorities, women, the disabled, limited resource farmers/ranchers and small-scale farmers. 

Small Farmer- A small farm is a farm having less than $250,000 gross receipts annually.   

Limited Resource Producer

Must meet both (a) and (b) below:

(a)    A person with direct or indirect gross farm sales of not more than $100,000 in each of the previous two years.  

(b)   Has a total household income at or below the national poverty level for a family of four, or less than 50 percent of the county median household income in each of the previous two years.

A USDA limited resource self-determination tool is located on the web at http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/tool.asp .

Community Based Organizations (CBO)

Recognized groups concerned with improving the quality of life for residents within local communities.  These organizations can initiate and manage projects, and provide an avenue to reach underserved audiences.  These groups include non-profit, non-government organizations.  For example, faith-based organizations, women’s groups, environmental groups, farm or woodlands groups, trade and professional associations, educational associations and schools.

Census Maps

Maps depict information from the 2002 Indiana Census of Agriculture, prepared by USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service.  The Indiana Agricultural Statistics is located at www.nass.usda.gov/in. 

The following documents require Microsoft Word

Number of American Indian/Alaska Native Operated Farms in Indiana Counties (DOC; 74 KB)

Number of Asian Operated Farms in Indiana Counties (DOC; 74 KB)

Number of African American Operated Farms in Indiana Counties (DOC; 73 KB)

Number of Female Operated Farms in Indiana Counties (DOC; 74 KB)

Number of Hispanic Operated Farms in Indiana Counties (DOC; 74 KB)

Number of Hawaiian/Pacific Island Operated Farms in Indiana Counties (DOC; 74 KB)

 

Resource Links

NRCS Social Sciences Institute: http://www.ssi.nrcs.usda.gov/.  The Product Catalogue contains information on working with small farmers, minority farmers, etc. 

Social Sciences References:

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat

Social Marketing Guidebook (PDF)
PL 107-171 - Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (PDF; 42 KB)
Running Effective Meetings (PDF; 31 KB)
Listening Skills (PDF; 48 KB)
Running Public Meetings (PDF; 55 KB)
How to Develop a Marketing Plan (PDF; 164 KB)
Understanding Non-Profit Organizations (PDF; 92 KB)
Understanding Community Power Structures (PDF; 38 KB)
Defining Communities: An Issue-Based Approach (PDF; 99 KB)
Human Aspects of the Conservation Planning Environment (PDF; 71 KB)
Working with People of Different Cultures (PDF; 426 KB)
Social and Physical Aspects of Meetings and Conferences (PDF; 251 KB)
Social and Professional Skills to be Effective with Small Farmers (PDF; 44 KB)
Barriers and Strategies for Small-Scale Producers (PDF; 740 KB)
Gaining Trust with Small Farmers (2PDF; 8 KB)
Working with Community Leaders (PDF; 1.6 MB)
Social Profile (PDF; 386 KB)
Organic Resource Guide for Indiana (PDF; 139 KB)
 

EPA: A guide for conducting watershed outreach campaigns is found at http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/outreach/documents/ 

NACD: http://www.nacdnet.org/resources/RGuide/  Includes information on reaching out to underserved audiences.

Indiana Agricultural Statistics: http://www.nass.usda.gov/in

USDA limited resource self-determination tool: http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/tool.asp

NRCS National Outreach Web site: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/outreach.html

Indiana NRCS Civil Rights Web site:  http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/about/Civil_Rights/Indiana_Civil_Rights_Homepage.html

Indiana NRCS Outreach Contacts

Outreach Coordinator

Jill Reinhart
jill.reinhart@in.usda.gov
(317) 290-3200, ext. 383

Federal Women's Program Manager

Rita Schaus
rita.schaus@in.usda.gov
(812) 649-9136 

Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager

Rafael Vega
rafael.vega@in.usda.gov
(574) 291-7444, ext. 3
 

Black Emphasis Program Manager

Bennie Clark
bennie.clark@in.usda.gov
(317) 290-3200, ext. 394

Disability Emphasis Program Manager

Jack Johnson
jack.johnson@in.usda.gov
(260) 356-6816, ext. 8

American Indian/Alaska Native Emphasis Program Manager

Kelley Barkell
kelley.barkell@in.usda.gov
(260) 356-6816, ext. 3

Asian American/Pacific Islander Emphasis Program Manager

Asghar Chowdhery
asghar.chowdhery@in.usda.gov
(317) 290-3200, ext. 374

Veterans Emphasis Program Manager

Keri Bilbo
keri.bilbo@in.usda.gov
(812) 882-8210, ext. 8