By Juan Ramirez
On behalf of Rudy Arredondo, President, CEO, and Executive Director of Latino Farmers and Ranchers International Inc, we would like to say thank you for all your help and support.
Latino Farmers and Ranchers International, LFRI represents Latino farmers, ranchers and producers throughout the U.S. We have served providing both advocacy and technical support. In some areas, we have been the only source of support to small and developing farmers and to the impoverished communities where many reside. Because of these needs, the LFRI has transitioned from only being a national organization to expanding internationally with the administrative capacity to serve our members with boots on the ground. Moreover, we are now engaged in developing the necessary technical resources to assist our members in the various facets of agriculture, from cultivation to distribution to development of innovative food systems in their communities.
Latino Farmers and Ranchers International, in partnership with Flower Hill Institute, is implementing the outreach for the Emergency Relief Program, ERP-2. ERP covers losses to crops, trees, bushes, and vines due to a qualifying natural disaster event in calendar years 2020 and 2021. Phase 2 intends to fill additional assistance gaps and cover eligible producers who did not participate in existing risk management programs.
Underserved producers, including beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers, will receive a higher ERP payment, at a percentage rate that will be determined at a later date (must have CCC-860 certification form on file with FSA for the applicable program year to qualify).
FSA Outreach, Education, & Technical Assistance services offer technical assistance and education in areas including:
* FSA Processes
* ERP-2 Application
* Post-Award Obligations
* Financial/Tax support
* Insurance Coverage Options
* Record-Keeping
* FSA Relief Programs
We are honored of our mission to protect, preserve, and serve historically discriminated against farmworkers, farmers and ranchers. Our mission and activities allow us to provide resources and opportunities for our constituents to have direct access to identified resources and opportunities both public and private that they have previously been denied.
Our farmers and ranchers need us and we are here to support them! You can help us to spread the word about this program within your network, farmers, ranchers, stakeholders, etc.
If you or anyone would like to get more info about the Emergency Relief Program feel free to visit www.lfrinc.org, or you can contact us at:
- info@lfrinc.org
- New Mexico field representative Antoinette Lucero at (505) 737-4483, email momtreez18@gmail.com.
- Colorado field representative Aaron Abeyta at (719) 580-7687, email aaronabeytapoet@gmail.com.
- California field representative Jesus Pineda at (559) 540-1621, email xuxomp@gmail.com
- Juan Ramirez at (240) 821-4210, email juan@thetadconsulting.com or Rudy Arredondo at (301) 366-8200, email latinofarmers@gmail.com.
Your contribution sharing this information will be greatly appreciated and our farmers and ranchers will receive the resources they deserve.