In February, Flower Hill Institute coordinated an outreach event in Yakima, Washington, to educate local farmers and producers on federal funding and promote available Farm Service Agency crop insurance programs. Among those who had attended, the Yakama Nation Bison Project was pleasantly surprised to learn about coverage for grassland pastures and alfalfa production.
The project manager of the Yakama Nation Bison Project explained, “I wish I knew of this type of insurance years ago,” stating, “It sure would have been a great help.”
The project runs bison on the Yakama Nation’s ancestral lands and butchers bison yearly for sale and supply to their food programs.
However, pastures and alfalfa fields have dried up due to the lack of precipitation, making Yakima Valley more prone to wildfires and severe drought. Wildfires are common on free-range lands and can be devastating for bison forage and alfalfa hay during winter.
Bison is an important traditional food for the Yakama Nation tribal members and helps feed their local community.
Luckily, Flower Hill Institute provided the Yakama Nation Bison Project with free resources and education on FSA crop coverage and livestock assistance programs. The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey-Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) were some of the many applicable programs offered in this case. As a result, the Yakama Nation is now working with an insurance agent to obtain drought and fire insurance and exploring options for farm funding.
“I am sure glad that I attended the meeting you put on; otherwise, I would never have known about this opportunity,” declared the project manager.
The FSA Disaster Assistance Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance Program helps small and local farmers and business owners apply to federal grant programs and seek funding tailored to their needs. Without outreach efforts on pertinent topics and speakers, many opportunities to help producers succeed could be missed.