USDA Action. Instituted new procedures with DOJ: civil rights review prior to forwarding cases to DOJ and hold quarterly meetings with DOJ.  

Status: Fully implemented (code 1). Will continue to monitor.

USDA Action. The Federal Register Notices on the privacy act and the collection of information were published, and the comment periods closed. The Privacy Act Notice was in Federal Register, Vol. 64, No. 152 on Monday, August 9, 1999. 

The "Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Conduct an Information Collection" was published in the Federal Register, Vol. 64, No. 204, Friday, October 22, 1999. One comment was received and addressed. 

Status:  Partially implemented (code 2). The Federal Register "Notice to Seek Approval to Conduct an Information Collection" for a Voluntary Minority Registry has been cleared by OMB. The Office of Outreach (OR) is working with the Department's Office of General Council (OGC) staff to implement. 

USDA should also provide more for those 1994 Tribal Colleges with demonstrated programs of support to community-based organizations that have a history of serving minority farmers. 

USDA Action. The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service maintains a portfolio of funding programs directed to the land grant system. The Small Farm Initiative requested in the FY 1999 and FY 2000 President's Budgets directly impacts this recommendation. 

Status: Unable to be implemented (code 3). The Small Farm Initiative remains unfunded. Other programs are ongoing. 

USDA Action. Supported HR 2185 (Rep. Clayton's bill) that provided for the expansion of county committee membership to under represented groups.  

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). FSA's outreach program has been retooled to act promptly on promoting diversity in FSA programs. FSA has a highly interactive Committee election process through local media outlets, local journals and civic organizations. FSA managers are actively involved in outreach efforts to attract minorities and women. 

                      Or,

Contact: Dr. David J. Adams (Civil Rights)
Tel: 202-401-7166
Fax: 202 401-7100
Rev. date: 01/12/00 
Status Code: 2-Partially implemented.

USDA Action. Continue settlement of outstanding cases. As of May 1998, USDA had settled or closed 328 of the 1,088 program discrimination complaints in the backlog. Proceed with claims settlement.  

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). FSA, jointly with the Department's Office of Civil Rights Office is making efforts to investigate, adjudicate and settle outstanding complaints of discrimination. 

CR & SBUS is currently operating under a memorandum of understanding with the Department for FSA Fact-Finders to investigate over 600 backlog complaints. 

FSA also has plans to conduct inquiries on offices found to have a large volume of activity on the consent decree.

                 Or,

Contact: Dr. David J. Adams (Civil Rights)
Tel: 202-401-7166
Fax: 202 401-7100
Rev. date: 01/12/00 
Status Code: 2-Partially implemented (code 2).

Additionally, a joint-team of field staff from these areas and USDA administrators should assess the program barriers to small farm operators from U.S. territories and possessions and make necessary changes to meet their needs.  

USDA Action. The Office of Outreach (OR) has completed a review of its mission, functions, goals and organization. Resource needs have been identified and a reorganization is being implemented. The team effort on this issue is still in the planning stage, and is dependent upon completion of Outreach staffing plans.

The Farmworker Initiative: In fiscal year 1999, OR employed the first USDA Farmworker coordinator.  As a result, OR initiated a number of collaborative efforts to address farmworker, especially migrant farmworker issues.  In fiscal year 2000, these efforts included:

a) working with Rural Development to identify grantee to receive the $ 5 million appropriated to assist farmworkers who have been affected by natural disasters; 

b) in fiscal year 2001 budget requests CSREES received $500,000 to assist the children of farmworkers (citizens and non-citizens) through their farm safety programs; and AMS provided $50,000 to create pesticide education for farmworkers;

c) CSREES was assisted with receiving 
$200,000 from the Department of Labor (DOL) to create a pilot program that would match employer and employee through the web;

d) organized and hosted 2 meetings at USDA of the Interagency migrant Counsel, it had been    7 years prior since USDA has hosted a meeting.  Arrangements were made for Deputy Secretary Rominger to welcome the group for the first meeting.  At our second meeting, Assistant Secretary Jill Long Thompson did the welcome.

Status. Partially implemented (code 2).

Mission Area: N/A 
Office: OR (Office of Outreach) 
Contact: Carolyn Parker 
Tel:  202-720-5475  
Fax: 
Email:  
Rev. Date: 01/18/2001 
Status Code: 2-Partially implemented.

 
• National Resources Conservation Service programs; 
• Rural Development's Intermediary Relending Program; 
• Rural Business Enterprise Grand Program; 
• B&I Guaranteed Loan Program; 
• Risk Management Agency's Revenue Assurance Program; 
• Rural Development's RBS programs; 
• Forest Stewardship Program; 
• Forestry Incentive Program; and 
• Stewardship incentive Program. 

USDA Action. The Office of Outreach (OR) has completed a review of its mission, functions, goals and organization. Resource needs have been identified and a reorganization has been implemented. The regulatory review effort is still in the planning stage, and is dependent upon completion of Outreach staffing plans, or participated in:

1) the Department of Labor (DOL) "JETCON" in a panel discussion that had it’s focus on rural workforce;

 2) the National Assessment of the Worker Protection Program by EPA, provided input to the success of the program as well as to its shortcomings;

3) USDA Small Farms meeting in California (coordinated) and evening session on Farmworkers focus was on program outreach needs by USDA;

4) at the USDA/DOL conference in Colorado (coordinated) the session on Latino outreach emphasis in rural areas to both farmworkers and small farmers;

5) at the National FAS conference in Oklahoma a breakout session, on farmworkers and the need to assess their economic losses during a natural disaster;

6) the routine meetings of the Federal Interagency Committee on farmworkers.      

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). All Business Program regulations are being reviewed to determine if there is any bias against small farmers.

Mission Area: N/A 
Office: OR (Office of Outreach) 
Contact: Carolyn Parker 
Tel:  202-720-5475  
Fax: 
Email:  
Rev. Date: 01/18/2001 
Status Code: 2-Particially implemented.

USDA Actions. A review is in progress principally under the leadership of the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC) with collaboration and assistance from the Native American Working Group (NAWG).  

NAWG, under leadership from the Director for USDA Native American Programs, has reviewed plans and strategies submitted by state FACs and provided options and recommendations to the NFAC. 

Status: Not implemented (code 4). Ongoing. Determining next course of action. 

USDA Action. A review is in progress principally under the leadership of the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC) with collaboration and assistance from the Native American Working Group (NAWG).  

NAWG, under leadership from the Director for USDA Native American Programs, reviewed plans and strategies submitted by state FACs and provided options and recommendations to the NFAC. 

Status: Not implemented (code 4). Ongoing. Determining next course of action. 

USDA Action. Modified instructions for the annual strategic plan development to specifically require that groups representing small, minority, and women farm operators be included in the strategic planning process. 

State Directors will use discretionary points to encourage use of the RBS program funds for value-added, cooperative development, and other business activities that support the marketing, supply and service needs of small farmers. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). Ninety percent of all RD State Offices have now identified a staff resource to serve as a Cooperative Development Specialist. Providing staff development training to state Cooperative Specialist on an annual basis. 

Nearly doubled the amount of funding available through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program. 

USDA Action. The Office of Outreach (OR) has completed a review of its mission, functions, goals and organization. Resource needs have been identified and a reorganization has been implemented. 

The new organization will include Policy and Planning, Field Operations, and Operations Management units. The reporting and impact assessment instruments, as well as analysis of program impacts and effectiveness are still in the planning stage, and are dependent upon completion of Outreach staffing plans. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). OR will continue its ongoing efforts to develop strategies to implement this recommendation. 

USDA Action. OR is working with agency coordinators and once its reorganization is complete and staffed, guidelines for establishing and supporting mentoring programs and apprenticeships will be developed and implemented. 

OR also is funding an Outreach newsletter and coordinating the exchange of information and opportunities. Additional efforts will be planned and implemented with the completion of the reorganization and staffing effort. 

Additionally, OR is working with State Agency leadership and Outreach Councils to establish the network and communication lines necessary to support these objectives. State Outreach Council plans have and are being developed. Many plans identified target audiences of under served constituents. Strategies have been adopted by some of the councils and they are moving forward to implementation. 

Agencies, working closely with the USDA Office of Outreach, have fostered on-going partnerships through memorandums of understanding, cooperative agreements, and other forms with land-grant colleges and universities, community-based organizations and others. 

Status. Partially implemented (code 2). OR will continue to develop plans and strategies to implement this recommendation.

USDA Action. The Office of Outreach is working with agency coordinators and once its reorganization is complete and staffed, guidelines for establishing and supporting mentoring programs and apprenticeships will be developed and implemented. 

The Office of Outreach is funding an Outreach newsletter and coordinating the exchange of information and opportunities. Additional efforts will be planned and implemented with the completion of the reorganization and staffing effort. 

The Office of Outreach is working with State Agency leadership and Outreach Councils to establish the network and communication lines necessary to support these objectives. State Outreach Council plans have and are being developed. Many plans identified target audiences of under served constituents. Strategies have been adopted by some of the councils and they are moving forward to implementation. 

Agencies, working closely with the USDA Office of Outreach, have fostered on-going partnerships through memorandums of understanding, cooperative agreements, and other forms with land-grant colleges and universities, community-based organizations and others. 

Status. Office of Outreach will continue to develop plans and strategies to implement this recommendation.

USDA Action. Action plan proposes that RBS initiate cooperative research agreements in FY 1999 to assess membership policies and models, and assess the nature and extent of barriers. Studies will be completed during the fourth quarter of FY 2000 within current funds and staffing. 

Status: Fully implemented (code 1). 

USDA Action: USDA requested a funding increase of $8.6 million in the President's FY 2000 Budget for a total funding level of $40 million.

For FY 2001, $45 million was requested for this programs, an increase of $11 million over FY 2000.

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). For FY 2001, a total of $43.5 million is available, an increase of $10.2 million over the $33.3 million that was available in FY 2000.

FY 1999 loans included: $20 million in loans and $13.5 million in grants. The combined programs supported 622 units, exceeding the FY 1999 target by 127 units. In addition, $3.2 million was available for rental assistance to support 288 units in ten projects. 

USDA Action. Secretary Glickman appointed a farmworker coordinator in the USDA Office of Outreach. The Coordinator is planning to create an interagency task force to address farm worker issues and is initiating ways to collaborate with the Department of Labor. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). The Farmworker Initiative: In fiscal year 1999, OR employed the first USDA Farmworker Coordinator. As a result, OR initiated a number of collaborative efforts to address farmworker, especially migrant farmworker, issues. In fiscal year 2000, these efforts included; 

a) working with Rural Development to identify grantee to receive the $5 million appropriated to assist farmworkers who have been affected by natural disasters; 

b) in fiscal year 2001 budget requests CSREES received $500,000 to assist the children of farmworkers (citizens and non-citizens) through their farm safety programs; and AMS provided $50,000 to create pesticide education for farmworkers;

c) CSREES was assisted with receiving 200,000 from DOL to create a pilot program that would match employer and employee through the web d) organizing and hosted 2 meetings at USDA of the Interagency migrant Counsel, it had been 7 years prior since USDA has hosted a meeting. Arrangements were made for Deputy Rominger to welcome the group for the first meeting. At our second meeting, Assist Secretary Jill Long Thompson did the welcome.

In addition, OR participated in:

1) the DOL "JETCON" participated in a panel that had it’s focus on rural workforce.

2) The National Assessment of the Worker Protection Program by EPA, provided input to the success of the program as well as to its shortcomings.

3) USDA Small Farms meeting in California (coordinated) and evening session on Farmworkers focus was on program outreach needs by USDA. 

4) at the USDA/DOL conference in Colorado (coordinated) the session on Latino outreach emphasis in rural areas to both farmworkers and small farmers. 

5) at the National FAS conference in Oklahoma a breakout session, on farmworkers and the need to assess their economic losses during a natural disaster.

 6) the routine meetings of the Federal Interagency Committee on farmworkers.

• No. 61: "Enforce the requirement that those who use "restrictive use pesticides" keep records of the application of their products." 
  
• No. 62: "Immediately provide pesticide information to health care providers treating pesticide-related illnesses." 
  
• No. 63: "Require USDA to use this information to prepare comprehensive annual pesticide use reports, as mandated in the 1990 and 1996 farm legislation." 
  
• No. 64: "Enforce the Environmental Justice Executive Order at USDA." 

AMS developed a Pesticide Exposure publication for health care professionals to help them understand how to get information from USDA and EPA on applications and use of pesticides.  

NASS, through information from routine surveys, has provided since 1993 an annual report to Congress specific to restricted pesticide use. Enforcing environmental justice is a Departmental priority. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). Ongoing.

USDA Action. Beginning in January 2000, educational programs and research related to stress management will be featured on the USDA Helping Rural America Face Crisis web site. CSREES plans in 2000 three audio teleconferences through the land grant system on family stress and the farm crisis.  

The CSREES Helping Rural America Face Crisis web site has a section called Coping with Stress to assist farm families and staff who provide programs to farm owners and workers, and their families.  

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). Ongoing.