MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. (NOV. 21, 2024) - Farm Journal Foundation hosted a panel today at the Sustainable Agriculture Summit in Minneapolis to discuss ways to support Native American producers in climate-smart grazing practices.
Farm Journal Foundation is working in partnership with the Intertribal Agriculture Council, The Yield Lab Institute, and Ecosystems Services Market Consortium on a new project that offers Native beef producers support for implementing certain grazing and other soil-carbon enhancing practices on their operations, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Farm Journal Foundation and Intertribal Agriculture Council showcased this project at today’s session in Minneapolis, detailing challenges that Native producers face, how this project can make climate-smart practices more accessible, and what future opportunities this partnership hopes to catalyze.
“The Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) is an invaluable ally as we work together with our partners to engage with and expand opportunities for Tribal beef producers,” said Maddie Skellie, Farm Journal Foundation’s Senior Program Manager. “Our goal is for this discussion to serve as a guide on how to amplify Tribal voices in thoughtful and intentional ways that best benefit Tribal agricultural communities.”
The panel, titled Building Pathways to Sustainable Agriculture Practices for Native Producers, was moderated by Farm Journal Foundation CEO Tricia Beal and included Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott, Chief Strategy Officer, Intertribal Agriculture Council; John Keller, CSC Portfolio Manager, Intertribal Agriculture Council; and Maddie Skellie, Senior Program Manager, Farm Journal Foundation. The panel emphasized the significance of trusting and relying on those already in Indian Country when implementing new projects.
The project, supported by USDA’s Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, is focused on Tribal beef producers and spans three states, Florida, Montana, and Oklahoma, over three years. It will aim to enroll 70-100 producers, across 89,000 acres, totaling 6,000 head of cattle. Eligible practices include: Adapting prescribed grazing, establishing or expanding permanent fencing, digging new wells, range planting with native or perennial species, herbaceous weed treatment, and prescribed burning, among others.
Media Contact
Whitney McFerron, Vice President of Communications
Farm Journal Foundation
About Farm Journal Foundation
Farm Journal Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to advance global food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture, and rural economic development. The Foundation believes in a future where food systems work for everyone – farmers, consumers, economies, and the environment. Achieving this vision starts with conversations – bringing all voices to the table to discuss challenges to our global food systems and how we can create tangible, innovative solutions that serve us all. To learn more, visit www.farmjournalfoundation.org.