USDA Office of Tribal Relations

🚨 $1.625 billion is available to specialty crop farmers through USDA's Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program. These payments provide financial support to allow producers to pay for production and marketing inputs in the face of significant market disruptions and elevated input costs during the 2025 growing season. The deadline to apply is Aug. 7, 2026.

On June 1, producers with a http://Login.gov account can access and submit their pre-filled application at fsa.usda.gov/ascf, and beginning June 8, producers can request their pre-filled application from their USDA Farm Service Agency county office. Payments will be issued as applications are submitted and approved, beginning as early as the first week of signup.

🔗 https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/05/29/usda-announces-enrollment-period-and-payment-rates-specialty-crop-farmers

A few blocks away from our offices at the USDA headquarters in Washington D.C. is the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). Surrounding the museum are four directional stones from across the Americans anchoring habitats of woodlands, wetlands, croplands, and meadows. These landscapes, carefully tended by the Smithsonian Gardens, highlight over 150 wild plants and cultivated crops that Native communities have used for food, medicine, fiber, dyes, and ceremony since time immemorial. Be sure to add NMAI to your itinerary next time you are in the nation's capital and don’t forget to have lunch at the Mitsitam Cafe.

Check out the full garden inventory:

Plants:https://gardens.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NMAI-display-inv-2025_2.pdf

Trees:https://gardens.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NMAI-tree-inv-2025.pdf

Calling all Tribal governments, Tribal government corporations, and rural nonprofits!

USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant is now open! This program operates by providing intermediaries with grant assistance to advance local, rural economies by serving small and emerging businesses. Awarded projects may support training and technical assistance, feasibility studies, business incubation, job training, transportation improvements and many more. Tribal government projects may include their arms and instrumentalities as eligible beneficiaries.

There are two deadlines in June 2026 depending on your project type. Check out the USDA Program webpage to learn more!

Rural Business Development Grants This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses.

Up to $500,000 available through cooperative agreements for Federally recognized Tribal governments. Proposals must be submitted by June 15th, 2026 and may include, but are not limited to, the development and implementation of wild chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance, testing, management, and response activities, including further development and evaluation of techniques and strategies to prevent or control CWD in wild cervids on lands owned or managed by Tribal entities.

APHIS is making approximately $12 million in funding available to support projects that advance the control and prevention of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in wild and farmed cervids.
We are now accepting project proposals from States, Tribal governments, universities, and research institutions through June 15th.

This funding opportunity supports efforts to:
• Strengthen CWD surveillance and diagnostic capacity
• Develop innovative research tools and management strategies
• Support State and Tribal CWD programs
• Advance on‑the‑ground prevention, response, and education efforts
• Provide indemnity payments to cervid owners with pending claims

CWD is a serious, fatal disease impacting deer, elk, and other cervids. APHIS’ targeted funding approach ensures resources go where they can make the greatest impact.
Learn more: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/05/15/aphis-announces-funding-support-chronic-wasting-disease-control-and-prevention

Deadline for FRTEP applications is June 8th!

NIFA is accepting applications for the Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program, which supports Extension outreach on Federally Recognized Indian Reservations and Tribal jurisdictions. Applications are open until June 8. Funding details: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/nifa-tribal-programs/federally-recognized-tribes-extension-program

Sending our congratulations to the Class of 2026!

Congratulations to the Tribal College and University students who are graduating this week. Don’t miss this week’s graduations:

May 13, 2026
Bay Mills Community College

May 14, 2026
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
Sitting Bull College
Stone Child College
White Earth Tribal and Community College

May 15, 2026
Blackfeet Community College
Navajo Technical University
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Tohono O'odham Community College
Turtle Mountain College
San Carlos Apache College

May 16, 2026
Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)
Leech Lake Tribal College
Nebraska Indian Community College
Sisseton Wahpeton College

We are so proud of you, there is no limit to what you can achieve!

Last month, the USDA staff participated in a Tribal meat processing fly-in hosted by the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC), in partnership with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). While there, USDA staff discussed federal inspection, infrastructure, and related food system development programs with 76 attendees representing 33 Tribal nations. Participants were also able to tour the CSKT-SQK Meat Processing Plant in Ronan, MT, and School House Meats in Missoula, MT. OTR thanks USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, Food Safety and Inspection Service, and Rural Development for facilitating these important conversations at this event.

Through a partnership with the Agricultural Marketing Service Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA), IAC has hosted these fly ins across Indian Country to showcase Tribal meat processors and provide technical assistance for Tribes and Tribal members on building their own establishments. Current MPPTA agreements are ongoing through December 2026. For Tribes and Tribal members interested in this free technical assistance, please visit https://www.tfaforms.com/4976028 for IAC’s form or https://flowerhill.institute/usda-mppta/ to receive assistance through the Flower Hill Institute.

REMINDER: APHIS Training Next Week!

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)’s Office of the National Tribal Liaison is excited to share this no-cost two day training through a shared partnership with the Oklahoma Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (OKTCAC) and the Tribal Alliance for Pollinators (TAP). Participants will learn about APHIS programs and services, livestock and wildlife diseases, plant pests and diseases, agency surveillance and emergency response, USDA Emergency Support Functions, and animal and plant health funding opportunities.

📅 May 12-14, 2026
📍Bixby, OK

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ud9ecuy/lp/4f47db2f-5869-472e-9ef6-ae142a88cf9a

Yesterday, USDA agency leaders met with representatives of the Coalition of Large Tribes (C**T), InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC), Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC), and other stakeholder groups to discuss a variety of topics focused on bison. These conversations included bison disease research, meat inspection and procurement, conservation practice standards, technical assistance, and federal grazing plans. We appreciate our Tribal partners for their leadership, collaboration, and dedication to restoring and stewarding this iconic animal for future generations. The USDA remains committed to shared goals for advancing healthy herds, healthy lands, and strong Tribal food systems.

🌿 USDA APHIS Invests in Tribal Plant Health Initiatives! 🌿

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has awarded $1,253,641 in FY2026 to Tribal-led plant protection efforts across five states, encompassing research, surveys, outreach, and mitigation of invasive pests.

Together, we’re protecting U.S. agriculture! 🚜🌿
USDA is investing $90+ million in FY 2026 to support universities, states, Tribal Nations, federal agencies, and other partners across states, Guam, and Puerto Rico as they work to detect, prevent, and respond to invasive plant pests and diseases.

Explore how this funding strengthens communities and ecosystems: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-invests-90-million-strengthen-plant-pest-prevention-clean-plant