New Jersey Outreach

The Outreach Subcommittee of the New Jersey State Technical Committee was established to ensure that NRCS programs and services are made accessible to all customers, fairly and equitably. The subcommittee works to reach traditionally underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers through partnerships to promote their trust and full participation in conservation programs.

Documents withrequire Adobe Acrobat.

New Jersey NRCS Outreach Business Plan - Fiscal Year 2006-2007 (38 kb)

Initiative Promoting Use of Buffers

The Subcommittee prepared a six-page document for municipalities that included a sample newsletter article for inclusion in the municipal newsletter, stories of riparian buffer successes in New Jersey, guidance about programs and funding available, and contact information for conservation partners who provide assistance with the design and implementation of buffers.

New Jersey Buffer Programs (1063 kb)

Related Links

• Agriculture Resource Guide - New Jersey Green Pages
• National NRCS Outreach website
• NRCS New Jersey Civil Rights
• National NRCS Civil Rights site
• Limited Resource Farmer - self-determination tool
• Small, Limited Resource, and Beginning Farmers/Ranchers
• USDA Minority Farm Register

For Employees and Partners

Beginning farmer or rancher:

An individual or entity who: (a) Has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or ranch for not more than consecutive 10 years. (This requirement applies to all members of an entity.); and (b) Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch.

 

Limited resource farmer or rancher:

(a) A person with direct or indirect gross farm sales of not more than $100,000 in each of the previous two years (to be increased beginning in fiscal year 2004 to adjust for inflation using Prices Paid by Farmer Index as compiled by NASS), and (b) Has a total household income at or below the national poverty level for a family of four, OR less than 50 percent of county median household income in each of the previous two years (to be determined annually using Commerce Dept. Data).

This document requires Microsoft Word.

Outreach Reporting Form (60 kb) - NRCS personnel are asked to use this to report outreach activity to the Outreach Coordinator.

Courses Available for NRCS Employees and Partners for Outreach Training *

While there is no formal list of courses for Outreach training, the courses listed below can be used as training tools to assist Outreach Coordinators, Program Mangers, and other employees to better participate in the outreach process.

National Employee Development Center Courses (NEDC)

• **National Outreach Training Course
• Cultural Resources
• Working Effectively with American Indian Tribes (Harmony Workshop)
• Government to Government- Working Effectively with Indian Nations
• Basic Communications Skills
• Interpersonal Skills Training
• Civil Rights in Program Delivery
• Public Participation
• Grant Writing
• Effective Facilitator
• Advanced Facilitator Workshop

USDA Graduate School Courses

• Leading Teams and Groups
• Positive Approaches to Difficult People
• Conflict across Cultures
• Effective Communication with Customers
• Environmental Justice
• Time Management
• Public Speaking
• Speaking with Confidence

* Taken from NJ Outreach Quality Assurance Review Report FY 2005

**The National Outreach Training Course is a NEDC based course with the roll-out scheduled for April of FY05.It will be a formal classroom and web-based course covering such topics as: Self and Community Assessments; Diverse Community; Capacity Building; Forming Partnerships; How to Recognize and Work with Community Leaders; Demographics; Success Stories; and some of the "Do's and Don'ts" of Outreach.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."

Outreach Coordinator: Barbara Phillips (732) 537-6044

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Last Modified: February 15, 2008