New Mexico Tribal Farming Toolkit
Money Management and Business Funding
The means to start your business and money management are key components to supporting your young business. Along with sound money management principles, the way in which your business accepts payments and the types of payments all factor into the success your business enjoys. Information on the various types of alternative forms of payment, as well as information on funding opportunities can be found below.
Payment Information
Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):
State and local social service agencies provide benefits to low-income community members who qualify in the form of the WIC, EBT, and SNAP Programs. Learn how to implement these Programs as a Retailer here: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/Retailer_Training_Guide.pdf
Double Up Food Bucks: Through the New Mexico Farmer’s Association, the Double Up Food Bucks program doubles the value of federal nutrition assistance spent at participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, mobile markets grocery stores, and Community Supported Agricultures, helping people bring home more locally grown fruits and vegetables. The wins are three-fold: low-income consumers eat more healthy food, local farmers gain new customers and make more money, and more food dollars stay in the local economy.[1] Information for how to implement this program can be found at the following web link: www.doubleupnm.org. Please see the SELLING SECTION for a list of participating markets.
Grants and Funding Opportunities
Funding for Farmers can take the form of micro loans, grants, scholarships, and other similar programs. These funding sources are available at the Federal, State, and Local level. A few of the funding programs through the United States Department of Agriculture[2] are listed below:
Farm Loans
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) makes direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans to family-size farmers and ranchers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank, Farm Credit System institution, or other lender. FSA loans can be used to purchase land, livestock, equipment, feed, seed, and supplies. Loans can also be used to construct buildings or make farm improvements.
Website: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/index
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
USDA, through the Farm Service Agency, provides direct and guaranteed loans to beginning farmers and ranchers who are unable to obtain financing from commercial credit sources. Each fiscal year, the Agency targets a portion of its direct and guaranteed farm ownership (FO) and operating loan (OL) funds to beginning farmers and ranchers.
USDA, through the Farm Service Agency, provides multiple types of loans to help Tribes:
FSA's Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Loan Program is a valuable resource to help Tribes become owners of additional property within the reservation to advance and increase current operations, provide financial prospects for Native American Communities, increase agricultural productivity, and save farmland for future generations. Through FSA’s innovative programming, American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments have the ability to create sustainable and community-driven solutions to rural community challenges. This loan program is financed and serviced by the Farm Service Agency. Funding comes from Congressional appropriations as part of the USDA budget.
The Highly Fractionated Indian Land Loan Program helps Tribes, Tribal entities, and Tribal members alleviate the problems caused by fractionated interests on tribal lands. Through land consolidation, current and new agricultural operations can improve and expand access to USDA programs, increase agricultural productivity, and save Tribal farmland for future generations. This loan program is financed through revolving loan funds from the Agency and serviced through the approved intermediary lender, Native American Community Development Corporation Financial Services, Inc.
Website: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs/native-american-loans/index
The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)
The FMPP was created through a recent amendment to the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976. The grants, authorized by the FMPP, are targeted to help improve and expand domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.
Website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/fmpp
NEW MEXICO LOANS
Santa Fe Farmer’s Market Micro Loan Program
The Micro-Loans program helps vendors defray seasonal operating expenses, improve infrastructure, extend the growing season, and much more. Access to capital ensures that farmers and ranchers can provide a constant and growing food supply to Santa Fe and the region.[3]
Website: https://farmersmarketinstitute.org/programs/micro-loans/
[1] Double Up Food Bucks Overview, http://www.doubleupnm.org/about/.
[2] USDA Loan Program Description, http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=GRANTS_LOANS
[3] Santa Fe Farmer’s Market Micro Loan Program Description, https://farmersmarketinstitute.org/programs/micro-loans/