Founded in 1978, Rural Coalition is an alliance of farmers, farm workers, indigenous, migrant, and working people working together toward a new society that values unity, hope, people, and the land.
Rural Coalition
Coalicíon Rural
(Photo: Blanding Family Land, Clarendon County, SC)
Building a Movement
For over 45 years Rural Coalition has worked to assure that diverse organizations from all regions, ethnic and racial groups and genders have the opportunity to work in solidarity on the issues that affect us all.
The foundation of this work is strong local, regional, and national organizations that work to assure the representation and involvement of every sector of this diverse fabric of rural peoples.
Resources for Farmers & Farmworkers
Farm, Farmer, & Farmworker Safety
As climate catastrophe and extreme heat pose threats to farms, farmers, and farmworkers, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself and your coworkers.
Please find important resources for farm safety at the link below.
Food & Farmworker Relief Program (FFWRP)
USDA's Farm and Food Workers Relief Program (FFWR) provides a one-time, $600 payment for expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you were a frontline worker in USDA approved farming and meatpacking activities during the pandemic period, you may qualify.
Farm Service Agency Farm Loans
Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Loans can be a lifeline for your farm business. We’re here to help you secure them.
Latest news from Rural Coalition
Updates from Our Members
PATHWAYS TO CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE;
Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Inc, with support of the Alcorn State Policy Center, USDA NRCS and assistance of The Langston University Sherman Lewis School of Ag, produced this video to inform students about the numerous career opportunities available to them in the field of Agriculture.
FARM AID PROGRAM DIRECTOR CHAMPIONS EQUITY FOR BLACK FARMERS
Shorlette Ammons, program director for Farm Aid, was recently appointed to the USDA Equity Commission! Shorlette also sits on the board of the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project. Read more about Shorlette and her recent accomplishments here!
FEDERATION HOLDS 56TH ANNUAL MEETING;
Vows to help every Black farmer in the South that wants to file a discrimination application by October 31, 2023 deadline - Read more about the Federation’s 56th Annual Meeting here.
18 November, 2024
U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Monday introduced the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. The bill includes $39 billion in new resources to keep farmers farming, families fed, and rural communities strong. A summary of the bill is available here.
5 November, 2024
Rural Coalition strongly supports the communities that live at the border, including La Mujer Obrera, in their effort to eliminate diesel-emitting commercial truck traffic from their local toll-free bridge. This initiative is critical to the current and future health of families and farms in the region. Learn more here.
4 November, 2024
With Support from USDA, Southern Farmers Financial Association Launches to Help Farmers Access Capital to Begin or Grow Small Farming Operations. Learn more here
30 September, 2024
46 Groups, including Rural Coalition, Urge Congressional Action Against Electronic Eartag Mandate for Cattle, Bison. Read the article here.
19 September, 2024
Lorette Picciano, Rural Coalition’s Executive Director, is quoted in Smithsonian Magazine as a collaborator on the Shifting Boundaries exhibition at the National Museum of Asian Art Museum: How Century-Old Paintings Reveal the Indigenous Roots and Natural History of New England Landscapes.
13 August, 2024
RMA Launches New and Improved Website - You can still access the RMA website at rma.usda.gov. If you have any feedback to share, click the “feedback” button at the bottom of the RMA homepage.
8 August, 2023
US Department of Agriculture Issues Landmark Updates to Farm Loan Programs. Read our press release here.
6 August, 2024
Mily Sauceda-Treviño, Rural Coalition Board Member and Executive Director of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, was quoted this week in the following Washington Post article: EPA Takes Emergency Action to Stop Use of Dangerous Pesticide. Read the article here.
July 31, 2024
Awards Issued to Over 43,000 Applicants Through the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program. Read our Press Release here in English y aquí en español.
June 26, 2024
Building Resiliency Pilot Program promotional article has been posted to USDA’s webpage. Check it out here.
May 10, 2024
Rural Coalition and our members Operation Spring Plant and HEAL Food Alliance were featured in the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s (NSAC) blog: How People Power Local Food Systems. Read the feature here.
May 3, 2024
PRESS RELEASE: Senate Agriculture Committee Releases New Framework for Bipartisan Farm Bill. Read our press release here.
April 22, 2024
RC Board Member Savi Horne was featred in Essence Magazine and USDA’s blog for Earth Day. Read the USDA Blog: Stewarding Land Access and Environmental Justice here, and Essence’s 5 Black Women Conservationists You Need To Know here
April 10, 2024
Over 80 Organizations Urge Congressional Support for NRCS Conservation Equity Agreements in FY25 Appropriations. Read our press release here.
February 22, 2024
PRESS RELEASE: USDA Releases Landmark Equity Commission Report. Read our press release here.
February 2, 2024
Congratulations to the Greene County Democrat on their Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Newspaper Association! Learn more here.
February 1, 2024
We honor the life and memory of Marge W. Townsend, Rural Coalition Board Member Emeritus, who passed away peacefully on January 31st. Please find her obituary here.
January 9, 2024
Nonprofit Groups Award $2.2 Million to Equip Frontline and BIPOC-led Organizations to Engage in Food and Farm Bill Debates - With 15 Organizations, many of whom being Rural Coalition Member Organizations and allies, Collaborating to Select 28 Grantees Across the Country, the Effort is Among Largest Participatory Grantmaking in Food and Farming to Date. Learn more here.