Location: Dairy Forage Research
Project Number: 5090-21500-002-035-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2023
End Date: Jul 31, 2024
Objective:
The ARS PI and the Cooperator will work collaboratively to:
Objective 1: Provide support to Hmong growers on soil health building practices to increase soil quality while also increasing pollinator health through implementation of appropriate habitat.
Objective 2: Facilitate connections with farmers to increase market and land access and support soil testing and related services.
Approach:
The Cooperator will undertake two activities to address the objectives outlined above.
For Objective 1, Cooperator will increase acreage planted to cover crops at the Westport Farm, a 6-acre vegetable and cut flower farm dedicated to supporting 22 Hmong farmers that does not have an extensive history of conservation practices. In working with these farmers, Cooperator will install pollinator habitat within and adjacent to cropland acres to support pollination services for the farm and conduct outreach activities to educate farmers about these practices.
For Objective 2, Cooperator will work with the Hmong farming community and other partners to increase access to diverse market options, in addition to farmers markets. This will include facilitating connections with other organizations to sell products at local grocery stores. Cooperator will provide access to soil testing and other resources to increase awareness of the importance of soil health, and will connect with other organizations to create avenues for access to farmland around Wisconsin to better serve the Hmong farming community.
