Tribal Consultation: USDA Equity & Barriers Series

On April 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin a virtually held five-day consultation series focusing on agricultural themes and topics that are critical in advancing equity and support for Tribal communities. Tribal affiliates such as Tribal organizations, citizens and staff are able to attend. Elected Tribal leaders and authorized proxy representatives are welcome to speak. 

The 2023 consultation series will build and expand upon the previous USDA consultations held in 2021 and 2022. Each day will address new topics. Framing papers will be provided with the purpose of guiding the discussion as needed. Before each consultation, Tribal organizations will hold caucuses. The full agenda can be viewed here. Information on the series is listed below. 

Monday, April 24: Economic Development

• Schedule

  • Caucus 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

  • Consultation and Listening Session 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm ET

• Mission Area: 

  • Rural Development (RD)

• Agencies: 

  • Rural Housing Service (RHS)

  • Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), 

  • Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and the Innovation Center

• Introduction/Consulting Officials:

  • Rural Development, Deputy Under Secretary, Farah Ahmad

  • Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Administrator, Karama Neal

  • Rural Utility Service, Assistant Administrator, Chris McLean

  • Single Family Housing, Deputy Administrator, Cathy Glover

• Registration Link

• Framing Paper 

Tuesday, April 25: Food, Safety, and Trade

• Schedule:

  • Caucus 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

  • Consultation and Listening Session 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm ET

• Mission Areas: 

  • Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC)

  • Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP)

  • Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)

• Agencies: 

  • Farm Service Agency (FSA)

  • Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)

  • Risk Management Agency (RMA)

  • Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

  • Forest Service (FS)

• Introduction/Consulting Officials:

  • Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), Under Secretary, Robert Bonnie

  • Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP), Deputy Under Secretary, Katherine Zenk

  • Natural Resources Conservation Service, Chief, Terry Cosby

  • Farm Service Agency (FSA), Administrator, Zach Ducheneaux

  • Risk Management Agency, Administrator, Marcia Bunger

  • U.S. Forest Service, (USFS), Deputy Chief, Chris French

• Registration Link

• Framing Paper 

Thursday, April 27: Farming, Ranching, and Conservation

• Schedule:

  • Caucus 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

  • Consultation and Listening Session 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm ET

• Mission Areas: 

  • Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services (FNCS)

  • Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP)

  • Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA)

  • Food Safety

• Agencies: 

  • Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

  • Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS)

  • Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

• Introduction/Consulting Officials:

  • Food, Nutrition, Consumer Services (FNCS), Deputy Under Secretary, Stacy Dean

  • Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP), Deputy Under Secretary, Mae Wu

  • Food Safety (FS), Deputy Under Secretary, Sandra Eskin

• Registration Link

• Framing Paper 

Friday, April 28: Forests and Public Lands Management

• Schedule:

  • Caucus 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

  • Consultation and Listening Session 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm ET

• Mission Area: 

  • Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)

• Agency: 

  • Forest Service

• Introduction/Consulting Officials:

  • National Resources and Environment (NRE), Under Secretary, Dr. Homer Wilkes

  • National Resources and Environment (NRE), Deputy Under Secretary, Meryl Harrell

  • U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Chief, Randy Moore

• Registration Link

• Framing Paper 

Monday, May 1: Education and Research

• Schedule:

  • Caucus 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

  • Consultation and Listening Session 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm ET

• Mission Areas: 

  • Research, Education and Economics (REE)

• Agencies: 

  • National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS)

  • Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

  • Economic Research Service (ERS)

  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), 

  • 1994 Tribal Land-Grant Colleges and Universities Program

• Introduction/Consulting Officials:

  • Research, Education, and Economics (REE), Under Secretary & Acting USDA Chief Scientist, Chavonda Jacobs-Young

  • Research, Education, and Economics (REE), Deputy Under Secretary, Dr. Sanah Baig

  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Director, Dr. Dionne Toombs

• Registration Link

• Framing Paper 

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