Office of Advocacy and Outreach Federal Financial Assistance Programs

This interim rule establishes the regulations for the administrative provisions of all grants or cooperative agreements to be administered by the Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO), established by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, (FCEA). Additionally, this interim rule establishes substantive regulations for the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program (OASDFR Program), established by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (FACT Act). It sets forth the criteria to deliver outreach and technical assistance in a linguistically appropriate manner to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to acquire, own, operate, and retain farms, ranches and non-industrial forest land. In addition, it assures farmers and ranchers who are members of socially disadvantaged groups equitable participation in the full range of agriculture programs offered by the Department.