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Western Agency Chapters Technical Assistance Project N a v a Westernj Agency Chapters Technical Assistance o Project: Strategies for Advancing Individual Farmers and Ranchers on the Navajo Western Agency A Final Report to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Advocacy and Outreach Report is based upon work supported by the Office of Advocacy and Outreach, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Award No. 59 -2501 -10 -013 -1 This report was compiled by Jackie L. Francke, Senior Program Officer for First Nations Development Institute. Questions regarding the content of the report should be directed to Jackie Francke at First Nations Development Institute. About the Cover: Photo taken by Vicky Stott. Navajo home site with a small farming area in Tuba City, Arizona. Page 2 Acknowledgements This project was supported the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Advocacy and Outreach, Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program. First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) thanks them for their support and acknowledges that any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. First Nations would like to thank our project partners and participants who shared information and best practices that allowed us to develop a clearer understanding of the complex challenges faced by Navajo Western Agency farmers and ranchers and to identify potential strategies to assist in advancing individual farmers and ranchers on the Navajo Western Agency and the entire Navajo Nation. It is through their contributions that all organizations who serve individual farmers and ranchers can better serve individual farmers and ranchers more effectively and efficiently. With much appreciation to the following: BIA/Western Navajo Agency – BNR Diné College Land Grant Office DNA – People’s Legal Services, Inc. Intertribal Agriculture Council Johnson Dennison Kabotie Consulting Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture Navajo Nation Department Western Regional Business Development Office Navajo Nation Traditional Agriculture Outreach, DINE Inc. North Leupp Family Farm Shonto Community Development Corporation Taos Economic Development Corporation Tonalea Chapter Tolani Lake Chapter University of Arizona Cooperative Extension USDA – Farm Service Agency, Navajo/Gila County FSA Office USDA – NRCS Dilkon Field Office USDA – NRCS St. Michaels Office William Holmes Begaye, Inc. This report serves as the final project report for USDA-OAO Grant No. 59-2501-10-013, Navajo Western Agency Chapters Technical Assistance Project. Suggested citation: First Nations Development Institute (2012). USDA-OAO Navajo Western Agency Chapter Technical Assistance Project: Strategies for Advancing Individual Farmers and Ranchers on the Navajo Western Agency, Longmont, CO: First Nations Development Institute. Page 3 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12 II. Navajo Nation Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 Use of Land for Farming and Ranching on the Navajo Nation ............................................................................... 16 The Individual Farmer/Rancher........................................................................................................................................ 18 Navajo Nation Western Agency .......................................................................................................................................... 18 Navajo Western Agency Climate & Precipitation ....................................................................................................... 20 Local Governance on Navajo Western Agency ............................................................................................................. 21 III. Project Overview ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Technical Assistance ............................................................................................................................................................... 22 Training ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Training Institutes for Individual Farmers and Ranchers ................................................................................ 24 Training Institute for Navajo Nation Grazing Officials ....................................................................................... 26 Other Training & Workshops ........................................................................................................................................ 28 Outreach....................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Additional Convenings ........................................................................................................................................................... 30 Project Partners ........................................................................................................................................................................ 31 Diné College Land Grant Office ..................................................................................................................................... 33 North Leupp Family Farm .................................................................................................................................... 36 Shonto Community Development Corporation, Inc. ............................................................................................ 38 Tonalea Chapter.................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Tolani Lake Chapter .......................................................................................................................................................... 43 IV. Challenges to Advancing Farming and Ranching on the Navajo Western Agency ......................................... 45 Resources .................................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Education and Awareness .................................................................................................................................................... 46 Processes and Strategies ....................................................................................................................................................... 46 Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................................................ 47 Access to Markets..................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Bennett Freeze .......................................................................................................................................................................... 47 V. Strategies to Strengthen Individual Farmers and Ranchers in the Navajo Western Agency ................... 48 VI. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................................................ 53 VII. Appendices ................................................................................................................................................................................. 54 Appendix A .................................................................................................................................................................................. 55 Appendix B .................................................................................................................................................................................. 57 Appendix C .................................................................................................................................................................................. 60 Appendix D ................................................................................................................................................................................. 61 Page 4 Executive Summary In 2011, First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) conducted the Navajo Western Agency Technical Assistance Project on the Navajo Nation. The goals of the project were to: 1. Increase awareness and understanding of USDA’s available programs by selected Navajo Nation Chapters with farming and ranching programs located
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