USDA Office of Tribal Relations

08/07/2026

Join the USDA Farm Service Agency for a two-day webinar series designed for Native American military veterans and transitioning service members interested in careers in production agriculture. Learn how USDA programs support new farmers and ranchers and explore resources tailored for the military community.

Tuesday, August 11
2:00–4:30 p.m. Eastern
• Farm Service Agency – Farm Loan Programs
• Risk Management Agency – Beginner’s Guide to Crop Insurance

Wednesday, August 12
2:00–4:00 p.m. Eastern
• Natural Resources Conservation Service – Regenerating Land, Empowering Veterans
• Rural Development – Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)

This effort is part of a larger USDA initiative to recruit veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses into mission-critical careers that protect America’s food supply, strengthen rural communities, and defend the nation’s agricultural security.

Register here:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFARMERS/bulletins/422a556

07/27/2026

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)’s Office of National Tribal Liaison is offering two identical, Tribal exclusive webinars in August focused on funding opportunities within the Plant Protection Act Section 7721 (PPA 7721) Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program (PPDMDPP). The sessions will explain program strategies, objectives, timelines, submission processes, and evaluation criteria, all aimed at helping Tribal participants submit strong funding suggestions for FY 2027.

Webinar Dates:
• Thursday, August 6, 2–3:30 pm EST 5c5baf98-85b0-4fa8-85ac-2539f67fd293@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/5c5baf98-85b0-4fa8-85ac-2539f67fd293@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697

• Tuesday, August 25, 1–2:30 pm EST a5583818-bd32-488f-b37a-99a5b83edec5@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/a5583818-bd32-488f-b37a-99a5b83edec5@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697

Registration is required for both Teams-hosted events.
Attendees will receive updates on key changes to the FY 2027 funding opportunity. Additional program documents and information are available on the PPDMDPP webpage, and questions can be directed to [email protected].

07/25/2026

This week, the Office of Tribal Relations Director, Patrick A. Penn, met with President J.C. Seneca and Councilmembers of the Seneca Nation of Indians to discuss the Nation’s interest in their important ancestral homelands and opportunities for partnership and collaboration.

Open communication and dialogue are an important part of honoring the government-to-government relationship between Tribal Nations and the United States.

07/24/2026

Emory oak trees provide acorns that Apache people have gathered for food and ceremony for hundreds of years. Harvest usually begins in late July and continues into August.

The Emory Oak Initiative is working to restore and protect Emory oak stands (Quercus emoryi) so future generations of Apache people can continue these important cultural traditions.

This collaborative effort between The Yavapai-Apache Nation , U.S. Forest Service, and Northern Arizona University brings together research and on-the-ground restoration to support the health of Emory oak groves across central Arizona.

The goal of the Emory oak Collaborative is to restore and protect E...

07/22/2026

🌟 Now Accepting Applications! 🌟
The USDA Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) is launching a new Innovative Nutrition Education Cooperative Agreement Project as part of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). They are seeking creative partners to help shape the future of nutrition education in Tribal communities.
Do you have innovative, culturally grounded ideas to support FDPIR participants and staff? This is your chance to make a real impact!

💰 Funding available: Up to $500,000
📅 Project period: September 2026 – September 2028
⏰ Deadline to apply: July 31, 2026
🔗 Learn more and apply at: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/362902

07/17/2026

Last month, the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Emerging Leaders Program (IFSELP), run by North Dakota State University’s American Indian Public Health Resource Center in partnership with the USDA Office of Tribal Relations, wrapped up its third annual summer cohort. During the three-week program, participants learned from Tribal communities across Turtle Island on a variety of topics related to public health and food sovereignty. Some of the activities included:

✨Urban foraging with Luke and Linda Black Elk
✨Nettle cordage and birch bark workshops with Derek Nicholas
✨Attending a buffalo harvest at the Brownotter Buffalo Ranch
✨Plant identification walk of native prairie plants with Sunshine Claymore
✨Visiting Wozu to learn about community‑led food systems
✨Touring Tribal and Community College gardens
✨Learning seed‑keeping and soil teachings at Bimaaji'idiwin Gitigaan
✨Visiting Spirit Lake Native Farm for hands‑on learning about manoomin (wild rice)
✨Fish harvesting and filleting

The next generation of leaders is already making an impact across Indian Country! Congratulations to the 2026 IFSELP Cohort! 🌱

07/15/2026

✨USDA Office of Tribal Relations Cooperator Spotlight✨
Southwest Indigenous Seed Regeneration Project

The Office of Tribal Relations and the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) teamed up with Native Seeds/SEARCH (NS/S) in Arizona to grow-out important Tribal maize varieties stored in the USDA Germplasm https://www.ars-grin.gov/.

This partnership allowed ARS to restock its collection and provide more of these culturally significant seeds to Tribal communities. NS/S grew two Southwest maize varieties from the USDA North Central Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa. Over 22,000 seeds will be shared with affiliated communities through NS/S’s free seed programs and partnerships.

Huge thanks to our partners for making this grow‑out a success! 🌽✨

07/13/2026

Tribal Nations Webinar: New World Screwworm Update

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Office of National Tribal Liaison is hosting a Tribal Nations‑exclusive webinar on New World screwworm (NWS), a serious pest affecting livestock, pets, and wildlife. USDA is leading a coordinated One Health response. Learn more at www.screwworm.gov

📅 Monday, July 20, 2026 | 🕐 1:00 PM ET
🔗 Join via Teams: https://msteams.link/WQF2

Topics
• NWS biology and life cycle
• How to spot signs of infection
• Current outbreak overview
• Eradication tools & surveillance
• Reporting suspected cases
• USDA preparedness & response playbook
• How to request outreach materials

Learn how the U.S. Government prevents New World screwworm and what to know about risks, surveillance, sterile-fly control, travel, and more.

06/25/2026

📣 Join USDA Rural Development on Monday June 29 at 1:30pm ET for an informational session with agency leaders about the steps being taken as part of USDA’s mission area reorganization. The session will cover upcoming changes, including the consolidation of loan origination, processing, and servicing into one national framework and the introduction of modernized IT systems.

Registration: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_F8g3jO9MQD6qfWXRxiLEQg #/registration

06/22/2026

Last week, we welcomed Patrick A. Penn as our new Director of USDA Office of Tribal Relations. Before stepping into this role, he served as the Acting Administrator for the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration where he built a strong rapport with Tribes through numerous consultations, engagements, and visits to Indian Country. As Director of the Office of Tribal Relations, he will work to ensure that USDA continues to serve Indian Country with effective guidance and leadership.

Growing up in foster care, Director Penn later served as a State Representative in the Kansas Legislature from 2021 to 2025, where he championed reforms in the foster care system, social welfare programs, and the regulatory environment within Kansas. A decorated former Army Signal Officer with combat experience in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve, he is also recognized for his legislative efforts in the areas of national security and the modernization of government cyber systems. He holds a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University Pueblo and a master's degree in Applied Information Technology from the Volgenau School of Engineering at George Mason University.