The North Carolina A&T Small Farms Resource and Innovation Center is a partnership between NC A&T Cooperative Extension, the United States Department of Agriculture 2501 Program, and community partners and stakeholders. The project’s ultimate goal is to increase the likelihood that Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFRs), beginning, or military veteran farmers and ranchers will own or operate successful farms and ranches. This objective is achieved through the following strategic goals:

1. Strengthen collaborations between USDA local, state, regional, and national offices with current and prospective socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and veterans.
2. Increase embedded capability for SDFRs to fully participate in existing USDA programs through effective partnerships and communications strategies.
3. Strengthen resilience and profitability of socially disadvantaged, military veteran, and beginning farmers and ranchers by lowering existing systemic barriers.