Council for Native American Farming and Ranching (CNAFR)
The United States Department of Agriculture's Council for Native American Farming and Ranching (CNAFR) was created to advise the Secretary on ways to eliminate barriers to participation for Native American Farmers and Ranchers in USDA programs. The Council was initially established as part of the Keepseagle settlement and is pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2.
The Council will be conducted under the oversight of USDA's Office of Tribal Relations, which is part of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Director of Tribal Relations serves as Designated Federal Official (DFO) for the Council. Responsibilities and conduct of the Council are defined in CNAFR's Charter (PDF, 248 KB) and Council By-Laws (PDF, 408 KB).
The CNAFR is composed of representatives with specific knowledge of Native American farming and ranching.
By terms of the agreement, the Council consists of fifteen (15) members (PDF, 183 KB) appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Appointments include eleven (11) representatives of Native American farmers and ranchers. These individuals have demonstrated ability and a diverse range of experience in different types of agriculture. In addition to the eleven (11), four (4) USDA representatives were appointed from the following groups: The Farm Service Agency Administrator, or his or her delegate; the Senior Advisor to the Secretary on Tribal Relations, or his or her delegate; the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, or his or her delegate, and the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, or his or her delegate.
The role of the CNAFR is to:
- advise the Secretary of Agriculture on issues related to the participation of Native American farmers and ranchers in USDA loan and grant programs;
- transmit recommendations concerning any changes to USDA regulations or internal guidance or other measures that would eliminate barriers to program participation for Native American farmers and ranchers;
- examine methods of maximizing the number of new farming and ranching opportunities created through USDA programs through enhanced extension and financial literacy services;
- examine methods of encouraging intergovernmental cooperation to mitigate the effects of land tenure and probate issues on the delivery of USDA programs;
- evaluate other methods of creating new farming or ranching opportunities for Native American producers; and
- address other related issues as deemed appropriate.
View the federal register notice: Re-Establishment of the Council and Solicitation for Nominations
Secretary Vilsack Appoints Members to the Council for Native American Farming and Ranching
2016 - 2018 Council Meeting Information
June 20, 2018:
June 2018 Meeting Notice | June 2018 Agenda (PDF, 242 KB) | June 2018 Minutes (PDF, 292 KB)
November 29, 2017:
November 2017 Meeting Notice | November 2017 Agenda (PDF, 294 KB) | November 2017 Minutes (PDF, 257 KB)
July 20-21, 2017:
July 2017 Meeting Notice | July 2017 Agenda (PDF, 112 KB) | July 2017 Minutes (PDF, 677 KB) | July 2017 Public Comments Addendum (PDF, 111 KB)
December 8-9, 2016:
December 2016 Meeting Notice | December 2016 Agenda (PDF, 54.6 KB) | December 8 2016 Transcript (PDF, 471 KB) | December 9 2016 Transcript (PDF, 376 KB)
2014 - 2016 Council Meeting Information
September 1, 2016:
September 2016 Meeting Notice | September 2016 Agenda (PDF, 215 KB) | September 1 Transcript (PDF, 326 KB)
July 27-28, 2016:
July 2016 Meeting Notice | July 2016 Agenda (PDF, 255 KB) | July 28 Transcript (PDF, 267 KB)
April 4-5, 2016:
April 2016 Meeting Notice | April 2016 Agenda (PDF, 60.8 KB) | April 4 Transcript (PDF, 553 KB) | April 5 Transcript (PDF, 503 KB)
December 8-9, 2015:
December 2015 Meeting Notice | December 2015 Agenda (PDF, 74.3 KB) | December 8 2015 Transcript (PDF, 544 KB) | December 9 2015 Transcript (PDF, 652 KB)
September 21-22, 2015:
September 2015 Meeting Notice | September 2015 Agenda (PDF, 121 KB) | September 21 Transcript (PDF, 481 KB) | September 22 Transcript (PDF, 622 KB)
March 25-27, 2015:
March 2015 Meeting Notice | March 2015 Agenda (PDF, 52.6 KB) | March 25 Transcript (PDF, 166 KB) | March 26 Transcript (PDF, 264 KB) | March 27 Transcript (PDF, 255 KB)
December 10-11, 2014:
December 2014 Meeting Notice | December 2014 Agenda (PDF, 196 KB) | December 10 Transcript (PDF, 237 KB) | December 11 Transcript (PDF, 447 KB)
September 25-26, 2014:
September 2014 Meeting Notice | September 2014 Agenda (PDF, 279 KB) | September 25 Transcript (PDF, 322 KB) | September 26 Transcript (PDF, 286 KB)
2012 - 2014 Council Meeting Information
May 2, 2014:
May 2014 Meeting Notice | May 2014 Agenda (PDF, 64.6 KB) | May 2014 Transcript (PDF, 357 KB)
December 12-13, 2013:
December 2013 Meeting Notice | December 2013 Agenda (PDF, 119 KB) | December 2013 Transcript (PDF, 395 KB)
September 9-10, 2013:
September 9 Transcript (PDF, 389 KB) | September 10 Transcript (PDF, 384 KB)
May 3, 2013:
May 2013 Meeting Agenda (PDF, 77.1 KB) | May 2013 Transcript (PDF, 418 KB)
December 13, 2012:
December 2012 Meeting Agenda (PDF, 97.3 KB) | December 2012 Transcript (PDF, 994 KB) | December 2012 Public Comments (PDF, 156 KB)
August 14-15, 2012
August 14 Transcript (PDF, 597 KB) | August 15 Transcript (PDF, 526 KB)
Council Recommendations
As of June 21, 2018:
CNAFR Recommendations (PDF, 615 KB)
