In
Year 2, activities included 5 workshops and trainings that were conducted by
First Nations and/or the three livestock associations. In Year 2, 117 producers
attended and/or received technical assistance to advance their knowledge on
conservation, ranching, marketing, processing, and much more.
In
Year 1, the livestock associations were slow to report as a result in Year 1, 8
trainings were not reported they are summarized in the impact report.
In
summary, the project proved to impact the advancement of the three livestock
association and their capacity to manage their nonprofits. With technical
assistance they increased their knowledge on grants management, nonprofit
management, community outreach and engagement, and financial management.
The
project also enabled the 3 livestock association to expand their outreach to
Native American producers and explore potential new partnerships. As a result
of their outreach, ND14R Ranch established a new market for cattle that did not
meet the criteria to be deemed source-verified beef. Rather than taking the
cattle to a sale barn they discovered a new market that has enabled them to
receive higher sales that they would not otherwise receive at the sale barn.
They also established a new partnership in the Navajo Agriculture Products
Industry (NAPI) to finish off short sale calves to increase their weight and
quality.
In
addition, as a result of research conducted under the project, Point of Pines
Cattle Association increased their cattle sales. In 2017, upon initiation of
the grant project, the livestock associations were surveyed to identify the
status of their organization, cattle herd, sales, and producers they serve.
When surveyed in 2017, Point of Pines Cattle Association indicated that they
were receiving $0.88/lb on their cattle sales. In 2019, at the conclusion of
the project and through market research their cattle were selling for $1.25/lb.
Unlike private land
owners, Native American producers manage their farms and ranches on trust
lands. To do so, many are required to obtain a grazing and/or land use permit
from the BIA if the permit was passed down to them by parents and/or
grandparents. As such, livestock associations provide a means for Native American
producers to continue ranching in some instances without a grazing permit
because the land has been allocated for the association. The associations serve in a quasi-cooperative
capacity, managing all the producers’ cattle collectively, coordinating cattle
sales, and maintaining herd health. While First Nations indicated that ranching
startups was not applicable, five agribusinesses were initiated, with four of
the businesses engaged in ND14R Ranch.
At time of final project reporting, First
Nations learned that the executive director, Colleen Tessey of the Grasshopper
Livestock Association was recognized with a Governor’s award for her
contribution to Arizona agriculture and her work with the Grasshopper Livestock
Association. She will be recognized at the 5th Annual Arizona Ag Roundtable on December 2, 2019 which will be
attended by the Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue.