2024 USDA tribal consultations focus on enhanced service

USAgNet - 04/16/2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has scheduled its Annual Consultation and Listening Session on Tribal Barriers for April 22-26, 2024. These sessions are a cornerstone of the USDA’s commitment to enhancing services to Tribal Nations, showcasing a three-year trajectory of significant progress.

These consultations will take place over five days, each focused on a different theme critical to Tribal interests and USDA support roles. Here’s the agenda:

• Education and Research (Monday, April 22) Sessions run from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET (Tribal Caucus) followed by the main consultation from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. ET. Click Here to Register

• Forests and Public Lands Management (Tuesday, April 23): Times are the same, with a focus on collaborations between Tribes and National Forests. Click Here to Register

• Farming, Ranching, and Conservation (Wednesday, April 24): Discussion includes agricultural practices and conservation efforts. Click Here to Register

• Economic Development (Thursday, April 25): Aims to foster discussions on improving economic opportunities in Tribal regions. Click Here to Register

• Food, Food Safety, and Trade (Friday, April 26): Will cover topics on native foods and trade practices. Click Here to Register

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the USDA’s revamped approach to integrating Tribal and Indigenous perspectives, enhancing partnerships, and increasing support for Native producers. This series of meetings, held in a formal Nation-to-Nation format, reflects ongoing efforts to listen to and act on the feedback from Tribal Nations to improve USDA policies and programs.

The sessions are designed not only as a platform for sharing achievements and updates but also as an opportunity for Tribal leaders to voice their concerns and propose solutions, ensuring that the USDA's future directions align with the needs and aspirations of Indian Country.

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