Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP)

Western Region Agricultural
Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP)

RurAL CAP

The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP), founded in 1965, is a private, statewide, nonprofit organization working to improve the quality of life for low-income Alaskans.
Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, we represent every region of the state as one of the largest and most diverse nonprofit organizations in Alaska.

We value input from and have respect for all people. We believe that Alaskans have the right to maintain their cultural heritage and close relationship to the land while protecting their economic and human potential. Mission
To empower low-income Alaskans through advocacy, education, affordable housing, and direct services that respect our unique values and cultures.


Service areas: Alaska, National

Go to Website | Phone: 907.279.2511

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Washington State Tree Fruit Association

The WSTFA’s mission is to add value to all segments of the tree fruit industry through educational programs and conferences, statistics to enable growers and packers to plan for market opportunities, and engagement in Washington State government affairs to help address the market uncertainty driven by government policy.


Service areas: Washington

Go to Website | Phone: 509-452-8555 (Yakima Office) 509-665-9641 (Wenatchee Office)

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Columbia Community Creamery

Since 1964, Stevens County, WA, has witnessed a significant decline from 360 dairies to just 9. This stark reduction is attributed to consolidation driven by flawed government programs and ineffective cooperative efforts.

The government’s low milk prices have led to a surge in farm debt, forcing many dairies out of business. The absence of local processing infrastructure, coupled with persistently low milk prices, further hinders the establishment of new farms.

We believe in a different dairy future with vibrant small farms connected to thriving rural communities through nutritious food. Healthy cows, healthy farms, healthy communities. Columbia Community Creamery exists solely to support our local rural community of producers and consumers.

Working with Farmers

Small farms have always been the backbone of local agriculture. We help farmers by assisting with grazing planning, veterinary care, farm planning, regenerative farming practices, networking, sourcing supplies, finding feed, using new technologies, improving business skills, and so forth.

Access to Market

There must be easier access to the market to keep farms and encourage new farms. This includes a fair milk price, covered milk hauling, local processing, marketing, and regional distribution. We are creating a strong brand for our dairy farmers allowing them to focus on producing the best milk.

Community Engagement

Our nonprofit increases economic, social, and environmental benefits to our community. Foremost we are providing nutritious milk to feed our neighbors. Education programs reconnect community members with agriculture. Supporting local farms strengthens our rural economy.


Service areas: Washington

Go to Website | Phone: (509) 935-0545

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Cornell Small Farms Program

The Cornell Small Farms Program was established in 2001 as a program of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) to increase research and extension for small farms.

We support farmers at all phases of farm business development.

In the years since, the Cornell Small Farms Program has engaged in research and extension projects focused on small farm viability by working collaboratively with a network of CALS faculty and staff, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) educators, and other small farm advocates throughout New York.

These partnerships have helped our program offer an increasingly dynamic set of programming to engage farmers of all enterprises and experience levels. Thousands of farmers participate in our online courses, in-person trainings, and other programming each year.

We commit to ensuring, to the greatest extent possible, that our time, energy, and financial resources are committed equitably to all people. We will continue to be actively engaged and involved in relationship building, collaboration, and support of efforts to build diverse, equitable, and just food systems. Read more about this commitment in our Equity and Justice Statement.

Our Vision: We envision a future where diverse and vibrant urban and rural farms build human capacity, revitalize communities, supply regional food systems, and foster ecological resilience in a changing world.

Our Mission: We help farmers get expert assistance to facilitate all phases of small farm business development, from initial growth to optimization to maturity.

Our Work: We foster research, extension, and education projects that support and encourage the sustainability of diverse, thriving small farms.


Service areas: National

Go to Website | Phone: 607-255-9227

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National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)

Founded in 1916, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is a leader and problem solver on our nation’s most important agricultural issues. Speaking on behalf of a unified voice from all 50 states and four territories, NASDA is a nonpartisan association working to influence policy that is beneficial for all regions, people and environments.

On the front lines for the industry we love, NASDA gives a voice to agriculture through policy, partnerships and public engagement. Because agriculture leads the way for a healthy and resilient world, NASDA members are committed to representing the interests of everyone in the food supply chain who work every day to provide life’s necessities at affordable prices and in a healthy, sustainable manner.


Service areas: National

Go to Website | Phone: 202-296-9680

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National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has been promoting sustainable living for more than 40 years. We help people build resilient communities through local and sustainable solutions that reduce poverty, strengthen self-reliance, and protect natural resources. Programs we have developed and manage include ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service; Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training (SIFT); Energy Corps AmeriCorps; Montana FoodCorps; National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR), and many more.

NCAT’s deep portfolio of sustainable agriculture and energy projects spans every region of the country. The geographic diversity of our work, and trusted expertise of our staff in each of these regions, allow NCAT to provide relevant information, individualized technical assistance, and in-depth resources to support sustainable agriculture and accessible energy solutions nationwide.

Plus, NCAT facilitates meaningful connections among sustainable agriculture producers, renewable energy and energy efficiency experts, innovative thought leaders, researchers, and industry professionals across the United States


Service areas: National

Go to Website | Phone: 800-275-6228

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Flower Hill Institute

Flower Hill Institute is a Native-owned, community-directed nonprofit. Our objectives include preserving and enhancing cultural resources, preparing youth to inherit leadership, improving economic self-sufficiency, agriculture, food sovereignty and security, and improving outcomes to climate change.

Flower Hill also works nationally, doing outreach and providing technical assistance on the USDA Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance program and the USDA Farm Service Agency Outreach, Education, & Technical Assistance program.


Service areas: National, New Mexico

Go to Website | Phone: +1 720-220-7720

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North Coast Growers’ Association

North Coast Growers’ Association supports Humboldt County’s farmers and artisan producers in building a robust and resilient local food system. We envision a strong, successful, growing community of diversified farms supporting broad based consumption of local foods and products. Our organization is stable and resilient, our members are thriving, and our customers are knowledgeable about the value of local food and small farms. We actively engage a more culturally and economically diverse customer base and foster responsible stewardship of our agricultural resources. We ensure that local market opportunities match the needs of our members and community. Our local food system is financially sustainable, money invested within direct and wholesale opportunities is balanced with the impacts to our members, and NCGA income supports the diversification of markets and product offerings of our members. NCGA Agricultural Programs are a new sector of NCGA, designed to address the most critical needs in our regional farming community in Humboldt County, CA. In collaboration with many regional partners, our programs work to provide local farmers with resources to help with their business and growing practices, connect to local and national agricultural resources, and provide workshops and peer-to-peer learning opportunities on topics that will benefit our local farmers and food system.


Service areas: California

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Center for Land-Based Learning

Our Mission is to inspire, educate, and cultivate future generations of farmers, agricultural leaders and natural resource stewards. Includes a beginning farmer program and farm business incubator program.


Service areas: California

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U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action

We connect farmers and ranchers to food and agriculture stakeholders to co-create sustainable food systems.


Service areas: National

Go to Website | Phone: (636) 449-5086

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The Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program is supported by the USDA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, under agreement number: 2020-70028-32731 proposal number: 2020-07631

The Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program is an equal access/equal opportunity program.