Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP)

Western Region Agricultural
Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP)

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 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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Oregon Farm Link

Oregon Farm Link connects beginning farmers and ranchers with land holders, helping to grow Oregon’s next generation of family farmers.


Service areas: Oregon

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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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National Farmers Union

NFU represents family farmers, fishers and ranchers across the country, with formally organized divisions in 33 states. The key to the success and credibility of the organization has been Farmers Union?s grassroots structure in which policy positions are initiated locally. The policy process includes the presentation of resolutions by individuals, followed by possible adoption of the resolutions at the local, state and national levels. Members and staff of the Farmers Union advocate these policy positions nationwide.


Service areas: National

Go to Website | Phone: (202) 554-1600

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Kiss the Ground

Kiss the Ground, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has become a leading voice in bringing awareness to regeneration through its storytelling, education, and advocacy of regenerative agriculture and soil health.


Service areas: National

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Idaho Farm and Ranch Center

The mission of the Idaho Farm and Ranch Center is to collaborate with partners to promote resources and organize efforts that help farmers and ranchers cultivate a viable and resilient agricultural industry. We strive to be a central location for information and help with succession planning, farm stress, financial planning, new and beginning farmers, and veterans in agriculture. Our mission is accomplished by providing workshops, an annual conference, and working with industry partners to collect and distribute resources.


Service areas: Idaho

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Farm to Farmer

Farm to Farmer is a full service program of Washington Farmland Trust that provides land access to a new generation of farmers. We help farmers find the land opportunities they need to grow their businesses, and help landowners sell or lease their land to keep it in farming. We offer personalized technical assistance to current and aspiring farmers, farming and non-farming landowners, veterans, real estate agents, and organizations looking to expand their incubator or ag park programs.


Service areas: Washington

Go to Website | Phone: (206) 547-9855 Ext 4

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San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation

As a cornerstone of the county’s agricultural industry, the San Joaquin Farm Bureau represents over 4,000 families throughout our area. Our staff, volunteers, and board of directors advocate for all of our members through grassroots organizations, education, scholarships, regulatory and legislative outreach.


Service areas: California

Go to Website | Phone: (209) 931-4931

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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.