NCGA Agricultural Programs are designed to address and adapt to the most critical needs in our regional farming community. In collaboration with many regional partners, we work to equitably...
We recognize that national, state and local agricultural services including our own have historically and often continue to underserve and therefore oppress people of color, Indigenous and Native American people, people who are immigrants, undocumented people, people whose first language is not English, women, LGBTQI+ people, and people with disabilities, among others. We strive to operate actively anti-racist programs and services that reduce critical barriers for, and prioritize, historically underserved populations of farmers.
Our work is largely conducted in the unceded ancestral territory and current home land of the Wiyot Tribe. Join us in contributing to the Honor Tax Project.
- establish and continually adapt unique regional agricultural programs for farmers,
- help connect small family farmers to local, state and national agricultural services,
- develop accessible workshops and peer-to-peer learning opportunities,
- broaden and deepen connections between the NCGA, other ag organizations and offices, and tribes to collectively support the resiliency of our food system
We recognize that national, state and local agricultural services including our own have historically and often continue to underserve and therefore oppress people of color, Indigenous and Native American people, people who are immigrants, undocumented people, people whose first language is not English, women, LGBTQI+ people, and people with disabilities, among others. We strive to operate actively anti-racist programs and services that reduce critical barriers for, and prioritize, historically underserved populations of farmers.
Our work is largely conducted in the unceded ancestral territory and current home land of the Wiyot Tribe. Join us in contributing to the Honor Tax Project.
North Coast Land Match. Direct support for land access in Humboldt and Del Norte. Connecting land owners to small farmers looking to scale up or relocate. 
Business Consulting. The North Coast Small Business Development Center (NCSBDC) in collaboration with industry experts at NCGA, can be your one-stop-shop for accelerating your small farm's business success. 
Farm Equipment Library. NCGA has several pieces of equipment that are available for shared use by our agricultural community. 
Conservation and Carbon Farm Planning. No-cost technical assistance with on-farm planning by NCGA staff and our partners at the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District. |
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Featured Resource:
We’re excited to share with you this new Tax Toolshed, a toolkit created by CA FarmLink to help farmers, ranchers, and fishers navigate tax preparation with greater ease and confidence. Whether you’re preparing your own taxes or assisting clients, the Tax Toolshed is here to make organizing key documents and records more manageable, while fostering stronger collaboration with tax professionals.
What's inside the Tax Toolshed?
What's inside the Tax Toolshed?
- Diagnostic tools to identify the most relevant lessons.
- Short, accessible lessons featuring recordings, PowerPoints, and detailed notes.
- Guidance on whether taxes need to be filed, handling income from federal programs, and considerations for those living and working on the same land.
- A best practices guide for selecting and working with tax preparers.
- A tax organizer workbook tailored for first-time filers or anyone seeking a smoother filing experience.
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The Report for the 2023 Humboldt Farm Services Survey is available here. We welcome you to take a look. Special thanks to all of you who took the time to participate in this survey. Your thoughtful responses and suggestions for farm services provide a wealth of useful information for NCGA and our local partners. |
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Collaboration with Cal Poly Humboldt
In the fall of 2024 NCGA had the honor of facilitating the capstone project of three Cal Poly Humboldt environmental studies students. The project centered on the closure of Redwood Meat Company, Humboldt County's only USDA-inspected meat processing facility, that occurred over the summer of 2024. The students, Jacquelyn Opalach, Michael Mele, and Amanda Ronald created a storymap that beautifully outlines the impact of losing this valuable community resource. They included examples of other rural communities that have undergone feasibility studies to open USDA meat processing facilities and compared the information. |
NCGA partners with many local and state organizations and offices to develop our agricultural program resources and programing.
Key Partners Include:
North Coast SBDC
Community Food Council for Del Norte and Tribal Lands (DNATL)
Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HCRCD)
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
The Yurok Tribe
College of the Redwoods -Agriculture
California FarmLink
The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Humboldt - Del Norte Counties
NCGA Agricultural Programs Receive Funding From:
CDFA Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training and Workforce Development Grant Program (BFFTP)
"The North Coast Beginning Farmer Training Program has been designed to address the most critical needs in our farming community. Through the implementation of this project our regional community of new and socially disadvantaged farmers will be given the opportunity to collect tools and resources that will provide measurable outcomes and results."
USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program provides grants to organizations for education, mentoring and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers. According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Ag Census data, one-third of the United States’ 3.4 million farmers are over the age of 65. Ensuring there will be a “new generation” of beginning farmers and ranchers – regardless of age or production choice – is essential to the continuation of agricultural production in the United States. Beginning farmers and ranchers have unique educational, training, technical assistance and outreach needs. Access to capital, land and knowledge that assists in ensuring profitability and sustainability are vital to farmers and ranchers in their first ten years of operation.
NRCS: Conservation Outreach Racial Equity and Justice Funding Opportunity, contracted through the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HCRCD)
"The Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements, administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) fund two-year projects to expand the delivery of conservation assistance to farmers who are new to farming, low income, socially disadvantaged or military veterans. Projects support USDA’s broader effort to address climate change and equitable access to programs."
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
NRCS provides America’s farmers and ranchers with financial and technical assistance to voluntarily put conservation on the ground, not only helping the environment but agricultural operations, too.
With the mission of “Helping People Help the Land,” the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides products and services that enable people to be good stewards of the Nation’s soil, water, and related natural resources on non-Federal lands. With our help, people are better able to conserve, maintain, or improve their natural resources. As a result of our technical and financial assistance, land managers and communities take a comprehensive approach to the use and protection of natural resources in rural, suburban, urban, and developing areas.
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Customized business resource & development directory for Humboldt and Del Norte farmers. Coming soon. |
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Ivy North | Agricultural Programs Director
Ivy has been with NCGA for over a decade. As the Ag Programs Director, Ivy partners with various offices, organizations and funding sources to develop localized training programs and connect critical services & funding opportunities to local small scale and socially disadvantaged farmers. Email Ivy with your questions or to to set up an appointment to discuss how NCGA Agricultural Programs can serve your farm business: [email protected] Also ask me about free and confidential business development resources & services available through the North Coast SBDC. |
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Gwilym Walker | Conservation Planning Specialist
Gwilym Walker majored in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from Green Mountain College in 2018 and since then has worked on various organic farms in New England and Humboldt County as a farmhand and farm owner. As NCGA's Conservation Planning Specialist, Gwilym is excited to help farmers practice environmental conservation and improve production systems. Gwilym is also an avid home gardener and printmaking artist and is always happy to talk about gardening, art, and anything nature related. [email protected] Find the full board and staff directory here. |
Visit Us:
NCGA Office & Harvest Hub
5720 West End Road, Building 2
Arcata CA 95521
Send Mail:
NCGA Ag Programs
PO Box 4232
Arcata, CA 95518
