Survey responses needed from Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Dr. Gerald Mashange at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is conducting a survey to better understand the unique challenges faced by socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFR) in our state. SDFR participation is crucial in helping us identify barriers and develop solutions to improve access to critical resources and support.
Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFRs) are individuals who belong to groups that have historically faced discrimination in agriculture due to their race, ethnicity, or gender. SDFRs consist of the following groups: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (e.g., those identifying as American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian or Asian American, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and/or Hispanic); LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; veterans, and women.
Insights from respondents will be invaluable in shaping understanding of the specific needs and challenges faced by SDFRs in Illinois including:
- Identifying barriers on specific obstacles encountered in accessing resources like land, credit, training, and markets.
- Pinpointing key needs for understanding what resources and support would be most beneficial to success.
- Developing solutions to guide efforts to create targeted programs and policies that address the unique needs of SDFRs in Illinois.
The online survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and is anonymous. Your responses will be kept confidential and used solely for research purposes.
If you have any questions about the research study, please contact Dr. Gerald Mashange here.