Advancing Markets For Tribal Buffalo
Advancing Markets for Tribal Buffalo is a project funded by the Advancing Markets for Producers (formerly Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities) grant program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA has awarded the InterTribal Buffalo Council a grant of approximately $5 million over a three-year period. This project will expand Tribally-managed buffalo meat markets in ITBC’s 86-member Tribal nations’ lands.
WHAT IS THE ADVANCING MARKETS FOR PRODUCERS PROGRAM?
USDA is committed to supporting a diverse range of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners through Advancing Markets for Producers. This effort will expand markets for America’s commodities, and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and under-served producers.
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USDA is investing more than $3.1 billion for 141 projects through this effort and all the projects require meaningful involvement of small and under-served producers.
This project’s activities include:
1. Conducting field measurements including biological surveys on each enrolled site, along with recording climatic conditions, and herd management strategies, to track and verify land restoration benefits associated with Tribally managed buffalo herds over time and under different management scenarios.
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2. Supporting a Native graduate student and rangeland managers on conservation practices during all phases of the project.
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3. Developing a standalone website for enrolled Tribes to sell their buffalo meat to external markets, if they so choose.
The Tribal Buffalo Market Initiative will provide technical assistance for the development of market opportunities, providing outreach and education materials that market buffalo as Tribally-managed. Outreach products developed will be distributed to InterTribal Buffalo Council Member Tribes and their 1 milion+ enrolled Tribal members, including educational materials highlighting buffalo as a Tribally-managed commodity, with infographics showcasing the buffalo’s place in the carbon cycle, along with educational videos, pamphlets, and other materials relating to the health benefits of consuming buffalo meat. An online platform will be developed to link partners and stakeholders and foster the development of market opportunities.
Tribal participation in what the USDA-NRCS currently defines as land conservation practices as they relate to Tribal buffalo production is limited. Tribally-managed buffalo programs represent a wide range of geographies, climates, herd sizes, goals, and available resources. Current NRCS land conservation practices will be reviewed by the team and ones that relate to Tribal buffalo production will be adopted into the program.
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