Op-ed: Celebrating Hispanic, Latino contributions to agriculture

 This article was written by Damarys Mortenson, Indiana State Conservationist, and is republished here with permission.

Each year beginning on Sept. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated, honoring the cultures, histories and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans in America, and this year is no different.

The theme for 2024’s heritage month is Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together. This theme was chosen by the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers to reflect the spirit of innovation, resilience, and unity that define the Hispanic experience. This theme also honors the Hispanic and Latino individuals who are paving the way for future generations to make a lasting and important impact on agriculture in Indiana.

This year’s theme reminds me of visiting my uncle’s coffee farm during my summers as a child. His farm was in the Puerto Rican mountains and our days were spent not only playing on the hillside and taking a swim in the river but also helping the workers pick coffee and laying it out to dry on the cement floor in front of the farmhouse. At noon, family and friends would unite together for a traditional meal made solely from the products and produce on the farm. This tradition was decorated with many great Puerto Rican dishes, music, and a lot of chatter and laughter.

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Indiana only has approximately 570 Hispanic producers across the state, making up less than 5 percent of producers statewide.

To help increase the number of farms operated or owned by Hispanic or Latino producers, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has designated them as historically underserved producers. This designation allows Hispanic producers to receive priority consideration on financial assistance applications, as well as a higher payment rate and advanced payment to help with the installation and implementation of conservation practices.

Financial and free technical assistance through the NRCS enables Hispanic farmers and landowners to implement conservation practices that promote soil, water, and air quality on their land. Here in Indiana, our team works diligently to help Hispanic and Spanish-speaking producers help their land through several methods, including translation services and Spanish publications and documents.

To support Hispanic and Limited English Proficiency LEP program applicants and participants, we have developed a resource to help locate and get in contact with Spanish-speaking NRCS employees. The LEP resource website also includes information on translation services and NRCS publications in Spanish. Interested individuals can access the resource website at this link.

As a Hispanic woman, I work hard each day to support, encourage and hopefully inspire other Hispanics to lead and innovate in the field of Agriculture. Each person has something to contribute, and Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the continued contributions of Hispanics and Latinos to agriculture.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, I encourage each of you to try some new-to-you Hispanic cuisine, learn a new word or phrase in Spanish, or research some of the many Hispanic trailblazers who have had an impact on science and agriculture.

Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispania! (Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!)