BFRDP Projects

The 120 Committed Farmers and Ranchers of Arkansas Land and Community Development
Corporation project are envisioned to significantly improve the population of successful and
sustainable African American farmers/ranchers relatively new to farming. 

Recruit 120 participants for the project – The outcome for this goal is for at least 120 farmers
to commit to become or remain being a grower of fresh produce, row crop and livestock. The
fresh produce farmers must also commit, obtain and maintain USDA/AMS Food Safety
certification up to the Harmonized level. By being certified growers, farmers will not only
produce safe foods but will also make their operations eligible for the larger higher value retail
market. Overall their economic survivability is enhanced by gaining greater market accessibility.
Their success will have a positive economic impact on the community.

As the numbers of beginning farm and ranch women has increased there has been a corresponding increase in programs providing education and technical assistance to them. While these programs have developed tools and curricula for addressing the learning needs of beginning farmers there remain many areas of the country where women farmers are still chronically underserved. In addition, while many tools, assessments and curricula are available there is no central repository for these materials. Nor is there a typology, or catalog, that can be used to determine which materials would be most useful given the needs of a specific target audience.

The goal of this project is to assemble a national learning network to evaluate existing curricula and materials targeting beginning farm and ranch women of all ages, ethnicity, and agricultural production interests. Content teams will identify information gaps; develop corresponding learning modules, and train peers and colleagues in their delivery and evaluation. Our project focuses on subjects of special importance to beginning farm and ranch women: legal issues; business scale and profitability; farm safety, mechanization and ergonomics; land access, transfer and stewardship; and management. A virtual learning network will provide educators and agricultural technical assistance providers with evidence-based information regarding women’s learning preferences, peer-reviewed training materials, evaluation tools, and mentoring from colleagues experienced in working with women farmers and ranchers.
We will partner with the BFRDP Clearinghouse and the eXtension Women in Ag Learning Network to determine the most effective way to house the typology of available materials.  

Access to land is one of the biggest challenges for beginning farmers in New England. The long-term goal of this project is for more New England beginning farmers to successfully access land to farm in order to start or expand their farm business. Land For Good, its partners and a broad range of collaborators will enable over 2,000 beginning farmers to access land or achieve more secure tenure. Our goals are: beginning farmers are better prepared to access land to farm; more farms are transferred by exiting farmers to beginning farmers; beginning farmers find and evaluate farm properties and connect with landowners; professionals and beginning farmers have new information about innovative access approaches and methods; and stronger programs help beginning farmers access land and improve the conditions for farmland access in New England.

Coordinated teams and task forces will produce curricula and conduct educational activities such as workshops, a multi-session Succession School, and leasing clinics. LFG will “coach” farm seekers and transitioning farmers. We will improve farm link programs and increase their use. We will produce new tools including an online “build-a-lease” and model legal language for farmland-related transactions. We will promote transfers between farmers without identified successors and beginning farmers. Experts will investigate innovative and best practices, including alternative land financing and affordable farmer housing. We will build capacity in each New England state to better serve and support beginning and transitioning farmers around land access and transfer. A national conference in 2017 will share learnings and build land access and transfer programs to help beginning farmers access land in all regions.

Aquaculture Boot Camp (ABC) with “3I-level” training model was an extremely successful program.  By the end of the ABC-1 project, twenty-four new businesses/farms were created by the 2013 and 2014 ABC Intensive course graduates. To enhance sustainability of new and limited resource aquaculture/aquaponic farmers in the Midwest, we are delivering Aquaculture Boot Camp -2 (ABC-2) through partnerships and collaborations of four NGOs/CBOs/SAEOs, six aqua-farms and three agricultural colleges. 

Specific goals include: 1) Provide tools for new and limited resource farmers to enhance their aquaculture/aquaponic production success by developing and delivering production curriculum and hands-on practices, 2) Enhance the financial viability and business success of beginning aquaculture/aquaponic farmers by delivering business management and marketing strategies, and 3) Strengthen the success of new aquaculture/aquaponic and limited resource farmers through the ABC mentorship and partnership with the industry via OAA, WAA/NPI and other partners.

The ABC project serve the following Target Audience:
Beginning and new (less than 10 years of experience) aquaculture/aquaponic farmers.
Limited resource beginning aquaculture farmers; most of aqua-farmers have low levels of farm sales and low household income, as most of them are new and located in rural areas.
Next generation farmers: students and those without a family farming history.
Other new farmers attempting to diversify their existing farming enterprise

Our partners/collaborators include: Ohio Aquaculture Association (OAA); Riffe Vocational School (RVS); University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (UWSP), and its Aquaculture Innovation Center and Aquaculture Demonstration Facility; Wisconsin Aquaculture Association (WAA); Nelson & Pade, Inc (aquaponics; NPI, WI); Hocking College Aquaculture Program; North Region Aquaculture Center (NCRAC); North Region Aquaculture Extension Specialist in Michigan State University; Life Aquatic Farm, LLC; Ripple Rock Fish Farms; Go Fish Farm; Lettuce Head Aquaponic Farm; Fresh Harvest Farm Aquaponics and Wanner shrimp farm.

Based in Fairfax County, Virginia, but pulling from expertise and farms across Northern and Central Virginia and the National Capital Region, Arcadia's Veteran Farmer Program (VFP) brings together regional nonprofits, agricultural organizations, veterans, and experienced farmers - including veterans who have made a successful transition to farming - to provide a practical farmer training and development program that launches veterans into new careers in agriculture.

Arcadia's program is distinguished by its lifecycle support of new veteran farmers. It works to increase the number of veterans beginning new careers in agriculture and the likelihood of their success by providing them with farming skills; business development and management training; ongoing technical support; assistance with finding and accessing land; and then market support, including an optional, wholesale contract with Arcadia. The VFP provides continued support as our new farmers launch their careers, through ongoing mentorships from, and networking with, the business, agriculture, and veteran communities.

The VFP increases the number of veterans beginning new careers in agriculture and increases the likelihood of their success. The VFP is very effective and can be replicated in other regions. Through this grant, the VFP will train 51 military veterans with the goal of producing 25 new farmers operating businesses throughout the project period.

This simplified standard grant will be used to enhance the activities of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture Program to provide innovative farm business management education for beginning female farmers and ranchers (BFFR), and develop a Land Link service for Nebraska.

Currently, Annie’s Project is the only targeted education provided in Nebraska for BFFR, according to FarmAnswers.org.  This project will enhance at least five Annie’s Project courses and a two-day Women in Agriculture conference to focus more on BFFR. The project intends to reach 70 BFFR with 8 to 18 hours of education per event. These activities will cater to women by encouraging them to ask questions, connect with participants and speakers, and share their experiences. These hands-on programs will focus on increasing the knowledge and skills of attendees, ultimately leading to greater success of BFFR. 

The purpose of this Educational Enhancement Team project is to develop new resources to help beginning farmers and ranchers improve the financial and business management aspects of their operations, as well as better-equip educators to guide them through this process. This project will:

• Develop and improve delivery of farm financial and business management tools and programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers better understand and manage the financial aspects of their businesses
• Improve the ability of organizations to deliver farm financial and business management training to beginning farmers and ranchers
• Evaluate ways to improve the Farm Answers clearinghouse to make it even more valuable to beginning farmers and ranchers

This project will fulfill the two goals of EET projects. It will identify gaps in farm financial and business management tools and programs and address ways to make Farm Answers more valuable to beginning farmers. It will also develop curriculum and deliver train-the-trainer workshops to better equip BFRDP projects to help beginning farmers in farm financial and business management.

The partnership of the Center for Farm Financial Management, the Midwest Organic and Sustainability Education Service (MOSES), the Rural Community College Alliance (RCCA), and SCORE brings together a broad spectrum and wealth of experiences and expertise. This partnership will allow the project to gain input from many different perspectives including numerous farmers and ranchers, organizations that work with them, and other individuals and organizations with experience in farm financial management and general business management.

The Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) and the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) are teaming up to provide agricultural and farm management training workshops to immigrant farmers in Minnesota with the long term goal building thriving and sustainable farming operations, farmers and farming communities. For the Hmong and Latino farmers in Minnesota, this can be achieved by (secondary goal #1): increasing the number of immigrant farmers’ ability to make a successful living from farming while respecting traditional methods of learning and cultural practices, and (secondary goal #2): expanding economic opportunities for immigrant farmers and their children through collaborative marketing, value-added production and specialized farm business training.

This renewal Standard BFRDP project builds upon a successful Development Grant (PD: Kelly Coleman, award 2012-49400-19591). Half (50%) of the budget will be dedicated to serving socially disadvantaged or limited resource farmers (0% for military veterans). The lead agency (CISA) will manage this state-wide project through an established network of five collaborating agricultural community-based organizations (CBOs): Berkshire Grown, Central Mass Grown, Northeast Harvest, Southeastern MA Agricultural Partnership and Sustainable Nantucket. 100% of federal funds will go to CBOs.

The long-range goal of this project is to improve the sustainability and profitability of beginning farm businesses in Massachusetts by providing tailored technical assistance to at least 600 beginning farmers in the following topic areas: entrepreneurship and business training (priority C), financial and risk management training (priority D), and diversification and marketing strategies (priority F). Activities include 78 workshops, 15 networking events, and one-on-one assistance to 300 beginning farmers, plus detailed program evaluation. After participating, farmers will have access to on-going technical assistance and peer support through the collaborating organizations. Primary objectives are: 80% of participants (480/600) “moderately increase” knowledge and 50% of participants (300/600) “substantially increase” knowledge in the areas of marketing, business planning, financial analysis, diversification, or value-added production; 60% of participants (360/600) implement a new market approach or participate in a new marketing opportunity; and 50% of participants (300/600) increase their farm income by at least 5% within one year of completing training. The success of these outcomes will improve the economy and food security of the region. 

The project applicants represent a regional coalition joined across the Tennessee and Virginia border in a region called the “Heart of Appalachia”. Our coalition represents a 20-year track record of building the local food economy from farm to fork, across all economic classes, across all ages. Through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program we seek to holistically improve start-up opportunities for a diversity of beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations and communities. Developing beginning farmers will simultaneously address workforce development, nutrition, natural resource conservation, and economic development, in a region where one in 5 citizens lives at or below the federal poverty line. In response to feedback from beginning farmers served by our organizations, our four objectives are to:

1. Enhance the regional coalition and coordination of services for beginning farmers;
2. Implement local and regional educational trainings with a focus on whole farm planning and preparing beginning farmers for specific local marketing opportunities;
3. Establish a mentorship network of trained mentor farmers to provide educational and on-the-job opportunities to beginning farmers; and
4. Foster a network of sustainable peer-to-peer support for beginning farmers through Learning Circles.

While available to all beginning farmer learners, each objective gives special consideration to the needs of socially disadvantaged, limited resource, military veteran, prisoners re-entering the workforce, and young farmers. These groups are key stakeholders for outreach as identified by the coalition's’ partners.

The project will be implemented in the following counties:
TN:  Carter(SF), Greene (SF), Hancock (SF), Hawkins, Johnson (SF), Sullivan, Washington, and Unicoi (SF)
VA:  Lee (SF), Russell (SF), Scott (SF), Smyth (SF), Tazewell (SF), Washington (SF), Wise (S)F, and Wythe (SF)
SF - Indicates StrikeForce Counties

The Chemeketa Incubator Farm Planning Project is a land-based multi-grower project
that will develop a plan for providing training and technical assistance to beginning farmers.
This project will lay the groundwork for the future incubator farm at the Chemeketa Community
College campus in Salem, Oregon. The Chemeketa Incubator Farm (CIF) project is unique in
that it is a land-based experiential learning opportunity that provides beginning farmers a plot of land onto which they can establish their own independent farm enterprises with on-site support from Chemeketa faculty and staff. Oregon State University Extension will be a valuable partner on this project. Farmer participants can utilize the many services, certifications, and degrees that both institutions offer. The CIF Project will design a two-year non-credit training program for small-scale sustainable farmers which includes land, business training, market development, and first-hand farming experiences.

Additionally, this project will further Chemeketa’s partnerships with the local community and non-profit organizations in efforts to assist agricultural production in food insecure and nutrient deprived communities. The campus where the CIF will be located is surrounded by neighborhoods designated as both low income and low access for food.

The primary goal of this project is to lay the groundwork for the future CIF by creating an informed plan to open and operate a CIF program that supports new and beginning farmers while also producing and making accessible fresh food for the local community. The work of this project will support a future application for a Standard BFRDP project focused on implementation. The long-term goal of this project is to increase agricultural opportunities and support economic growth by providing land-based education and business planning for new and beginning farmers.

Organic seed production represents a lucrative and growing specialty agricultural market. The specialized skill set required to produce high-quality organic seed serves as a barrier to entry into this market. This project is training beginning farmers in organic seed production through seed intensive workshops and written manuals, and by creating internship opportunities on established organic seed operations. The primary objectives of the project are to increase the number of beginning farmers growing organic seed
and improve practices to increase profitability, decrease financial risk, and improve conservation practices. The target audience is beginning farmers interested in diversifying their existing vegetable and grain operations, new farmers entering into farming interested in producing organic seed, farm interns, and agricultural students planning to enter the field of farming or work on existing farming operations. This project also targets Latino farmers. Project activities include delivering 60 scholarships for beginning Latino and non-Latino farmers, and 20 conference travel stipends for Latino/Hispanic farmers to attend the Organic Seed Growers Conference and Organicology Conference; simultaneous Spanish translator at conference intensives and workshops; post-event Spanish translations of intensives and workshops; support structured seed internships on seed farms through curriculum and facilitated internship placement, Spanish translation of seed production guides, and delivery of 6 monthly webinars on seed production. The long-term goals of this project are to a) increase the number of beginning farmers who grow organic seed, and to b) improve beginning seed producers’ practices to increase their profitability, decrease their financial risk, and improve their conservation practices. 

New England’s beginning farmers face unprecedented challenges – climate change and the resulting erratic and extreme weather, increasingly precarious economic conditions for small family farms, and a lack of strong social networks for farmers, particularly those operating in remote geographic areas. This project provides, through the guidance of farmers themselves, a suite of customized programs and services designed to enhance the environmental, economic, and social resilience of 500+ beginning farmers in order to help them overcome these challenges and achieve long-term farm sustainability – our ultimate goal.

To ensure that farmers have all the tools they need to implement new climate adaptation practices, we will provide Climate Forums, multiple workshops, mentorships, a climate assessment tool, a comprehensive Soil Health Cohort Program, and one-on-one Technical Assistance. To promote financial resilience, we will work with farmers through one-on-one business coaching and in Journeyperson and Farm Beginnings sessions to develop and implement business and financial resilience plans. Farmer-to-farmer learning models will effectively transfer skills and build lasting “social resilience” networks for beginning farmers.

The target audiences are beginning farmers of all ages, races, gender identities, ethnicities, farm size, and income levels in Maine and Vermont.  This is a collaboration between the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), building on 100 years of mutually successful beginner farmer training programs, as well as four previously funded BFRDP projects. 

This project aligns with BFRDP’s primary goal plus program priorities of (IB3), (1B6), (1B9), and climate smart agriculture in (1B15); (Page 7, RFA).

The project, “Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship: A National Program for Training New Dairy Farmers,” is a renewal Standard Grant that will build on work previously supported by USDA-NIFA’s Beginning Farmers and Rancher Development Program through a 2010 Development Grant “GrassWorks Apprenticeship Program: A Pilot Project for Training Beginning Farmers” and a 2011 Standard Grant “GrassWorks Apprenticeship Program: Career Paths for Beginning Farmers.” The current project will establish Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) as a national program directly under the United States Department of Labor-Office of Apprenticeship, strengthen DGA in Wisconsin by providing additional services to participants, and support the development of DGA in Missouri as a template for state-by-state expansion.

The target audience for this project consists of current dairy farmers seeking to transition out of farming or grow their operation by investing in the next generation and aspiring dairy farmers who are seeking a pathway to independent farm ownership. Among aspiring dairy farmers are young people, students, women, veterans, hired hands, herdsmen, farm managers, and farm workers. Barriers for aspiring dairy farmers include a lack of a) skills and experience in sustainable methods; b) opportunity to farm full-time, as dairy production requires, while learning; c) training in financial management and business planning; d) familiarity with agricultural infrastructure; and e) access to capital, land, and cattle.

The first formal Apprenticeship for farming in the nation, DGA directly addresses barriers to commodity-scale dairy farming by combining on-farm employment and training with paid related instruction and providing support for aspiring farmers to transition into independent dairy farm ownership. DGA is a comprehensive program that places particular emphasis on the following priority topics: Basic livestock practices and crop [pasture] farming practices; Innovative farm land transfers strategies; Entrepreneurship and business training; Financial risk management training; Natural resource management training; Curriculum development; and Mentoring, apprenticeship, and internships.    

Delta Farm Start will serve 60 of these families throughout 6 rural counties of Mississippi’s North Delta Region, implementing an immersive on-farm/ranch training program with identified support services including: soil preparation, sourcing seeds and seedlings, planting, production, harvest, labor, equipment, cold storage and aggregating crops for sale. All support services are provided on-farm in small groups or one-on-one coaching.

Participants will be prepared to start small farm operations or other agriculture related self-employment, to grow or diversify their own existing small farm operations, or to gain full-time employment in larger AG operations.

The Georgia Organic Peanut Association (GOPA) will conduct a simplified BFRDP project to expand the production knowledge and marketing opportunities of beginning farmers who produce Certified Organic peanuts. The project consists of a yearlong educational program of production workshops, field days, and a pilot mentoring program. The 2017 Census of Agriculture reported that Georgia had over 22,700 new and beginning farmers, a significant number of whom are younger operators on the 4500 family peanut farms in Georgia. With declining commodity prices, many of these beginning farmers have contacted the association about moving to Certified Organic production. But successful peanut production in the Southeast requires specific equipment and careful mechanical cultivation to control weeds, a technique that has been practiced exclusively over the past decade by the organic producers that make up GOPA. This project will transfer vital agricultural knowledge between these sets of experienced and beginning producers. Three farmers from the association will mentor six beginning farmers, who will achieve two significant outcomes:

• (1) expanding their ability to produce peanuts beyond the conventional production toolbox and
• (2) potentially increasing their profitability by selling through new value-added markets.

Lessons learned during this project will lead in the future to a larger mentoring program for beginning producers, with broader partnerships across the state and the region that also expands across commodities.

Underserved New and Beginning Producers face eight (8) major challenges: access to land, capital, labor, markets, risk management, weak leadership, managerial capacity, digital inclusion, and Heirs’ property issues.  The Pandemic intensified these, showing loss of land/farms, labor shortages, inadequate financing, loss of outputs, marketing contractions, and decline of producers’ health and operations.

The Institute and Partners are implementing solutions using clustered approaches, building Beginning Veteran and Small Farmer Village Models of agricultural producers. This three-year project supports building four (4) agricultural groups of 20 - 40 New & Beginning Veterans and Small Producers in Florida to receive training, technical assistance, direct financial and disaster assistance for on-farm resilience and risk mitigation.  The long-term goal shows these groups transitioning from pre-cooperatives to cooperates in five years.   

The Institute’s partnership includes mentoring farmers & ranchers, and subject matter specialists from Universities/Private Industries.  The objectives: (i) Target and build satellite groups of the most vulnerable producers and provide training and technical assistance regarding BFR program priorities [2], (ii) Provide financial support directly to producers to stimulate production and marketing; and (iii) Expand these intervention models to other producers in the target areas and the rural South.

Expect outcomes: Four integrated Veteran and Small Farmer Village Growers groups established; 75% BFRs demonstrating how to create Resilient Farms & Ranches; 90 % BFRs building their capacities to create self-insured risk management systems to be able to recover quickly after a disaster; 100% BFRs receiving USDA programs support to develop their small farm or ranches/groups

The aim of this project is to respond to a great need and opportunity to address the urgent problem in the U.S. agricultural system, specifically, that of ageing population of farmers and ranchers. The long term goal of this project is to recruit and enhance the sustainability of new and beginning farmers and ranchers in Texas by helping them develop successful farm and
ranch operations through the use of "A Model Farm Concept". These goals will be accomplished through the following objectives:

(1) Establish model farms at the university research farm and in targeted counties to serve as training sites

(2)Provide scale-appropriate instructional and experiential training and production, business management and marketing

(3)Develop effective partnerships between BFRs and USDA, State agencies, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and other successful farmers to create mentoring opportunities and facilitate information sharing on programs and services available to them

(4) Develop a BFR database to facilitate targeted information dissemination and outreach. This project is a joint effort between the Agricultural and Natural Resource (AGNR) unit of our Cooperative Extension Program (CEP) and two prominent Community Based Organizations (CBOs) working closely together. Finally, overall the project will engage approximately 7,000
limited resource farmers in the counties that we serve here in Texas. This will attract 300 new start-up and 800 plus new and beginning farmers will benefited.

The goal of this project is to develop profitable and Sustainable farm businesses opportunities for SDVBFR in North Carolina by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed for them to start and operate profitable and sustainable farm enterprises. Objectives are 1) Increase participation among SDVBFR in USDA programs and improve their access to timely agricultural-related information. 2) Improve the ability of SDVBFR to acquire. and retain farmlands. Improve knowledge and skills of SDVBFR to Plan and manage farm finances. 4) Enhance the skills of SDVBFR to produce and adopt high value alternative agricultural enterprises. 5)Assist SDVBFR with effective marketing strategies, identify new markets, and connect them to new and existing markets. Target audiences are socially disadvantaged and veteran beginning farmers and ranchers in Eastern North Carolina. These producers are faced with challenges that limit their productivity in the farming businesses. Such challenges are lack of adequate support from USDA program, limited access to credit and capital, lack of skills in farm business and financial planning, limited knowledge in land acquisition and retention, and farm/land transition strategies, lack of experience in modern production practices, and limited access to existing and viable markets. Therefore, Eastern Carolina Farmer Collaborative will collaborate with stakeholders to address these needs by providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers within the project area, with expected results of enhanced farm incomes, and an improved quality of life of the participating farmers and ranchers, their families, and communities.
Partner: Greensboro Curb Farmers Market

75% of the budget is allocated to Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
25% of the budget is allocated to Veteran Farmers and ranchers.

The Navajo Nation sits in the heart of the Four Corners area of the Colorado Plateau covering the corners of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The land is a mixture of alpine forests with high plateaus, mesas, mountains and arid deserts with an estimated land base of 27,673 square miles. The socio-economic conditions are emphasized by limited employment opportunities; 40.1% of families live well below the poverty level; and the diagnosis of diabetes correlates with the demise of their traditional values. These factors indicate a need for agricultural programs to revitalize a way of life of self-sufficiency, resourcefulness, prosperity, and cultural identity. Agriculture and livestock ownership are timeless symbols of the Dine’ philosophy.

The proposed project will help establish the foundation to sustainably support agricultural programs and activities by concentrating efforts in two regional agricultural hubs, Tsaile-Wheatfields Dineh Water User in central Navajo Nation and Tolani Lake Enterprise in western Navajo Nation. The proposed project will: train 60 beginning farmers to produce a harvest that will be sold to local and alternative markets; increase the capacity of collaborative organizations staff to receive the necessary skills to support farmers within their communities; and over three years, develop and implement a four-tiered training module in the following areas: business planning, farm planning, food safety planning, and farm management.

“Developing the next generation farmers and food security within the Navajo Nation food desert” project provides education through the management, planning, and conservation of natural resources for the inheritance of future generations.

The viability of new farm enterprises are especially tenable. A report by the USDA ERS notes that the businesses of new and beginning farmers have lower survival rates than more established operators. Direct markets offer new and beginning farmers unique and expanding opportunities to begin and to sustain successful farm businesses. National marketing research shows that consumer distrust in “big food” companies and institutions, increased awareness of the social and environmental impacts of the food system, and the increased prevalence of food-related health issues are changing the U.S. food landscape. Consumers believe their choices matter; they are looking for food that is authentic, transparent, and that connects them closely to the sources. Local food has increasingly come to represent transparency and trust in the minds of consumers, and more people want to spend their food dollars with local farmers.

The long-term goal of this project is to enhance the viability of new and beginning farmers in Western North Carolina (WNC) by providing them with knowledge, skills, and resources needed to start and/or grow successful farm operations focused on direct market opportunities. In WNC, expanding markets for local food provide significant opportunities for new and beginning farmers. In order to survive beyond start-up, farms must have effective marketing and appropriate production to build customer bases. In local food markets, where the public is looking for transparency, authenticity, and meaningful connections, direct sales offer unique opportunities. The activities of this project will build the direct marketing success of new and beginning farmers and enable them to implement marketing and production strategies that build farm visibility, demand for their products, and the long-term viability of their farm business. In keeping with BFRDP priorities, training and assistance topics will cover diversification and marketing strategies, entrepreneurship and business training, and financial and risk management training.

The proposed project provides training, education, outreach and technical assistance to Alaska Native Beginning Farmers and Ranchers throughout Alaska. The primary goal for the proposed project is to enhance food security in Alaska Native Villages by increasing knowledge, skills and tools for Alaska Native socially disadvantaged beginning farmers and ranchers to create
sustainable agricultural systems and informed decisions on its operations in communities. To achieve the project goals, TTCD will develop, organize, and implement a mixed-method Education/Training and Outreach Programs for Alaska Native Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. TTCD will utilize sustainable agricultural practices, planning, and business and operational material to be duplicated in other Alaska Native Villages with beginning farmers and ranchers. Project staff and partners will provide ongoing support and technical assistance linking Alaska Native Beginning Farmers and Ranchers with resources and programs that enhance and support the start up of local farms in Alaska Native Villages to provide food, encourage community development, and support jobs for local farmers.

Goal #1 - Improve food security in low income rural Alaska Native Villages (ANVs) that have limited access to supermarkets.
Objective 1.1 - Develop, organize, and implement a mixed-method Education/Training Program for Alaska Native Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (ANBFR).
Objective 1.2 - Develop, organize, and implement Outreach Program to Alaska Tribal Conservation Districts (ATCDs) and ANBFRs in their community.
Goal #2 - Encourage low cost, sustainable, and effective farming methods for socially disadvantaged ANBFRs in ANVs.
Objective 2.1 - Document and share low cost conservation practice demonstrations in Tyonek's Farm using local resources to be duplicated by other ANVs and ANBFRs.
Objective 2.2 - Create a business plan to support business operations and development for Tyonek's Farm and as an educational tool for the Education/Training and Outreach Programs.
Objective 2.3 - Provide technical assistance to ANBFR on planning, programs supporting local food production, and funding opportunities.

The long-term goal of Empowering New Forest Owners in the Northwest is to promote innovative markets and forest management strategies that improve the health of forest ecosystems while increasing economic prosperity and resilience for new forestland owners in the Pacific Northwest. More than a century of managing industrial tree plantations for single species, even-aged timber has altered the forest landscape of western Washington and Oregon. As companies divest their timber holdings closest to the metropolitan regions, much of this forestland has been purchased by new owners. There is a misconception that leaving these heavily altered forests alone is the best way to restore them. Instead, these forests need active management to restore ecological health and sustain rural economies.

The Northwest Natural Resource Group and partners believe that targeted workshops, individual landowner site visits, and improved market opportunities will increase the sustainability of new forest owners. Ecologically-based forest management and local markets are central to this project. This production method increases resilience through longer harvest rotations, species diversity, and structural diversity. And markets that recognize these benefits provide landowners with incentives to steward their land.

Three supporting objectives drive project activities:

1. Train beginning landowners in forest and financial management techniques,
2. Enable landowners to undertake initial management actions through site visits and cost-share enrollment, and
3. Develop economic opportunities and durable local markets that enable sustained stewardship.

The ultimate outcome will be new forest owners who are empowered to actively and sustainably manage for long-term forest health and resilience.

As interest in new farmer training continues to grow across the country, and more new farmer training projects launch every year, it is imperative that we better understand how to design the most effective and successful new farmer training programs, as well as demonstrate the impacts federal investment have on growing the next generation of farmers. 

Since the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) was first created in 2008, over $100 million has been invested to support over 200 new farmer training projects impacting farmers in every state across the country.  And while each project is required to track and report outcomes and impacts, to date, no national-level analysis has ever been completed of BFRDP as a whole.  Our project seeks to conduct the first ever comprehensive evaluation of BFRDP funded projects by analyzing qualitative and quantitative data from project reports, conducting additional evaluation activities as needed, and assessing the long-term impacts of completed projects for which data has not yet been collected.  With this project, we seek to better understand both the short and long-term outcomes and impacts of BFRDP as a whole, and to better understand the factors that lead to more successful new farmer training projects.

In the "Expanding Integrated Solutions to Achieve Farmland Access for New Farmers" project, Jan Joannides, Executive Director of Renewing the Countryside with Co-PDs Lori Stern, Executive Director, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service and Greg Padget, Next Generation Director, Practical Farmers of Iowa along with partners in Illinois will expand the services and network of the Farmland Access Hub to assist beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs) in obtaining secure access to land in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.

We will: 1) Help BFRs become prepared to seek land; 2). Assist BFRs in obtaining improved leases or purchasing land; 3). Work with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) BFRs to reach these same goals; 4). Grow the network of Farmland Navigators and Support Service Providers (SSPs) to support the work; 5). Create a thriving network of 70 Hub Partners to integrate our work and sustain longevity.

We expect 96 BFs will purchase farmland or obtain favorable lease or use agreements. An additional 120, BFRs,will make progress towards accessing farmland. 11 Navigators will guide BFRs to specialized expertise from 30 SSPs. A Farmland Summit will strengthen partnerships, build strategies, and heighten awareness of BFR farmland access issues and opportunities.
Development of a business model and revenue plan will support long lasting impact. Dozens of project Partners will support the project. Listed: (https://www.renewingthecountryside.org/farmlandaccesshubPartners)
100% of the funds requested are allocated to nongovernmental organizations. PD Joannides has one prior award, Integrated Solutions to Achieve Farmland Access for New Farmers, 2017-70017-26882 (http://bfrdp.farmanswers.org/ProjectReport?ID=6e5b2724-a271-4147-86fd-ee55f47cbc71)

The overall goal of the proposed Farm Management Educational Program (FMEP) is to recruit, train and equip 300 new, beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs) with the tools and resources necessary to generate and implement a feasible farm plan, becoming sustainable in vegetable and meat goat production. The objectives are to provide educational training and hands-on demonstration in basic crop and livestock production; financial management and risks mitigation; market diversification and risks mitigation; food safety and biosecurity; and programs and services of the current farm bill. 

In year one, 300 participants will learn the fundamentals of farming. In year two, approximately 50% of the participants from year 1 will develop farm plans for their prospective enterprises. In year three, participants with developed plans will have an opportunity to implement them, utilizing accessible resources. The outputs for this project include farm management tools necessary for viability. The outcomes will enhance the capacity of new farmers and ranchers to implement a realistic farm plan, market a quality product, explore the many beneficial opportunities in the farm bill, and have a more productive workforce.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) include: Alliance of Sustainable Farms, Mid-South Progressive Agriculture Group, Mileston Cooperative Association, Mississippi Meat Goat Producers Cooperative, and National Center for Appropriate Technology. Twenty-five percent (25%) of total federal funds requested will be allocated to these NGOs.  100% of the budget will be allocated to assisting new, beginning farmers and ranchers (including retired and disabled military veterans); socially-disadvantage producers who are African-American and women.

The proposed project will utilize the business incubator model for agricultural production and marketing demonstrations targeting new and beginning farmers. The incubator will be an intensive, hands-on approach working with a small group of new and beginning farmers to establish core business plans and practices that will enable them to facilitate successful Farm to School business ventures. Holmes County Food Hub will provide the technical training and support in enterprise production, marketing and business development in coordination with various resource providers including local extension and USDA agencies. This training and assistance in market development, value-added production and distribution will enable participants to obtain "real-word, hands-on experiences.

The Farm to School Academy Demonstration/Training Site will be also used to demonstrate and evaluate various alternative enterprises, production management practices and markets development models. A five to twenty acre production site will be established to demonstrate select economically viable and sustainable crop enterprises for the Farm to School market. Workshops and field days will be conducted to demonstrate the viability of viability of Farm to School market opportunities. On-site enterprise production and market demonstrations will be complemented with business management seminars and market demonstrations will be complemented with business management seminars and workshops related to those enterprises and markets. The training activities are designed to enhance capacity in agricultural entrepreneurship.

The long-term goal of this three year Collaborative project is to increase the agricultural production capacity of beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmers via farmer-to-farmer mentoring, training and technical assistance on all aspects of crop production and marketing  necessary to operate successful sustainable farming enterprises, increase farm ownership rates, and promote environmental stewardship. The target audience for this project is the over 250+ beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmers who farm at the Flats Mentor Farm in Lancaster MA.

The re-submission of this STANDARD three-year collaborative project proposal will partner with these institutions: UMass Extension. Growing Places, Nashoba Regional High School, the Lancaster Ag Commission, the Lancaster Community Center, and Rural Coalition to achieve the following objectives: 1) Provide technical assistance to beginning farmers according to their level of capacity in the three phases of the Flats Mentoring Program; 2) Develop food safety certification program; 3) Cultivate innovative marketing strategies; 4) Provide tools and develop skills on financial and risk management; 5) Expand the Farmer-to-Farmer Flats Mentoring model to include a pre-Phase #1 assessment component and embrace the energy of our youth at the high school to assist farmers at the farmers markets. 6) Increase beginning farmer participation in USDA programs.  

World Farmers (WF) will allocate 26% of the budget to the collaborating institutions as follows: UMass Amherst (8%), Growing Places (8%) Lancaster senior center (1.2%), Lancaster agricultural commission (1%), Nashoba Regional School (6%), Rural coalition (2%). In addition, other federal offices and private firms have expressed their interest in supporting this collaborative project.

The Greening of Detroit (The Greening) and Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN) collaborated on the Farming Detroit project. This program is aimed at increasing the number of limited-resource beginning farmers with access to training, education, and mentoring opportunities, in order to address the specific needs of urban growers and ultimately to increase the number of farmers within Detroit.

The project serves limited-resource beginning farmers that are socially disadvantaged, often facing multiple barriers to developing economic self-sustainability. This program provides apprentices an opportunity to develop skills and networks necessary for them to plan and develop the next steps required to further the success of their start-up farming operations. The program also formalizes a partnership between The Greening and DBCFSN that improves and standardizes training curriculum, while capitalizing on each partner's strengths and ability to expose participants to additional resources such as shared farm sites, teachers, and equipment. By leveraging the capacity of this partnership, the project maximizes the use of expertise and best practices learned by each organization in previous years, provides for more efficient use of financial, human and material resources, and allows for greater efficiency of administrative staff costs.

The Erie, Pennsylvania field office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants will establish the Landing Ground program, to extend the agency’s Flagship Farms commercial agriculture training, with linguistically and culturally competent land-buyers education and technical assistance for up to 45 refugee and immigrant farmer trainees in three cohorts of 15 over three years. 

Landing Ground will equip participants with financial knowledge to acquire farmland, and make connections between “aspiring and retiring” farmers. Landing Ground will position new farmers for long-term success resulting in farm start-ups that strengthen the local food system through diversity and land preservation.

The main program elements combine classroom and experiential learning, featuring:
Farm field trip series and cultural exchange with local farmers to investigate different types of agricultural production in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Property prospecting series to see farms or vacant land for sale or lease in a variety of settings
First Time Farm Buyers class featuring experts from banking / agricultural loans, real estate, environmental assessment, equipment acquisition, and financial planning to provide technical assistance so that program participants can plan for and succeed at their goals for property acquisition.

All programming will be supported by foreign language interpreters and a strong cadre of partners including the Erie County Conservation District, Erie County Department of Planning and Community Development, First National Bank, the Food Policy Advisory Council, RE/MAX Realty, and Gannon University for third-party program evaluation.

In alignment with the BFRDP primary goal, this program takes a multi-state, client centric approach to bolstering rural jobs and supporting economic growth and development by empowering and training veterans and socially-disadvantaged, majority African-American, new and beginning farmers and ranchers in poverty-stricken, rural counties and parishes: Winston, Wayne, Scott, Covington counties of Mississippi and Tangipahoa Parish and St. Helena Parish of Louisiana. Delivering thorough and hands-on training, specialized mentoring, one-on-one technical assistance and establishing an apprenticeship program will help establish and enhance their successes in farming, ranching, and management of their private forest lands to enhance their overall sustainability. For this reason, our project priorities are identical to the Legislative Priorities, as demonstrated by our four objectives:

1. Assist target audience launch farm business with business plan writing and market training- prioritizing entrepreneurship, business training, financial and risk management and marketing strategies;
2. Provide high-growth industry training and technical assistance- prioritizing basic livestock, forest management, crop farming practices and innovative strategies, like Agroforestry;
3. Offer Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices certification training- prioritizing diversification and marketing strategies as well as food safety;
4. Create a year-long apprenticeship program for young adults, ages 18-21, in order to establish a career pathway for young farmers and ranchers to own farm businesses and prioritize mentoring and vocational training.

Ultimately, the project thrives to achieve the following long-term goals: Low-income veteran, SD farmers and ranchers in rural MS and LA

1. Commonly and successfully yield quality products and produce, employ business and marketing strategies, and increase their income in their farm business to guarantee more economic stability and sustainability for themselves and their families;
2. Poses the skills and confidence to access local, state, and federal resources to achieve success and sustainability of their farm businesses; and
3. A system is established to ensure youth have the opportunity to prosper in their farm business.

As a coalition, the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC)—an academic research institution on the forefront of some of the most important research happening across the country and the world, BioGen Ag Systems—a small agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturer located in greater Kansas City, and the Veterans Community Project (VCP)—a non-profit organization focused on ending military veteran homelessness, propose the creation of a sustainable beginning farmer program with specific focus on the military veteran population in Kansas City. While the majority of beginning farmer programs focus on rural farming practices, our proposed effort is focused on urban agriculture solutions as most homeless military veterans live in urban areas.

Our project has three main objectives: (1) Recruit and retain 50 military veteran beginning farmers (MVBF); (2) Transition at least 50% of MVBF to agricultural or farm-STEM part- or full-time employment opportunities; and (3) Develop a veteran, urban, organic, and sustainable-focused pilot program that can be replicated at future VCP site locations by guaranteeing a market for specialty crops.

Our coalition will focus on supporting MVBF through employment, education, and entrepreneurship initiatives. Utilizing three, 20-foot independent model container farms at the VCP Village, military veterans will be recruited, selected, and trained on container farm processes, hydroponic systems, technological innovations for increased specialty crop production (farm-STEM training), as well as receive financial, marketing, and entrepreneurship certificate training. Our overarching coalition goal is establish a pathway to economic viability and independence for MVBF through this pilot program.

This project will provide outreach, training, technical assistance, and
mentorship to Hispanic and Veteran Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (BFRs)
in a 44-county border region of Texas and Southern New Mexico. 30% of
federal funds requested are allocated to NGOs and a CBO. 70% of project
funds are allocated to serving Hispanic BFRs; 30% to Veterans; 100% is
allocated to Limited Resource BFRs; and 20% to farm workers. This
project's service area has the highest numbers and greatest
concentrations of Hispanic farmers in the U.S. Strategic sub-award
partners include; Texas/Mexico Border Coalition CBO, La Semilla
FoodCenter, and National Center for Appropriate Technology. Additional
partners include an innovative partner with SCORE Chapters, as initiated
by the Secretary of Agriculture. Partners supporting farm-and-ranch
entrepreneurship include Small Business Development Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Center, and the Texas Rural Cooperative Center.This project is very relevant to the
primary goal of BFRDP: it will train, assist, and mentor
Limited-Resource Hispanic and Veteran BFRs to enter, and improve their
success, in farming and ranching.

Located 2,200 miles from the continental U.S., Hawaii imports about 85-90% of its food,
making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions in food supply. The state struggles with an aging
farmer population (avg. 60 years old), lack of farm labor, and declining numbers of sustainable
farmers. To address these critical issues, Hawaii’s Governor established a goal to double local
food production by 2030.

The goal of the project is to reduce Hawaii’s dependence on imported food and increase the
state’s food sustainability. This will be accomplished by developing and supporting farmers and
individuals who want to establish a business in the agricultural industry. This project will
develop new farmers (including at least 65% from socially disadvantaged groups (ethnic
minorities or women) through 1) a certificate-based farmer training program that integrates
formal classroom and experiential lessons, 2) 1-on-1 business consulting and technical support,
and 3) ongoing production, business, and networking support. Incorporating these components
will increase the likelihood of success for the state’s new and beginning farmers.

Over the past 3 years, 45% of participants (most of whom began with no farming experiences
or connections) have started commercial farming operations. An additional 17% have found
employment in the agricultural industry. And 14% plan to use their knowledge to establish a
farm in the future. GoFarm Hawaii seeks USDA support to continue its success, develop
beginning farmer industry leaders, provide various workshops to support beginning farmers, and support the local women farmers network.

     Military veterans have made great sacrifices and need our support in transitioning to civilian life upon completion of their duty.  At the same time, more farmers are needed in the U.S., especially with a focus on ecological production.  Farming can offer a meaningful livelihoods to veterans.  Community-based food systems can help connect veterans with their communities and also help ensure that consumers have equitable access to healthy local food.
     Appalachian State University is leading a project, Going Whole Hog: Sustainable Livestock and Agroforestry Training for Military Veterans, to help military veterans and other beginning farmers enter farming and farm sustainably.

Our objectives include
- Develop website, training modules, and interactive material on sustainable agriculture.  We focus on regenerative livestock production, particularly on pastured and woodlot swine raised in agroforestry systems.
- Provide training opportunities for veterans with hands-on components, including workshops and Armed to Farm Boot Camp.  We use the university farm as a base to build community, as well as local veteran farms.
- Develop customized internships for veterans with mentors in NC and AR to help support veterans learning in relationships.
- Provide networking to support veterans.  For example, we will work with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NC AgrAbility, and coordinate with efforts in NC that support farmer veterans.

See frontlinetofarm.appstate.edu for more details.

Keywords: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP);
Wyoming new and beginning producers; farm management; risk management;
financial management; estate transfer and management succession strategies

The overall project goal will provide education, mentoring, and technical assistance to
offer beginning farmers and ranchers the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make
informed decisions for their operations, and enhance their sustainability. In addition,
the project seeks to ensure Wyoming beginning producers are well-informed of risk
management alternatives allowing them to take full advantage of existing insurance
products and other risk controls by offering training and resources covering various
financial management, risk management, enterprise assessment, and risk analysis
topics.

A multidimensional approach will make available training and resources under four
broad objectives:

OBJECTIVE 1: Provide educational opportunities directly to beginning farmers and
ranchers through regionally-offered on-site programming and on-line resources.

OBJECTIVE 2: Provide on-site and on-line educational programs to Wyoming’s new,
beginning, and limited resource farmers and ranchers via FFA classrooms and other
venues.

OBJECTIVE 3: Coordinate and provide hands-on internships on working farms and
ranches to Wyoming's beginning farmers and ranchers each summer in cooperation
with state producer organizations and educational institutions.

OBJECTIVE 4: Develop and circulate media-based education on various financial
management, risk management, enterprise assessment, and risk analysis topics
statewide via articles in agriculture-focused newspapers and producer-organization
newsletters.

Stone Barns Center's beginning farmer training prepares young farmers to pursue economically and ecologically resilient farm enterprises. The Growing Farmers Initiative is designed for beginning farmers with ten years or less farming experience. Our programs, situated in the lower Hudson Valley, NY, include apprentice training, workshops, conferences, and online learning.

Our farm apprenticeship exposes nine to twelve young farmers each year to farm culture through an intensive nine-month program that offers a mixture of hands-on and classroom-based training in resilient agriculture. Apprentices learn the nuts and bolts of our farm operation and leave with a full understanding of the practical principles of agroecological farming. Apprentice workshops meet weekly and cover essential topic including soil science and management, plant botany, landscape design and ecology, engine mechanics, animal husbandry, and farm business planning. These sessions, open to young farmers from throughout the region, are taught by Stone Barns staff and other experts.

Our conferences and online learning platforms expose farmers from across the U.S. to the principles of resilient farming. In total, the 2015 and 2016 Young Farmers Conferences welcomed 550 young farmers, 25% on scholarship, and covered topics on crop production, business management, animal husbandry, land access, and more. Each workshop is approximately 90 minutes and 98% of participants requested that the workshops be offered again the following year. One young farmer said: "It was such a pleasure to attend; the quality of the presenters and the participants were very impressive; and I really appreciated the welcoming and supportive vibe of the whole conference." In 2015 and 2016, we also hosted Poultry School, two-day conference offering 20 sessions around sustainable poultry production attended by 300 farmers total. 

Our E-Learning tools have also been a great success, with 60,000 unique views in the past two years (average 20 minutes viewing time).

The long-term goal of this project is to support the economic and ecological viability of the next
generation of diverse California farmers including urban, peri-urban and rural farmers and ranchers from diverse communities including Latino, Southeast Asian, and African American. Through in-depth training offered at established and emergent “agricultural learning hubs,” this project aims to build on the successes and lessons of two prior BFR projects. By partnering with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE), and Alameda County Resource Conservation District (ACRCD) and several local agricultural training hubs, RCDs and NRCSs, this project team is collaborating to offer a combination of in-depth, culturally and regionally appropriate workshops, develop and distribute educational materials and videos, host field days and farmer tours, and strengthen farmer to farmer networks and learning hubs in 10 counties in central California. The expected outcomes are to:

1) improve BFR access to sustainable farming information and technical support,

2) to increase adoption of organic and sustainable farming/ranching practices,

3) enhance the economic success of BFRs through business planning, value added, and marketing education and support,

4) provide referrals to agencies that provide access to land, financial and other services,

5) improve food safety among urban and peri-urban farmers, and

6) strengthen farmer-to-farmer learning networks via an innovative network of agricultural learning hubs.

Although the number of Americans ages 25-34 entering the farm industry has grown (2,384 between 2007-2012), the number of African-Americans ages 18-35 have shown no gains (remaining at 3%). Since 2011, the HABESHA Works Program has trained over 120 black beginning farmers (ages 18-35) in sustainable agriculture and agribusiness development. Currently, 40% of program graduates are employed with farms and markets, or own small farms in the southeast. In order to support the long-term success of its growing network of graduates, HABESHA will launch the HABESHA Agricultural Leadership Opportunity (HALO Program). 
The HALO program will provide education related to 1) creating farm management plans, 2) developing farm business plans and improving business practices, and 3) building leadership qualities and supportive networks. The first phase of the program is a comprehensive curriculum that will use workshops, field trips, and practical exercises to guide participants through the development of a farm business plan and other learning objectives. The second phase, an applied learning intensive, will provide participants with farm mentoring and business coaching while they implement their farm business plan. Based on prior successes, HABESHA anticipates cohorts of 10 to 15 participants to complete the program annually. 

HALO program partners include the Food Well Alliance, a community-based organization that supports food equity initiatives in the Metro Atlanta area. One-hundred percent of the federal funds requested will be allocated to HABESHA Inc., a 501c3 not-for-profit, community-based organization. HABESHA will allocate 100% of the budget to serving socially disadvantaged (African-American) beginning farmers. 

The goal of the Hmong Agricultural Sustainability Training and Education (HASTE) Program is to enhance the long term viability and sustainability of Southeast Asian American beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs) with a particular focus on Hmong American BFRs, and facilitate the success of the next generation of Southeast Asian American BFRs through education, training, and technical assistance. The program emphasizes stabilizing distressed farm operations, and advancing business practices to generate wealth. The program will provide education on best management practices, improving cash flow through reducing farm overhead costs, and providing farmers with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to leverage financial assistance opportunities to improve the profitability of their operations. HASTE is a collaborative effort by Hmong National Development (HND) and EnSave, Inc. (EnSave), who have over 40 years of combined experience serving BFRs.

Three main objectives of HASTE is to (1) increase awareness of financial assistance opportunities amongst Southeast Asian American BFRs, and provide them with the resources and knowledge necessary to utilize them, (2) enhance profitability and sustainability of southeast Asian Americans BFRs through improved natural resources planning and management relating to energy, water, fertilizer, and soil, and (3) strengthen communication and collaboration between Southeast Asian American BFRs and key agricultural stakeholders, and mitigate entry barrier for new farmers.

HASTE was designed to serve an estimated 400+ socially disadvantaged Southeast Asian American BFRs with a primary strategy of improving cash flow through reduction of farm inputs. Program activities include workshops, educational conference calls and webinars, developing curriculum and educational materials, and conducting farm energy audits. HASTE supports numerous BFRDP priority topics, including natural resource planning education, curriculum development, and providing resources and referrals.

The average age of a farmer in the US is roughly 58 years old and increasing.  New entry farmers face persistent challenges, including access to affordable land, working capital, agricultural training and business mentoring.  In recent years, US agriculture has witnessed as much as a 20% decrease in the number of new farmers who have been on their operation less than ten years.  So, not only are principal farm operators getting older, fewer new farms are making a go of it.  This project is designed to address these problems by helping new entry farmers (year 0-1) and growth stage farmers (years 2-5) in NY's Hudson Valley build sustainable profitable businesses, allowing them to bring or keep farmland in production.   The Hudson Valley Farm Business Incubator helps new and growth-stage agricultural entrepreneurs with business and financial planning, farm mentorship, market connections, training in technical skills and leadership, and support in accessing farmland. By year three, we anticipate launching or helping to grow up to ten new and beginning farm businesses, with another 350 farmers benefitting from workshops, tools and resources developed through the project.   

During this reporting period, Western Oregon's Sustainable Collaborative (WOSA) which consists of 6 different agriculture programs that support farmers of color, accomplished the following outputs:  1) Provided 2 Agriculture Courses in Spanish; 2) Mentored 56 new beginner farmers through specialty workshops and internship programs; 3) Supported 18 minority BFRs via access to local Farmers Markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Particularly, farmers had access to 6 local Farmers Market across Western Oregon and 1 CSA. The target audience continues to be new and beginner farmers of color who are socially-disadvantaged. For this reporting period, we have reached 101 minority BFRs through small business farm courses, specialty courses, and one-on-one business coaching.  

Furthermore, it trained and provided one-on-one technical assistance to 56 minority BFRs with best practices on how to make risk management decisions related to farm financial and operational benchmarking. A total of 101 hours of one-on-one technical assistance or business coaching was offered to participants.                                                                                 

For specialty workshops, the following topics were delivered: soil biology, soil building and soil conservation, nutritional needs of plants, pest management and weed management, cooperative bylaws, cooperative finances, production of crop planning, farm machinery, food safety, grafting vegetable, seeding and transplanting techniques, hoop house construction, and business marketing. During this reporting report, the Farm Advisory Council met in January and February 2020, at the end of the season to review the challenges and successes of the growing season. 

WOSA recognizes that growing food and training farmers is essential to ensuring food security, and mental and financial wellbeing in our community. For that reason, we have continued to operate our programming within a new structure that ensure compliance with social distancing guidance. WOSA stays committed to its community. We serve those on the frontlines cultivating fresh produce for those in need of food.  

One Generation proposes a simplified BFRDP project to build its capacity to
educate, mentor, and provide technical assistance to beginning Indigenous farmers and ranchers
in New Mexico and the southwest. This project addresses challenges including disconnected
Indigenous agricultural traditions and knowledge of Indigenous farming practices, a lack of
profitability of Indigenous farms/ranches, and lack of trainings specific to the needs of farmers in
the southwest. Outcomes include a comprehensive set of curricula with Indigenous language,
practices, and cultural concepts incorporated, to improve prosperity and strengthen food,
cultural, and land sovereignty for Indigenous peoples.

Objectives: Host six community convenings; formalize an Advisory Committee composed of
Indigenous agricultural and language experts, beginning farmers and ranchers, and community
partners; catalogue existing lessons, training modules, and/or established curriculum in key
learning strands; incorporate intergenerational Indigenous knowledge and practices into the core
curriculum and learning activities; test delivery of curriculum; and create an action plan to
develop/launch a fellowship program.
Partners: Native American Community Academy and the University of New Mexico Community
Engagement Center.
USDA Priorities: (1) Lead agency has never received USDA funding; (2) Lead agency is a
nongovernmental and community-based organization; and (3) 100% of funds will address the
needs of socially disadvantaged or limited resource beginning farmers or ranchers.
Approximately 62% of federal funds allocated will support nongovernmental and communitybased organizations, plus an additional 20% of federal funds allocated will provide stipends to
beginning farmers and ranchers for consultation and participation in pilot testing curriculum. The
remaining 18% funds consultant evaluation.

The number one challenge beginning farmers face is accessing farmland. To address this issue in Illinois, The Land Connection’s project, “Land Access Solutions for Illinois’ Next-Generation Farmers,” will create a farmland access program for the entire state of Illinois.

Working in close collaboration with The Conservation Fund and Food Works and under the guidance of established FarmLink program organizers, we will develop and deliver wraparound farmland access support services for Illinois’ beginning farmers, retiring farmers, and non-operating farmland owners. The program will include a statewide Illinois FarmLink website, statewide working group of organizations desiring to address land access issues, farmland access advising/navigating services, farmer and landowner training, and succession and transition support. The project's "living" equity commitment will root the program in the principles of justice, diversity, equity, and belonging. A farmland access program manager and four regional farmland access navigators will be hired, with navigators embedded in regional partner organizations across Illinois, and will provide direct services to our target populations. To build awareness, we will advertise extensively in print, radio, and online, and conduct outreach to our networks of partners and farmers. We will achieve at least 80 successful land access agreements during the grant period, impacting at least 5,000 acres. Our long-term goal is to develop the systems to ensure this program’s financial and programmatic sustainability. 

One of the most pervasive and persistent challenge beginning farmers in NJ face is finding, affording and negotiating appropriate farmland to lease or to own.

The long-term goal this project, "Launching Beginning Farmers: Long-Term Preserved Farm Leases and Farm Success Training" is to significantly increase beginning farmers/ranchers' access to long-term lease agreements on preserved farmland. This project greatly expands an innovative land-access pilot program and provides extensive training and technical assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers in both urban and rural New Jersey communities to succeed in their farm businesses.

Because diversity and equity are values of our organization and this program, we work with our urban agriculture partners to do special outreach to beginning farmers/ranchers from BIPOC and socially disadvantaged communities to make sure they are informed of the program's opportunities.

Besides providing affordable access to land in a 10-year lease, we will provide guidance and support to help these beginning farmers be successful by connecting them to resources. Through this grant, this guidance will be expanded to on-going training for beginning farmers/ranchers who have launched their farm enterprise on Financial Management (Quickbooks training, access to funding--grants, loans, etc.; info on taxes, workers' comp, business filings, insurance, etc.); Business Management (hiring best practices, H-2A visa program, managing employees, apprentice/intern programs, risk management, cooperative purchasing opportunities); Safety (FSMA compliance, safety tips on the farm); Marketing (effective digital marketing, eCommerce strategies); Direct-to-Consumer Sales (farmers' markets, farm stand, CSAs); Farm-to-Institution Sales (food hubs, restaurants, wholesale); Surplus Food Management (value-added products, working with gleaning organizations); On Farm Skills (no-till farming, organic pest management, organic disease management, using Cornell Climate Smart Farming Tool Kit i.e. Growing Degree Days, etc., equipment maintenance and repair).

Living in one of USDA's classified food deserts, the community of Molokai have low access to healthy and affordable fresh foods. The majority of food and other products are imported. As a result of COVID, supply chain issues, and avian flu, Molokai has a pressing need to increase its food security through efforts that train beginning farmers in chicken poultry production.

The goal of the Mahia'ai Moa Project is to grow the number of socially disadvantaged farmers on the island of Molokai through offering tools that will enhance their successes and financial viability. The objective is to offer three different education and training programs that foster the growth and development of these beginning farmers:  (1) Poultry Farm Workshops with J. Ludovico Farm, (2) University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UH CTAHR) Chicken Feed and Foraging Workshops, and (3) Molokai Livestock Cooperative (MLC) Building Capacity & Training with J. Ludovico Farm. 

These trainings will be conducted across multiple workshops, meetings, field trips, and in person demonstrations through curriculum developed by Sustainable Molokai and related partners. Sustainable Molokai will collect data via surveys, observations, and collection of data from participants to evaluate and report on the project. The achievement of this goal will result in an increased number of trained food producers on our island, who will increase their food production. This will have the immediate and direct effect of increased economic development, expanded community access to fresh, nutritious food, and improved community resiliency

Project Summary
1. TITLE: "Maintaining the Paso Del Norte Immigrant and Military Veteran Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Network"
Project by the National Immigrant Farming Initiative (NIFI) that proposes a project with  the  long-term  goal  of  continuing  to  improve  food  security  and  community  development among  a  network  of  partners  in  the Paso del Norte  region  of  southern  New Mexico and  west Texas.  NIFI  supports  beginning  farmers  with  the  knowledge,  skills  and  tools  they  identify  as needed to make good farm business decisions and enhance sustainability.
Aligned with BFRDP goals, NIFI's target audience  consists of socially-disadvantaged  and  limited
resource immigrant farmers and ranchers who have not operated  a farm or have operated a farm for  less then  10  years. This  project also serves military  veterans,  the majority  of  whom, , are also in the category of  limited  resource immigrant farmers. 
Maintaining this farm support network allows NIFI to  continue to  learn  and support the  needs of  socially-disadvantaged farmers, so they can develop sustainable  operations and remain  in farming. NIFI  intentionally follows  the leadership of beginning  farmers  attending the  farmers  expressed  needs, designing their plans.     

Project objectives:
. Twelve farmers will initiate agricultural enterprises
. Ninety beginning farmers and ranchers will make beneficial changes   in farm operations and continue farming after project terminates
. Sixty beginning farmers will increase their knowledge through production, business and marketing training

.  Sixty beginning farmers will increase their knowledge of strategies for land access and natural
resource management and planning
4. Collaborating institutions / organizations/farmer and rancher groups include:
•     Adult and Youth United in Development Association (AYUDA)
•     Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Advancement, University of Texas
•     El Paso Verde
•     La Mujer Obrera
•     La Semilla Food Center
•     New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension
•     Paso del Norte Borderplex Veterans Coalition
•     Santa Cruz Organic Farm
•     Sol Y Tierra Growers Cooperative
•     Texas A&M Cooperative Extension

In the New Organic Stewards: Expanding Community, Resources and Financial Knowledge project the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), Renewing the Countryside (RTC) and local collaborators will bring 1,130 new and beginning sustainable farmers in Wis., Minn., Iowa and Ill. together for learning opportunities. New and beginning farmers in communities throughout the Midwest will meet, network, learn from each other, view successful organic operations, gain access to additional programs and resources, and learn basic sustainable farming and financial management practices.

We will hold four regional 2-day New Farmer Us, and numerous conference workshops and activities for new and beginning sustainable farmers. The book, Fearless Farm Finances, will be updated and expanded and used as a training reference. One-day financial workshops, supported by the book, optional add-ons at the New Farmer Summits, will provide in-depth financial basics to strengthen the financial literacy and sustainability of beginning farmer attendees. A 15-lesson online course will be developed, based on the book and using video and presentations from the one-day trainings, and offered as both a free access and fee-based teacher supported course.

As a result of the project attendees will choose to participate in additional educational programs, implement new production methods, initiate financial recordkeeping and analysis to make their farms more profitable and sustainable and feel a greater sense of community and support on their path to farming. 678 of those involved will make progress in their dreams of beginning to farm or further improved their existing farm operations.

The goal of the proposed work is to increase the number of successful beginning farmers
who can access land and operate economically viable farms utilizing organic and
sustainable production practices in Ohio. We will achieve this by helping them master the
fundamental skills and knowledge needed for success as land seekers, producers, and small business owners.

This project creates new partnerships to (1) increase the readiness of aspiring farmers to begin farming independently; (2) increase farm viability and profitability of established early career farmers to improve their success; (3) increase access to farmland for beginning farmers; (4) facilitate the creation of a cooperating ecosystem of beginning farmer service providers in Ohio to increase collective impact; and (5) evaluate, report, and disseminate results of our work.

Project Summary
USDA NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Project RFA 2018
Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA)
Project Director: Libah, Muhidin; SBCA
Co-Project Director:Sarah Robinson, SBCA

The applicant, Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA) of Lewiston, Maine, is a rare organization with a farming project completely led by a community of socially disadvantaged limited resource African refugees. With the majority of the community directly experiencing food insecurity, we have taken it upon ourselves to produce food while building the sustainable agricultural capacity of the region. SBCA is planning for its fifth season of in the field, with farmers currently numbering 135. Our intent is to reconnect to our agricultural heritage.
SBCA proposes a three year small standard BFRDP grant with a target audience that consists of refugee farmers who have not operated a farm, or have operated a farm for not more than 10 years. SBCA is applying for the funding set aside for projects that address the needs of limited resource beginning and socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers. One hundred percent of SBCA’s project will be allocated to serving that group.

The primary expected outcomes during the three-year project timeframe are:
- 40 farm start ups by Somali Bantu producers
- 15 cooperative farm enterprises will launch involving 60 beginning refugee farmers
- 60 farmers will generate income by sales at either farmers markets or to institutions
- 40 farmers demonstrate significant skill development with competency-based self assessment
- 100 beginning farmers and ranchers will make beneficial changes in farm operations
- 20 beginning Bantu farmers will establish livestock operations

Collaborating organizations include:
- Cooperative Development Institute
- Cultivating Community
- Cumberland County Food Security Council

- Good Shepherd Food Bank
- Intervale Farm Land for Good
- United Veteran Farmers of Maine

- USDA Farm Services Agency
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

- University of Maine Cooperative Extension
- World Farmers

The Rodale Institute Farmer Training (RIFT) Program is a multiple-track immersive internship that gives aspiring farmers, including military veterans, the knowledge, skills and experience they need to enter careers in organic farming.  RIFT interns will experience the entire life cycle of an organic diversified crop and livestock farm, while also learning how to distribute and increase access to healthy organic food. The program offers all farm-based interns the opportunity to learn about organic vegetable production and management, raising pigs and chickens in an organic environment, as well as crop harvesting, processing, packaging and marketing via season long (35 weeks) and short-season (8-16 weeks) internships utilizing curricula developed under previous BFRDP awards (#2015-70017-22855 and #2017-70017-26843).

Follow-on opportunities for interns include additional training with our project partners Pocono Organics and The Seed Farm which increase potential for success. Our partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition allows expansion of program outreach efforts focusing on veterans interested in learning about organic agriculture as a career. 

The program serves the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond through activities aligned with the following goals: 

 Goal 1: To equip new farmers, including military veterans, with the knowledge, skills and practical experience to be successful in operating their own organic farm enterprises and enhance sustainability of their operations.
 Goal 2: To increase the number of successful organic farm enterprises in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.
        Goal 3: To support new farmers, including military veterans in their transition to the         organic agriculture workforce.

Percentage of total federal funds allocated to NGOs – 38%
Percentage of budget allocated to beginning farmers (excluding military veterans) - 30%
Percentage of budget allocated to serving military veterans - 32%

This proposal targets beginning farmer refugees and people of color in the urban areas of Tucson (IRC & University of AZ Cooperative Extension, UACE) and Phoenix (Spaces of Opportunity & UACE) plus Indigenous Peoples and other limited resource beginning producers in rural areas of northern (Flagstaff Foodlink & UACE), central (San Carlos) and southeast (UACE) Arizona. These are new nonprofit partnerships and mainly new audiences for UACE. 18+ BF refugees, the first of which arrived in Tucson in 2017, are growing on .6 of an acre and the UA Campus Ag Center has 3-5 acres plus high tunnels that they can lease through this project. UA-CAC provides tillage to prepare the soil for planting along with pressurized water for drip and sprinkler irrigation on this leased land. Another goal for these refugees is to provide education on understanding local market demand conditions and growth by season and product, plus diversification and recordkeeping skills for tracking cash flow and food safety protocols. These business skills along with more acreage will allow IRC-Tucson refugees to expand their agricultural production into a more economically viable business.

Making small-scale agricultural production more economically viable will also be addressed by providing education and assistance on BFRDP priority areas of business and entrepreneurship training, innovative land acquisition strategies, basic production practices, diversification and marketing strategies, climate smart agriculture, acquiring ag. credit and risk management, recordkeeping and food safety, and mentoring. We are proposing a series of 5 workshop trainings annually for 6 locations in AZ that will complement ongoing assistance to beginning farmers provided by nonprofit partners and UACE personnel located in each of the 6 areas. We expect to provide education and assistance to 270 unique beginning producers, very intensively for 50 (daily/weekly assistance), ongoingly for 95 (monthly/quarterly education), and intermittently for 125 (bi-annually/annually). 

Ranching is more complex than ever and these complexities can be daunting for both those who have grown up in agriculture and those who are just beginning their own ranching operation. A changing ranching industry also leads to greater possibilities to diversify and explore business opportunities that offer unique strategies to bring the next generation to the ranch quicker. Whether individuals are coming back to their family ranch or are in search or first-generation ranching opportunities, the institutional knowledge of the older generation is not being conveyed to their young and beginning operators. Thus, it is evident that a robust educational program is needed to prepare young and beginning farmers and ranchers to step into their ranching roles and take advantage of opportunities in an ever-changing marketplace.

The Colorado Cattlemen's Association (CCA) and Colorado State University (CSU) will offer educational opportunities to beginning farmers and ranchers in Colorado, through the Colorado Ranching Legacy Program. Beginning with the Ranching Legacy Lectureships, which will be held throughout the year, with the objective to provide comprehensive, hands-on educational
lectureships for beginning farmers and ranchers In addition, Ranching Legacy Online will be hosted through CSU Online with the objective to provide comprehensive, flexible education for any person interested in ranching, specifically beginning farmers or ranchers. Each component of the Ranching Legacy Program has different structures and targets different audiences, but
work in collaboration to accomplish the goal of reaching a greater number of young and beginning producers. Through these educational programs, young and beginning farmers and ranchers will gain the educational training they need to lead their operation and ensure it is a sustainable, working landscape into the future.

Land Stewardship Project (LSP) project entitled Regional Farmer-led Education and Training Hubs for Building Resiliency and Viable Farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin is responding to the emerging needs of farmers in four distinct geographic service regions of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and uses partnerships to provide relevant education, mentoring, and technical assistance to beginning farmers with diverse needs.

The long-term goals of this project are to: 1) Offer proven beginning farmer training programs for varying levels of farming experience, with enhanced, farmer-informed curricula; 2) Develop two new farmer-led regional training hubs to increase resiliency of beginning farmers with 5-10 years’ experience; and 3) Collaborate with Red Lake Nation to develop a new curriculum and build community capacity to support socially-disadvantaged beginning farmers. The key collaborating partners for this project are: Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES); Angelic Organics Learning Center; Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) in three rural Minnesota counties; Cultivating Resilience, LLC; established farmer-leaders from across the region; the 4 Directions Development (4DD) corporation and community leaders of the Red Lake Nation.

This collaborative project will be led by LSP, a nonprofit community-based organization with more than 25 years of experience developing farmer-informed and farmer-led programming to support beginning farmers. LSP’s grassroots model makes the farmer’s voice the primary source of information for all programs and services offered, and has resulted in a set of unique and successful farmer training programs, some of which have been replicated across the country, such as the Farm Beginnings program. LSP’s farmer-led and community-based approach leads to ongoing innovation in how we engage and support beginning farmers, as the changing needs of farmers dictate the curricula and delivery models of our programs. 

This program has a goal to increase the ability of socially disadvantaged and limited resource farmers and military veterans to operate their farms and forestry enterprises in a 20-county area around the I-95 Corridor in the Lowcountry region of SC. The needs of these landowners have been identified as:

1. lack of knowledge, technical assistance and resources to sustainably manage their land,
2. landowners "disinterested" attitude in harvesting as shown by lack of planning for the future of the land, and
3. dealing with the complications of land owned by groups of legally undetermined joint heirs (i.e., heirs' property), which is a critical barrier to successfully owning and managing farming/forestry enterprises.

This collaborative will accomplish this goal by achieving the objectives of:

1. increasing farmers' capacity to access technical assistance and government cost-share programs for farming and forestry management,
2. increasing farmers' knowledge of farming and sustainable forestry and full array of forestry-related programs, resources & markets available to them and
3. increasing landowners' knowledge of how to resolve their heirs' property (HP) issues in order to benefit from USDA cost share programs and establish succession plans.
   

This project is designed to meet the Standard Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) project's long-term goal of improving the success of beginning farmers and ranchers (BFR) in farming and management of nonindustrial private forest lands by providing the tools of education/training, mentoring and outreach programs that help them make informed decisions to increase the likelihood that their operations will be sustainable.
Collaborating institutions/organizations: Center for Heirs' Property Preservation, AgFirst, ArborGen, SC Forestry Commission, The Nature Conservancy of SC, Beaufort County Open Land Trust, Clemson University Extension Services, SC USDA NRCS, Increasing H.O.P.E., USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station and Woodland Community Advocates.

Our goal is to increase the number of beginning farmers who operate successful, profitable farm enterprises in New York --specifically, Delaware, Schoharie, and Otsego Counties–as well as strengthen and ramp up the operations of beginning farmers Statewide in the first 10 years of operation, thereby keeping approximately 200,000 acres of arable farmland in production and sustaining NYS’ role as a leading agricultural State in the Northeast. This goal fulfills our 30 year mission--to increase the number and diversity of successful farm enterprises and related businesses in New York. We will implement our three-year project to: 

1) establish 12-15 new farms in Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie Counties with high impact, deep touch “A-Z” services from farmland access to landowner/producer matchmaking, on-farm skills building to business development to access to capital to markets/sales; and 
2) enhance, strengthen, and ramp up operations of 1,000 beginning farms Statewide in their first 10 years with our mid/light touch services using business development and management workshops and webinars, on-farm events, facilitating networks/peer connections, interactive online content and resources, and referrals. 

With a range of partners, our project will deliver relevant, “farming for a new era” content: 
facilitating access to farmland in the 3 counties;
technical assistance on securing farmland; 
educational training via peer-to-peer mentoring, apprenticeships, pasture-walks; 
legal and business support; 
business development;
financial planning;  
product development;
assistance in accessing capital;
market R&D, market planning;
producer/buyer/distributor matchmaking to secure market share;
social support.