BFRDP Projects

Area 1: Create a national peer network that develops, provides, and facilitates access to, training, education, internships, mentorships, jobs, financial and market opportunities for beginning farmer veterans (70% of project effort). We will combine new small scale livestock production and business planning materials with existing core tools previously created through Risk Management Agency grants known as the One Page Business/Financial Plan, One Page Monthly Cash Flow Budget, and One Page Risk Management Plan. These tools will be adapted to explain small scale pork and pastured poultry production business, small scale honeybee, grass fed beef, lamb, goat and vegetable business models. 

Area 2: Provide twenty seven workshops focused on small scale livestock and vegetable production supported by on-going case management services for attendees. (30% of project effort). We will incorporate the new training materials into twenty seven workshops (at least twenty two of which will be on-farm and hosted by FVC beginning farmer veterans) that target these farmer veterans and their specific livestock, provide regional training platforms for them to gather and learn from each other, and assist them in refining their own financial, production, risk management and business plans. Additionally, all workshop attendees will receive on-going comprehensive, individualized capacity development assistance using a case management model in which individual needs, assessments, and development plans, guide the provision of subsequent services, training, referrals and linkages to resources. 

Six of the twenty seven workshops will be specifically focused on developing, supporting and educating women farmer veterans on the production, financial and risk management components of small scale livestock/vegetable operations. Additional emphasis will be placed on developing, integrating and utilizing local networking and supportive resources for women such as the FVC Veteran Peer Farmer Network.

The purpose of this project is to continue to develop and maintain the existing BFRDP Clearinghouse to help beginning farmers and ranchers be more successful. Farm Answers, the centerpiece of the Clearinghouse, will continue to assemble educational materials, online courses, software tools, project reports, and educational programs along with developing new features and resources in a single well-organized website where beginning producers and the organizations that work with them can quickly obtain the information, training, and connections that they need. 

The project will maintain and expand the online Farm Answers library that provides beginning farmers and ranchers a one-stop source of information materials and programs that will help them succeed in their chosen agricultural endeavors. It will work with BFRDP Standard and Educational Team projects to facilitate collaboration, communication and sharing of educational materials between projects to amplify the effectiveness and reach of the assistance provided to beginning farmers and ranchers. The project will also collaborate with NIFA to help BFRDP projects improve outcome-based reporting that will help BFRDP projects effectively communicate accomplishments, provide valid data for stakeholders, and the allow the public to learn more about BFRDP projects. The Clearinghouse will also assist NIFA with organization and technology for virtual and in-person conference, meetings, webinars and ongoing engagement with BFRDP projects and stakeholders.

This project is designed to assist beginning socially disadvantaged and limited resource producers (BSDLRPs) in eastern and southwest Arkansas. The goal of the project is to provide BSDLRPs with the knowledge and training needed to become successful farmers and ranchers.

The objectives are:
To provide BSDLRPs with business planning training and the use of USDA farm loans. 
To provide BSDLRPs with Extension crop and livestock production training with the use of USDA Conservation Programs.
To provide BSDLRPs with marketing education with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables.
To conduct a beginning farmers class.

This program will train BSDLRPs to use financial statements when making management decisions and profit margins when determining the economic feasibility of a business plan. BSDLRPs will also know how to apply for a USDA loan.

BSDLRPs will be taught to use the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve and increase their yields. As a result of this training, BSDLRPs will have above average yields which will increase profit margins.
Many BSDLRPs who diversify with vegetable crops failed because they lack vegetable marketing experience. BSDLRPs will be trained on early marketing, relationship marketing, and the five Ps of marketing when starting a vegetable business. 

The Beginning Farmers Class will include seven modules that provide different aspects of farming and ranching. These modules will include classroom exercises (business planning and structure, heir property), hand-on exercises (calibrations, transplanting) and much more. Graduates of the class will increase profitability in their operations.  

Our project is developed by and for beginning farmers across the state. Instead of duplicating the efforts of great organizations that are already building beginner farmer training programs, this project enriches and aligns beginning farmer training programs via common core trainings and one-on-one technical assistance customized to meet the needs of beginning farmers in Connecticut.

Core trainings for beginning farmers will emphasize: business planning, financial management and record keeping; farmland access; overcoming marketing uncertainties; and small scale production of vegetables and fruit. Programs will be offered in person, with online tutorials developed for many of the modules, including farm business planning, soil health, safe and effective use of pesticides, and marketing for success. One-on-one experts will be available for farmers that need assistance in vegetable production and pest management, farmland evaluation and conservation, and financial record-keeping.

Our partners are: Common Ground High School in New Haven, the Community Farm of Simsbury, the Green Village Initiative in Bridgeport, Killingly Agriculture Education Program, KNOX in Hartford, and WRCC-GROW Windham. Training resources will also be used to support UConn's Listo Para Inciar (or Ready-to-Start) training program, which delivers a hands-on, cohort based model of beginner farming training for Spanish-speaking urban market gardeners. 

Other key partners in the project are the New CT Farmer Alliance and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of CT. “With this investment supported through the USDA, our alliance will further increase accessibility between agricultural support services, and CT’s budding community of agricultural entrepreneurs.”said Betsy Robson, NCTFA Coordinator (a statewide network of over 200 farmers).

The long term goal of our project is for every beginning farmer in Connecticut who wishes to produce and sell food – regardless of scale, experience, or language barriers – to have access to fundamental training to start or continue farming profitably.

To increase the number and enhance the success of Native Hawaiian agroforesters in
order to grow new agroforestry projects and improve resource management of existing projects.
This project increases economic opportunity, food security and cultural connection to the forest
in the Native Hawaiian community of Maui.

Abbreviated objectives are: 1) Train 150 new and beginning Native Hawaiian farmers in
agroforestry; 2) Engage 30 new Native Hawaiian youth in agroforestry as a career path; 3)
Enhance the success of 50 beginning agroforesters; 4) Facilitate 20 new farmers in designing an
agroforestry/native reforestation project; 5) Establish a demonstration farm cultivated by 100
new Native Hawaiian farmers; 6) Provide land to 2 Native Hawaiian farmers to cultivate native
crops and enter markets; 7) Develop 10 new markets for agroforestry cultural crops.

To accomplish the goal we will conduct monthly classroom and hands-on workshops for three
years, which are culturally appropriate and targeted at Native Hawaiian adults and youth.
We will establish a new training program aimed at growing new agroforestry farmers (forest management and crop farming practices) and natural resource managers.

Based in Fairfax County, Virginia, but pulling on expertise and farms across Northern and Central Virginia and the National Capital Region, Arcadia's Veteran Farmer Program will bring together regional nonprofits, agricultural organizations, veterans, and experienced farmers - including veterans who have made a successful transition to farming - to create a multi-layered farmer training and development program to launch veterans into careers in agriculture. This thoughtful, practical program will increase the number of veteran farmers in Virginia and the number of farmers overall, and will increase the likelihood of their success by providing them with farming skills; business development and management training; and ongoing technical support. This program will also provide continued support as Trainees launch their agricultural careers with ongoing mentorships from the business, agricultural, and veteran communities. In the years beyond this project period, Arcadia's Veteran Farmer Program will provide program participants, and graduates, ongoing assistance with identification and acquisition of land and assured albeit optional wholesale market opportunities.

The goal of Arcadia's Veteran Farmer Program is to increase the number of military veterans operating new, successful farm operations in the Washington, D.C. region. Our program will focus on current military members and veterans of the armed forces with a 10-year goal to offer training to 150 potential veteran farmers via our two training tracks (combined), with the intention of producing 50 new farmers operating businesses within 125 miles of Washington D.C.

The purpose of this project is to continue to develop and maintain Farm Answers, the existing BFRDP Clearinghouse to help beginning farmers and ranchers be more successful. Farm Answers will continue to assemble educational materials, online courses, software tools, project reports, and educational programs along with developing new features and resources in a single well-organized website where beginning producers and the organizations that work with them can quickly obtain the information, training, and connections that they need.

Overall Goals

1. Maintain and expand the online Farm Answers library that provides beginning farmers and ranchers a one-stop source of information materials and programs that will help them succeed in their chosen agricultural endeavors.
2. Work with BFRDP Standard and Educational Team projects to facilitate collaboration, communication and sharing of educational materials between projects to amplify the effectiveness and reach of the assistance provided to beginning farmers and ranchers.
3. Collaborate with NIFA to help BFRDP projects improve outcome-based reporting that will help BFRDP projects effectively communicate accomplishments, provide valid data for stakeholders, and the allow the public to learn more about BFRDP projects.

This project will develop a Clearinghouse that will help beginning farmers and ranchers be more successful. The Clearinghouse will assemble educational materials, online courses, software tools, stories, and the ability to connect online into a well-organized website where beginning producers can quickly obtain the information, training, and connections they need. It will:

1. Help individuals and families exploring, beginning, establishing, and managing farms or ranches quickly and easily access the information and training they need.
2. Support BFRDP programs by facilitating sharing, collaboration, and communication and by providing programs better access to educational materials.
3. Help BFRDP projects better disseminate their educational materials so they can reach more beginning farmers and ranchers.
4. Enhance focus on outcomes by assisting BFRDP projects improve outcome-based reporting.

The Clearinghouse will offer multiple means to help beginning farmers and ranchers learn, including the ability; to find materials on topics of importance to them, to ask questions of other producers, to learn from online videos and courses, to find BFRDP programs in their geographic region, and to read stories about other beginning producers. They will be able to choose the method to find answers, ideas, and information that works best for them.

This project builds on our successful partnership, established in 2015, to offer a comprehensive program of training, support, and land access for beginning WNC farmers and ranchers, through whole-farm production and business education, farmland linking, and land trust services. The Farm Pathways team includes the Organic Growers School (OGS), Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC), and NC FarmLink (NCFL, a program of NCSU Extension).

Collectively we will provide these additional services for beginning farmers to expand our audience and partnership: 1) Build resilient farm businesses with targeted training, technical assistance, and mentoring for beginning farmers. 2) Prioritize land access and farm transition, and support strategies for successful beginning farmer land tenure. 3) Expand, enhance, update, and deliver Farm Pathways Beginning Farmer Programs to a wider audience; including more rural farmers, veterans, limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers. 4) Facilitate Farm Pathways program replication to other areas of the country by designing, streamlining, administering, and distributing collective evaluations and measurable reports.

We will offer the following programs to provide a trajectory of support: 1) OGS offers Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training, a year-long comprehensive program to promote holistic, practical, whole-farm business, financial, and marketing education; Mentoring and Technical Assistance to provide long-term, targeted, and individualized support; a new Journeyperson: A Farmer Education Program for farmers in years 3-10 designed to serve the beginning farmer from start-up to establishment. 2) SAHC provides their Farmer Incubator Program which offers land, infrastructure, and equipment along with support, training, and coaching for beginning farmers; The Farm Production Workshops Series; and Agricultural Conservation Easements and Farmland Acquisition services which assure long-term availability of affordable farmland for beginning farmers. 3) NCFL contributes Land Matching Services, which link beginning farmers with farmland owners; One-on-one consultations for both landowners and farm seekers, including succession planning support.

GROW Louisiana is training program for beginning horticulture farmers on small to mid-size family farms in Louisiana with less than 10 years of experience.  Specifically, the program seeks to assist farmers interested in engaging in sustainable agricultural practices and local food systems via a mixed methods approach of academic training, hands-on application, and farmer networking.  Led by the LSU AgCenter, Grow Louisiana is a partnership of academic, cooperative extension and non-profit personnel with an interest in supporting a more sustainable local food system.

Mission: To increase the diversity of Louisiana agriculture by increasing the number of fruit and vegetable producers and the variety of commodities available in local markets.

Vision:  To serve as a sustainable state-wide agricultural education program, resource, and support for beginning horticulture farmers in Louisiana that provides technical, business, and hands-on training opportunities.

The GROW model offers beginning farmers training in whole-farm planning, including business and technical production management, resources, support, and mentoring based on the following principles:

• Grow Sustainably:  Grow Louisiana not only trains farmers to use sustainable agricultural practices, but also provides training to farmers in sustainable business practices for long-term success.
• Resource Optimization:  Grow Louisiana prepares farmers to make use of available resources to support their needs in order to achieve established goals.
• Objective Decision Making:   Grow Louisiana trains farmers to make decision based on objective information, which is fact-based, measurable and observable.
• Work Efficiently:  Grow Louisiana trains farmers to use efficient production and business practices that allow them to attain the highest returns on investment, effort, and production.

Our program creates a positive ecosystem promoting professional and financial growth for beginning farmers in the Atlanta region through an agricultural incubator immersion program. The 20 beginner farmers per year includes veterans, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, or farmworkers, including women, African-Americans, Latinx, Asian, and LGBTQ farmers, with at least 60% of the budget going to serve these groups. Training includes the hands-on application of knowledge as they learn and work on the farm weekly and all participants will receive training through the University of Georgia. Raising and marketing microgreens and exotic crops will also be explored. Upon graduation, farmers will receive a stipend to help pay for their start-up costs.
The program consists of teaching beginners how to farm, entrepreneurship/business development, and light farm construction. We will also train them in SPIN (Small Plot INtensive) farming techniques and data analysis to minimize costs/risks and maximize net income. At the end of the program the goal is for these beginners to have gained farming and business skills that will afford them the knowledge base to be able to start their own lucrative farm businesses and/or work on a farm for another business in their community. The Generation Infocus Foundation is applying for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
(BFRDP) as a non-profit NGO with multiple partners, including the Fulton County Cooperative Extension at the University of Georgia and Ray of Life Farms. GI Foundation will be responsible for receiving and distributing 100% of the grant funding.

Hawaii imports 85-90% of its food, making it highly vulnerable to disruptions in food supply. The state’s transition over the last 200 years from a highly diversified indigenous agricultural system to plantation-scale industrial export crops, which have now ceased production, has created an urgent need for revitalization of the agricultural economy. Hawaii has 7,328 farms, but 78% earn less than $25,000 per year. Costs of land, labor, and agricultural inputs are high, and the average farmer age is 60 years old. Hawaii’s governor established a goal to double local food production by 2030, which requires a significant expansion of farms and production volumes. In addition, local farmers need support to meet the challenges presented by climate change. 

The goal of the GoFarm Hawaii (GFH) project is to enhance Hawaii’s food system resilience by increasing the number of viable farm businesses in the state and the volume of food production. This project develops new farmers through 1) a certificate-based farmer training program that integrates conceptual and experiential learning, 2) 1-on-1 business consulting and technical support, and 3) ongoing production, business, and networking support. The program components have been developed and customized based on the unique needs of the local beginning farmer population, who typically have limited experience and exposure to agriculture, and want preparation to operate their own farm businesses. 

This project will provide beginning farmers with the knowledge and skills to access land and local markets. Land and market access remain two of the most important barriers to beginning farmers' success. This project will provide innovative farmland transfer strategies, entrepreneurship training, marketing strategies, and peer mentoring to enable beginning farmers to develop markets that cover their costs of production and to transition from informal, short-term land access to long-term predictable land tenure.

This project will serve Maryland beginning farmers, particularly urban farmers in Baltimore and peri-urban farmers in the MD counties surrounding Washington, DC. 

Urban and peri-urban farmers have market opportunities due to their proximity to population centers, but often struggle to find the right mix of market outlets to balance providing affordable food for their neighbors with achieving financial sustainability. These specific opportunities and challenges will be addressed by developing market research case-studies for urban and peri-urban farms and by providing research-based education on how to grow and market African heritage crops.

Urban and peri-urban farmers also face unique land tenure challenges, competing with developers for land and navigating municipal processes. These situations arise through the best of intentions, as municipalities work toward sometimes competing aims of improving green space and food access while also planning developments to increase affordable housing and increase the city’s tax base. Solutions to such complex problems require community-led conversations and consensus building about land use planning priorities. The proposed project engages two farmer-and-community-led Baltimore non-profits, who will bring community-members, farmers, decision-makers, and other stakeholders together to work towards the community-identified goal of each neighborhood in Baltimore having access to arable land to be used for local priorities. This systems-change work will be supported by technical and educational resources from the university partners. 

UConn Extension with its partners and collaborators will implement a robust suite of training opportunities for Connecticut's beginning farmers, including business and financial training, one-on-one business technical assistance, cohort trainings in production and agriculture mechanics, farmer-to-farmer events that build strong peer networks, and enhanced services to help BF search for farmland. All project activities will be delivered through UConn Extension's Solid Ground Farmer Training Program. First, we aim to improve business and financial management skills of beginning farmers. We will accomplish this through the delivery of essential new training and TA in farm business basics targeted for Category 2 beginning farmers, and high impact trainings to help farm business owners improve their farm management skills and profitability targeting Category 3 & 4 beginning farmers. Second, we will accelerate beginner farmer skills using the latest production systems and equipment by creating access to talented, knowledgeable experts and peer farmers. We will accomplish this through hands-on and in-the-field training to increase production skills and self-reliance, as well as unique learning events with structures that build peer-to-peer social networks, all targeting Category 2 & 3 beginning farmers. Finally, we will address farmland access needs by increasing the likelihood of finding suitable farmland through farmland matching events and one-on-one farmland consulting. The expected number of beginning farmers who will improve their farming success is 500: by making beneficial changes to their business & financial systems (150); by applying new production skills and knowledge (250); by building stronger peer-networks (60); and by accessing stable land tenure (40).

The overarching goal of the Chesapeake Grows: A Regional Approach to New Farmer Success project is to launch a cross-cutting pilot program aimed at growing and diversifying the new farmer pipeline across the Chesapeake region and to improve new operations' long-term viability. This project is a one-year pilot (2019-20) that will enable our collaborative of 7 partners to trial, evaluate, and refine new region-wide programming and networking opportunities for beginning farmers. We will do so by:

1) building upon the strong farmer training work that has been established in Maryland and creating a new regional training network across the Chesapeake; 2) providing accessible, multi-modal training to increase the number of new farmers, especially socially disadvantaged farmers; and 3) strengthening support for beginning farmers who own/manage a farm, improving their financial literacy and record keeping, helping them establish financial benchmarks, and building new peer networks to hedge against burnout and isolation.

Over the past three years, through a 2016-19 grant, we dramatically increased the scope and reach of new farmer training across Maryland, reaching more than 6,000 farmers through a Beginner Farmer Training Program, field days, classes, and conferences; our online content has reached tens of thousands more. We seek now to leverage and expand upon the robust infrastructure of farmer training we have built in Maryland to reach new farmers across MD, VA, DC, WV, and DE. Beyond expanding our geographic reach, we will also refine and expand support for beginning farmers at the more advanced end of the spectrum. Driven by farmer feedback from the past three years, we will increase educational programming for this subset of beginning farmers and introduce new, region-wide farmer study circles. Both will focus on record keeping and financial benchmarking.

The long-term goal of this one year Development project is to build the agricultural capacity among beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmers in Massachusetts to operate their own independent farming enterprises, to increase farmer ownership rates, and to build environmental stewardship. The Flats Mentor Farm (FMF) is a program of World Farmers (WF) which provides land and agriculture production infrastructure for beginning farmers while they evaluate the sustainability of farming as a way of life for themselves and their families.

This one year development project proposal will 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) Provide tools and develop skills on financial and risk management; 3) Increase beginning farmer participation in USDA programs. In the area of training and technical assistance, this project will address the immediate needs identified by the immigrant and refugee farmer participants at FMF to better understand the complexities of farming in New England: crop production practices, entrepreneurship and business training, financial and risk management, marketing strategies, food safety practices and outreach to USDA programs.

The Center of Southwest Culture's Cooperative Center (CODECE) project seeks $100,000 in USDA funding to provide technical assistance to underserved communities--specifically for Indigenous communities--to form two new farming cooperatives. The cooperatives will not only be sustainable over the long-run, but they will also serve as a community-wide collective investments that will provide members with meaningful returns to help augment their existing incomes.

CODECE targets underserved Native American communities who are threatened by poverty and lack of economic opportunity, but have access to arable land and water rights. CODECE will form cooperatives with an emphasis on members having a relationship based on kinship.

Forming organic farming cooperatives is an effective way for beginning farmers to efficiently leverage resources and increase profitability. Several successful 'buy local' campaigns such as Farm-to-Table and Farm-to-Restaurant have created a situation where the demand for local and organic produce far outstrips the current supply. If the farmers begin to grow organic produce, they will produce crops that are overall more profitable and in higher demand. 

The funds will be used to conduct the following activities: guide members in the production of more profitable crops like organic fruits and vegetables; implement production and management strategies to enhance land stewardship among these farmers; provide hands-on technical assistance in incorporation, by-laws and articles of incorporation; provide basic business training in budgets, taxes and other business-related activities; provide farm plans, including sequential planting, crop rotations, crop selection for optimum market share; provide access to investment capital; connect members to organic food markets; and develop a long-term professional relationship with these new cooperatives to ensure their longevity and viability. We expect to incorporate two farming cooperatives during the life of the grant. In addition, the project will create 10 new jobs.

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.

The need to provide mechanism for increased income for small and mid-sized farm families is of growing importance. New knowledge that will enable  beginning small and limited-resource farmers sustainably produce products of higher value and capture a larger share of the food market is needed. The question is how can new and beginning farmers structure their agribusiness to produce high quality products, compete in the market place, and generate returns that will improve their quality of life? This question can be addressed by developing and implementing programs that include sustainable forestry, livestock and crop production practices, marketing strategy that aimed at achieving the highest possible profit and farm financial plans that keep debt low and good record keeping. Therefore, The Winston County Self Help Cooperative (WCSHC) is seeking funding from USDA to support its project, entitled “Enhancing the Sustainability and Viability of Beginning Farmers and Ranchers through Training Exercises, Mentoring and Outreach Programs”. This project will expose 150 project participants including veterans on issues that engage them in a model of learning through hands-on training exercises, mentoring and outreach programs that enhance self-employment in farming, ranching and forestry opportunities. Our audience will be knowledgeable in both economic and ecological subjects and will have the tools to make better production, management and marketing decisions. This project will serve as a model for other organizations.

The long-term goal of Entrepreneurial Small Farmers of Southern Illinois (ESFSI) is to increase the number of beginning farmers from underrepresented and low-income groups who farm using sustainable farming practices in southern Illinois. ESFSI is modeled after the original Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings program with an expansion of objectives into skills development components for specialty crops, humane animal husbandry and a critical discussion about land access for farming and resources for conservation management. The newest component, Cottage Food Training and Certification, will help farmer trainees to generate cash flow through value-added foods using their own or locally sourced ingredients during early farm development. Mentorship and Farming Alliance field days assist new farmers in skills development and regional farming practices for success. Anticipated outcomes include 80% trainees actively farming by 9/2025 and increased diversity among trainees.

Collaborators include: Illinois Stewardship Alliance, University of Illinois Extension, The Flock Farm, Chef Jacqueline Price from Saint Louis University, Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm, and The Land Connection.

ESFSI recruits beginning farmers with less than 10 years experience, and is particularly supportive for people in BFR Category1 (Years1-3). The ESFSI project is critical to the goals of the program because it provides holistic farm financial education for beginning farmers, sustainable farming skills development, and assistance navigating land and resource access. By reducing common barriers for entry into farming (ie, lack of knowledge and access to resources), ESFSI supports Food Works in recruiting people of color, women, veterans, LGBTQ and low-income farmer trainees into agriculture.

The Kansas Rural Center will manage this statewide project through an established network of collaborators--Southwest Kansas, Douglas, and Sedgwick County Extensions; community-based organizations (CBOs)--Common Ground Producers and Growers, Kansas City Young Farmers Coalition, Central Kansas Young Farmers Coalition, Kansas Farmers Union; Kansas Black Farmers Association; and national networks--Farm Beginnings Collaborative, Women Food, and Ag Network.

The long-range goal is to develop a robust, comprehensive statewide Beginning Farmer and Rancher (BFR) program that includes business planning, in-depth education on sustainable agriculture practices that increase biodiversity and resiliency and help mitigate climate change, information on accessing land and capital, and support and coping strategies for the physical, mental, and financial stresses. Activities include four regional BFR listening sessions, one BFR networking and education conference, and four advisory committee meetings to create a Kansas-informed curriculum to serve 150 farmers in 2021-22, plus detailed program evaluation.

Primary objectives are to 1) develop a Beginning Farmer/Rancher curriculum that focuses on land access and business preparedness; 2) gather input from 150 beginning farmers, farm training experts, and CBOs working with 25% socially disadvantaged populations to enhance connections and provide needed resources for aspiring and BFRs to improve success;
80% will report learning to improve farming practices. The success of these outcomes will improve the economy and food security of the region.

Farm School NYC is a comprehensive, professional training program for New York City residents seeking to develop agriculture skills and begin careers in urban farming. The School’s goal is to train the next generation of urban farmers, with a focus on limited resource and socially disadvantaged students, and to increase access to healthy, local food in urban communities by supporting the proliferation of urban agriculture projects. To date, over 350 students have participated in individual courses and more than 60 have participated in the certificate program.

With assistance from the BFRDP grant, Farm School NYC will enhance and expand its urban agricultural curriculum and apprenticeship program; develop a new partnership with The Youth Farm to offer an expedited certificate with intensive on-farm training; and create the first urban-based Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) program in the Northeast to support beginning farmers throughout the metropolitan area. Moreover, the School will deepen its outreach and support strategies to help low resource and socially disadvantaged New Yorkers, to whom the School allocates 50% of its budget, achieve their professional farming goals.

1. Project Title: Farmer Education and Enterprise Development (FEED) Project

2. Project Director(s): Chris Brown and Nathan Harkleroad of ALBA

3. Project Description: The FEED goal is to educate and train 150 beginning and socially disadvantaged (BSD) farmers to plan, launch, and/or sustainably establish independent organic farm businesses. FEED will serve low-income Latinos in the Salinas Valley – many of whom are immigrant farm workers - helping them achieve the dream of farm ownership and economic independence.

Though an ambitious goal, ALBA is uniquely positioned to achieve it due to our 110 acres of organic land, a well-qualified team and an intensive, experiential, multi-year farmer development program. Furthermore, ALBA will tap four longstanding partner organizations to expand and extend services to farmers even after they transition off ALBA’s land. FEED’s objectives focus on all stages of BSD farmer development from start-up through farm incubation and transition fromALBA land and finally to maturation.

Obj. 1: Farmers receive intensive education and TA to prepare for and launch farm businesses.
Obj. 2: Farms strengthened through intensive production and business development services.
Obj. 3: Farms receive transition and business consulting services to firmly establish independent farm businesses off of ALBA ground. In addition, outreach, information and assistance will be provided to an additional 300+ regional BSD farmers.

The FEED consortium provides a comprehensive farmer development program leveraging the agricultural skills of BSD farmers to capitalize on growing markets for locally-produced, organic food in the San Francisco Bay Area. FEED combines affordable access to resources, intensive production and business assistance and linkages to loans and key business services needed to establish a farm business.

4. Collaborating Organizations:
a. California FarmLink
b. Carlson Food Safety Consulting
c. Community Alliance with Family Farmers
d. Kitchen Table Advisors

Feed Rhode Island: Growing Sustainable Farms seeks to increase the number and success of limited resource and socially disadvantaged beginning farmers in the state. Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT) will accomplish this goal by leading an experienced team to undertake four objectives: provide training and technical assistance, manage multiple incubator sites, offer on-farm apprentice training, and facilitate a land transfer working group. Partners include RI Department of Environmental Management, Brown University, RI Land Trust Council, Nature Conservancy RI Chapter, Northeast Organic Farming Association, Northern Rhode Island Conservation District, Young Farmers Network, and University of Rhode Island.

Through this program, the organization leverages the experience and relationships of program partners into meaningful outcomes that would otherwise take years to achieve. Technical assistance and training for urban and rural farmers will launch them onto their own farms. It will move urban farmers onto larger plots of land. It will lead to new behaviors that increase production and strengthen co-operative marketing while improving sales and boosting Rhode Island's economy. Support for an expanded apprentice program will increase the number of people who are prepared to begin their own farm businesses. Effective management of incubator space, combined with execution of a broadly supported land transfer strategy will create many new independent farms in a state where land values are astronomically high. Feed Rhode Island: Growing Sustainable Farms will help SCLT create significant change quickly in Rhode Island. 

Our goal is to support Beginning Farmers with the foundational production skills, business knowledge, and confidence they need to build farm enterprises that respond to the ever-growing metropolitan demand for sustainably grown, source-identified produce. With 550 acres of protected farmland available for incubation and long-term leasing, UESF envisions a cooperative future where dozens of small producers benefit from shared access to tools, labor, distribution, collective purchasing, product aggregation, and other cost efficiencies.

Global Garden Refugee Training Farm (GGRTF) developed and delivered 2 six-week courses to
prepare displaced refugee farmers for farming and farm business management in the Midwestern U.S. Fifteen farmers participated in the training, which was a first stage toward preparing them to develop farm business plans in preparation for establishing successful vegetable farms. Lesson plans were developed for another two topics: Season Extension and Soil Management.Lesson plans Teaching materials were designed to be appropriate for displaced refugee farmers with limited or no English and potentially low literacy in any language. In-class interpretation was provided for all sessions. Course content addressed both the prior experience and knowledge gaps unique to newly arrived displaced refugee farmers.

Global Growers will develop a pipeline to opportunities in agriculture sectors for beginning farmers by providing direct assistance and leveraging strategic partnerships to create access to land, knowledge, and resources. It will also provide the tools necessary for beginning farmers to access both direct-to-consumer and wholesale market opportunities in order to ensure sustainable income-generation and to increase distribution of local foods across the community and especially within socially disadvantaged communities.

The project is divided into two tracks: 1) incubator farmer pipeline, and 2) independent farmer pipeline. The incubator track includes a full-season training program with access land, tools, and infrastructure required for diversified vegetable production, along with access markets to generate supplementary income. The independent farmer track includes access to incubator farm workshops, with the primary emphasis on individual consultations. The cumulative experience and expertise of participating organizations and their shared vision will enable the GG Farmer Development Initiative to efficiently achieve the outcomes detailed herein and to build capacity to sustain the program beyond the grant period. 

Project Goal is to increase the number, diversity, profitability, and environmental sustainability of beginning farmers in the central New York region. Prior BFRDP support established Groundswell as an outstanding regional center for new farmer training, technical assistance, and business incubation.  Having substantially exceeded all our target numbers of trainees and new businesses launched in that Project, we will expand programs and audiences to:
1. Increase technical, business management skills of BFs.
2. Provide intensive business incubation support to selected BFs; increase regional incubation capacity. 
3. Connect BFs to existing wholesale markets; develop new marketing opportunities.
4. Support cooperation among farm businesses; develop cooperative models for farm business ownership, management, and business transfer.
5. Increase impact of farmer-to-farmer mentoring.
6. Provide entry-level, on-farm learning experiences for diverse “Explorers,” with priority on immigrants, refugees, people of color, veterans, and limited resource trainees.

This Project contributes directly to BFRDP’s goal of enhancing food security, community development and sustainability and addresses multiple priority topics. Most programs will focus on BFs in the first 5 years of business and the year preceding start-up, for maximum impact on farm business viability in our region. Programs include: Farm Business Incubator, Farm Business Planning Course, Finger Lakes CRAFT, farmer-led technical courses, Work2Learn placements, enterprise-specific Farm Business Support Networks, Cooperative Farm Business Course, and individual mentoring in production, marketing and business management. We will also offer limited programs targeting diverse “Explorers” (not yet committed to farming) as an essential outreach and recruitment process for new farmer development.

Recipe for Success/Hope Farms has developed a program model that provides regionally specific farming expertise in small, urban-centered horticulture practices and business strategies while integrating peer and mentor support for long-term success. The program aligns with the standard BFRDP project goal to enhance the sustainability of beginning farmers through education, mentoring and technical assistance programs.

Our goal is to increase the number of economically and environmentally sustainable urban farms operated by socially disadvantaged farmers in their Houston and Gulf Coast communities.
Objective 1) Expand recruitment to bring more BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) and female participants into Hope Farms’ programs.

Objective 2) Reduce barriers by providing tuition support to more participants.

Objective 3) Increase training accessibility by creating an online component of Hope Farms’ Gulf Coast-focused farmer training curriculum to educate and support more beginning urban farmers.

Objective 4) Build social capital by incubating a collegial, peer-to-peer network of urban farmers.
Anticipated Outcomes for Participating Beginning Farmers: • 48 complete 3-mo. intensive training
• 120 join in-person Master Classes
• 1,075 participate in online training
• 90% who participate in training programs will gain new knowledge and skills
• 5% who participate in training programs will enter agriculture, launch or expand a farming operation by the end of project year 3

Collaborating Organizations: Agmenity, Hive Bee Farm, Microlife, Organic Horticulture Benefits Alliance, Harris County Precinct One, PX Project, Sam Houston State University’s Department of Agricultural Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Prairie View A&M University, University of Houston-Downtown’s Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability

• Deliver education, training and technical assitance through veteran-to-veteran learning.
• Provide techical assistance to farmer veterans in the development of business plans.
• Administer and promote the Homegrown by Heroes (HBH) label nationally.
• Create and maintain opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and mentoring. 

This proposal emphasizes the priority topic areas of: basic crop farming practices, entrepreneurship and business training, financial and risk management training, diversification and marketing strategies, curriculum development, resources, vocational training for veterans, farm safety and awareness, and in the other subject areas: advanced training for soils and irrigation, hoop house operation, and food safety. Our target audience includes Native American tribes in Arizona and New Mexico, Limited Resource Producers, Youth, Veterans, and other beginning farmer participants. This renewal grant is based on successful partnerships with University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and tribal agents, and NGO/CBO partners who were identified during the current grant. About 40 percent of the budget will be allocated to the NGOs/CBOs.

Lessons learned and feedback from participants of our current grant indicated a need for more in-depth science-based curriculum to address soil and water salinity, farming as a business first, conducting market surveys, economics of equipment selection, working towards organic certification, tax information and strategies, irrigation, zoning and regulations for farmers, farm worker and food safety, non-chemical pest and disease control methods, selecting companion crops for different seasons, and related topics. This Standard BFRDP proposal focuses on empowering beginning and limited resource producers to learn these skills through ongoing hands-on demonstration, instruction, and curriculum proposed over the three years. The third year of our proposed education emphasizes individual mentoring to better enable participants to adopt production processes learned and business plans proposed. We are building on a successful foundation of having engaged over 373 participants in the current grant cycle and are incorporating the lessons learned to improve the effectiveness of participants adopting the skills and knowledge gained through the program. We will deliver relevant information to limited resource audiences that  include Southwest Native Americans, CBO's/NGO's, and military veterans with the goal of having participants complete a production and/or business plan for a specialty crop small farm enterprise. 

The Women, Food & Agriculture Network (WFAN) has been coordinating successful aspiring and beginning farmer mentorships and learning circles for women and gender non-conforming people 
(WGNC) in the Midwest for over 12 years. This work began from a noted gap in opportunities for aspiring women farmers to find the inspiration, connections and empowerment they needed to pursue their farm dreams. It has grown to support beginning and intermediate farmers in Category 5 (all farmers in categories 1-4, those with 10 or less years of experience) as well as seasoned farmers, in providing networking and training for continued business success.  

Our project will strengthen our existing aspiring and beginning farmer programming in Iowa and extend our reach deeper into six Midwest states - IA, OH, IL, WI, MN, and NE, where limited to no women-centered mentorship programming exists. In addition to the existing program offerings noted above, this project will provide farm-sitting support for participants, which will also allow them to leave their farms to gain additional education and training opportunities. Farm-sitting will also give aspiring and beginning women farmers experience managing the day-to-day farm operations. We’ll provide beginning WGNC farmers in our WFAN network access to additional educational opportunities through collaborator offerings.

Project goals include 1.) providing opportunities for beginning and intermediate (category 5 - all trainees with under 10 years of experience) women farmers in IA, OH, IL, WI, MN, and NE to access local mentorship relationships and resources needed to make best decisions for their future business plans and/or current operations, and 2.) giving aspiring women farmers connections that boost interest, confidence and commitment in choosing farming as a career. Ultimately this project will result in greater success rates for the sustainability of women's farming operations and an increase in start-ups of women-owned and operated farm businesses. 

With this project, Renewing the Countryside will complete a comprehensive, multi-year
project that addresses farmland access challenges facing beginning farmers in Minnesota,
Wisconsin and Iowa. We and our 16 partners will develop an integrated process that assists new,
resource-limited farmers in accessing farmland that is a good match for their operation and offers
secure terms. Our collaboration will:

• Offer 220 beginning farmers farmland access literacy training
• Convene 80 farmers to attend in-depth bootcamps to become better prepared for pursuing their
  land access goals
• Connect 400 beginning farmers and 200 people who work with farmers to resources,
• Launch a Farmland Access Hub that provides in-depth support to at least 36 beginning farmers
• Conduct a media campaign that reaches 40,000 people
• Hold a Farmland Access Summit, with at least 100 stakeholders attending.

Our long-term goal is: 75 percent of beginning farmers (27 of 36) served by the Navigators will
have secure land tenure (long-term lease or ownership) by 2022 and the Farmland Access Hub will
secure long-term funding in order to continue to provide new farmers land access services.

The successful transfer of farm and rangeland to the next generation of producers will be key to ensuring the continued and long-term vitality of agriculture in Pennsylvania. However, studies show that over two-thirds of retiring farmers have not identified successors and that nearly 90% of farm owners neither have an exit strategy nor know how to develop one (i). As aging and retiring landowners seek new proprietors and stewards, these transfers of land will become increasingly common (including an estimated 40% of American agricultural land within the next 15 years) (ii). As such, new and beginning farmers and ranchers will increasingly be relied upon for the success of these land transfers. This project seeks to address these barriers to successful transfer by realizing two long-term goals. The first goal is to support these new and beginning producers in navigating the decision-making involved in pursuing farm and rangeland tenure opportunities.
Equally important to these successful transfers will be new and beginning producers’ ability to establish and build savings for long-term assets. To this end, economic development tools like agricultural individual development accounts (IDAs) need to be assessed for their applicability in Pennsylvania, and for the target audience of new and beginning farmers and ranchers. As such, this project’s second goal is to develop a needs assessment and action plan for piloting an agricultural IDA program in Pennsylvania, which would assist new and beginning producers in either saving for or securing the financing necessary for acquiring long-term assets (such as farm or rangeland).

This project addresses the needs of 604 California beginning farmers and ranchers in years 4-10 of their operations who need to secure land tenure, gain management skills to go beyond short-term profits to long-term stability, and access the right kinds of markets. The long-term project goal is to provide beginning farmers with an integrated and impactful array of technical assistance, education, tools and resources so they can: 1) successfully access land, 2) gain financial management techniques and capital readiness, and 3) develop appropriate marketing strategies. The project's approach emphasizes 1:1 education and technical assistance along with robust group education, and also integrates structured small group learning with 1:1 technical assistance to ensure that knowledge is translated into action. The collaborating partners are experts in their fields and are well established service providers. No other California organizations provide beginning farmers with this suite of services. Project outcomes, farmer services and results are all maintained with ongoing and annual data collection and reporting with an established database that tracks project outcomes related to land access, farmers' adoption of financial practices and knowledge gained.

Other Collaborating organization:

A) Community Alliance with Family Farmers

B) Kitchen Table Advisors

C) Poppy Davis- Consultant

The LIFT OFF goal is to educate and assist 125 beginning, limited-resource, socially disadvantaged farmers to plan, launch, and/or establish viable organic farm businesses. LIFT OFF will serve low-income Latinos in the Salinas Valley – many of whom are immigrant farm workers - helping them pursue the dream of farm ownership.

ALBA is uniquely qualified for the endeavor due to an experienced team, a fully-owned and equipped training facility, and a proven multi-year farmer development program. Furthermore, ALBA will tap five longstanding partner organizations to expand and extend business support services to beginning farmers during and after they transition from ALBA’s land.

Regardless of where farms are in a 10-year development pathway, the project provides customized services to address their needs. Each project objective engages farms at a distinct stage of development from pre-launch through to maturity in order to provide tailored services.

? Objective 1: Plan and Pilot - Farmers receive intensive education and TA to prepare for and launch farm businesses on small acreage to test commitment and capacity.

? Objective 2: Establish and Expand: Farms strengthened through intensive production and business development services to enable growth and viability.

? Objective 3: Move On and Mature: Farms receive land matching, financing, marketing and business consulting services to firmly establish independent farm businesses off-site.
Working in tandem. the project consortium offers a full range of farm incubation services, from access to education and resources to technical assistance on production and management to linkages with business services and produce buyers.

In the next two decades, more than two-thirds of privately held U.S. farmland will change hands, creating great potential opportunity for beginning farmers. Many of these are first-generation farmers from non-farm backgrounds, who need support to determine how land tenure decisions will impact the financial health of their farm businesses. Although there are a number of financial planning tools available, none are specifically focused on financial decision-making for land access.

The overarching goal for this BFRDP Standard Project is to enable beginning farmers and ranchers across the country to make informed financial decisions during the process of accessing land so that they will have a solid framework on which to build strong, sustainable farm businesses.

This project will allow farmers throughout the country to navigate land access options--including long-term leases, land trust partnerships, mission-driven farmland investor opportunities, and traditional farm loans. The project would create an interactive Land Affordability Calculator Tool (both online and print workbook versions), and include a series of 10 webinars and 8 in-person trainings. The project resources will reach thousands of beginning farmers through our extensive email, social media and partner networks. We will measure the success of the project by demonstrating improved financial literacy of project participants. Additional project partners include Fathom Information Design, Equity Trust, CA FarmLink, Dirt Capital Partners, the Carrot Project, Land for Good, Local Farms Fund, RSF Social Finance, Farm Credit East, the Farm Credit Council, as well as individual farmers, and others.

The project will focus on entrepreneurship and business training for beginning
aquaculture farmers in Maine, who comprise the vast majority of the sector.

It will improve the resiliency of small aquaculture farms by focusing on financial and risk management training, including improving upon Maine aquaculture business planning and risk management tools, aiding farmers in developing diversification and marketing strategies, including the exploration of new markets, and providing an overview of farm financial benchmarking.

The project’s plan of action is to update the aforementioned tools and resources and then meet with beginning farmers to provide entrepreneurship, business, financial, and risk management training, while sharing the updated resources with the farmers. The meetings with the farmers will also include information and guidance on diversification and marketing strategies, including the exploration of new markets, along with how to take part in farm financial benchmarking.

PD Brayden will then continue to follow-up and meet with these beginning farmers as they progress through their business planning process, form their new marketing and diversification strategies, and begin their own benchmarking. The goals for the project are to help farmers assess, analyze, and plan for the future of their farms to create a financial safety net and improve sector resiliency, all while generating jobs and economic growth in the rural areas in which aquaculture often occurs, as nearly all of this planning will take place on beginning farms that are intent on expansion.

The overall project goal is to strengthen the viability of the organic farming sector in the Midwest through providing tailored levels of educational opportunities and building community among beginning and intermediate farmers, including the historically underserved. This will be accomplished by providing farmers the opportunity to engage in multi-generational education where beginning farmers can learn from a mixture of interactions with their peers, experienced mentors, and experts in various fields. Over the course of 3 years, the project will provide educational workshops, networking opportunities, and one-on-one mentorship from experienced farmers and experts.

The Farmer Advancement Program offers a career pipeline to support beginning farmers and ranchers throughout their different levels of development. This program focuses on the development of peer-cohorts of new, intermediate, and more experienced beginning farmer units based on experience level. It also pairs beginning farmers across these experience cohorts to help them support and mentor each other in the challenging lifestyle and financial risks they will all face daily. We will offer environments and structures necessary to facilitate networking with their peers and experts, access resources appropriate to their experience, and learn to sustain a farm business for the long-term.

Objective 1 – Identify beginning farmers/ranchers in our project states (MN, IL, WI) and coordinate appropriate programming with project partners.

Objective 2 – Build sustainability of farming operations and careers of farmers by providing educational opportunities and matching experienced farmers and experts with beginning farmers to share knowledge, experiences, and skills.

Immigrant and refugee beginning farmers face critical barriers to success, including lack of access to land, training, and markets, compounded by language barriers and limited support systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has created training and marketing challenges, but also led to program innovations that support skills acquisition, market access, and social connections leading to faster farm business growth. The New Roots and Shoots project will build on these lessons to support 120 socially disadvantaged beginning farmers to gain the skills, resources, and opportunities to enter and improve their farm businesses through intensive, individualized assistance and wraparound support. The project has 5 main objectives: (1) improve farmer crop production and food safety practices through on-farm training, 1:1 technical assistance and language-specific video production; (2) increase farmer revenue through developing new market links and providing training in marketing practices; (3) develop infrastructure and productive resources on 6.6 acres of peri-urban farm incubation land; (4) assist farmers to adopt crop and financial recordkeeping practices; and (5) enhance farmer support networks through farmer-to-farmer training events and communities of practice. This project is a collaborative effort of the International Rescue Committee’s National Technical Unit; IRC programs in Salt Lake City, Tucson, and Seattle; immigrant and refugee farmer groups in all three sites; and university extension programs and produce marketing groups in the three locations.

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.