"Growing Our Own": A New Sonoran Desert Farmers Incubator Program" pilots a community-based collaborative approach to increasing the number and capacity of beginning farmers in Ajo, Arizona.
Award Amount: $299,237
Institution: Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Project Director: Katarina Sajovec Altshul (ajocsa@hotmail.com)
Funding Opportunity: 2017 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
“Growing Our Own: A New Sonoran Desert Farmers Incubator Program”...
“Growing Our Own: A New Sonoran Desert Farmers Incubator Program” is piloting a community-based multi-tiered collaborative approach to increasing the number and capacity of market growers, farmers and ranchers in a remote tri-national community of Ajo, Arizona and the surrounding region. The program will 1. Expand the capacity and skills of the existing beginning farmers through providing education, mentoring and technical support; 2. Incubate a minimum of 15 new growers through providing paid apprenticeships, and/or access to land, knowledge, materials and markets; 3. Raise a new generation of Sonoran Desert farmers and ranchers through a school campus-based “education intervention” (“Ag Club”) for high school students at the Ajo Unified School District. Over the three years, the planned outputs include 150 hours of classroom style instructions for adults; 210 hours of individual mentoring and technical assistance; 9 field trips; 6,750 hours of paid apprenticeship; and 60 hours of high school level agricultural education. The project will serve unduplicated 30 local and additional 70 regional beginning farmers (a total of 100), out of which 95% will improve their production practices and decision-making abilities. 50% of local growers (15) will design a business plan, and 80% (24) will design a farm (garden) operating procedures including a food safety handling plan. 30% of local growers (10) will enter new markets, 10% (3) will use the services of NRCS and/or Farm Service Agency. 15 people will start a farm operation over the next three years, which will represent a 50% increase in local number of growers.
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“Supportive, Small Scale, Basic Livestock, Financial Skills and Risk Management Training for Beginning Veteran Farmers Program”
Award Amount: $712,500
Institution: FARMER VETERAN COALITION
Project Director: Michael O'Gorman (michaelo@farmvetco.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Area 1: Create a national
peer network that develops, provides, and...
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.
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120 Committed Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Award Amount: $481,080
Institution: Arkansas Land & Community Development Corp.
Project Director: Calvin King (calvinrkingsr@yahoo.com)
Funding Opportunity: 2016 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
The 120 Committed Farmers and Ranchers of Arkansas Land and...
The 120 Committed Farmers and Ranchers of Arkansas Land and Community Development
Corporation project are envisioned to significantly improve the population of successful and
sustainable African American farmers/ranchers relatively new to farming. Recruit 120 participants for the project – The outcome for this goal is for at least 120 farmers
to commit to become or remain being a grower of fresh produce, row crop and livestock. The
fresh produce farmers must also commit, obtain and maintain USDA/AMS Food Safety
certification up to the Harmonized level. By being certified growers, farmers will not only
produce safe foods but will also make their operations eligible for the larger higher value retail
market. Overall their economic survivability is enhanced by gaining greater market accessibility.
Their success will have a positive economic impact on the community.
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21st Century Management: Enhancing Educational Programming for Beginning Women Farmers
Award Amount: $720,989
Institution: UVM Extension
Project Director: Mary Peabody (mary.peabody@uvm.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
As
the numbers of beginning farm and ranch women has increased...
As
the numbers of beginning farm and ranch women has increased there has been a
corresponding increase in programs providing education and technical assistance
to them. While these programs have developed tools and curricula for addressing
the learning needs of beginning farmers there remain many areas of the country
where women farmers are still chronically underserved. In addition, while many
tools, assessments and curricula are available there is no central repository
for these materials. Nor is there a typology, or catalog, that can be used to
determine which materials would be most useful given the needs of a specific
target audience. The
goal of this project is to assemble a national learning network to evaluate
existing curricula and materials targeting beginning farm and ranch women of
all ages, ethnicity, and agricultural production interests. Content teams will
identify information gaps; develop corresponding learning modules, and train
peers and colleagues in their delivery and evaluation. Our project focuses on subjects
of special importance to beginning farm and ranch women: legal issues; business
scale and profitability; farm safety, mechanization and ergonomics; land
access, transfer and stewardship; and management. A virtual learning network
will provide educators and agricultural technical assistance providers with
evidence-based information regarding women’s learning preferences, peer-reviewed
training materials, evaluation tools, and mentoring from colleagues experienced
in working with women farmers and ranchers.
We will partner with the BFRDP Clearinghouse and the
eXtension Women in Ag Learning Network to determine the most effective way to
house the typology of available materials.
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A Beginning Farmers Program for Socially Disadvantaged and Limited Resource Producers in Arkansas
Award Amount: $600,000
Institution: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Project Director: Henry English (englishh@uapb.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2020 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
This project is designed to assist beginning socially disadvantaged and...
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.
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A Collaborative Training Approach for Kentucky's Military Veterans, Underserved and Rural Beginning Farmers
Award Amount: $600,000
Institution: UK - CES/Ag Programs
Project Director: Craig Wood (woodch@uky.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2020 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program 2021 Awards
Summary
Key Words: Education, Mentoring, Technical AssistanceThe goal for this project...
Key Words: Education, Mentoring, Technical Assistance
The goal for this project is to bring military veterans and underserved limited resource populations
in Kentucky and surrounding areas a realistic plan for becoming a farmer with a sustainable product
and income. The project will recruit from KY military bases, Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, and
National Guard posts. Help will be enlisted from the VFW, American Legion and other veteran
organizations in order to contact as many veteran participants as possible. For the non-military
populations contact will be made through the state’s 120 county extension offices, local technical
schools and county agencies that assist the underserved, limited resource populations in their area
by utilizing county mailing lists, newsletters, radio and TV media. The educational classes for
business management, including writing a business plan, informational classes on products that are
successful in their area and financial options open to them, grants, low cost loans, etc. Sites for
these educational and informational workshops will be held in three locations though out the state
to make travel to these easier. Farm specialists will provide technical assistance on specific areas
of farming for example livestock, grains, forestry, etc. This will target the classes to topography,
soil conditions and marketing available in the area. Workshops will be presented where the greatest
concentration of military veterans and limited resource farmers are located. Smaller workshops will
be held at working farms within these areas. Mentors will be enlisted to help the participants
become successful and able to sustain the productivity of the farm.
Program Code:BFRDA_____Program Code Name__Beginning Farmer Rancher Development
Program, Standard
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A Collective Approach to Providing Resources, Technology and Assistance to Beginning Farmers
Award Amount: $711,213
Institution: Alabama Extension/Auburn University
Project Director: Ayanava Majumdar (azm0024@aces.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Alabama specialty crop industry has recently experienced significant growth with...
Alabama specialty crop industry has recently experienced significant growth with entry of a large number of beginning farmers. At present, there is no cohesive statewide educational or farm service infrastructure catering to the needs of beginning farms (past efforts were largely regional or county-based). The long-term goal of this project is to develop a sustainable collaborative network and educational model that facilitates beginning farmer success through reliable access to resources, technology, and on-farm assistance for needy beginning farmers. This is supported by three major objectives: 1) facilitate a collective approach for diverse beginning farmers initiative, 2) develop distance-learning resources to support train-the-trainer and educator-to-farmer activities, and 3) provide technical assistance and hands-on training to beginning farmers in conjunction with objective 3. This program also is the first step toward providing training to military veterans and native American groups that has not been attempted before in Alabama.
This project is a collaborative effort of nonprofit farmer organizations, farm consultants, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System through Auburn University. Objectives will be accomplished through a number of activities, including Stakeholder Advisory Meetings, on-line curriculum and phone application development, hands-on training, conferences and individual technical assistance. All projects will be evaluated continuously and modifications may be implemented for maximizing project impacts.
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A Comprehensive Approach to Growing Successful Beginning Meat Producers
Award Amount: $599,020
Institution: NC State University College of Animal and Life Sciences
Project Director: Sarah Blacklin (sarah@ncchoices.com)
Funding Opportunity: 2018 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
The goal of the project is to increase the number...
The goal of the project is to increase the number of beginning farmers and ranchers successfully and profitably raising meat through either pasture-based or silvopasture systems by providing them and their families with novel land acquisition strategies in partnership with land trusts, solar farms, and existing landowners, while also equipping new farmers with targeted knowledge, skills, decision-making tools, and the market and buyer connections that have been identified as needed for these producers to operate profitably and be successfully. CEFS' NC Choices (www.ncchoices.com), working comprehensively to support the meat value chain since 2002, is uniquely equipped to not only identify needs of beginning farmers, in part through their statewide surveys of all registered meat handlers in the state, but to deliver this comprehensive program addressing those identified needs. For this project, we have assembled the necessary partners and subject matter experts, identified key choke points for beginning farmers, and are proposing high-impact solutions that offered together will insure success. This comprehensive support, including introducing and adapting a Meat and Yield Price Calculator and Meat Suite to expand their markets, will result in 250 beginning farmers who will receive training, decision-making, and market development tools plus 15 new cohort farmers who will enter into model land-share agreements with land partners. Finally, through resource development and training to aid CES agents in serving beginning farmers and via the national conference of land trusts to be held in North Carolina in 2019, we ensure that this project will have statewide and national impact.
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A comprehensive new farmer training program for Maine
Award Amount: $709,713
Institution: Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Project Director: Ryan Dennett (rdennett@mofga.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Success in training farmers is the hallmark of the Maine...
Success in training farmers is the hallmark of the Maine Organic Farmers
and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) Journeyperson Program (JP). During the past
ten years, 240 new farmers have emerged from the program in Maine. Equipped
with innovative production, management, and marketing skills, these farmers
have created more than 140 farm businesses. Providing tomorrow’s farmers with
the skills needed to achieve success in a demanding marketplace remains the
primary objective of the Journeyperson Program. Over the next three years, 150
new farmers will receive training and the help needed to establish at least 75
new farm businesses. This crucial support, aimed at creating economically
viable farms in Maine, can help meet the rising demand for local, more
healthful and sustainably produced food.
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A Pathway to Livestock Farming: Providing Access to Land and A Guiding Hand
Award Amount: $219,274
Institution: Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc
Project Director: WENDY WARREN (wendy.warren@swbadger.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
This project offers an opportunity to start farming on...
This project offers an opportunity to start farming on one's own on rented land, with financial coaching from a professional financial advisor, and an experienced livestock farmer-mentor to provide guidance. SW Badger solicited livestock farmers from the region, which resulted in 25 beginning and 18 experienced farmer applicants. SW Badger developed a toolkit and presentation to train mentors and beginners about mentorship. After orientation and receiving the mentors' contact information, 16 beginners and 7 mentors received check-ins. Participants reported that mentorship provided practical insights, support, and inspiration needed to implement grazing best management practices on their own farms.
This project seeks to address land access challenges by promoting the concept of 'contract grazing' which allows farmers to raise livestock on rented pasture. In addition to assisting the 35 participants in the program and 118 participants at the two kickoff workshops, SW Badger provided one-on-one technical assistance on renting land to four military veterans and two experienced farmers. Three beginning farmers received financial coaching from Badgerland Financial about how to get started on rented land. Participants reported that the kickoff workshops were useful to their livestock production goals and increased their awareness of managed grazing.
As part of our outreach to new livestock farmers, special effort is made to engage military veterans. Participants include 7 veterans of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, 1 member of the WI Air National Guard, and 3 family members. Participants are matched with experienced farmers in their field of interest, including beef, dairy, goats, and poultry, and background in military service whenever possible. Regional veteran service officers were asked to refer military veterans; a veteran advisory team met twice to guide outreach efforts. The program has strengthened networks among military veteran farmers and raised awareness of pathways to careers in agriculture for military veterans.
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Accelerating Farmland Access in Vermont
Award Amount: $546,386
Institution: Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
Project Director: Ela Chapin (ela@vhcb.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2017 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
The
Viability Program at the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board will...
The
Viability Program at the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board will work in
partnership with the Intervale Center and Vermont Land Trust to develop and
implement a coordinated, proactive approach to accelerate access to land and
growth of viable businesses for Vermont’s next generation of agricultural
entrepreneurs. With funding from the USDA BFRD Program, we will provide business planning, land access technical assistance, and succession planning to over 200 farmers, helping them gain the confidence and skills they need to succeed while matching them with suitable land or successors.
We believe in the power of direct service as the most effective
approach for improving farm viability. Farming is a complicated business that
requires operators to develop diverse skill sets. Each farm business is as
unique as its land-base, resources, and operator’s goals. We will provide
individualized one-on-one technical assistance to new and beginning farmers in
business planning, land assessment, land access, and accessing financing. We will meet beginning farmers where they are at and leverage the specific resources
they need to accelerate their early stage growth into viable commercial
enterprises. In addition we will provide retiring farmers with estate or
transfer planning services, and assistance identifying successors or buyers.
An important innovation is that we will develop and deploy new affordable financing tools at the Vermont Land Trust and collaborate extensively with other affordable financing options, creating alternative pathways to ownership and success.
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Access to Land for New England`s Beginning Farmers: Phase 2
Award Amount: $641,222
Institution: Land For Good
Project Director: Kathy Ruhf (kathy@landforgood.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Access to land is one of the biggest challenges for...
Access to land is one of the biggest challenges for beginning farmers in New England. The long-term goal of this project is for more New England beginning farmers to successfully access land to farm in order to start or expand their farm business. Land For Good, its partners and a broad range of collaborators will enable over 2,000 beginning farmers to access land or achieve more secure tenure. Our goals are: beginning farmers are better prepared to access land to farm; more farms are transferred by exiting farmers to beginning farmers; beginning farmers find and evaluate farm properties and connect with landowners; professionals and beginning farmers have new information about innovative access approaches and methods; and stronger programs help beginning farmers access land and improve the conditions for farmland access in New England.
Coordinated teams and task forces will produce curricula and conduct educational activities such as workshops, a multi-session Succession School, and leasing clinics. LFG will “coach” farm seekers and transitioning farmers. We will improve farm link programs and increase their use. We will produce new tools including an online “build-a-lease” and model legal language for farmland-related transactions. We will promote transfers between farmers without identified successors and beginning farmers. Experts will investigate innovative and best practices, including alternative land financing and affordable farmer housing. We will build capacity in each New England state to better serve and support beginning and transitioning farmers around land access and transfer. A national conference in 2017 will share learnings and build land access and transfer programs to help beginning farmers access land in all regions.
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Access to Land for New England`s Beginning Farmers: Phase 3
Award Amount: $599,197
Institution: Land For Good
Project Director: Jim Hafner (executivedirector@landforgood.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2018 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Land access is a top challenge for beginning farmers (BFs);...
Land access is a top challenge for beginning farmers (BFs); land transfer is a
BFRDP statutory priority. The long-term goal of this standard project is for more New England
BFs to successfully access land to start or expand their farm businesses. Land For Good (LFG),
six partners and 13 collaborators in six states will enable over 200 BFs to access land or achieve
more secure tenure. Project goals: BFs are better prepared to access land to farm; more farms
are effectively transferred to BFs; and stronger programs assist BFs to access land. Our
objectives are to: educate, train and coach BFs on land access; help BFs find land and connect
with landowners; educate and coach transitioning farmers on succession planning; improve
succession planning providers and resources; and improve farm link programs.
Collaborators will plan, host, promote, and deliver 60 land access educational workshops and
seeker-landowner mixers, and six Farm Succession Schools. We will develop and pilot new,
more rigorous, targeted coaching protocols to advise BF farm seekers to acquire land, and
transitioning farmers (TFs) to complete plans to transfer farms to BFs. We will create practical
tools to help TFs mentor their BF successors and transfer management to the next generation.
The New England Farm Link Collaborative will make more farm properties available and visible
to BFs on our shared farm link website. Professionals will learn, share and problem solve at a
national farm link clinic to improve programs nationally. We will distribute educational
resources to 5,500 BFs and TFs.
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Addressing the Training Needs of Hispanic and Limited Resource Beginning Farmers in Nebraska
Award Amount: $381,726
Institution: Community Crops
Project Director: Ingrid Kirst (ingrid@communitycrops.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2014 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
This
project will enhance urban and rural-based farm viability of 150
beginning...
This
project will enhance urban and rural-based farm viability of 150
beginning Hispanic, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource
farmers in Nebraska. Increasing
numbers of new farmers are immigrant, limited resource, or socially
disadvantaged. They frequently lack financial or production skills,
are unaware of technical resources, or lack English-language
proficiency for accessing technical information. The
objective is to assist these beginners with development of small
scale farm enterprises through training and technical assistance that
will: (1) improve participants’ financial and business skills, (2)
connect them with a network of resources, and (3) gain and improve
production skills. We
will conduct a 4-month course for financial training and resource
identification, field workshops for farming skills, farm tours to
observe practices in place, and will provide individual advising to
participants. Each year the classes will be broadcast to additional
sites to reduce travel for participants, and interpreters will be
available for all activities. A Minnesota organization experienced
with this work will broadcast specific lessons for the course and
will host a site visit by Nebraska participants.
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Advancing Immigrants and Refugees Toward Farm Ownership and Building Learning Networks Thro
Award Amount: $749,548
Institution: World Farmers Inc
Project Director: Maria Moreira (mmoreira@worldfarmers.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2021 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
The long-term goal of this three-year project and beyond is...
The long-term goal of this three-year project and beyond is to move immigrant and refugee farmers along the beginning farmer continuum toward building successful farming enterprises and fulfilling their dream to own, operate their own farms and become a part of the American agricultural system. Through this project, World Farmers will facilitate farmer-to-farmer mentoring and provide customized support and technical assistance to beginning immigrant and refugee farmers to build capacity in business development and financial literacy, production assistance in the New England climate, and to ultimately acquire their own farmland. This project will serve the 322 immigrant and refugee farmers across 25 countries of origin in the Flats Mentor Farm program. World Farmers and each project partner are dedicated to providing individualized support and services to beginning FMF farmers along each stage of their agricultural development journey.
This project covers 10 of the BFRDP priority areas: 1-6, 9&10, 14&15; 100% of the budget is allocated to serving socially-disadvantaged and limited-resource farmers; and is led by and partnered with 100% NGOs, CBOs, and SAEOs. World Farmers will allocate 12.4% of our total budget to our project collaborators – UMass Cooperative Extension (6%), Land for Good (1.6%), Rural Coalition (4%), and the Lancaster Community Center (0.8%) – who will support our project according to the goals and objectives of our project. Previous BFRDP projects awarded to World Farmers include: PD Maria Moreira, 2015-70017-24102 (Standard); and 2018-70017-28601 PD Maria Moreira, (Standard).
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Advancing Next Generation Urban Farmers: Experiential Education, Mentoring, and Employment
Award Amount: $708,700
Institution: Planting Justice
Project Director: Gavin Raders (gavin@plantingjustice.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
This Standard
BFRDP project presents an innovative model to advance economic...
This Standard
BFRDP project presents an innovative model to advance economic viability, land
stewardship, and social equity for beginning and socially disadvantaged
beginning farmers. This proposal directly addresses urgent trends conveyed in
the 2012 USDA Census: the aging farmer population and declining numbers of
beginning farmers.
This project counters these trends by building
comprehensive and culturally relevant training/employment opportunities for
beginning and underserved farmers, while strengthening the mentoring capacity
of experienced farmers to pass on their knowledge. Our target audience includes
120 beginning farmers, including 90 formerly incarcerated, immigrants, and
otherwise socially disadvantaged participants, in 6 cohorts over the 3-year
grant period. Successful program graduates will complete 150 hours of on-site,
hands-on training as part of our Applied Agroecology and Beginning Farmer
Curriculum, and receive the opportunity to be mentored by pioneering local
farmers through paid 3-6 month apprenticeships on local farms in the MESA
network, living-wage employment as urban farmers with Planting Justice, and/or
substantial financial, legal, technical, and administrative support to access
land and launch their own farming startups. These comprehensive services will
spur the next generation to launch and sustain successful careers in urban and
peri-urban farming. Planting Justice is a national leader in re-entry green job
placement and urban farming training for formerly incarcerated people, and this
project will build upon their success helping former inmates obtain
inspirational employment as new urban farmers. MESA is internationally
recognized as a pioneering sustainable agriculture training organization with
18 years running experiential and farmer mentorship programs.
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Advancing the Business of Farming in Connecticut in Partnership with Agriculture Learning Centers
Award Amount: $597,598
Institution: University of Connecticut
Project Director: Jiff Martin (jiff.martin@uconn.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2016 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Our project is developed by and for beginning farmers across...
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.
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Agroforestry Training For Native Hawaiians To Increase Economic Opportunity, Food Security And Cultural Connection
Award Amount: $598,170
Institution: Halau Kealaokamaile
Project Director: Fred Krauss (admin@kealaokamaile.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2018 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
To increase the number and enhance the success of Native...
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.
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Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Program: Growing Opportunities Beneath the Canopy
Award Amount: $656,903
Institution: Virginia Tech University
Project Director: John Munsell (jfmunsel@vt.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Our goal is to support beginning Appalachian medicinal
plant forest farmers...
Our goal is to support beginning Appalachian medicinal
plant forest farmers by forming a coalition that provides technical,
administrative, and market sales training and improves access to farm resource
inventory and plant habitat management services. Increasing demand for high-quality,
premium herbal and nutraceutical products is improving the financial equation
for forest farmers. Receiving premium prices for medicinal plant products
depends on a forest farmer’s ability to consistently supply forest grown
material. The Appalachian region contains native habitat for more than 15 forest
farmable medicinal plants and is home to rich ethnobotanical connections. We
believe that if trained and connected (forest farmer-to-forest farmer and
forest farmer-to-service provider), beginning Appalachian forest farmers will
be in a better position to capitalize on industry demand and sustain premium
sales of high-quality forest grown organic stock. We will: 1) establish an
inclusive coalition with clear organizational structure and decision making
processes; 2) educate, train, and support beginning forest farmers; and 3) improve
forest farm inventory and medicinal plant habitat management services for
beginning forest farmers. To accomplish these goals we have formed a diverse project
partnership ranging from Georgia to Pennsylvania with four non-governmental
organizations, four universities, extension, three agency partners, forest
farmers, and a forest grown verification program. These partners maintain
sizable networks of beginning forest farmers and have extensive technical and
market-based experience. Long-term
condition change will be an improvement in agroforestry production
opportunities and farming capabilities among forest farmers in Appalachia which
positively impacts families, farms, and communities.
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Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development
Award Amount: $407,995
Institution: Appalachian RC&D Council
Project Director: Susan McKinney (susan@arcd.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2021 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
Through the Field School Beginning Farmer Training Program, the Appalachian...
Through the Field School Beginning Farmer Training Program, the Appalachian RC&D Council (ARCD) will 1) increase the number of new farm startups and enhance the financial sustainability of beginning farm operations; 2) support the creation of communities of support and practice among veteran, women, and socially disadvantaged beginning farmers; 3) increase the utilization of USDA and State farmer support, grant, and cost-share programs; 4) increase the implementation of sustainable production methods by beginning farmers; 5) increase access to affordable farm land and foster the transition of farmland to the next generation of farmers in the Appalachian Highlands region. ARCD will meet these goals through a combination of strategies, including 1) providing education, training, resources and support to beginning farmers through in-person and online workshops; 2) providing free one on one consulting on business and production planning; 3) facilitating opportunities for peer to peer learning and networking through Peer Learning Circles; 4) providing workshops for women and retiring landowners on creating long-term lease agreements, resource conservation practices, and conservation easements; and 5) increasing promotion and outreach about, and expanding the resources/information available on, the TNFarmLink.org website. Through the Field School program, ARCD will foster 25 new farm startups and reach 320 farmers with training and education. Of the beginning farmers reached, 240 will report an increase in knowledge, 160 will report an intention to make changes to their operations, and 80 will report making beneficial changes to their farm operations as a result of attending programming.
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Aquaculture Boot Camp - 2: Enhancing the sustainability of new and limited resource aquaculture/aquaponic farmers with innovative training
Award Amount: $599,000
Institution: The Ohio State University
Project Director: HANPING WANG (wang.900@osu.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2016 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Aquaculture Boot Camp (ABC) with “3I-level” training
model was an extremely...
Aquaculture Boot Camp (ABC) with “3I-level” training
model was an extremely successful program.
By the end of the ABC-1 project, twenty-four new businesses/farms were
created by the 2013 and 2014 ABC Intensive course graduates. To enhance sustainability of
new and limited resource aquaculture/aquaponic farmers in the Midwest, we are delivering Aquaculture Boot Camp -2 (ABC-2) through partnerships and collaborations of four NGOs/CBOs/SAEOs,
six aqua-farms and three agricultural colleges.
Specific goals include: 1) Provide tools for new and limited resource farmers to enhance
their aquaculture/aquaponic production success by developing and delivering
production curriculum and hands-on practices, 2) Enhance the financial
viability and business success of beginning aquaculture/aquaponic farmers by
delivering business management and marketing
strategies, and 3) Strengthen the success of new aquaculture/aquaponic and
limited resource farmers through the ABC mentorship
and partnership with the industry via OAA, WAA/NPI and other partners.
The ABC
project serve the following Target
Audience:
Beginning and new (less than 10 years of experience) aquaculture/aquaponic farmers.
Limited resource beginning aquaculture farmers; most of aqua-farmers have low levels of farm sales and low household income, as most of them are new and located in rural areas.
Next generation farmers: students and those without a family farming history.
Other new farmers attempting to diversify their existing farming enterprise
Our partners/collaborators include: Ohio
Aquaculture Association (OAA); Riffe Vocational School (RVS); University
of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (UWSP), and its Aquaculture Innovation Center and
Aquaculture Demonstration Facility; Wisconsin
Aquaculture Association (WAA); Nelson
& Pade, Inc (aquaponics; NPI, WI); Hocking College Aquaculture Program;
North Region Aquaculture Center (NCRAC); North Region Aquaculture Extension
Specialist in Michigan State University; Life Aquatic Farm, LLC; Ripple Rock Fish
Farms; Go Fish Farm; Lettuce Head Aquaponic Farm; Fresh Harvest Farm
Aquaponics and Wanner shrimp farm.
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Arcadia`s Veteran Farmer Program
Award Amount: $99,947
Institution: Arcadia Food, Inc.
Project Director: Matt Mulder (matt@arcadiafood.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Based in Fairfax County, Virginia, but pulling on expertise and...
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.
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Arcadia`s Veteran Farmer Program
Award Amount: $597,124
Institution: Arcadia Food, Inc.
Project Director: Matt Mulder (matt@arcadiafood.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2017 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Based in Fairfax County, Virginia, but pulling from expertise and...
Based in Fairfax County, Virginia, but pulling from expertise and farms across Northern and Central Virginia and the National Capital Region, Arcadia's Veteran Farmer Program (VFP) brings together regional nonprofits, agricultural organizations, veterans, and experienced farmers - including veterans who have made a successful transition to farming - to provide a practical farmer training and development program that launches veterans into new careers in agriculture.
Arcadia's program is distinguished by its lifecycle support of new veteran farmers. It works to increase the number of veterans beginning new careers in agriculture and the likelihood of their success by providing them with farming skills; business development and management training; ongoing technical support; assistance with finding and accessing land; and then market support, including an optional, wholesale contract with Arcadia. The VFP provides continued support as our new farmers launch their careers, through ongoing mentorships from, and networking with, the business, agriculture, and veteran communities. The VFP increases the number of veterans beginning new careers in agriculture and increases the likelihood of their success. The VFP is very effective and can be replicated in other regions. Through this grant, the VFP will train 51 military veterans with the goal of producing 25 new farmers operating businesses throughout the project period.
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Armed to Farm: Soldiering the Success of Military Veterans in New Poultry, Livestock and Agroforestry Enterprises
Award Amount: $749,720
Institution: University of Arkansas
Project Director: Dan Donoghue (ddonogh@uark.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2014 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Farming offers a viable avenue
for returning veterans to transition into...
Farming offers a viable avenue
for returning veterans to transition into society and capitalizes on skills
that made them successful in the military. However, these opportunities may be
missed due to lack of targeted training programs, guidance and information. We
have assembled a team with expertise in teaching conventional and alternative
agriculture, hands-on training, economics, research and networking resources
targeted to veteran farmers focused on poultry, small ruminants and
agroforestry production. Through our previous BFRDP project, our team has
supported hundreds of veterans through workshops, internships, research and
training opportunities yet there continues to be a critical need to train and
support this population of new farmers. Our objectives for this Standard Grant
Renewal are to: 1) Enhance existing course and add training modules to our New
Farmer Online Training Program and develop a new customized online course
specific to veterans and a new farmer cooperative; 2) Provide experiential
opportunities including Armed to Farm Workshops and trainings, on-farm
demonstration and internship programs; and 3) Develop and expand on custom
networking and mentoring systems to effectively support a new generation of
farmers. This project will target
military veterans and minority farmers (women, African-American and Latino
farmers). Residents of the South have traditionally comprised a
disproportionate share of military personnel and many of them come from
agricultural backgrounds and would return to their agricultural roots if given
the opportunity. This dynamic program creates specific training opportunities
and networking systems for these and other populations of new and beginning
farmers and ranchers.
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Athens Land Trust Beginning Farmer Development Program
Award Amount: $298,893
Institution: Athens Land Trust
Project Director: Stephanie Simmons (stephanie@athenslandtrust.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2017 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
The goal of ALT's Beginning Farmer Development Program (BFDP) is...
The goal of ALT's Beginning Farmer Development Program (BFDP) is to increase the number of successful farmers in northeast Georgia, strengthen their economic viability, and connect them with other farmers for marketing opportunities and mentoring. The project targets limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and otherwise underserved new and beginning farmers in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia and the surrounding region. The BFDP will provide education, hands-on sustainable agriculture training, and marketing education and opportunities that will support new and beginning farmers with enhanced skills and capacities in sustainable farming practices, increased business knowledge, and expanded markets. ALT will tailor individual outreach and technical assistance to farmers operating at different levels of production to guide participants toward economic viability and the capacity to access larger markets. Primary objectives include providing educational opportunities including business workshops, one-on-one guidance, on-the-farm experiential education, and mentorships that will provide skills and knowledge that will enable farmers to move toward greater farm business viability; and increasing local market opportunities for new and beginning farmers. ALT will leverage our partnerships to connect growers to new and larger markets.
* Other collaborating organizations: St. Mary's Health Care System, Georgia Farmers
Market Association, UGA Cooperative Extension, Clarke County East Athens WIC Clinic
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Battle ground to Breaking Ground
Award Amount: $600,000
Institution: Texas A&M AgrLife Extension
Project Director: Rick Peterson (rlpeterson@ag.tamu.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2016 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
The project’s overall goals are to increase the number and...
The project’s overall goals are to increase the number and enhance sustainability of veteran and other beginning farmers and ranchers, through an innovative, holistic model for education, training, technical assistance, and outreach, reducing self-employment barriers for veterans and other beginning farmer/ranchers (particularly those with disabilities). To accomplish the above referenced goals the project will: 1. Provide a holistic and relevant educational experience to support farm enterprise education and sustainability through access to: a) face to face and online educational training in farm management and production specific agriculture practices; b) individualized educational planning and guidance to support diverse agriculture business interests; c) hands-on learning opportunities connected to online course content; and d) follow-up mentor support, 2. Establish peer-to-peer learning through a Community of Practice, and 3. Offer an array of veteran transitional and disability support services. Outreach efforts will target targeted military veterans and socially disadvantaged beginning farmers/ranchers with and without disabilities. The project will provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed decisions regarding entering, establishing, and managing successful agriculture enterprises. The activities are designed to enhance participants’ success in agribusiness startup, business expansion and sustainability augmented by peer-learning and support services and experiential learning opportunities. Formative and summative evaluation measures for program improvement and overall evaluation are included. Program sustainability is addressed through strategic partnership engagement beyond the life of the project. Ease of replicability of the program has been engineered into the design of the program.
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Battleground to Breaking Ground Expansion Project
Award Amount: $750,000
Institution: Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
Project Director: Erin Kimbrough (erin.kimbrough@ag.tamu.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2021 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension BattleGround to Breaking Ground Expansion Project...
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension BattleGround to Breaking Ground Expansion Project (BGBGXP) goals are consistent with the BFRDP as follows: 1. Expand the existing BGBG program to increase
the number of veteran and other beginning farmers/ranchers (BFRs) in Texas. 2) Enhance the sustainability of Texas' veterans and other BFRs. To accomplish these goals, BGBGXP will provide an “Introduction-to-Agriculture Business” on-line course and a face-to-face hands-on 5-day boot-camp to support very new (no ag experience) BFRS, launch the BGBGXP SkillBridge Program for transitioning military, and add a train-the-trainer component (mentor training program). 70% of the funds will support military veteran and transitioning military populations and will include education on COVID-19 agriculture programs. Key activities include: 1. Provide hands-on and on-line courses in agriculture business planning, agriculture production, natural resource management, food and farm safety, diversification, and financial benchmarking 2. Launch agriculture SkillBridge program for transitioning military to start farming/ranching 3. Launch the BGBGXP Mentor Training Program to provide ongoing referrals, education, resources, connections, and financial support for mentors. Staff will conduct ongoing program evaluation to measure impact, assess program effectiveness, and make modifications to program components to meet participant needs.
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Beefing Up Livestock, Poultry and Agroforestry Enterprises for Military Veteran Farmers
Award Amount: $599,971
Institution: University of Arkansas
Project Director: Dan Donoghue (ddonogh@uark.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2017 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
Farming offers a viable avenue
for veterans assimilating into society capitalizing...
Farming offers a viable avenue
for veterans assimilating into society capitalizing on skills that made them
successful in the military. Through previous BFRDP projects, our team has
supported hundreds of veterans through research and training opportunities yet
there continues to be a critical need to train and support the next generation
of new farmers. We continue to network
with the veterans that have participated in our bootcamps, internships and
workshops and asked them for their priorities for our program. The top requests from these new farmers were
to have more extensive training past initial boot camp programs; and to provide
the training we have for other livestock species to include beef cattle
production. Therefore our objectives for
this proposal are to: 1) enhance existing courses and add training modules for
pasture beef production to our New Farmer Online Training Program; 2) provide a
more comprehensive suite of training opportunities including Armed to Farm 2.0
Boot Camp, and intensive internship opportunities; and 3) expand custom
networking and mentoring systems to effectively support a new generation of
farmers. This project will target military veterans with 85% of the budget and
minority farmers with the other 15%. Direct NGO portion is 29% of federal funds
requested (National Center for Appropriate Technology). This program creates next
level training and networking opportunities for veterans interested in
establishing farms and supports their needs to develop sustainable farming
enterprises.
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beefSD: Enhancing knowledge and success of beginning beef producers through mentorship and training
Award Amount: $744,113
Institution: South Dakota State University
Project Director: Ken Olson (kenneth.olson@sdstate.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
This is a renewal application for a Standard
BFRDP Project. It...
This is a renewal application for a Standard
BFRDP Project. It will address the primary goal of BFRDP to “enhance food
security, community development and sustainability by providing beginning
farmers and ranchers … with knowledge, skills and tools needed to make informed
decisions for their operations, and enhance their sustainability”. This project
will address this goal by providing a training and mentoring program that
assists beginning beef cattle producers in South Dakota to become economically,
ecologically, and socially sustainable. It will be conducted collaboratively by
a partnership of SDSU Extension, 4 South Dakota producer organizations, 3 rural
banks, and 6 beefSD alumni couples that will serve as peer mentors. It is
comprised of instructional workshops (topics will include livestock production,
natural resource stewardship, marketing, finance, business, risk, legal, and leadership), case studies of alternative
beef production systems and management practices, evaluation of post-weaning
performance of participants’ calves, mentoring from peers, established beef cattle
producers and agriculture professionals, web-based interaction using social
networking and webinars, and travel-study trips to study marketing alternatives
and other segments of the beef cattle industry. The target audience is a core
group of 50 beginning producers from at least 30 operations. Project personnel
will work with established beef producers and agriculture professionals to
allow beginning producers to create Management Advisory Teams. Our goal is to present
beginning beef producers a curriculum that will provide them the tools to make
wise management decisions that contribute to ongoing agricultural production,
land stewardship, and rural community viability.
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Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Clearinghouse
Award Amount: $600,000
Institution: CFFM - UMN
Project Director: Robert Craven (rcraven@umn.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2019 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
The purpose of this project is to continue to develop...
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 - 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
Award Amount: $49,995
Institution: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Project Director: Jessica Groskopf (jgroskopf2@unl.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2020 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
This simplified
standard grant will be used to enhance the activities...
This simplified
standard grant will be used to enhance the activities of the Nebraska Women in
Agriculture Program to provide innovative farm business management education
for beginning female farmers and ranchers (BFFR), and develop a Land Link service
for Nebraska. Currently, Annie’s Project is the only targeted education provided in Nebraska for BFFR, according to FarmAnswers.org. This project will enhance at least five Annie’s Project courses and a
two-day Women in Agriculture conference to focus more on BFFR. The project
intends to reach 70 BFFR with 8 to 18 hours of education per event. These activities
will cater to women by encouraging them to ask questions, connect with
participants and speakers, and share their experiences. These hands-on programs
will focus on increasing the knowledge and skills of attendees, ultimately
leading to greater success of BFFR.
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Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Clearinghouse
Award Amount: $1,000,000
Institution: University of Minnesota
Project Director: Robert Craven (rcraven@umn.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2014 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
This project will develop a Clearinghouse that will help beginning...
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: - Help individuals and families exploring, beginning, establishing, and managing farms or ranches quickly and easily access the information and training they need.
- Support BFRDP programs by facilitating sharing, collaboration, and communication and by providing programs better access to educational materials.
- Help BFRDP projects better disseminate their educational materials so they can reach more beginning farmers and ranchers.
- 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.
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Beginning Farmer Business Management Resources
Award Amount: $600,000
Institution: University of Minnesota, Center for Farm Financial Management
Project Director: Kevin Klair (kklair@umn.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2018 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
The purpose of this Educational
Enhancement Team project is to develop...
The purpose of this Educational
Enhancement Team project is to develop new resources to help beginning farmers
and ranchers improve the financial and business management aspects of their
operations, as well as better-equip educators to guide them through this
process. This project will: - Develop and improve delivery of farm financial and business management tools and programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers better understand and manage the financial aspects of their businesses
- Improve the ability of organizations to deliver farm financial and business management training to beginning farmers and ranchers
- Evaluate ways to improve the Farm Answers clearinghouse to make it even more valuable to beginning farmers and ranchers
This project will fulfill
the two goals of EET projects. It will identify gaps in farm financial and
business management tools and programs and address ways to make Farm Answers
more valuable to beginning farmers. It will also develop curriculum and deliver
train-the-trainer workshops to better equip BFRDP projects to help beginning
farmers in farm financial and business management.
The partnership of the Center for Farm Financial Management, the Midwest
Organic and Sustainability Education Service (MOSES), the Rural Community
College Alliance (RCCA), and SCORE brings together a broad spectrum and wealth
of experiences and expertise. This partnership will allow the project to gain
input from many different perspectives including numerous farmers and ranchers,
organizations that work with them, and other individuals and organizations with
experience in farm financial management and general business management.
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Beginning Farmer Success: Farm Pathways to Long Term Land Tenure
Award Amount: $600,000
Institution: Organic Growers School
Project Director: Cameron Farlow (cameron@organicgrowersschool.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2020 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program 2021 Awards
Summary
This project builds on our successful partnership, established in 2015,...
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.
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Beginning Farmer Training for Socially Disadvantaged Hmong and Latino Immigrants.
Award Amount: $712,500
Institution: Hmong American Farmers Association
Project Director: Pakou Hang (pakou@hmongfarmers.com)
Funding Opportunity: 2015 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Project Presentation: Click to Open
Summary
The Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) and the Latino Economic...
The Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) and the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) are teaming up to provide agricultural and farm management training workshops to immigrant farmers in Minnesota with the long term goal building thriving and sustainable farming operations, farmers and farming communities.
For the Hmong and Latino farmers in Minnesota, this can be achieved by
(secondary goal #1): increasing the number of immigrant farmers’ ability to
make a successful living from farming while respecting traditional methods of
learning and cultural practices, and (secondary goal #2): expanding economic
opportunities for immigrant farmers and their children through collaborative
marketing, value-added production and specialized farm business training.
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Beginning farmer training program for small to mid-scale horticulture farmers with less than ten years experience.
Award Amount: $589,610
Institution: Louisiana State University AgCenter
Project Director: Carl Motsenbocker (cmotsenbocker@agcenter.lsu.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2018 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
GROW Louisiana is training program for beginning
horticulture farmers on small...
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.
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Beginning Farmer-Rancher Training Program: Hawaii Island
Award Amount: $564,000
Institution: The Kohala Center
Project Director: Melanie Willich (mwillich@kohalacenter.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2016 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
While Hawaii has abundant fertile lands and a 12-month growing...
While Hawaii has abundant fertile lands and a 12-month growing season, the state imports
approximately 90% of its food from markets located at least 2,300 miles away. Although access to affordable fertile land and a dependable water supply has increased, few successful farms were established, due to a lack of farming and business knowledge and the inability to access start-up capital. The Kohala Center is submitting this Standard BFRDP application to continue an existing 2011 BFRDP initiative that has trained 78 new beginning agricultural producers and to build on an existing USDA Program 2501 Grant that is providing farmer training, technical assistance, and mentorship/internship opportunities for socially disadvantaged and veteran beginning farmers on Hawaii Island. The Kohala Center’s proposed BRFDP will include: (1) classroom and distance learning on various business and agricultural topics; (2) hands-on field instruction and mentorship at demonstration sites around Hawaii Island, including The Kohala Center’s two demonstration farms in Hamakua and North Kohala and at project partner sites in Kona (Maona Farm) and Kau (Earth Matters Farm); (3) field trips; and (4) business development support for beginning producers to begin operations on available lease land and access support services during and post course completion. The goal of the proposed project is to help beginning farmers launch or expand farming and ranching enterprises on Hawaii Island in order to increase local food production and support viable primary and secondary agricultural livelihoods for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers.
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Beginning Farmers Georgia Agribusiness Incubator Network (B-GAIN)
Award Amount: $250,000
Institution: GENERATION INFOCUS FOUNDATION INC
Project Director: Tiffany Ray (tiffany@generationinfocus.com)
Funding Opportunity: 2021 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
Our program creates a positive ecosystem promoting professional and financial...
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.
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Beyond Start Up: Building the Capacity of MA Beginning Farmers
Award Amount: $599,533
Institution: Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
Project Director: Kelly Coleman (kelly@buylocalfood.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2016 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
This
renewal Standard BFRDP project builds upon a successful Development Grant...
This
renewal Standard BFRDP project builds upon a successful Development Grant (PD: Kelly Coleman, award 2012-49400-19591). Half
(50%) of the budget will be dedicated to serving socially disadvantaged or
limited resource farmers (0% for military veterans). The lead agency (CISA)
will manage this state-wide project through an established network of five collaborating
agricultural community-based organizations (CBOs): Berkshire Grown, Central
Mass Grown, Northeast Harvest, Southeastern MA Agricultural Partnership and
Sustainable Nantucket. 100% of federal funds will go to CBOs. The long-range goal of
this project is to improve the sustainability and profitability of beginning
farm businesses in Massachusetts by providing tailored technical assistance to
at least 600 beginning farmers in the following topic areas: entrepreneurship
and business training (priority C), financial and risk management
training (priority D), and diversification and marketing strategies
(priority F). Activities include 78 workshops, 15 networking events, and
one-on-one assistance to 300 beginning farmers, plus detailed program evaluation.
After participating, farmers will have access to on-going technical assistance
and peer support through the collaborating organizations. Primary objectives
are: 80% of participants (480/600) “moderately increase” knowledge and 50% of
participants (300/600) “substantially increase” knowledge in the areas of
marketing, business planning, financial analysis, diversification, or
value-added production; 60% of participants (360/600) implement a new market
approach or participate in a new marketing opportunity; and 50% of participants
(300/600) increase their farm income by at least 5% within one year of
completing training. The success of these outcomes will improve the economy and
food security of the region.
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Boots On the Ground: North Carolina's Veteran Farmer Apprenticeship
Award Amount: $626,230
Institution: NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
Project Director: Angel Cruz (aecruz@ncsu.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2021 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
Farming and ranching offer a viable path for returning veterans...
Farming and ranching offer a viable path for returning veterans to transition into society and capitalizes on skills that made them successful in the military. However, these opportunities may be missed due to a lack of targeted training programs, guidance, and targeted information for veterans. In order to meet the growing demand for younger farmers, strengthen local food systems, and increase veteran participation in the agricultural community we need to expand access to high quality and affordable training, specifically longer duration more intensive hands-on training. We propose to develop and implement North Carolina's first Registered Agricultural Apprenticeship Program for Veterans. This program, Boots on the Ground: North Carolina's Veteran Farmer Apprenticeship (NC VFA), will focus on developing a beginning farmer apprenticeship for veterans in NC that increases the number of veteran farmers in NC, with plans to apply this Registered Apprenticeship model across the state and share the model regionally and nationally. An apprenticeship program can help veterans bridge the gap between education and hands on learning with employer and mentor involvement, structured on-the job training, related training, rewards for skilled gains, and a recognizable occupation credential. Furthermore, a registered apprenticeship allows veterans to use their GI bill education benefits to supplement the cost of housing and supplies.
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Breaking Down Barriers to Maryland Beginning Farmer Success: Growing Local Mkts and Urban
Award Amount: $491,950
Institution: University of Maryland Extension, Baltimore City Office
Project Director: Neith Little (nglittle@umd.edu)
Funding Opportunity: 2021 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
This project will provide beginning farmers with the knowledge and...
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.
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Bridging the Gap: Growing Veterans
Award Amount: $749,979
Institution: Hoola Veteran Services
Project Director: Emily Emmons (emily@hoolafarms.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2021 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
The goal of Bridging the Gap: Growing Veterans pilot program...
The goal of Bridging the Gap: Growing Veterans pilot program is to support the sustainability of military veteran beginning farmers, ranchers, their families and the community on Hawai'i Island by providing exposure, skill-based training and a network aimed to help veterans transition the training and leadership skills they developed in the military to their local communities. This pilot agricultural training program's main focus is the region of Hawai'i Island, a rural island and home to over 15,000 veterans and more than half of the state's agricultural lands and agribusinesses.
Interested beginning farmers and ranchers can participate in a variety of one-day Intro to Grow workshops held at two HVS training locations; 1) Greenhouse garden, and 2) Market Garden where participants work on skilled-based tasks and grow in our operational market gardens, which grows 350 lbs of produce weekly.
Participants then enroll in Groundwork to Grow, a more comprehensive four-week program that focuses on specific agriculture topics relevant to the pacific region (orchard, agroforestry, livestock, forestry, etc). The format consists of weekly classroom-style lectures (via Internet), field trips to operational farms and ranches, and hands-on practical work days at the training farm sites. Guest speakers from agencies such as CTAHR, UH Hilo, Forestry Services, USDA, and local experts will provide additional resources to support participants' agriculture goals.
The development of a Hawaii Farmer Veteran Network of stakeholders in the public/private (i.e. government, academia, nonprofit organizations, business) sector will provide a framework to engage and support beginning farmer ranchers with a collaborative effort. Additional resources, support and consultation are provided by LCSW to help navigate challenges throughout the program, communication and time management skills, and wellness practices. Incorporating these components will increase the likelihood of success for veteran beginner farmers and ranchers on Hawai?i Island and throughout the State.
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Building a Regional Coalition in the Heart of Appalachia to Enhance Beginning Farmer Education with Experience in the Field
Award Amount: $473,915
Institution: Appalachian Sustainable Development
Project Director: Kathlyn Baker (kterry@asdevelop.org)
Funding Opportunity: 2017 Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Awards
Summary
The project applicants represent a regional coalition joined
across the Tennessee...
The project applicants represent a regional coalition joined
across the Tennessee and Virginia border in a region called the “Heart of
Appalachia”. Our coalition represents a 20-year track record of building the
local food economy from farm to fork, across all economic classes, across all
ages. Through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program we seek to
holistically improve start-up opportunities for a diversity of beginning
farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations
and communities. Developing beginning farmers will simultaneously address
workforce development, nutrition, natural resource conservation, and economic
development, in a region where one in 5 citizens lives at or below the federal
poverty line. In response to feedback from beginning farmers served by our
organizations, our four objectives are to: - Enhance the regional coalition and coordination of services for beginning farmers;
- Implement local and regional educational trainings with a focus on whole farm planning and preparing beginning farmers for specific local marketing opportunities;
- Establish a mentorship network of trained mentor farmers to provide educational and on-the-job opportunities to beginning farmers; and
- Foster a network of sustainable peer-to-peer support for beginning farmers through Learning Circles.
While available to all beginning farmer learners, each objective gives special consideration
to the needs of socially disadvantaged, limited resource, military veteran,
prisoners re-entering the workforce, and young farmers. These groups are
key stakeholders for outreach as identified by the coalition's’ partners. The project will be implemented in the following counties:
TN: Carter(SF),
Greene (SF), Hancock (SF), Hawkins, Johnson (SF),
Sullivan, Washington, and Unicoi (SF)
VA: Lee (SF),
Russell (SF), Scott (SF), Smyth (SF), Tazewell (SF),
Washington (SF), Wise (S)F, and Wythe (SF)
SF - Indicates StrikeForce Counties
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Building Beginning Farmer Capacity and Sustainability through Outreach, Training, Mentorship & Land Access
Award Amount: $600,000
Institut |