BFRDP Projects

This Standard Renewal Project included 28% sub-awards to a community-based organization, the Texas/Mexico Border Coalition CBO, and to an NGO specializing in sustainable agriculture, the National Center for Appropriate Technology. It also subcontracted the National Immigrant
Farming Initiative and collaborated with Cooperative Extension Service to provide technical support. 100% of the project budget was allocated to serve Limited-Resource Hispanic and Veteran beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs); providing them training, technical
assistance, and mentorship. This project served an area with the highest numbers and concentrations of Hispanic producers in the U.S., and an area with some of the highest numbers of separating military personnel and Veterans.
The goal of this project was to enhance the sustainability of BFRs in a 84-county, USDA StrikeForce region of South-West Texas, targeting Hispanic and Veteran producers, by helping them to successfully grow and direct market their agricultural produce and products. Objectives included:
1. Promote the awareness of
direct-marketing options and agricultural programs available to
beginning farmers and ranchers through coordinated outreach efforts.
2.Assess each individual or group of beginning Hispanic and Veteran
farmers seeking assistance and develop individual Training &
Assistance Plans.                                                                                                                                          3. Train and assist each individual or group of beginning Hispanic and Veteran farmers during the start-up or expansion of their farm or ranch operations.
4. Develop the direct-marketing options and skills for each individual or group of beginning Hispanic and Veteran farmers interested in growing and selling their produce.
5.Evaluate the success of each individual or group of beginning Hispanic
and Veteran farmers to determine the additional training and assistance
required.
Since 2001, UTRGV (Formerly known as UTPA) has developed,
implemented, and/or operated over 50 collaborative USDA-sponsored
projects that have helped to address the needs of beginning farmers and
ranchers.