BFRDP Projects

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 implemented solutions using clustered approaches, building Beginning Veteran and Small Farmer Village Models of agricultural producers. Four (4) Beginning Veteran and Small Farmer Agricultural Group (VSFAG) Village Models of agricultural producer sites were established. To date, two of the four VSFAG sites were consolidated due to residential development of the original site and relocation. The VSFAG sites in Treasure Coast and North Florida are confirmed for implementation in year 2.  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, (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.