BFRDP Projects

FVC facilitates a national peer network that develops and provides access to training, education, internships, mentorships, jobs, financial and market opportunities for beginning farmer veterans. We combined new small scale livestock and vegetable production and business planning materials with existing core tools previously created through Risk Management Agency grants (One Page Business/Financial Plan, One Page Monthly Cash Flow Budget, and One Page Risk Management Plan). These tools have been adapted to explain small scale pork and pastured poultry production business, small scale honeybee, grass fed beef, lamb, goat, and vegetable business models. 

Over the grant period, FVC staff engaged with more than 6,000 new farmer veteran members through our headquarters in Davis, CA.

Farmer Veteran Coalition completed 27 workshops focusing on small scale livestock and vegetable production, risk management and financial education.  We have incorporated the new training materials into the workshops that target these farmer veterans and their specific crop and assist them in refining their own financial, production, risk management and business plans.  We held 13 webinars that focused on production and business planning.  Our most successful webinar focused on starting a farm from scratch: land assessment.  Over 140 veterans tuned-in live and the recording has 1,542 views. 

One of the workshops specifically focused on developing, supporting and educating women farmer veterans was held at the Stone Barns Center in March 2016. The women were educated on production, financial and risk management components of small scale livestock/vegetable operations. The 2017 Empowering Women Veterans Conference consisted of twelve hours of workshops in Santa Rosa, California.  This successful event saw many female farmer veterans bonding together to share their experiences and strength. In 2018, FVC partnered with NFU to bring women veterans together with other women farmers in San Diego, CA. Topics included financial literacy, marketing, collaborative farming and agritourism.  

October 2022 - September 2023    The UAPB Staff worked with beginning farmers to carry out the four objectives of the project.

Objectives One – To provide business training and assistance to Beginning Socially Disadvantaged and Limited Resource Farmers (BSDLRF).

BSDLRFs participated in business training with direct assistance from the staff.  Ninety-one (91) participants were assisted with enterprise budgets to develop financial plans. Forty-one (41) submitted financial plans to the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Eight (8) of the plans were funded for $840,000.

Objective Two – to educate BSDLRPs on using the Natural Resources and Conservation Services (NRCS) and the Cooperative Extension Services (CES).

BSDLRFs were educated (through educational sessions and direct assistance) on NRCS and CES. BSDLRPs learned about the NRCS Funding under the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). This program provided an incentive payment (90% of the average cost of the conservation practice) for installing conservation practices. Twenty-five (25) BSDLRPs submitted EQIP Applications and were funded for approximately $500,000.
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To assist BSDLRPs in using the CES, the staff directly informed over 100 participants about the CES and some specific CES services. Consequently, 40 took soil tests to determine their land’s fertility and lime recommendation. Ten (10) took soil compaction tests, and 10 developed weed control plans. 

Objective Three- to provide vegetable marketing training.

To help BSDLRPs identify markets for their vegetable crops, three (3) vegetable marketing workshops were conducted. The workshop participants were vendors who were buying vegetables. These vendors explained their requirements for purchasing vegetables. Fifteen (15) BSDLRPs sold their vegetables to vendors who participated in the workshops.

Objective Four – to conduct a Beginning Farmers Class

Twenty-five (25) individuals completed the Beginning Farmers Class in 2023. The course consisted of seven (7) five-hour workshops conducted monthly. Applicants completing the class met the managerial ability requirement to receive a USDA operating loan.

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 was 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 enabled over 200 BFs to access land or achieve
more secure tenure. Project goals were that: 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 were 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. LFG recorded over 300 cases of intensive individual technical assistance to farm seekers. Collaborators planned, hosted, promoted, and delivered 60 land access educational workshops and seeker-landowner mixers, and Farm Succession Schools - including transitioning to new formats and online delivery in the last half of the project.  The New England Farm Link Collaborative made more farm properties available and visible to BFs, with 500 new properties posted to New England Farmland Finder alone, any more posted to 3 state farm link sites. We developed more structured coaching protocols around farm succession, continued a rigorous program of staff professional development, and developed new tools and resources. Over the 3 year project period, 86% of all BFs who responded to our annual impact survey found LFG services at least somewhat helpful. 75% of the 270 BF respondents to our annual impact survey during the project took some action, with 38% - or 103 BFs - gaining secure land tenure within the previous 12 months. Overall, over 205 farmers gained more secure land tenure and nearly 50 farmers complete succession plans. 

Finally, we improved the connectivity and performance of farm link programs in our region and nationally. We hosted the first ever national Farm Link Clinic in 2019 involving 27 programs, who then implemented program improvements. Wrote on participant, “LFG hosting the first ever national farm link clinic was a big first step in greater collaboration, networking and professional development for land access and transfer professionals. Ideally these clinics could be annual or every couple of years to continue this work.” 

We increased the number and enhanced the success of Native Hawaiian farmers to grow new agroforestry projects and improve resource management of existing projects. This project increased economic opportunity, food security and cultural connection to the forest in the Native Hawaiian community of Maui.

Objectives completed:

1) Trained 150 new and beginning Native Hawaiian farmers in agroforestry

2) Engaged 30 new Native Hawaiian youth in agroforestry as a career path

3) Enhanced the success of 50 beginning agroforesters

Future objectives to be fulfilled:

1) Facilitate 20 new farmers in designing an agroforestry/native reforestation project

2) Establish a demonstration farm cultivated by 100 new Native Hawaiian farmers

3) Provide land to 2 Native Hawaiian farmers to cultivate native crops and enter markets

4) Develop 10 new markets for agroforestry cultural crops.

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

Based in Fairfax County, Virginia, but pulling on expertise and farms across Northern and Central Virginia and the National Capital Region, Arcadia's Veteran Farmer Program brings 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 increases the number of veteran farmers and helps to ensure their success by providing them with farming skills; business development and management training; and ongoing technical support. This program also provide continued support through ongoing mentorships from the business, agricultural, and veteran communities.

Arcadia's Veteran Farmer Program was successful in its goal to increase the number of military veterans operating new, successful farm operations in the Washington, D.C. region. Within 3 months of the end of the first year of the program, six program participants have already started to farm, while another four have gained experience and or/employment in agriculture and agriculture related jobs. Interest in the 2017 program was high, and Arcadia is expanding the size of the class to accommodate the additional interest.

The project’s overall goals were 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: 1. Provided 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. Established peer-to-peer learning through a Community of Practice, and 3. Offered an array of veteran transitional and disability support services. Outreach efforts were targeted toward military veterans and socially disadvantaged beginning farmers/ranchers with and without disabilities. The project provided participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed decisions regarding entering, establishing, and managing successful agriculture enterprises. The activities were 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 were included. Program sustainability was 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. Even though the project grant period has ended, the program is still being delivered.

Through the program 572 individuals increased their awareness and understanding of business and strategic planning, value added enterprises, conservation, economics decision making, risk management, animal production, vegetable production, and soil and pasture management. The program has held 80 hands on learning/field days with 1034 attendees. The program has held 9 one day workshops across the state with 531 individuals in attendance. Hours of agriculture production course work attended in excess of 440 hours and 1300 hours of hands on hours completed. Webinar attendance for the 3-year period was 4926 participants. The website page was viewed/accessed          107, 751 times. One thousand six hundred and six unique individuals were directly served through the program. One hundred and twenty-six individuals started farming, 725 individuals were helped to prepare to start farming and 126 improved their farming success.

The purpose of this project was 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.

1. 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.
2. Work with BFRDP Standard and Educational Team projects to facilitate collaboration, communication and sharing of educational materials between projects to amplify the effectiveness and reach of the assistance provided to beginning farmers and ranchers.
3. Collaborate with NIFA to help BFRDP projects improve outcome-based reporting that will help BFRDP projects effectively communicate accomplishments, provide valid data for stakeholders, and the allow the public to learn more about BFRDP projects.

This project has developed a Clearinghouse that will help beginning farmers and ranchers be more successful. The Clearinghouse has assembled 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. 

FarmAnswers.org has had over 86,000 individual visitors since it was launched, with those visitors viewing documents on how to get started farming through improving their farming success. Other BFRDP projects have used the Clearinghouse to share educational materials both with beginning farmers and other projects. And finally, the Clearinghouse has established an outcome-based reporting system to enable BFRDP projects to share the results that they have achieved with their BFRDP funding.

This renewal Standard BFRDP project built upon a successful Development Grant (PD: Kelly Coleman, award 2012-49400-19591). The lead agency (CISA) managed 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. One hundred percent of federal funds went to CBOs.

The long-range goal of this project was to improve the sustainability and profitability of beginning farm businesses in Massachusetts by providing tailored technical assistance. During this grant we served 521 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 included 81 workshops, 19 networking events, and 343 one-on-one assistance consultations, plus detailed program evaluation. After participating, farmers continued to have access to on-going technical assistance and peer support through the collaborating organizations. As a result, 92% of participants (520/568 surveys) “moderately increased” knowledge and 66% of participants (374/568 surveys) “substantially increased” knowledge in the areas of marketing, business planning, financial analysis, diversification, or value-added production. By the end of the project we had collected data to confirm that 119 farmers implemented a change (78% of the 134 respondents) and 23 have already seen an increase in their income by at least 5% (45% of the 51 respondents to this question).  We believe the success of these outcomes will improve the economy and food security of the region.

This project is a collaboration of six Maryland organizations: University of Maryland, College Park (UMDCP); University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES); University of Maryland Baltimore, Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI); Farm Alliance of Baltimore (FAB); Black Yield Institute (BYI); Southern Maryland Agriculture Development Commission of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland (SMADC). 

Our goal is to alleviate what beginning farmers have told us are two of the biggest barriers to their success: land access and market access. 

In 2022, thanks to USDA-NIFA funding, we were able to expand our efforts to support urban, peri-urban, and historically underserved beginning farmers. Different organizations in our collaborative team taught about market research, legal issues related to leases and land access, and methods of growing and marketing African heritage crops. We launched a new online portal for a one-on-one entrepreneurial coaching program and recruited and trained new coaches. We started building out new online resources for realtors, landowners, and land seekers. We held community convenings and listening sessions to build concensus on urban farmland access and tenure. 

We look forward to building on and expanding this work in 2023. 

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 improved start-up opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations and communities. The coalition developed 4 main objectives in response to feedback from beginning farmers served by our organizations.

• Enhance Regional Coalition: The Coalition  increased networking and communication channels through quarterly meetings, an active working relationship between the Program Coordinators, and the development of a mentor learning infrastructure that continues to be successfully executed.
• Whole Farm and Local Market Education: In total 106 students participated in ARC&D's Winter Business Intensive and Field School. An additional 800 individuals particpated in the virtual Summer Field School held in 2020. A demonstration garden showcased the challenges and benefits of wholesale organic production.  Over the grant period,  12,500 lbs. of produce was harvested and approximately 966 individuals visited the sites.
• Internship-Mentorship Networking: Farmer and Rancher Mentoring (FARM) was created for adult and youth beginning farmers. Throughout the project period, 47 interns (200 hour and 70 hour) successfully completed the internship program. 31 farmer mentors participated in the educational experience. 
• Peer-to-Peer Circles: Peer learning circles are designed to create an educational and support network for farmers. A Women’s Farmer Roundtable was established in October 2018 in Tennessee and are still meeting regularly to date in 2020.The group plans to continue meeting after the project period. 

Over the course of Building Farm Foundations and Planning for Success: Beginning Farmer Training for Military Veterans, we have complete 4 -40 hour Armed to Farm trainings with 90 participants from throughout the Intermountain and North Western US. In addition we did a follow up training for Armed to Farm Alumni titled Armed to Farm 2.0 a Lean Canvas Enterprise Planning model with 13 hours of training.  This training had 13 Armed to Farm graduates that wanted to dig into their business plan or try out planning for a new enterprise. Of the 90 veteran participants in the Armed to Farm training, 23 have started farms and our post training evaluations indicate that 60 made positive changes to their business planning and production practices as a result of the trainings. 

In an effort to increase the success of our Armed to Farm graduates, we provided one on one technical assistance at the trainings as well as follow up technical assistance as needed. This included 55 individual technical assistance sessions by NCAT staff and our project partners throughout the course of the project.

We have watched a network of veteran farmers grow and solidify through the efforts of NCAT,  the veteran participants, and our project partners. We have a Montana based email listserve to promote agriculture events of interest for Armed to Farm alumni to attend. 25% of the Armed to Farm alumni in Montana have joined the national Armed to Farm Facebook group and participate regularly.

Our partner Vilivus Training Institute's efforts to recruit a veteran apprentice on their organic grain farm, did not materialize. Vilicus Training Institute, instead, provided mentoring and guidance on organic certification, USDA program participation, and cover cropping strategies to 10 veteran farmers.

Midwest GRIT is a peer-to-peer and professional education dissemination-based, year-long program to provide beginning grain farmers with the production, marketing, and business management resources they need to grow, market, and sell food-grade grains to their local communities in the Midwest region. Midwest GRIT delivers information through monthly webinars, bimonthly peer-to-peer networking and sharing sessions, at least 2 in-person events per year, professional grain grower conferences, direct technical assistance, and through the provision of a resource guidebook at the end of the program. The first cohort of 31 beginning farmers was convened in June 2022 and included 23 female, 7 male, and 1 nonbinary identifying participants. Twenty-six percent of the farmers in cohort 1 identified as an ethnicity or race other than white. The second cohort of 30 beginning farmers was convened in April 2023 and included 13 female, 13 male, and 4 nonbinary identifying participants. Twenty-seven percent of the farmers in cohort 2 identified as an ethnicity or race other than white. Cohort 2 is ongoing, but cohort 1 accomplishments include:

• Five participants from Cohort 1 grew and/or marketed food-grade grains for the first time following cohort participation
• Ninety percent of the Cohort 1 participants reported their access to peer/farmer community increased over the last year due to Midwest GRIT
• On a scale of 1 to 5, 39% of participants awarded their gains in knowledge of growing food-grade grains as a 5, indicating that GRIT programming significantly increased their knowledge of growing food-grade grains
• Participant also cited gains in knowledge in post-harvest handling of food-grade grains, marketing of food-grade grains, and business farming expertise
  
  
  
  
  

In Year 2, activities included 5 workshops and trainings that were conducted by First Nations and/or the three livestock associations. In Year 2, 117 producers attended and/or received technical assistance to advance their knowledge on conservation, ranching, marketing, processing, and much more.

In Year 1, the livestock associations were slow to report as a result in Year 1, 8 trainings were not reported they are summarized in the impact report.
In summary, the project proved to impact the advancement of the three livestock association and their capacity to manage their nonprofits. With technical assistance they increased their knowledge on grants management, nonprofit management, community outreach and engagement, and financial management.

The project also enabled the 3 livestock association to expand their outreach to Native American producers and explore potential new partnerships. As a result of their outreach, ND14R Ranch established a new market for cattle that did not meet the criteria to be deemed source-verified beef. Rather than taking the cattle to a sale barn they discovered a new market that has enabled them to receive higher sales that they would not otherwise receive at the sale barn. They also established a new partnership in the Navajo Agriculture Products Industry (NAPI) to finish off short sale calves to increase their weight and quality.

In addition, as a result of research conducted under the project, Point of Pines Cattle Association increased their cattle sales. In 2017, upon initiation of the grant project, the livestock associations were surveyed to identify the status of their organization, cattle herd, sales, and producers they serve. When surveyed in 2017, Point of Pines Cattle Association indicated that they were receiving $0.88/lb on their cattle sales. In 2019, at the conclusion of the project and through market research their cattle were selling for $1.25/lb.

Unlike private land owners, Native American producers manage their farms and ranches on trust lands. To do so, many are required to obtain a grazing and/or land use permit from the BIA if the permit was passed down to them by parents and/or grandparents. As such, livestock associations provide a means for Native American producers to continue ranching in some instances without a grazing permit because the land has been allocated for the association.  The associations serve in a quasi-cooperative capacity, managing all the producers’ cattle collectively, coordinating cattle sales, and maintaining herd health. While First Nations indicated that ranching startups was not applicable, five agribusinesses were initiated, with four of the businesses engaged in ND14R Ranch.

At time of final project reporting, First Nations learned that the executive director, Colleen Tessey of the Grasshopper Livestock Association was recognized with a Governor’s award for her contribution to Arizona agriculture and her work with the Grasshopper Livestock Association. She will be recognized at the 5th Annual Arizona Ag Roundtable on December 2, 2019 which will be attended by the Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue.

The primary goal of this project was to lay the groundwork for the future Chemeketa Incubator Farm (CIF) Program. The long-term goal of this project was to increase agricultural opportunities and support economic growth by providing land-based education and business planning for new and beginning farmers. 

Planning work has provided direction on how we can best increase equitable agricultural opportunities and support diverse economic growth by providing farm and food systems training that considers future and current beginning farmers' individual needs. Activities completed have allowed us to identify the specific resources and services that are difficult for aspiring farmers to access. The impact of this planning work has allowed us to refine original ideas in the initial proposal and acknowledge the diverse needs of aspiring farmers in our region. It has helped identify the most important topics and skills needed for future farmers to be successful in establishing sustainable farm businesses in the Mid-Willamette Valley.

We have designed a training program which includes options for a non-credit training certificate and access to a variety of community incubator farms in Chemeketa’s Tri-County Service District. We’ve worked closely with stakeholders and partners to survey aspiring and beginning farmers. We’ve also consulted partners and organizations serving similar target audiences in other areas so we can minimize common barriers to new farmers. We’ve designed the proposed training program to include the most needed training and resources related to career exploration in agriculture, farming principles and practices, farm business development and management, and topics in food sovereignty.

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

This one year development project proposal helped achieve the following objectives: 1) Provide technical assistance to beginning farmers according to their level of capacity in the three phases of the Flats Mentoring Program; 2) Provide tools and develop skills on financial and risk management; 3) Increase beginning farmer participation in USDA programs. In the area of training and technical assistance, this project addressed the immediate needs identified by the immigrant and refugee farmer participants at FMF to better understand the complexities of farming in New England: crop production practices, entrepreneurship and business training, financial and risk management, marketing strategies, food safety practices and outreach to USDA programs.

The FMF beginning farmer training model is built on 30 years of experience in working hands-on with refugees and immigrants. The FMF program is based on a model of assessing and defining farmers in the three identified levels of beginning farmers’ capacity and providing training and technical assistance that respects each culture, and the capacity of each farmer to participate on both physical and emotional level. 

The VSU BFRDP team has been successful in accomplishing the stated objectives of the project. The VSU Small Farm Outreach Program conducted over 2000 efforts during the 3- year life of the project. These efforts included one-on-one on-the-farm visits, tours, phone calls, emails, and Agricultural educational training workshops/events (in-person and online). Participants received information about farm business planning and financial management, risk management education, production and marketing methods/techniques, demonstrations and farm tours. All evaluated events rated at a 90% percentile and higher indication that participants gained knowledge about USDA and other state agricultural agencies resources that are available to them. Participants indicated that they gained knowledge on how to create a business plan; gained knowledge that will help them to make an informed decision; and plan to use in the information gained in the future to enhance their farm operation. 150 beginning and veteran farmers were recruited, 84 participants have started and are operating a farm business. Twenty-one (21) applicants received Cost Share from NRCS. 98 participants increased knowledge on accessing FSA and other loan programs; forty-eight (48) developed a business plan and Thirty-two (32) applied to FSA and other loan programs; eleven (11) gained farmland.

The New Farmer Orientation sessions provided participants with a step-by-step guide of the many resources that are available to them, as well as connecting them to their assigned small farm State Program Assistant, and their local USDA Agency. It also provided snapshots of what a business structure looks like and things to consider when starting a farm business. 

Workshops such as USDA Information Sessions, Estate Planning and Land Transition, Agribusiness Production & Financial Management allows participants an open forum where they can communicate directly with USDA and respective representatives and gain first-handed information about the resources they need to become successful farmers.

Our Small Farm Program Assistants (PA) will continue to provide outreach, training, technical assistance and provide producers with direct assistance when completing applications, providing hands-on guidance and education relating to their needs.

The purpose of Cultivating Success: A Comprehensive Beginning Farmer Training and Mentorship Program for Idaho, is to increase the number and success of beginning small farmers and ranchers in Idaho. Methods include comprehensive training (in-person and via site-hosted interactive webinars), facilitating access to land and capital (via networking and meaningful online resources), and coordinate ongoing farmer-to-farmer mentoring (on farms). This system combined with the 42 county reach of University of Idaho (UI) Extension will allow the project team to reach nearly all of Idaho.  Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Idaho’s farms and ranches are working on less than 180 acres. Many of these farmers are women. UI Extension’s Cultivating SuccessTM Sustainable Small Farms Education program has been the primary educational resource for the target audience in Idaho for nearly 20 years. Since 2001, 575 people have completed one or more Cultivating Success courses in Idaho.  Participants identified land costs, land availability, start-up costs and access to capital as barriers to small farm success. This project proposed to re-invigorate the existing Cultivating SuccessTM program to address current needs. Key partners include Rural Roots, an existing farm networking and education non-profit organization, and several farmers who are already trained and experienced farmer mentors.  The program is providing needed education, mentoring and resource information to Idaho’s small-acreage farmers and ranchers. Post-workshop evaluations measured behavioral change and the effectiveness of the delivery formats. The project activities are in alignment with USDA-NIFA’s priorities addressing hunger and food security.

Indigenous Roots Forever: A Business Support Program for Tribal and other Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Beginning Farmers was a one-year collaborative program executed by the Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust in Cranston, RI under the USDA-BFRDP FY2021-2022 Simplified Standard Grants initiative. The project ran through September 1, 2021, to August 31, 2022, and involved collaboration with Global Village Farms in Grafton, Support and outreach focused on historically underserved Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) beginning farmers in Massachusetts, where few educational resources for this population exist.

The project utilized outreach and individualized educational services as well as intensive learning and technical assistance to increase understanding of sound business practices. Thirty-eight beginning BIPOC farmers participated in the program with over twenty showing some gains in business planning and marketing knowledge. Two farms (representing 8 farmers) saw an increase in revenues as a result of implementing this knowledge into their own businesses.

In the second project year, Delta Farming Start delivered technical assistance, mentoring, and intensive, targeted training in farming start-up, farming practice and management, AG related business, and other critical areas to 45 selected participants. Participants are 100% African American, limited resource, socially-disadvantaged, small farm and ranch or are currently farmworkers. Participants are also 100% focused on specialty crop production. Participants completed quarterly 2-day training, received and will continue to receive ongoing one on one coaching and visits to their farms, soil testing with financial resources for soil preparation, tilling, row creation, and precision seeding equipment through the Delta Farming Start program for the life of the project. Participants were either prepared to start small independent farm operations or other agriculture-related self-employment, or to grow and diversify their existing limited resource farming operations.

In addition to 1,698 hours of training, coaching and mentoring, the MDC Delta Farm Start, BFRDP project year 2, Delta Farm Start has provided 1) 45 micro grants of $500 to participants for start-up or expansion expenses covering 102 acres of participant land, 2) access to 44 acres of donated land, 3) access to tractors, tilling and precision seeding equipment, at low or no cost to participating farmers, 4) connection to irrigation and hoop house resources, 5) connection to processing plant, 6) MDC cold transportation and cold storage for product, and 7) secured aggregate buyers for participants. (*Note: Please See Steps section below for additional detail on services provided to participants.)

Individual participant earnings project year 2 ROI:
Delta Farm Start project year 2 return on micro grant investment to farmers (ROI) = 812%
Of 45 funded micro-grants of $500, a $22,000 investment, grant recipients as well as an additional 10 participants who were not grant recipients but existing farmers have jointly increased their total annual earnings by $178,636.

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.

This project has recruited and enhanced the sustainability of new and beginning farmers and ranchers in Texas by helping them develop successful farm and ranch operations using the "Model Farm Concept". 

(1) We have established and in the process of starting model farms on our campus farm and in several of the counties that we have agents located.  The model farms includes High Tunnels for year round vegetable production, one acre commercial gardening plots (43,560 Initiative), strawberries, grafted cucumber production, sweet potatoes and peas production.  We have also conducted workshops and field days to expose producers to these production areas and to connect them to mentor farmers/ranchers as well as USDA personnel. 

 (2) We have provided scale-appropriate instructional and experiential training in production, business management and marketing; via field days, bus tours and workshops. We have engaged producers in hands-on-learning some examples of this have been the Agriculture Field Day, Small Farm Outreach Workshop, Soil Health Series, and Agroforestry Workshop.

(3) We have developed an effective partnerships between Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (BFRs) and USDA, State agencies, CBOs and other successful farmers by creating mentorship opportunities and facilitating information sharing on programs and services available to them.

(4) We have developed a BFR database in which we delivered targeted program and marketing information  as well a disseminated  information to our target audience.  This has been a joint effort between the Agricultural and Natural Resource (AGNR) unit of our Cooperative Extension Program (CEP) and the two prominent CBOs working closely together.

The project goal includes implementing a program to arrest  the decline of Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (BFRs) and expand new producers in the lower twelve (12) Florida counties, through education, outreach, technical assistance, training, and access to Federal programs over three (3) years. This is achieved by building their capacities and strengthening their skillsets leading towards the development of viable farms and ranches.  The project targets forty (40) BFRs consisting of Socially Disadvantaged, Veteran, Women Tenant, Urban and Limited Resource farmers and ranchers engaged in Specialty Crops, Small Livestock, and Honeybee Enterprises.  To date working with forty five (45) BFRs the shocks from natural disasters and lack of access to capital have been minimized with initial steps taken to develop sustainable markets.  

The objectives and corresponding activities are (i) development and adoption of two Quick Response Tools for Rapid Farm Redevelopment and Expansion; (ii) training and (iii) technical assistance in farm business planning, leadership, management, climate-smart farm production (specialty crops, small livestock, and honey bee), food safety, recordkeeping, marketing, land leasing, microlending, cooperative development, postharvest and processing technologies.  The expected producer outcomes are (i) 12% [5] develop a pre-cooperative cluster; (ii) 30% [12] develop profitable farms as defined by stabilized annual incomes; (iii) 30% [12] are engaged in enterprises that show improvement in cash flow on an annual basis; (iv) at least 25% [10] develop Individual Small On-Farm Resilient Funds; and (v) 30% [12] utilize the Small Farm Update and Communication App (FarmTalk-Forum).

The goal of this project was to enhance the viability of new and beginning farmers (NBFs) in WNC by providing them with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to start and/or grow successful farm operations focused on direct market opportunities. In achieving this goal, project activities provided NBFs with training, technical assistance, and resources to develop and implement direct marketing strategies in four key areas:

• Marketing - we helped NBFs build and establish their farm brand (farm identity, values, story), and develop and implement a marketing plan (through communications and direct market channels). 150 NBFs learned and implemented new direct marketing strategies, project goal was 160.
• Farm business planning - we helped NBFs use farm business financials and recordkeeping to manage and develop direct market business plan. 112 NBFs learned business planning/recordkeeping strategies, project goal was 100.
• Production for direct markets - we helped NBFs develop applicable production planning and management strategies including crops/varieties to grow, food safety, post harvest handling, and pest/disease control options. 77 NBFs developed and/or implemented crop plans for direct market channels, project goal was 90.
• Development of market opportunities - we helped drive consumer demand for, and connection to, direct market channels (CSA, agritourism, farmers markets). 231 NBFs participated in (and benefited from) print and radio direct market promotions featuring CSAs, farmers markets, farm tours, upick, and other direct markets, project goal was 160.
  

Despite the challenges introduced by the advent and continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to adapt workshop and resource content and format to meet the demands of an unprecedented time, it is apparent this approach to assisting New and Beginning Farmers (NBFS) in western North Carolina was ultimately successful as the majority of project deliverables were met or exceeded.

ISED Solutions started its EET award collaboration with 20 refugee farming incubator projects (RFIPs) nationwide, to review beginning farmer curricula and programs for refugees, identify the gaps and develop, pilot test, and distribute specialized curricula, course workshop modules, and multiple instructional tools and manuals for instructors and technical assistance providers.  We also focused increasingly on specialized methods – skills development that also lacking among RFIPs personnel, and that lacking these can put refugee projects and farmers at a large developmental disadvantage.

Achievements related to the major objectives were:
*Established three EET project teams: Developers, Evaluators (Testers) and Advisory team.
*Collected over 100 existing curricula, identified gaps, and establish development priorities.  Posted onto a Google drive for partner and staff access and use.  Converted / upgraded more than 30 to post to website for brand access.
*Planned and initiated development of 26 new modules incorporating audience content with instructional methods targeting farmers, and/or instructor training or guidance tools targeting trainers.
*Planned and began developing comprehensive skills and capacity development for RFIP trainers / instructors, via written guidance, webinars, conference calls, readings, and meeting presentations.   
*Organized six multi-day meetings to bring together all partners, and also connect with other incubators, in sync with the New Entry/NIFTI annual conference in the fall.
*Supported a Community of Practice development approach via national meetings, webinars, conference calls, emails, resource sharing, and joint planning and development of resources designed for use by any or all interested refugee farming incubators.
*Began dissemination via Farm Answers, New Entry / NIFTI, IRC, and other partners. 
*Attended USDA/BFRDP grantee meetings every year.

As of Years 3&4, we posted over 60 new and expanded resources.  These are available here: https://nesfp.org/new-american-resources. Also, a comprehensive teaching  handbook was developed for staff who are providing (T&TA) in immigrant and refugee farmer-training programs. There have been over 4500 downloads.

ECO City Farms’ Empowering Emerging, Historically-Underserved Urban Farmers in the DC Metro Area 2022-5 is a multi-pronged program to counter the epidemic of food insecurity and diet-related illnesses in our communities by increasing agricultural opportunities and economic growth through developing new and expanded markets, increasing competition and proliferating locally grown food, farms and farmers. We specialize in preparing new and emerging urban farmers with fewer than three-years of experience in farming. Our pool of potential urban farmers is drawn from the diverse populations of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, particularly Prince George’s County, where ECO City Farms has established and run a Certified-Naturally Grown non-profit urban commercial teaching and learning farm on two sites for the past 12 years, and in 2022, launched an incubator farm for new farmers at the County’s Watkins Regional Park. 

In year one of the project, 80% of our trainees met the criteria of limited resource and/or socially-disadvantaged participants from historically underserved populations. We commenced a program that offers our trainees substantial classroom and hands-on learning opportunities; access to a wide network of local farmers, farm educators, and resources for beginning farmers; and everything they needed to ready them for a successful start in the practice of just, resilient and sustainable urban agriculture.

Our overall goal is to deliver high-quality training to underemployed, beginning farmers that prepares them to start farming businesses or enter careers as farmers. In Year 1, we provided provide agricultural, professional, financial, and business skills training to 16 beginning farmers in the KNOX Urban Farming Program through our newly-redesigned three-level program model. In Year 1, 4 participants have scaled up their existing farm businesses, 4 adopted a new marketing practice, 1 developed a business plan, and 7 adopted a new production practice. We also provided training to 10 non-program participants, focusing on low-space, high-yield growing. In Year 2, 1 participant created a new farm startup, 3 adapted a new marketing practice, 3 developed a business plan, and 5 adopted a new production practice.

Additionally, we leveraged local partnerships to meet needs of participants not covered through the program and promote the importance and community value of urban farming in Hartford. Hands on Hartford provided access to their commercial kitchen, enabling participants to create value-added products. reSET provided basic business model and marketing trainings. Farm Credit East provided agribusiness and financial literacy trainings.

We also increased access to healthy, locally grown food in Hartford by leveraging KNOX’s partnership with local organizations and farmers markets to engage participants in growing produce to sell to the community. KNOX sold produce grown by participants to organizations such as Hartford Public Schools, Foodshare, My Local Chefs, and Hartford Healthcare’s Food FARMacy Program.

Our goals align well with USDA’s program goals to educate and mentor beginning farmers to improve their successes in farming and provide them with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions for their operations. 100% of total federal funds requested are allocated to nongovernmental organizations. 95% of the budget is allocated to serving socially disadvantaged farmers.

The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance continues to collaborate with Oregon State University staff and regional and state-wide partners to improve and ensure farm and ranch viability in Central Oregon through targeted educational activities, mentoring, improved market access, and diversification. This project is currently being implemented in the tri-county region, and serves primarily small family farmers and ranchers who grow and raise food for local markets.  The project is improving farming practices and market diversification through educational, networking, grant, and mentoring opportunities; has developed and implemented a regional agri-tourism project (the High Desert Food Trail); is providing assistance to the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch to develop and sustain a livestock program with a dual therapeutic and economic focus; and improving farmer and rancher understanding and engagement in public policies that affect their operations.

These objectives are being accomplished through a number of activities including: in person and virtual workshops and hands-on educational demonstrations at regional farms and ranches, butchering facilities and grocery stores; a farmer/rancher mentorship program; on-farm pasture and greenhouse management for veterans; and publishing of print and online materials for consumer education and engagement. These activities are designed to enhance participants’ success with sustainability augmented through peer-learning, support services, and learning opportunities. With the supplemental funding to the original award, HDFFA distributed On-Farm Efficiency Grant (OFEG) funds to 15 Central Oregon farms and ranches, 13 of which were supported by this grant. This financial support has enabled BFR to make substantial improvements to their operations, including season extenders and enhanced irrigation. HDFFA takes an iterative approach, evaluating each project to inform program improvement and overall success and impact. The target audience is 250 individuals with a direct impact on 60 beginning farmers and ranchers. The project is collectively impacting regional farmers, ranchers and consumers, while simultaneously informing regional and state-wide organizations.

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, of Maryland's 12,400 farms, 20 percent are owned by people 65 years or older - a percentage that rises with the addition of farms owned by 55-65 year olds. With agriculture the largest industry in Maryland, contributing 350,000 jobs, the mass loss of farmers and their expertise in the upcoming 5-10 years, coupled with land-access obstacles for new farmers, could create a labor and farming vacuum with grave effects on the state's economy. What's more, agriculture remains the single largest source of sediment and nutrient pollution to the Chesapeake Bay, contributing 40% of nitrogen and 50% of phosphorus, according to the Chesapeake Bay Program. Much of this can be reduced by farmers well trained in cover cropping, drip irrigation, buffers, rotational grazing, and other conservation innovations that also allow them to remain profitable.

The Ensuring New Farmers' Long-Term Commercial Success: A Comprehensive Beginner Farmer Training Program for Maryland project collaborative developed and implemented a comprehensive program for first-year and intermediate-level farmers that included: 1) a supportive mentor community and resources for farmer success over the long haul; 2) specialized training in grazing, urban farming, and restaurant marketing for those interested; 3) a market outlet for new Baltimore area farmers, Chesapeake Farm to Table, which is set up to work with and train new farmers; and 4) needs-based mini-grants and flexible apprenticeship scheduling to meet needs of socially disadvantaged and low-income farmers. The project played a critical role in growing a new farmer workforce well-trained in practices that ensure long-term economic success, reduce agricultural pollution to the Chesapeake Bay, and build soil health. 

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

Since the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) was first created in 2008, over $145 million has been invested to support nearly 300 new farmer training projects impacting farmers in every state across the country.  While each project is required to track and report outcomes and impacts, until this evaluation was conducted, no national-level analysis had ever been completed of BFRDP as a whole.  Our project team developed and published the first-ever comprehensive evaluation of BFRDP funded projects by analyzing qualitative and quantitative data from project reports, surveying BFRDP project leaders, writing successful project vignettes, and assessing the long-term impacts of completed projects. With this project, we sought to better understand both the short and long-term outcomes and impacts of BFRDP as a whole, and to better understand the factors that lead to more successful new farmer training projects.

World Farmers' project centered on increasing farmers’ agricultural capacity as they take their operation to the next level, and seek to transition beginning immigrant and refugee farmers onto independent land. The target audience for this project was the  354 immigrant and refugee farmers in our Flats Mentor Farm program. Throughout this project, World Farmers and collaborating organizations achieved the following objectives: 1) Provided farm transition planning assistance for immigrant and refugee farmers; 2) Transitioned small-scale or subsistence farmers to the next phase of their operations; 3) Conducted training and technical assistance in the areas of crop management and pest identification; 4) Assisted in farmer land acquisition efforts. This project and all its partners were dedicated to providing customized support to each farmer as they establish their individual farming enterprise, and to strengthen and enhance a new social fabric that welcomes new and diverse community members.

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

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

3. Project Description: The FEED goal was to educate and train 150 beginning and socially disadvantaged (BSD) farmers to plan, launch, and/or sustainably establish independent organic farm businesses. ALBA exceeded its goal by training 250+ participants through workshops and technical assistance, and incubating 86 farm businesses. Of these 86 farm businesses, 57 continue to farm in 2019. FEED primarily served low-income Latinos in the Salinas Valley – many of whom are immigrant farm workers -- helping them achieve the dream of farm ownership and economic independence.

ALBA was able to achieve this goal with its 100 acres of organic land; a well-qualified team; an intensive, multi-year farmer development program; and, most importantly, the determination of its participants.  Furthermore, ALBA coordinated with four longstanding partner organizations to expand services to farmers, including during the transition off ALBA’s land. FEED’s objectives focused on all stages of BSD farmer development from start-up through farm incubation and transition from ALBA land and finally to maturation.

Obj. 1: Farmers receive intensive education and TA to prepare for and launch farm businesses.

Obj. 2: Farms strengthened through intensive production and business development services.

Obj. 3: Farms receive transition and business consulting services to firmly establish independent farm businesses off of ALBA ground.

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

4. Collaborating Organizations:

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

Farming for Prosperity (FFP) for Immigrant and Refugee Farmers in south King County,
Washington, initiated services in October 2021 to prepare new farmers who have been
traditionally under resourced to access capital, farmland, and educational resources. South King
County is the most ethnically diverse region in Washington State. The FFP partnership blends
the resources of an established agricultural education program at Highline College with the
cultural and language support of three non-profit organizations: International Rescue Committee
of Western Washington, Living Well Kent, and Wakulima USA. The project partners have
developed a working alliance to meet the needs of the farmers affiliated with each organization.
Monthly topic workshops on organic production and farm business are complemented with
technical assistance on organic production and business planning and business management.

FFP partners are working collaboratively with the King County Agriculture Land Use
Coordinator in providing land access, field preparation, and irrigation. The project is addressing
priorities in King County’s Local Food Initiative and Equity and Social Justice Initiative as well
as legislative priorities defined in the 2018 Farm Bill: 1) basic crop farming practices, 2)
entrepreneurship and business training, and 3) resources and referral. FFP is meeting five
objectives: 1) build the agricultural and business knowledge of immigrant beginning farmers; 2)
develop practical farming abilities; 3) assist beginning farmers in creating farm businesses; 4)
create pathways for sharing farmer wisdom; 5) maintain farm business sustainability with oneon-one guidance through the historically inaccessible land, market, and funding processes.
Outcomes include beginning farmers completing farm business and practicum workshops;
managing their own farm incubator plots; receiving in-field technical assistance and one-on-one
business planning; starting new farm businesses; connecting to commercial farmer mentors; and
receiving guidance through land, markets, and funding processes.

As of reporting date project had been on hold due to Pandemic. Only one of 12 planned in person Seminars was held during the period.

Development of future in person meetings and development of on line courses and programs started.

525 Beginning Farmers were educated through a combination of in-person seminars and online educational learning modules.

Enhanced Virtual Educational Training Modules were developed. 333 Beginning Farmers successfully completed the online courses.

97 Mentors were recruited. 82 became mentors to 102 Mentees.

Reached Beginning in Farmers in 18 States (originally planned on 15 states, but through the addition of the online component reached some who were outside the original 15 states)

systems, food safety, farm safety, and farm/financial/risk management. 
It is anticipated that 225 new BFs will start farming and 200
experienced BFs will improve their farm plans.

This application is from Central State University and is a collaboration with Ohio State
University and community-based organizations (CBOs). These CBOs (and the
amount that they will be receive from the budget) are: Urban Green
Farmers’ Cooperative (socially disadvantaged serving, $59,736); Coit
Road Farmers Market (socially-disadvantaged serving, $59,736); Trumbull
Neighborhood Partnership (socially-disadvantaged serving, $59,736);
Grace Community Center (socially-disadvantaged serving, $59,736); 5)
Soldiers To Sawyers (military veteran-serving, $57,441); and Springfield
Ohio Urban Plantfolk (socially-disadvantaged serving, $58,341). 
Overall, 63% of the $538,988 budget is going to the CBOs, with 55.16%
and 10.66% going to train socially disadvantaged and military veteran
BFs, respectively.

We accomplished the following: trained socially-disadvantaged and military veteran beginning farmers in organic vegetable farming, commercial scale hydroponics farming with nationally-renowned Crop King, farm financial training with Fearless Farm Finances (book produced for beginning farmers by MOSES/Marbleseed), and marketing vegetables to independently-owned ethnic grocery stores. 

We plan to bring beginning farmers to start unique specialty crops such as small scale intensive strawberry production and edible mushroom production.

The 2015-2016  of our Beginning Farmer/Rancher Development Project has gotten us off to a great start in fulfilling both the stated mission of the proposal and in meeting our target numbers and diversity of participants. The idea behind this project was to bring together a substantial group of  project collaborators to create a beginning farmer training pipeline for participants with 0-7 years of farming practice and to help them to gain in knowledge, skills and planning capabilities in a consistent way, depending on their point of entry. These potential farmers would help to grow the urban/rural connection within the Hudson Valley of New York.

Aspiring and beginning farmers are not a homogeneous group. They come with particular strengths and challenges and this project aims to meet them where they are at. As we originally planned, this project specifically targeted aspiring and current farmers from socially disadvantaged and veteran communities who often are only marginally connected to existing beginning farmer offerings.

In our first year we were able to bring a greater diversity of aspiring farmers to the Hudson Valley. Interested participants passed through explorer, planner, start-up and enterprise stages of programming according to their farming experience. Specialized training allowed groups with particular needs such as veterans, young African American or Latino aspiring farmers or
formerly incarcerated individuals to enter the farmer training pipeline having already worked through the unique set of issues they face in their own communities.

This project has also allowed the project collaborators to deepen their work together. In this case seven organizations partnered to implement the project goals: Hawthorne Valley Farm, Grow NYC FARMroots,  the Bard Prison Initiative Re-Entry Program, Soul Fire Farm, the Black Urban Growers and Heroic Food. As service providers for target audiences, the more we work together, the more we  can meet specific needs and challenges of our stakeholders.

This year were able to run 4 planning and production skills workshops, to train facilitators and initiate a Community Garden Internship Program for formerly incarcerated individuals, to run two separate workshops for veterans and to have this training culminate in our Farm Beginnings whole farm planning program. Through this 6-8 session program more advanced farmers
were able to plan out their farming enterprises  in order to meet the challenge of providing an ongoing sustainable living for themselves and their families as they continue their farming careers.

Finally, we were able to offer a Farm Mentorship Program so that graduates from Farm Beginnings could spend time with a farm mentor of their choosing to target specific area of interest or skill building they might have.

We continue to be grateful to the USDA Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program for allowing us this opportunity to help bring aspiring and current farmers of diverse backgrounds into the Hudson Valley.

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

The goal of the project was to reduce Hawaii’s dependence on imported food and increase the state’s food sustainability. This was accomplished by developing and supporting farmers and individuals who want to establish a business in the agricultural industry. This project developed new farmers through 1) a certificate-based farmer training program that integrated formal classroom and experiential lessons, 2) 1-on-1 business consulting and technical support, and 3) ongoing production, business, and networking support. Incorporating these components increased the likelihood of success for the state’s new and beginning farmers.

Over the past three years, 68% of participants (most of whom began with no farming experiences or connections) have started or improved a commercial farming operations, 13% of participants found employment in the agricultural industry, and 14% plan to use their knowledge to establish a farm in the future. 

During the same period, a total of 2,471 aspiring and existing farmers have attended educational workshops and 189 have received individualized consulting. 

Experiential learning or "learning through reflections of doing" is a highly successful method of education. Hands-on practical training is a form of experiential learning and is often a critical component of training for professions that are as tactile and sensory as beekeeping. New beekeeping farmers must learn how to properly manipulate hive equipment and safely manage
hives with little disruption to bees. They also learn to assess hive needs using diagnostic sensory observations, including touch and smell, that are not easily conveyed through lectures, online videos, and books. Many experienced beekeeping farmers are willing to become mentors and offer practical training but do not for reasons including not having suitable locations to not having enough hives for teaching purposes. Therefore, through this project we are building upon the Regional Great Plains Master Beekeeping (GPMB) Program (previous BRFD # 2018-70017-28546) efforts and our project aim includes four new objectives that: 1) enhance open apiaries and field training opportunities which will promote GPMB level advancement; 2) enhance GPMB website user interface and experience for independent user tracking and long-term usage; 3) develop hands-on training kits and demonstration aids to enhance practical field training and experiential learning that complement existing lectures and online materials; and 4) continue targeted training opportunities for underserved populations. The overall aim of this workforce training program is to further expand practical skills and experiential learning for beginning and experienced beekeeping farmers through the enhancement of external partnerships, such as local beekeeping groups, that foster community-level engagement, support, and learning. 

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

Summary:

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

A multidimensional approach makes available training and resources under four broad objectives: 
• OBJECTIVE 1: Provides educational opportunities directly to beginning farmers and ranchers through regionally-offered on-site programming and on-line resources.
• OBJECTIVE 2: Provides on-site and on-line educational programs to Wyoming’s new, beginning, and limited resource farmers and ranchers via FFA classrooms and other venues. 
• OBJECTIVE 3: Coordinates and provides hands-on internships on working farms and ranches to Wyoming's beginning farmers and ranchers each summer in cooperation with state producer organizations and educational institutions.
• OBJECTIVE 4: Develops and circulates media-based education on various financial management, risk management, enterprise assessment, and risk analysis topics statewide via articles in agriculture-focused newspapers and producer-organization newsletters.

The project has laid the foundation to help aspiring farmers advance to become new farmers through an apprenticeship program, and help early career farmers achieve more success to persist in farming through advanced skill-building educational opportunities. The ultimate goal of this project is to increase the number of organic and sustainable farms in Ohio. For aspiring farmers, we offered intensive on-farm apprenticeships to develop farming skills, and complementary activities such as classroom instruction, network building, field days, and support to assess and address individual learning needs. For early career farmers, we provided workshops at OEFFA's annual conference and farm tours to gain additional farming skills and knowledge of production, business, and financial management. Some took advantage of mentorship with experienced farmers. We offered on-going direct technical assistance to over 600 farmers through phone calls and emails. Through the Farmland of Opportunity event and farm tours, we provided a space for beginning farmers and experienced farmers to ask questions, share ideas, and network. In addition, OEFFA created an online networking platform through Facebook to allow participants to continue sharing and learning through social media. In collaboration with Tecumseh Land Trust, OEFFA coordinated two farm succession and transition planning workshops for landowners to work through legal, tax, business, and communication challenges associated with transferring land to a new owner. In partnership with the National Young Farmers Coalition, OEFFA offered training. OEFFA has been trained as a Land Access Trainer by the American Farmland Trust to deliver land access programs and technical assistance to beginning farmers regionally.  OEFFA joined the Farm Beginnings Collaborative, a national alliance of regional organizations who offer a licensed whole farm planning curriculum to beginning farmers. OEFFA staff and farmer-leaders delivered this Farm Beginnings curriculum to farmers from 13 farms who successfully graduated. 

The Growing Self-Reliant Farmers project serves aspiring and beginning farmers, series about starting and and managing their own small-scale diversified farms through Calypso Farm and Ecology Center's 5-month, immersive Farmer Training Program, Beginning Farmer Council and share curriculum. 

Calypso Farm & Ecology Center, a grass roots, diversified educational farm founded in 2000, piloted the Farmer Training Program in 2012 to equip aspiring growers with the practical skills and confidence to start their own successful farms. The farm-based program offers hands-on training and is unique in its focus on creative, production and business skills through a wide array of topics, including: all aspects of ecological agriculture as well as blacksmithing, mechanics, carpentry, food preservation, wool processing, bee keeping, value added products, extensive whole farm and business planning, animal husbandry and more. Collaboration with the Folk School Fairbanks, a community-based organization focused on hands-on education, brings in a variety of expert instructors to teach many of these topics throughout the program. The Beginning Farmer Council, made up of farmers who have been in production for 5 years or less, serve as an advisory board for the Farmer Training Program and Whole Farm Planning curriculum.  

By 2019, the Farmer Training Program will serve 18 beginning farmers and 100 beginning farmers will participate in the program through hands-on public workshops and the Whole Farm Planning series.

The goal of this project is to expand the Four Corners Training Network for High Desert Farmers (FCTN), offering an immersive experience to beginning and aspiring farmers seeking to establish businesses at high elevations or in dry climates/short seasons by providing skills, knowledge connections and continuing education that will lead to business viability and success.
Our objectives are to strengthen the FCTN; impart knowledge to beginning farmers that will enable them to be successful vegetable farmers in growing conditions across the Mountain West; and increase the number of new independent farms in the surrounding area and in communities with similar growing conditions.

The FCTN is creating pathways for beginning farmers to receive more training and start their own businesses in subsequent years through mentoring and regional partner networks in areas with similar growing conditions. The Farmer-in-training (FIT) Program at the Old Fort expanded to include six Summer Short Courses (SSCs), emphasizing practices designed to be successful in high elevation conditions. A Spring Farmer Training Immersion (SFTI) will be offered remotely to program graduates who continue to farm, and other beginning farmers accessing support through the FCTN. As the FCTN, we believe that beginning farmers need multiple years and sources of support to succeed. Project partners will hold a Farmer Training Convergence, and work to develop and support farmers in second-year placements, including incubator programs and land access opportunities.

The expanded FIT program is meeting demand for hands-on farmer training and coursework, and allowing other programs to focus on helping farm businesses get established by developing and delivering all other components of beginning farmer education.

The goal of this grant was to address food sovereignty (and security) for three South Dakota Reservations, through increased producer capacity in production and marketing, enhanced access to/utilization of local produced foods by individuals and organizations on the 3 targeted reservations. Initially written as 60 individuals trained in consumer horticulture 30 individuals trained in ranch management/livestock systems and 180 individuals trained as "new beginners." Although the original project director and program manager primarily focused on beef cattle livestock in year one, the current project director and his team adjusted the program to include smaller acreage systems (both livestock and horticulture) to reflect the fractionated land access realities on the ground for 98% plus of tribal populations on these reservations. The end result is as follows:

2015: just 18 participants looking to become producers or start farming or improve their success were involved in the program (11 in livestock and 8 in commercial horticulture) across all three reservations.
2016: increased to 49 (through the transition towards a small acreage agricultural systems to replace "commercial horticulture."
2017: increased to 503. (218 in BFR small acreages and/or Introduction to Bison; 151 in home growing (gardening); another 63 in BFR stakeholder meetings and public events, and 47 youth participated. Additionally 24 non-native adults participated in our small acreages program. The math alone tells the story. The corrections we made to the program in 2016 set the stage for a fully functioning BFR program in 2017.

Helped to Prepare to Start Farming: 863 tribal individuals (home growing/gardening)

Started Farming: 403 (small acreages ag system participants plus commercial horticulture and large livestock/ranching participants who had never farmed or were just getting started).

Improved Farming Succcess: 16 (participants who had been a producer for more than 3 years before the program began).

Total: 1,282

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

Throughout the project our collaboration has:
• Conducted eight farmland access literacy trainings (including 1 webinar) reaching 299 farmers. An abridged version was also presented to 360 college and university students.
• Convened 44 farmers to attend in-depth farmland access bootcamps to become better prepared for pursuing their land access goals. (Three more bootcamps are scheduled.)
• Connected 710 beginning farmers and 582 people who work with farmers to farmland access resources and information.
• Launched the Farmland Access Hub, with eight Farmland Access Navigators that have provided in-depth support to 188 beginning farmers, 65 of which have achieved farmland tenure with support of a Navigator.
• Initiated a media campaign reaching 40,000 people. This media campaign has helped to build awareness around the systemic farmland access barriers for beginning farmers and rally supporters together to help identify and implement regional initiatives to overcome such barriers.
• Held a successful Farmland Access Summit, where 87 stakeholders including, policy makers, service providers and farmers discussed farmland access models, issues and solutions. 
• With support from Partners and our Steering Committee, we have participated in discussions leading to government financial and legislative support for beginning farmer land access support in both Iowa and Minnesota. 

The number one challenge beginning farmers face is find and securing affordable, appropriate farmland. To address this issue in Illinois, The Land Connection’s project, “Land Access Solutions for Illinois’ Next-Generation Farmers,” has launched a farmland access program for the entire state – Illinois FarmLink – with a director, three advisor-navigators, and a website.

The Illinois FarmLink team is addressing farmland access challenges in three ways. First, the program empowers farmers to be more effective and knowledgeable in their access searches. This is done through the navigators’ free advising sessions as well as education programs and presentations. Second, the program seeks to directly connect farmers and farmland owners through the website’s online profile system, networking events, and promoting farmers and farmland opportunities in our monthly email newsletter. Third, Illinois FarmLink provides access to the best land access resources from around the country and has begun developing its own unique resources that address topics not covered by other organizations’ resources.

Because farmland owners are so fundamental to the farmland access success and because farmland succession can make or break farmland’s future availability to farmers, Illinois FarmLink offers those same three groups of services to farmland owners as well. Illinois FarmLink has also begun partnering with other organizations around succession planning education programming.

In the coming year, Illinois FarmLink will also launch a statewide working group of organizations with the common goal of addressing key land access challenges in the state in coordinated ways. The program is also committed to "living" equity that will root the program in the principles of justice, diversity, equity, and belonging.

To build further awareness of Illinois FarmLink and its services, we will be advertising the program  extensively (in print, radio, and online) and conduct outreach to our networks of partners and farmers.

Our 2017 National Young Farmer Survey found land access to be the number one challenge that young farmers and ranchers face. Many of these are first-generation farmers from non-farming backgrounds, who need support to determine how land tenure decisions will impact the financial health of their farm businesses. Although there are a number of financial planning tools available, none are specifically focused on financial decision-making for land access.

The goal for this project was to create educational tools and programs that enable beginning farmers and ranchers across the country to make informed financial decisions during the process of accessing land so that they will have a solid framework on which to build strong, sustainable farm businesses. We achieved this goal by creating the Finding Farmland program, which consists of a unique calculator tool, a companion online course, and a workshop series, all focused on helping farmers approach the financial decisions related to land access.

The Finding Farmland Calculator (http://findingfarmland.org) is a web application designed to help farmers and ranchers across the country make informed financial decisions during the process of accessing land. The site was created in partnership with Fathom Information Design, a technology and design firm that partners with clients to understand, express, and navigate complex data through visualizations, interactive tools, and software. The main feature of the website is a unique mortgage calculator that farmers can use to compare financing costs for different farm properties, or to compare different financing scenarios for a single property. Farmers can also enter financial information from their records and business plans to more comprehensively understand creditworthiness and how purchasing farmland fits into their overall farm financial planning. The Calculator is used by farmers as a business planning tool and by lenders and technical assistance providers as a beginner farmer teaching tool.

The Finding Farmland Course serves as a companion resource to the Calculator, in that it provides instruction, context, activities, and suggested resources that will help beginning farmers seeking land access to confidently approach the financial decisions they will encounter. The Course contains nine lessons, beginning with goal setting and land tenure options, moving into financial planning methods and financing options, then ending with lessons on different land access methods: leasing, buying, and transfers. Each lesson features a blog post and podcast featuring expert guest presenters; an activity; an instructional video for using topic-relevant features of the Calculator; and a compilation of suggested external resources. The whole course is free and can be taken any time at your own pace.

From September 2017 to February 2019, Young Farmers organized and hosted eleven full-day or half-day Finding Farmland Workshops for beginning farmers with partner organizations in regions across the country. These workshops reached 269 farmers, and developed an internal staff capacity to present on topics related to financial decision making for land access at conferences, on webinars, with our chapters, and by request from partner organizations.

This project reached more than ten thousand individual beginning farmers during the grant period, and has enabled the Coalition to develop an educational platform that will serve farmers and ranchers seeking land access for years to come.

The overall project goal was to create a vibrant network of beginning farmer training across
Michigan catering to a range of perspectives and needs while moving everyone who desires to farm
along the path of business viability. We especially targeted farmers with several years of experience, seeking to address key elements that often derail farming business success: land access, capital access, market access, business planning, and a strategy for scaling up. Intensive on-farm workshops facilitated and led by teams of farmers and other experts were the primary means of assisting farmers. In addition, we provided stipends to a cohort of beginning farmers and we created tools and other learning resources. 

Our initial strategy focused on two sites. The Michigan State University Student Organic Farm in East Lansing, MI build on nine years of training beginning farmers and the Genesee County Women in Agriculture Network established a training/demonstration farm site in Grand Blanc, near Flint, MI. We developed, conducted and evaluated training programs appropriate for both the sites and the participants. We also worked to engage Spanish-speaking farmers and identified many more of them than indicated by the most recent Census of Agriculture. 

ORIS’s long-term goal for this project is to improve beginning farmer success and food security among refugee and immigrant communities in New Hampshire. We do this by supporting beginning farmers with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to make good farm business decisions and enhance sustainability. The target audience is 100% immigrant farmers who have operated a farm or ranch for fewer than 10 years. This funding addresses the needs of limited resource beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged beginning farmers and immigrant farm workers planning to become beginning farmers or ranchers.

Year 1 progress:
Hosted thousands of hours of orientations, informational meetings, and technical workshops.
Expanded farm stands and CSA pickup sites; developed two new contract wholesale customers
4 farmers attended the 2017 Community Food Systems Conference
6 farmers from attended NASAP workshops
Purchased 56.8 acres in Dunbarton; 7 acres actively cultivated
Secured access to 4 acres in Concord for incubator farmers. Installed washing station and 12 gravity fed drip irrigation kits for beginning farmers.

Year 2 progress:
Through 2,072 hours of training and technical assistance on 3 incubator farms, ORIS facilitated culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach, business planning, peer-to-peer mentoring, and access to 9 farmer’s markets, 5 farm stands, 6 Mobile Market sites.

Year 3 progress:
Through 2,054 hours of training and technical assistance on 2 incubator farms, ORIS facilitated culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach, business planning, and access to 11 farmer’s markets, 1 farm stand, 20 Mobile Market sites, and CSA program that grew exponentially.

COVID-19 challenged ORIS’s training, recruitment, and ability to connect refugee farmers other food systems players. Still, farmers embraced COVID-19 safety, while significantly increasing their sales. Farmer independence grew significantly. All farmers are eager to leverage the successes of this year, invest in their plots, and continue building their businesses.

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas (CCNEK) in partnership with Cultivate Kansas City (CKC), is using BFRDP funds for a successful incubator training farm called New Roots for Refugees, and for new activities that support the scaling up of refugee farmers to meet wholesale demand in the Kansas City area. The long term goal is that refugees farm in Kansas City independently on land that they own or lease at a scale that they desire and manage. To reach this goal, we have identified the following objectives: Removal of Barriers to Marketing, Adapted and Increased Agricultural Skills, Financial Management and Farm Capitalization, and Whole Farm Planning.

The incubator farm program provides non-traditional lease agreements to gain access to land that require refugees to complete trainings and establish a path toward managing their own farm business. For each year of the program, refugee farmers take on additional responsibilities, taking the refugee farmer from dependency to independent farm business operator in 4 years. Specific emphasis is put on using equipment to maximize efficiency and profit, as well as teaching farmers how to plan infrastructure for their future farm sites. 

In our first grant year, we graduated 2 farmers onto their own land and helped them establish infrastructure at their new farm sites. We are on track to graduate another 7 farmers by helping them acquire land and develop infrastructure as well. From August 2016 to July 2017, New Roots farmers sold over $124,000 in produce to Kansas City metro area residents.

CCNEK and CKC have been working together since 2005 to help refugees start farm businesses, providing infrastructure, training, technical assistance, and marketing support. CCNEK has a long history of working with refugees, while CKC brings agricultural expertise, making an effective partnership for serving refugee farmers.

Project Summary


The goal of the proposed work is to increase the number of successful beginning farmers
who can access land and operate economically viable farms utilizing organic and sustainable production practices in Ohio.

In year one, this project began to (1) increase the readiness of aspiring farmers to begin farming independently through Farm Vision and conference workshops; (2) increase farm viability and profitability of established early career farmers to improve their success with workshops, mentorships, and individual technical assistance; (3) increase access to farmland for beginning farmers with development of Heartland FarmLink and Heartland Farm Beginnings course; and start to (4) evaluate, report, and disseminate results of our work.

In year two, the project deepened support for farmers starting and sustaining their farms in a pandemic. Largely this was accomplished through reworking existing content into virtual offerings such as Farm Vision and Farm Beginnings program. OEFFA increased farm viability and readiness to start farming through our online conference and ongoing phone and email technical assistance. Supporting farmers and land owners to create successful land transfer to ensure the continuity of sustainable farmland in Ohio was a major focus of year two. We developed and facilitated a three-part workshop series for land owners to write succession plans. Additionally, the Farmland Specialist worked closely with several farm seekers and land owners to clarify and enact transfer plans.

In year three we officially launched our Produce Farm Manager Apprenticeship program and enrolled out first apprentice, expanded the number of host farms enrolled in the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program, and settled into offering many of our courses (including Farm Vision and Heartland Farm Beginnings) in an online format.  We also resumed some in-person components of our work, including our annual conference, a beginning farmer meetup, and a farm tour focused on beginning farmers.


Year 4 concluded our grant term, and gave us the data needed to evaluate, report, and disseminate the results of our work. We concluded much of our programming and sought feedback from participants in the form of surveys, meetings and conversations with stakeholders, and data analysis. All programming that continued, such as Heartland Farmlink, was analyzed and refined by our Begin Farming and Land Access Educator. While we were able to get some very valuable feedback, we observed a low rate of participation in surveys and similar feedback opportunities from our participants. We suspect there is an over-saturation of this type of data collection in our participants’ lives and we are brainstorming ways to encourage higher participation in the future. However, the information we collected reflects an increase in knowledge, confidence, and readiness from our participants. The pandemic had a notable effect on our programming and outreach, and made it necessary for everyone to pivot, and adapt to an unpredictable situation. Although it affected the number of farmers we reached, compared with our original proposal, we are proud to say that at the end of this grant, were operating again at full capacity. We saw several new farm owners through their initial education, and their first years of business operation, involving them in training the next cohort of new business owners, most of whom use sustainable and organic practices. We observed a positive reputation among our graduates and in the wider community, as many new participants have expressed interest and excitement about our 2024 programming, specifically in Begin Farming. We’ve formed lasting relationships with new farmers and scores of professionals, all with the shared goal of supporting the next generation of farmers who will feed us while stewarding our invaluable farmland into the future.

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

The Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA) of Lewiston, Maine, is a rare organization with a farming project completely led by a community of socially disadvantaged limited resource African refugees. With the majority of the community directly experiencing food insecurity, we have taken it upon ourselves to produce food while building the sustainable agricultural capacity of the region. SBCA is planning for its fifth season of in the field, with farmers currently numbering 220. Our intent is to reconnect to our agricultural heritage.
SBCA's three year small standard BFRDP grant is underway with a target audience of refugee farmers who have not operated a farm, or have not operated a farm for more than 10 years in the US. SBCA is applying for the funding set aside for projects that address the needs of limited resource beginning and socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers. One hundred percent of SBCA’s project will be allocated to serving that group.
The primary expected outcomes during the three-year project timeframe are:
- 40 farm start ups established by New American producers
- 10 cooperative farm enterprises launched involving 60 beginning refugee farmers
- 60 farmers generated income by sales at either farmers markets or to institutions via wholesale
- 40 farmers demonstrated significant skill development with competency-based self assessment
- 100 beginning farmers and ranchers made beneficial changes in farm operations
- 20 beginning Bantu farmers established livestock operations

Collaborating organizations include:
- Cooperative Development Institute
- Cultivating Community
- Cumberland County Food Security Council
- Good Shepherd Food Bank
- Land for Good
- United Veteran Farmers of Maine
- USDA Farm Services Agency
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension
- World Farmers

The Organic Farming Certificate Program is a hands-on, comprehensive internship training program ranging from 9 to 22 months in organic agriculture designed for new and beginning farmers, with an emphasis on military veterans. The program is an extension of the Rodale Institute Farmer Training (RIFT) with elements that enhance the current Veteran Farmer Training Program (VFTP) at Rodale Institute. Interns who successfully complete the program receive a Rodale certificate.  The program serves the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond through activities aligned with the following goals and objectives:

Goal 1: To equip new farmers, including military veterans, with the knowledge, skills and practical experience to be successful in operating their own organic farm enterprises. Objectives: Deliver and refine comprehensive, immersive classroom and field curriculum; enhance entrepreneurship support and farm business training; expand training in organic animal production and handling; expand opportunities for practical training on regional organic farms; offer additional internship opportunities on regional organic farms. 

Goal 2: To increase the number of successful organic farm enterprises in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Objectives:  Expand post-graduation organic production and business support; create online resource for Mid-Atlantic equipment loan programs; continue informal regional land access and job opportunities network; continue introducing participants to diverse organic farmers and networks.

Goal 3: To support military veterans in their transition to the civilian workforce. Objectives: Institute a National Organic Farmers network; continue providing dedicated recruitment and support for military veterans.

At the time we developed the project plan and grant application the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was still unclear. As a result we were unable to do some of the activities we’d planned, particularly those requiring travel or large gatherings. Other activities were adapted for virtual delivery.

We did assess the food sovereignty programs offered by tribal colleges in North Dakota and concluded that partnering with an existing program would be more effective than launching an entirely new food sovereignty program.

We recruited students in the northeastern region of North Dakota for our Farm Beginnings course and served 15 students of which seven were from the northeastern region and six were Native American Beginning Farmers. The Farm Beginnings class met nineteen times starting January 28 and ending April 22. The course included 40 hours of online material plus readings, worksheets, podcasts, pre-recorded videos and a digital resource library. Nine new Whole Farm Plans were created as a result of the course.

We also held a focus group to assess the demand for beginning farmer education on the Spirit Lake reservation. We found that there is interest in education on farm business planning, production methods, and especially Native American led education on traditional farming methods and uses of plants.

The North Dakota Local Food Development Alliance met monthly and doubled in membership and engagement. The Alliance gained several new members from the northeastern region. A food security initiative serving the Spirit Lake Tribe called Wana Wota joined the Alliance. The Alliance launched a Tribal Food Sovereignty working group with tribal members, NDSU Extension's Tribal Liason and USDA Rural Development's ND Tribal Liason all participating.

The Rend Lake College (RLC) Advancement of Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program will allow RLC to engage with beginning farmers and ranchers throughout the eight Southern Illinois counties we serve and the surrounding region. The goal of the project will be providing twenty participants yearly interested in becoming farmers and ranchers with resources that will help them succeed in becoming operators or owners of farms and ranches. A series of five days workshops and field trips will be planned yearly for participants that will focus on basic livestock, forest management, crop farming practices, and financial risk management and planning (including the acquisition and management of agricultural credit). Farm safety and hands on experience with farm equipment repairs and basic operation will also be offered as part of the educational days planned. Other subjects that will be addressed in the workshops and field days will include: mental health resources, new technology in farming, diversification and marketing strategies and other areas participants may want included. We are able to offer these workshops with the cooperation and matched in kind resources of a variety of committed regional professionals. We propose that 60 participants will take part in the program with 48 participants completing by the end of the three-year grant cycle. The goal is for 16% of the completers to start or take possession of a farm operation and 20% of new farmers will make positive changes to current farm operations. Goals / Objectives To enhance food security, community development, and sustainability. The major goals include: 1.) Provide beginning farmers and ranchers with current knowledge of a wide range of farming topics. 2.) Teach beginning farmers and ranchers some basic and advanced skills necessary to manage and operate successful farms
The target audience for the project are Beginning Farmers and Ranchers from the rural Southern Illinois counties and region served by Rend Lake College. The target audience includes: underserved groups, racial and ethnic minorities, economically, socially, and educationally disadvantaged.  We held seven educational workshops/field trips targeted at individuals who have started a new farm, plan on starting a new farm, or have acquired or plan on acquiring a farm. We have used social media, college website, and print advertising to reach this population along with sponsorships for ag related events. 

We have accomplished all three of our goals this year through educational events. Workshops, field trips, tours, etc. have been held for the target audience of this grant. We have utilized advertising through social media, website, sponsorships, and word of mouth to reach our target audience. Initial survey results indicate these events have had a positive impact on farm operations for our participants. Our goal was 20 participants for the first year and overall, we had 57 unique participants that participated in one or more events. Participants for events were open to others interested in Ag. We had an unduplicated overall of number 126 with 45% (57 unduplicated) qualifying for grant educational resources through workshops, field trips, and events. 
Participants had the opportunity to receive two different industry certifications, Anhydrous Ammonia testing and Pesticide testing. They were able to gain some industry specific training through John Deere. Additional farm operation resources were made available through visiting Dixon Spring Research Center, National Farm Machinery Show, Weaver Farms, and attending the Southern Illinois Beef Association (SIBA) workshop. The SIBA workshop featured two guest speakers who are recognized experts in the Ag industry, David Kleinschmidt and Travis Meeter.
Other outreach efforts are through sponsorships of the Agriland at DuQuoin State Fair and American Thresherman Association Tractor Pulls. These events reach state FFA chapters and others interested in farming and ranching industry.
Anhydrous Ammonia Test - November 23, 2021 (17 participants)
John Deere Training and Demonstration - December 1, 2021 (19 participants)
Dixon Springs Research Center - January 28, 2022 (15 participants)
National Farm Machinery Show - February 17, 2022 (42 participants)
Weaver Farms (Pig and Dairy Farm- March 25, 2022 (16 participants)
Pesticide Testing - March 28, 2022 (18 participants)
Southern Illinois Beef Association Workshop - March 22, 2022 (71 participants)
Rotational Grazing - August 24, 2022 (24 participants)

Continuing with year two, our Young Farmers and Ranchers continued to have the opportunity to be involved in field days, seminars, and workshops that provided information as well as experience to help further their goal in owning or operating a farm. 22 students received their anhydrous ammonia applicators license and 20 received their private applicators license to allow them to apply pesticides on their farm. 

The overall goal of "Securing a Future on the Land" was to connect beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs) to land access options in Colorado and prepare them for secure land tenure to support a diverse agricultural future. There were four objectives for this goal: 1) increase the pool of certified Land Access Trainers (LATs) by completing American Farmland Trust's self-paced program, 2) improve and expand BFRs knowledge of land tenure options and how to execute secure land transfer agreements by offering LAT courses in various formats to increase participation, 3) improve land owner knowledge of BFR's land access issues and recruit more landowners/retiring farmers and ranchers to the Colorado Land Link database and, 4) establish a system for evaluating land link "matches: each year.

We accomplished the following project goals: 1) fulfilled the criteria for the LAT certification- Project Director Amanda Laban became the first self- paced certified Land Access Trainer in the American Farmland Trust Land Access Trainer Network,  2) 62 beginning farmer and rancher participants completed a land access training that was relevant to their current situation and improved their skills and knowledge of the tenets of secure land tenure, 3) strengthened partnerships with organizations to enhance recruitment of landowners, 4) initiated the formation of a Land Access Advisory Team for Colorado, 5) expanded the listings in the Land Link/Land Access online database for a total of 18 listings in 2022, a 125% increase from 2021, and 6) created a baseline matrix for evaluating land link "matches".

Despite the delay and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the ABFFC was still able to begin addressing many of the goals set forth in our vision. We added to and continued BFRDP-sponsored services for new and beginning forest farmers. Our vision, developed by project partners during a NIFA-sponsored retreat in 2014, remains the same: To support beginning Appalachian 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. 

From 2015 to 2021, the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition (ABFFC) trained hundreds of new and beginning farmers on production, processing, and sales, and improved value-added opportunities and elevated forest farming’s national profile in the United States. There are more than 1,300 ABFFC members with over 760 self-identified as new and beginning forest farmers. The ABFFC has provided more than 60 technical training and outreach programs from New York to Tennessee and reached in excess of 9,000 people at conferences, keynotes, special panel sessions, webinars, virtual events, and other invited events. In year one of this project there was a focus on virtual outreach due to COVID-19, which has increased our expected outreach efforts. In year 2 and 3, the project expects to move to a more in-person setting.

For “Seeding and Growing” we: 1) increased membership, stakeholder support, partnerships, and networking; 2) deepened technical assistance in herbal NTFP cultivation, processing, and sales; 3) launched technical assistance in edible NTFP cultivation, processing, and sales; 4) expanded value-added farm verification, post-harvest assistance, and sales connections; 5) improved access to affordable planting stock; 6) increased mentorship between experienced and new and beginning forest farmers; 7) will host a regional or national conference in 2021; and 8) will inform development of the American Forest Farming Council (AFFC). The AFFC is a separately funded project that will cement the ABFFC’s legacy in the form of a professional forest farming association. The Project Director for “Seeded and Growing” is Project Director for the AFFC project and will manage inter-project communication.

Our goal is to increase the number of beginning farmers who operate successful, profitable farm enterprises in New York, thereby keeping approximately 200,000 acres of arable farmland in production and sustaining NYS’ role as a leading agricultural State in the Northeast. This goal fulfills our 30 year mission--to increase the number and diversity of successful farm enterprises and related businesses in New York. We will implement our three-year project to: 

1) support the establishment of 12-15 new farms with high impact, deep touch “A-Z” business development services from farmland access to landowner/producer matchmaking, to business planning, product development, access to capital, and support with markets/sales; 

2) enhance, strengthen, and ramp up operations of 1,000 beginning farms Statewide in their first 10 years with our mid/light touch services using business development and management workshops and webinars, on-farm events, facilitating networks/peer connections, interactive online content and resources, and referral;

3) offer intensive trainings with mentor farmers in the Catskills (primarily Delaware, Schoharie, and Otsego counties) on climate smart farming practices. 
With a range of partners, our project will deliver relevant, “farming for a new era” content: 

• facilitating access to farmland in the 3 counties;
• technical assistance on securing farmland; 
• educational training via peer-to-peer mentoring, apprenticeships, skill shares; 
• legal and business support; 
• business development;
• financial planning;  
• product development;
• assistance in accessing capital;
• market R&D, market planning;
• producer/buyer/distributor matchmaking to secure market share;
• social support.

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.

The Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative (SNEFCC) is a collaboration of beginning farmers of color and collaborators who work to increase the success of farmers of color in the New England states. SNEFCC aims to position farmers of color for new opportunities, and to provide them with the necessary skills and resources to build and sustain successful farm enterprises now and in the future. This work requires a solid foundation of education and training; ongoing mentoring and coaching; skill and resource sharing; and other forms of mutual support and relationship building. Through SNEFCC's Land Access Course for Farmers of Color in Southern New England Project, as well as SNEFCC's management of peer-to-peer learning groups (called Farmer Circles) in each state, SNEFCC is helping to meet these unique needs and is building a strong network of beginning farmers of color across the region. 

In our first project year, we hired a Project Coordinator and Project Assistant. We assembled a Steering Committee (originally called our Core Team) of 10 individuals representing several leading BF service providers in the CT-RI-MA region; nine members identify as BIPOC. We launched a subcommittee focused on Curriculum Development.  An Executive Committee of four members  met monthly (and sometimes bi-weekly) to monitor steps toward project activities and give staff guidance. SNEFCC's Land Access training program that is structured to engage a cohort of farmers of color (and aspiring farmers of color) with a curriculum focused on pathways to land access for both urban and rural farmers. The course launched in Feb 2022 and was offered again in spring 2023. In addition to land access training, SNEFCC is supporting peer-to-peer learning through Farmer Circles which has proven to be an exciting strategy to build farmer networks and resilience. In 2022, SNEFCC distributed stipends to 23 farmers for the purchase of seeds, tools, and other small inputs. Moving into our final year, SNEFCC is taking steps to support BIPOC farmers in their access to tools and equipment. SNEFCC will distribute stipends to BIPOC farmers to purchase tool inputs, and also explore the development of shared equipment libraries. SNEFCC is also supporting the professional development and learning of BIPOC farmers through participation stipends to cover registration and travel costs to attend farmer training opportunities.

Rogue Farm Corps’ collaborative project Strengthening Oregon’s Beginning Farmer and
Rancher Education and Resources through Collaboration, Outreach, and Inclusion built
capacity to sustain and enhance our state’s beginning farmer education programs, resources, and
service providers through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher (BFR) Working Group of the
Oregon Community Food Systems Network. In October 2019, 25 farmers, educators, and service
providers gathered for a strategic visioning and planning session to define this Working Group’s
short and longer term goals and priorities for better supporting Oregon BFRs. The Working
Group provided a central hub for updated information on BFR education programs and
resources, increase engagement within the BFR community, strengthen organizational
connections and support services, and boost outreach efforts. Top short-term priorities include
increasing coordination to advance collaborative efforts, increasing the diversity of leadership
and participation in the BFR Working Group, forming advisory committees to develop future
strategies, and obtaining additional resources to support unmet needs. Professional coordination,
facilitation and training provided by this project deepened current work; enabled the formation
of a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee; developed a long-term strategy for
the Land Connection Technical Assistance Advisory Committee; updated, improved and
disseminated BFR Resource guides; and convened stakeholders to prioritize action items and
strengthen strategies for a future BFRDP proposal and other funding opportunities that will
increase collective impact. These joint efforts supported enhanced viability of beginning
farmers and ranchers throughout Oregon.

Note for Delivery: Because this was a planning grant, numbers correspond to service provider meetings, trainings, and professional development, not service delivery for BFRs.

With the nation’s need to foster a new generation of farmers, beginning farmer education must go beyond simply offering training to get them started farming and instead create educational programs and tools that keep them farming. This project created a learning progression from basic to advanced education—based on farmer developmental stages—to support beginning farmers and ranchers successfully through their first 10 years and beyond. The project built on Oregon State University’s established basic beginning farmer education programs, adding advanced
education in business management and sustainable farming methods. The program and the new advancements created an education pathway that includes experiential and instructional courses. The project is a powerful partnership between Oregon Tilth, Inc., and the Oregon State University Small Farms Program.

Progress related to project objectives:

1. With extensive farmer participation, we identified four key developmental stages
of farmers and farm businesses. We continue to use this information to inform and develop basic and advanced curriculum that is ready when the farmers are ready.

2. We developed one online course (25 hours of content) and two topical online modules (3 hours of content each) influenced by objective 1 as sophisticated online education offered in a hybrid face-to-face and online format.

3. We established Teaching Farms at three Oregon State University research farms. These Teaching Farms offered a variety of field-based educational events. In addition, each farm has a focus area for curriculum development for adoption at other sites in Oregon and nationally. Examples include: dry farming demonstration and grower collaborative, and basic hands on training in farm production.

4. We created and support four women’s farming networks in high demand areas of Oregon serving and connecting over 400 beginning and experienced women farmers. With our other approaches to networks we now maintain a total of seven farmer networks that include nearly 800 farmers.

The proposed BFRDP was to serve 120 individuals, 10% Veterans and 72 were expected to complete the program successfully.  The BFRDP surpassed all goals by recruiting 470 individuals; 325 started training; 110 attended more than 1 workshop, 167 completed the program successfully rather than the 72 proposed, and at least 69 started farming.  We recruited over 100 Veterans, 69 enrolled in the BFRDP and 24 graduated successfully.  385 Specialized Certificates were presented by the Interamerican University Continuing Education Division in 19 separate instances.  119 workshops and 22 visits to farms were included in 6 cycles of training of 6 months each.  Puerto Rico experienced and Earthquake and the COVID-19 Pandemic and the program was stopped, but continued its success after re-opening.  12 documentaries of successful graduates were filmed, 16 Business Plans were completed, over 30 farms were visited by our team of over 10 Agronomists and 168 completed their budget. We encouraged participants to include their families and had 15 family circles.  BFRDP graduates currently participate in our Farmers’ Markets selling their agricultural related products and most importantly, all of the participants are aware of the importance of Food Security in the Island as we import over 90% of our food.  Some are farming for their own consumption, alternative health products, some have agro-tourism projects and other are sawing commercially and have developed value added products.