USDA announces funding for beginning farmer programs

[Jeff Caldwell]

Just posted a story to Agriculture.com about some funds USDA released to 29 projects around the country as part of its Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. Though it was authorized in the '02 farm bill, it didn't get funding until last year's bill.

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Anybody have any experience with this program?

[Brian Hough II]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't this funding going towards the grants that individuals can not apply for?

[Geoffrey Freeman]

It seems the grants go to the colleges again, so good luck getting it from them.

[Jeff Caldwell]

Sounds like this isn't the most functional program, maybe?

If you had the folks in charge of this program in a room and could make your case to them why and how it should be changed to better serve young and beginning farmers, what would you tell them?

[Brian Hough II]

Im not sure if I am alone in my opinion but I feel that someone can not learn to be a farmer through school classes. I feel it has to be in your blood. As we all know there is a major learning curve. Classes are better suited for folks already in the business. They should put more of that money towards helping the beginners out financially. It is tough to start out from nothing nowadays. With the skyrocketing land prices to input costs, although better now then two years ago. I just don't feel you can learn to farm by sitting in a class and listening to people talk about it. Farming is a very hands on operation. Put more money towards farm link programs that help retiring farmers find interested younger generation farmers to work with. I just don't agree that more tax dollars are spent on this program then the beginner loan programs.

[Paula]

I know folks working with two of the organizations (actually, coalitions of organizations) that received grant awards, and I think their goals and plans are pretty innovative. From the little I know of these projects, the programs include a lot of experiential learning - precisely because most high schools and colleges do not offer that kind of experience to students anymore. I know one of the project's goals is to motivate young people in middle school and high school to see farming as a viable career option even if it isn't in their family history.

Farm Bill Programs with the intention of financially helping beginning farmers include Individual Development Account Pilot Program, Loan Fund Set Asides, and the Down Payment Loan Program. We'll see if these programs are effective or not. And a lot of the Farm Bill cost-share programs include extra points (ie preferential treatment) for beginning farmers & ranchers.

The people I know involved in "beginning farmer" education are very aware that schools do not teach things like how to create a business plan, where to look for start up capital for your farm, how to negotiate a lease, etc., and they're trying to do just that. Many beginning farmers have a passion for farming but don't necessarily come from farming families, which is okay, because our country needs more farmers! Some folks learn better with structured education.