USDA providing funding for beginner farmers and ranchers

Jan 16, 2015

Applications due March 13, 2015

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a pool of more than $18 million in funding to help in the education, mentorship and enhanced sustainability of the next generation of American farmers and ranchers.

The funding is made available through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) that receives its money from the USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

"The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program is critical for cultivating the next generation of farmers and ranchers, who will be integral to sustaining America's agricultural future," said Harden in a release. "Leading community and service organizations are on the front lines when it comes to identifying and training new farmers and ranchers. Strong partnerships with these groups are the key to our success."

Eligible parties for funding include regional partnerships, private or public entities, colleges, universities, or any organization deemed to provide beginning training services consistent with the needs of a beginning farmer or rancher. Funding recipients must give at least 5% to military veterans transitioning into farming and ranching, and another 5% to farmers whose resources are limited or need social assistance.

Topics said to be priorities include:

Basic practices in livestock, forest management and crop farming
Financial benchmarking
Risk management
Safety and awareness
Availability of apprenticeship, internship and mentorship opportunities

NIFA will present a free webinar for anyone interested on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Applications for funding support are due Friday, March 13, 2015.

From 2009-2012, 145 awards have been given through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, totaling more than $71 million.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.