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INVESTIGATOR: Heuscher, A.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
COMMUNITY FOOD AND AGRICULTURE COALITION
117 W. BROADWAY ST.
MISSOULA, MONTANA 59802

BUILDING ON-FARM SUCCESS: RESOURCES AND TRAINING FOR MONTANA`S BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Montana's farmers are under significant climatic and market pressure to create success from limited resources and opportunities. However, with new partnerships developing across the state to assist beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs), support for start-ups is poised to be greater than ever before. Building off a pilot year of successful resource development and trainings for BFRs, plus several years of experience among our partners, this project will enhance on-farm success by providing BFRs with the resources they need.Over the past year, our network has offered workshops for BFRs focusing on legal, financial, strategic, production, and marketing issues. Through this process, the farmers and ranchers we serve have identified three key areas for additional knowledge-building:- Financial issues, including cash-flow planning, accounting, and accessing local investors- Legal issues, including business start-up questions and employee management- Production issues, including accessing interns/internships, mentoring opportunities, and land, as well as a wide array of land management practicesThis project will address these topics over the next three years, utilizing classroom-based workshops during winter months, on-farm field days during the growing season, a new AgAccess Montana website to connect farmers, and new local investing tools. By developing collaborative partnerships with organizations from around the state, our network will develop Montana-specific resources and trainings that will raise producers' awareness of the tools and strategies to make informed decisions for their operations, ensuring a positive future for Montana's next generation of farmers.

OBJECTIVES: This project will find success by focusing on three primary goals and supporting objectives:Goal One: Increase the number of successful and sustainable beginning farmers and ranchers in Montana.Objective 1: Develop Montana-specific resources on financial, legal, and production issues that will be made available online via our website and partner websites.Objective 2: Provide 24 workshops and field days in Western Montana on financial, legal, and production issues with at least 10 farmers in attendance at each training.Objective 3: Expand successful workshops to other regions of Montana, ultimately offering 8-12 workshops in additional parts of the state, with at least 10 farmers in attendance at each training.Objective 4: Support the start-up of at least 3 new farms in each year of the project, with programs benefitting at least 100 new farmers over the life of the project.Goal Two: Increase the viability of farming opportunities by developing local investment and financing tools geared toward BFRs.Objective 1: Develop resources on innovative work being done in this arena around the country to demonstrate the range of options that could be developed for Montana.Objective 2: Develop local investment and financing tools that will provide financial support to at least 3 farmers in its first two years.Goal Three: Increase opportunities for pre-start-up farmers to gain experience and for beginning and established farmers to increase their financial and physical viability by developing resources and tools on on-farm internships, mentorships, and land access.Objective 1: In addition to resources and trainings outlined in Goal 1 above, build the AgAccess website with a mapping tool to connect beginning, established, and retiring farmers with individuals seeking internships, mentorships, and land.