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INVESTIGATOR: Pirog, M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
COMMUNITY CROPS
1666 BURR ST
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA 68502

ADDRESSING THE TRAINING NEEDS OF HISPANIC AND LIMITED RESOURCE BEGINNING FARMERS IN NEBRASKA

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This project will enhance urban and rural-based farm viability of 150 beginning Hispanic, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource farmers in Nebraska. Increasing numbers of new farmers are immigrant, limited resource, or socially disadvantaged. They frequently lack financial or production skills, are unaware of technical resources, or lack English-language proficiency for accessing technical information. The objective is to assist these beginners with development of small scale farm enterprises through training and technical assistance that will: (1) improve participants' financial and business skills, (2) connect them with a network of resources, and (3) gain and improve production skills. We will conduct a 4-month course for financial training and resource identification, field workshops for farming skills, farm tours to observe practices in place, and will provide individual advising to participants. Each year the classes will be broadcast to additional sites to reduce travel for participants, and interpreters will be available for all activities. A Minnesota organization experienced with this work will broadcast specific lessons for the course and will host a site visit by Nebraska participants.

OBJECTIVES: This project will enhance viability of urban and rural-based farms of beginning Hispanic, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource farmers in Nebraska.Objective 1: Improve financial, business and production skills of 150 Hispanic and limited resource beginners.150 Hispanic and limited resource beginners will develop business and financial skills 100 farmers will develop enterprise plans suitable for FSA loan applications150 beginning Hispanic and limited resource farmers will understand marketsA total of 100 Hispanic and limited resource beginners will report that they improved the viability of their farm businesses through the training and technical assistance received25 limited resource farmers start successful farm businesses on Community Crops incubator site15 Hispanic farmers will start successful farm businesses100 farmers will gain skills and knowledge of sustainable production, management, marketing and food safety techniques through Farmer-to-Farmer workshops130 beginning Hispanic and limited resource farmers will understand and apply new production practices for fruit, vegetable, and small livestock (poultry, hogs, goats, etc.)Objective 2: Enable 150 Hispanic and limited resource beginning farmers to access resources and create networks of advisors.Beginning in year 1 through the end of the project, we will assist all Hispanic, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource beginners who have participated in the program to create and maintain a state-based peer network to support one anotherNetworks of Hispanic and limited resources farmers will serve as bridges to local resources that can support them as they develop their farming and ranching operations