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INVESTIGATOR: Lamie, R. D.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA 29634

BUILDING ENTREPRENEURIAL, FARM MANAGEMENT AND LAND STEWARDSHIP CAPACITY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: As a collaboration of organizations, coordinated and led by Clemson Extension, we seek funding for the continuation and further development of the South Carolina New and Beginning Farmer Program (SCNBFP). This is a standard, renewal, resubmitted proposal. Given the demographics of our state, and based upon previous experience with the SCNBFP, we think it is reasonable to assume that our program will include at least 50% socially-disadvantaged (African American and Women, primarily); limited resource, and/or veteran farmers. The long-term goals of the SCNBFP are to increase the initial success and long-term viability of new and beginning farm businesses --- and to build statewide and sub-state regional program delivery capacity --- in order to help create and support the cadre of next generation farm operators in South Carolina. The target audience for our proposal is new and beginning farmers in South Carolina, including those considered socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers, with a particular focus on non-conventional, specialty crop, and value-added operations at both the novice and intermediate levels. The SCNBFP is needed in South Carolina for a number of reasons. According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, the average age of South Carolina farm operators is over 59 years. Of the 25,266 principal farm operators, 8,544 (33%) are under the age of 55, and only 3,447 (14%) are under the age of 45 (USDA-NASS, 2014). These numbers show recent progress in the youngest age ranks but represent an overall long-term trend toward fewer farmers. Of particular concern is that the average age of SC's specialty crop producers is increasing at an even higher rate. Given the current and projected importance of specialty crops to the overall industry, it is of utmost importance that viable strategies be developed and implemented to cultivate the next generation of specialty crop producers. The next generation of conventional row-crop farmers' training needs are largely being met through their involvement in family farming enterprises; involvement in vocational agriculture, FFA, and 4H programs in high school; and/or through more conventional formal higher education or informal Extension or industry education opportunities. In summary, South Carolina's farmers are growing older, and there are few young farmers prepared to take their place upon retirement, and those who do not come from a successful family farm business find it especially difficult to gain the production knowledge, experience, and business acumen to develop a successful farming enterprise themselves. This is occurring when consumer demand for high quality, nutritious farm products is on the rise, as indicated by the continued increase in the numbers of farmers markets, CSAs, farm-to-school programs, and other drivers of demand for localized production. In addition, there are multiple food hub projects in various stages of development across the state; all have serious concerns about having a sufficient number of suppliers to make their projects viable. Opportunities for rural economic development through a thriving local farming and food system will be lost without training and encouragement for new farmers. ?Despite these existing programs, many beginning farmers in South Carolina do not yet have the knowledge networks, the personal and professional relationships, or many of the capacities necessary to take advantage of the myriad programs and services available to help make them successful. The SCNBFP hopes to continue to serve as the convener, catalyst, and facilitator of bringing these pieces together in a concentrated learning environment for South Carolina's new and beginning farmers. Further, the modus operandi of the SCNBFP is to avoid duplication, rather seeking opportunities to leverage the programs of collaborators adding value to the overall experience of the new and beginning farmer participants while helping to build long-term capacity in the service provider ecosystem.Beginning farmers were involved in the overall conceptualization and design of our proposed program in several ways. One, they provided direct feedback about individual program sessions and the overall program as part of our ongoing evaluation process. Two, SCNBFP alumni participants are integrated into the Advisory Committee Structure. Three, we held special sessions annually with program stakeholders, including past participants, to help us evolve the program. We plan to continue to listen to our participants and to create opportunities for peer-to-peer learning on their behalf.The objectives center on enabling new, beginning, and emerging farmers to be successful, productive, and innovative members of the SC agricultural community by providing them with the tools, knowledge, and skills necessary to be successful entrepreneurs, sound business managers, exemplary stewards of the environment, and successful marketers of the unique products they create; Most importantly, individuals who have a sense of pride and quality of life as a result of their investment and participation in these activities. Meeting these objectives will result in a more vibrant, sustainable, and diverse agricultural sector that will better meet the needs of SC consumers and visitors to provide healthy food options for their families and clientele. In order to increase the viability and sustainability of new and beginning farm enterprises in South Carolina, the SCNBFP is focusing on five primary goals as outlined below, along with key activities and associated expected outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Objective One: Provide training in farm business management principles and practices to a diverse population of new and emerging farmers at both beginning and intermediate levels, employing established curriculum as well as creative programming, with an emphasis on level-appropriate business plan development.Objective Two: Complement core programming by creating a meaningful, personal learning experience for participants through regional programming focused on production topics, farm tours, and on-farm internships, custom to each class and region.Objective Three: Through guided partnership development, increase core competencies of regional support organizations and nurture their increased capacity to deliver new and beginning farmer production and specialized training programs on a regional level.Objective Four: Increase awareness of available agricultural business development assets by connecting participants with federal, state, regional, and local government support agencies, NGOs, educational institutions, non-profits, and private industry resources.Objective Five: Develop an on-going, sustainable peer network of new, beginning, and emerging farmers by establishing a SCNBFP alumni association.