Item No. 1 of 1

INVESTIGATOR: Dominguez, C.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
La Semilla Food Center
P.O. Box 2579
Anthony, NEW MEXICO 88021

TRAINING AGROECOLOGICAL FARMERS FOR A HOTTER, DRIER FUTURE IN THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT: INCREASING REPRESENTATION AND OPPORTUNITY

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: With support from the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program (BFRDP), La Semilla proposes to enhance the success and sustainability of beginning farmers in the colonia areas of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion by providing them with the knowledge, skills, tools, and network needed to make informed agroecological decisions. We will provide 1) practical education, 2) immersive training, 3) contact with an established network, and 4) access to an economically viable market to sell their produce. These efforts are set to meet objectives 2.1 and 2.2 of the FY2018-2022 USDA Strategic Plan:Objective 2.1: Provide an effective Financial Safety Net for Farmers and Ranchers to Sustain Economically Viable Agricultural Production and Support Rural Jobs and Economic Growth.Objective 2.2: Increase Agricultural Opportunities and Support Economic Growth by Creating New Markets and Supporting a Competitive Agricultural System.In 2011, La Semilla received a 12-acre donation of farmland to develop La Semilla Community Farm, an education and demonstration farm guided by agroecology and organic principles where many activities of the proposed project will take place. Through this project, La Semilla's long-term goal is to remove individual and systemic obstacles for socially-disadvantaged and colonia farmers of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion and to provide them with every opportunity they deserve to prosper and thrive.

OBJECTIVES: La Semilla proposes to enhance the success and sustainability of beginning farmers in the colonia areas of Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion by providing them with the knowledge, skills, tools, and network needed to make informed agroecological decisions. We will provide practical education, immersive training, contact with an established network, and access to an economically viable market to sell their produce.Short-Term GoalsThe proposed project will demonstrate the following goals for low-income and/or socially-disadvantaged beginning farmers from underserved communities in the region:increase the number of beginning farmers with knowledge of desert farming and agroecology;leverage agricultural opportunities for farmers by connecting beginning farmers with long-standing farmers for networking and apprenticeshipsLong-Term GoalsThe proposed project will enhance the sustainability of beginning farmers by increasing the number of viable farms, creating farm-to-market opportunities, and supporting a competitive agricultural system.

APPROACH: Aligned with objectives 2.1 and 2.2 of the FY2018-2022 USDA Strategic Plan, through the proposed project, La Semilla will draw on our programmatic assets to provide small acreage, socially-disadvantaged colonia farmers with four keystone activities, defined as follows:Practical Education: Building on the maturation of La Semilla's Farm and Community Education Programs, this activity includes public group workshops designed to increase participants' sustainable local food systems knowledge and create spaces for community members to create positive relationships to growing healthy food and to their environment. Facilitated by La Semilla staff and partners, this activity includes, but is not limited to: farm business planning and financial management classroom workshops, hands-on farm production tutorials and farm tours, and hands-on direct marketing lessons. This activity supports the project's Objective 1--to reach over 100 beginning farmers over the three-year grant period through education, training, mentoring, and outreach programs that enhance self-employment in desert farming. Outputs include: 15 beginning farmers will produce a business plan, 25 beginning farmers will produce a food safety plan, and 50 beginning farmers will have better access to tools and materials through on-site workshops.Immersive Training: Expanding on La Semilla's Community Farm Program, this activity includes a paid, six-month immersive hands-on farm experience, learning exchanges, and farmer-to-farmer mentoring to be carried out with three separate cohorts over three years. Facilitated by La Semilla staff and local partner farmer mentors, this activity includes, but is not limited to, lessons in soil fertility, pest management, agro­ecological principles and practices, organic practices, harvesting, post-harvest handling and food safety, seed saving, pollinator ecology, IPM, and business planning/development. This activity supports the project's Objective 2--30 beginning farmers will participate in a six-month immersive farm training over the three-year grant period. Outputs include: 30 beginning farmers will create a crop plan for our year-long growing season, 15 beginning farmers will create a holistic farm management plan.Contact with an Established Network: Leveraging La Semilla's existing and growing community of beginning and existing farmers, gardeners, food justice advocates, restaurateurs, and local grocers, this activity includes connecting project participants to each other and other individuals in the supply and demand chain for local food to build an agroecologically-focused network. Facilitated by La Semilla Farm Fresh staff, Desert Spoon Food Hub and Squash Blossom Local Food Inc. and NIFI and NMSU Extension project partners, this activity includes, utilizing existing and/or new social media channels and hashtags, in-person meetings and gatherings, and other means of communication to connect and network. This activity supports the project's Objective 3--establish a local and regional network of new and established farmers who provide mentoring opportunities and facilitate knowledge transfer between one generation of producers and the next. Outputs include: 50 beginning and established farmers will participate in a desert farming network via in-person and social media efforts.Access to an Economically Viable Market: Utilizing the existing markets of La Semilla's Farm Fresh Program and project partners Desert Spoon Food Hub and Squash Blossom, this activity will allow for beginning farmer's produce to be sold in local and regional markets, to local restaurateurs, to local schools, through Desert Spoon Food Hub, and at La Semilla's onsite market store. Facilitated by La Semilla staff and partners, this activity includes, but is not limited to: technical assistance in procurement, food safety, and food and farm business and marketing development. This activity supports the project's outputs for Objective 2 and the long-term goal--to enhance the sustainability of beginning farmers by increasing the number of viable farms, creating farm-to-market opportunities, and supporting a competitive agricultural system.These activities will be supported by and enhance our existing organizational assets