Item No. 1 of 1

INVESTIGATOR: English, H.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
UNIV OF ARKANSAS
PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS 71601

A BEGINNING FARMERS PROGRAM FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND LIMITED RESOURCE PRODUCERS IN ARKANSAS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This project is designed to assist beginning socially disadvantaged and limited resource producers (BSDLRPs) in eastern and southwest Arkansas. The goal of the project is to provide BSDLRPs with the knowledge and training needed to become successful farmers and ranchers. The objectives are: (1) To provide BSDLRPs with business training and USDA loan education; (2) To provide BSDLRPs with Extension crop and livestock production training with the use of USDA Conservation Programs; (3) To provide BSDLRPs with marketing education with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables; and (4) To conduct a beginning farmers class.This program will train BSDLRPs to use financial statements when making management decisions and profit margins when determining the economic feasibility of a business plan. They will also be educated on USDA loans. BSDLRPs will be taught to use the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve and increase their yields. As a result of this training, BSDLRPs will have above average yields which will increase profit margins. The BSDLRPs who diversify with vegetables will be taught vegetable marketing strategies and the 5 Ps of marketing. They will also be trained to obtain markets before planting.The Beginning Farmers Class will include seven modules that provide different aspects of farming and ranching. These modules will include classroom exercises (business planning and structure, heir property), hands-on exercises (calibrations, transplanting), and much more.

OBJECTIVES: The long term goal of the project is to provide beginning socially disadvantaged and limited resources producers (BSDLRPs) with the education, training, and knowledge needed to make informed decisions that will increase their chances of being successful farmers and ranchers.The objectives are as follows:Objective One: To provide BSDLRPs with farm business/farm financial education and training as well as education and training on the process/use of USDA loans (90% of participants who apply for loans will be applying for a USDA loan).Objective Two: To provide nonbiased research-based CES crop and livestock production recommendations to BSDLRPs and educate the targeted audience on the use of USDA conservation programs to obtain funding to install conservation practices that improve crop and pastureland thus increasing its productive capacity.Objective Three: To provide special marketing education, training, and technical assistance to BSDLRPs who grow or add alternative enterprises (fruits, vegetables, or small ruminants) to their operations.Objective Four: To conduct a new and beginning farmer's class that will educate and train approximately 20 crop and livestock producers annually about managing farms and ranches.

APPROACH: This proposed program will provide education and training to BSDLRPs and LRPs in northeast, southeast, and southwest Arkansas. Socially Disadvantaged Producers (SDPs) are located in these areas. The University has Extension Staff in both southwest and southeast Arkansas. Our partner, East Arkansas Enterprise Community (EAEC) will provide an agent to work with BF in northeast Arkansas. In southwest Arkansas, we will partners with Silas H Hunt Community Development Corporation (SHHCDC). They will provide meeting space, arrange all meetings and workshops in the area, contact farmers for workshops or meetings, and advertise all workshops and the beginning farmer program.The primary participants for the program will be recruited from the areas by the UAPB Extension staff, beginning farmers, SHHCDC, and EAEC. We will be training approximately 150 individually directly and another 100 indirectly through newsletters, workshops, conferences, and news articles.The proposed training for new and beginning farmers in the targeted area will be conducted in two ways:(1) A new and beginning farmers and ranchers training program that will provide direct on-farm or ranch assistance to participants as well as one-on-one farm training and assistance. UAPB Extension associates, our partners, and our farmer stakeholders in southwest, northeast, and southeast Arkansas will identify beginning farmers and ranchers to participate in the program. The extension associates in the area will provide workshops as well as direct training and assistance to the new and beginning farmers and ranchers in the following areas: business planning and loan application assistance; crop and livestock production; marketing education and technical assistance to participants in developing marketing strategies; and education and assistance to participants in using USDA conservation, loan, and other programs.(2) A new and beginning farmers and ranchers' class will be conducted at UAPB. The class will consist of seven workshops (one workshop per month with seven training modules covered). The seven-month training class will be conducted at the university where the UAPB Agriculture farm and ranch facilities will be used for training. In addition, the UAPB Agriculture and Extension faculty and staff would help with the monthly training.