Federal money to go toward training of beginning farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently made available more than $18 million in funding to support training and mentoring of new farmers and ranchers through its beginning farmer and rancher development program.

Federal 2012 agricultural census data showed Connecticut had the fastest growth rate in New England for number of farms between 2007 and 2012. Farm numbers during the five-year period grew by 1,061, or 22 percent, to 5,977 farms, according to the Department of Agriculture. The data also showed farmed land in Connecticut grew 8 percent, or 30,790 acres, to 436,406 acres in the five-year period.

New York lost farms between 2007 and 20012 but gained farm acreage, according to the data. The number of farms dropped by 814, or 0.02 percent, to 35,538, while farmed land grew by 8,836 acres, or 0.001 percent, to 7,183,579 acres.

The Maryland-based Center for Rural Affairs said, “The need was clear then and remains so today. A number of beginning farmers and ranchers don’t have direct roots to agriculture. While they yearn for the honest, hard work you find in farming or ranching, they need help learning the ropes.” The group had lobbied for the money.

The beginning farmer and rancher development program awards grants to organizations implementing programs to train beginning farmers and ranchers. Funding includes support for workshops, farmer-to-farmer mentoring and technical assistance.

Since the program was first funded and put on the ground in 2009, 145 awards have been made totaling more than $71 million, the Center for Rural Affairs reported.

A focus has been added on projects for beginning farmers and ranchers who are veterans. It joins previous set-asides for the socially disadvantaged, those with limited resources or current farm workers who want a start in agriculture.

Organizations must submit their federal program applications by March 13. For more information, call 402-687-2100 or send an email to Traci Bruckner at tracib@cfra.org.