DELTA FARM START

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1020201
• Grant No.: 2019-49400-30036
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $798,806.00
• Proposal No.: 2019-03670
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2019
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2023
• Grant Year: 2021
• Program Code: [BFRDA]- Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Standard

Recipient Organization
Mississippi Delta Council for Farm Workers Opportunities, Inc
1005 North State Street
Clarksdale,MS 38614-6523

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
Since 1971, through the farming crisis of the 80s and up to the current national decline in farm income, MDC has focused on helping minority, low-income, limited-resource, small-scale farmers to be more successfulThrough MDC's previous BFRDP work, small-scale farmers have identified critical support services as necessary to ensure the ability to keep their farming operations solvent and to earn a living wage from their small-scale farms.Delta Farm Start will serve 60 of these families throughout 6 rural counties of Mississippi's North Delta Region, implementing an immersive on-farm/ranch training program with identified support services including: soil preparation, sourcing seeds and seedlings, planting, production, harvest, labor, equipment, cold storage and aggregating crops for sale. All support services are provided on-farm in small groups or one-on-one coaching.Participants will be prepared to start small farm operations or other agriculture related self-employment, to grow or diversify their own existing small farm operations, or to gain full-time employment in larger AG operations.Although not currently funded by BFRDP, MDC's previous standard BFRDP demonstrated that Micro-grants awarded to participants were crucial to participants successfully creating or increasing sustainable annual income. Delta Farm Start will replicate this successful model and implement micro-grants as a successful strategy for filling immediate funding gaps for farm/ranch start-ups and costs related to existing operation growth. Based on the outcomes from this tested model, a $1,650 micro-grant investment to 60 participants will produce an ROI of $792,000 in combined increased participant income, with a total project budget of only $720,282.List of other collaborating institutions/organizations/farmer and rancher groups;Up in Farms, Aggregate Buyer Coordination, Processing Plant, facilitation of harmonized GAP certification process and GAP group certifications, Dr. Bill Evans, Horticulturist -- provides individualized TA on-farm for soil preparation, chemical applications, seed and seedling variety selection, crop selection planting, planting and harvest schedule as well as assistance with real time crop information from growers to program staff in order to coordinate aggregate sales and cold storage.Alcorn State University (ASU), Vegetable Processing Plant, Percy Baldwin, Facility Manager - provides on-farm crop monitoring and TA quality standards for vegetable processing and sales. Mr. Baldwin also works with MDC program staff to ensure growers have harvesting and labeling supplies for bushels, as well as packaging and labeling of processed vegetables.ASU, AG Extension Program, Larry Russel, Field Coordinator - provides soil testing and assistance with soil preparation, farming equipment demonstrations and assists with coordinating produce delivery to ASU processing plant during harvesting season.National Center for Appropriate Technologies (NCAT), Rockiel Woods -- assists MDC staff and individual growers with completing Small Farm Pocket Journals, provides on-farm follow up to growers to ensure that crops are on track with farm plans, planting and harvesting schedules. He also assists with NRCS and FAS interactions and applications.NRCS / FAS, Chauncey Newsome, Soil Conservationist, assists individual growers with completing applications for NRCS conservation practices, gets to know MDC individual growers and their farms in order best advise each grower on FAS/NRCS application preparation. He also assists with growers accessing Farm IDs and securing crop insurance.MDC BFRDP Project Staff, Sam McCray - Project Director, Robbie Pollard - Project Case Manager - BFRDP staff will coordinate both classroom and on-farm training by TA team. Staff will ensure on-farm training is conducted for small groups or individual TA. The project staff will ensure that each participant completes all classroom training components, completes micro-grant applications and their Small-Farm Pocket Journals which include details on individual land, soil testing, drainage, crop and row plans, as well as sales records. Project staff will track training and resource needs of each participant to either provide the resources directly or to coordinate with TA team for resource provision, including coordination and scheduling of access to suite of specialty crop farming equipment. Additionally, staff coordinates retail and aggregate sales support services for each participant, and any MDC specialty crop value chain support required by participants. The staff will also coordinate regular TA Team meetings and regular individual grower meetings for troubleshooting and to share successes.100% of federal funds requested will be allocated to CBOsPercent of budget allocated to serving military veterans; 10%Percent of budget allocated to serving socially disadvantaged, limited-resource, or farmworker audiences; 90%

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
601	1499	3010	100%

Knowledge Area
601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management;

Subject Of Investigation
1499 - Vegetables, general/other;

Field Of Science
3010 - Economics;

Keywords

beginning

farmer

and

rancher

development

program

Goals / Objectives
Since 1971, through the farming crisis of the 80s and up to the current national decline in farm income, the Mississippi Delta Council for Farm Workers Opportunities Inc. (MDC), has implemented focused work on helping minority, low-income, limited-resource, small-scale farmers to be more successful.Through MDC's previous BFRDP work, small-scale farmers have identified critical support services as necessary to ensure the ability to keep their farming operations solvent and to earn a living wage from their small-scale farms.MDC now proposes Delta Farm Start to serve 60 of these families throughout 6 rural counties of Mississippi's North Delta Region, implementing an immersive on-farm/ranch training program with identified support services including: soil preparation, sourcing seeds and seedlings, planting, production, harvest, labor, equipment, cold storage and aggregating crops for sale. All support services are provided on-farm in small groups or one-on-one coaching.Participants will be prepared to start small farm operations or other agriculture related self-employment, to grow or diversify their own existing small farm operations, or to gain full-time employment in larger AG operations.Although not currently funded by BFRDP, MDC's previous standard BFRDP demonstrated that Micro-grants awarded to participants were crucial to participants successfully creating or increasing sustainable annual income. Delta Farm Start will replicate this successful model and implement micro-grants as a successful strategy for filling immediate funding gaps for farm/ranch start-ups and costs related to existing operation growth. Based on the outcomes from this tested model, a $1,650 micro-grant investment to 60 participants will produce an ROI of $792,000 in combined increased participant income, with a total project budget of only $598,806.MDC Delta Farm Start will expand this proven AG enterprise model to focus the replication and expansion of this model to include targeted recruitment and tailored services for military veterans in Mississippi's North Delta region.Long Term Goal - Delta Farm Start will provide its proven rural AG career, entrepreneur and leadership training model with identified support services to ensure the ability or minority operated, small-scale family farms to keep their farming operations solvent and to earn a living wage from their small-scale farmsObjective 1: Implement proven farming/ranching, enterprise and AG career training model with curricula and resources tailored to needs of minority, low-income, limited-resource, small-scale farmers in the Northern Mississippi DeltaObjective 2: No less than 60 participants will have the tools to transition into meaningful, productive, profitable, and sustainable farm/ranch entrepreneurs, related AG enterprises or AG related careers. They will have the skills and resources necessary for success in the field of agriculture, community leadership, and to contribute to household food security and local economic sustainability.Geographic area, Target Group Served and Identified Need - Geographic Area: Delta Farm Start will serve 6 counties in Mississippi's North Delta: Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Sunflower, Bolivar and Tunica. Coahoma county ranks third nationally in highest-priority areas for food access intervention.The program targets beginning farmers and ranchers who have needs for new skills and support to fully participate in the regional economy and who represent under- tapped agricultural assets: seasonal farmworkers and principal operators/owners of small farms in the Mississippi Delta.Also, there are over 5,000 Gulf War Era II and Post 9/11 veterans who have returned home to live in these counties after completing their military service for which Delta Farm Start will provide focused outreach services through the local National Guard for returning veterans interested in beginning small-scale farming operations.· Among Principal Operators in Mississippi, nearly all are male and the average age is 58, 36% work only on the farm, 33% live on the farm they operate; 27% have worked the farm for less than 10 years; 86% are white; 12% are black, although the Delta population is predominantly African American.1Youth are leaving and need incentives and a real sense of opportunity to stay in the area and continue in farming. Seasonal Farmworkers, who are resident and do not migrate to follow crops, face high unemployment, low wages, health and safety risks, limited schooling, illiteracy, poor housing, geographic isolation, and limited health care access.2Provided with culturally-appropriate and locally-relevant training and support, these populations can transition into more profitable, year-round agricultural employment and farm operation/ ownership, thereby supporting Mississippi agriculture, the local economy, and food security.

Project Methods
Objective 1: Implement proven farming/ranching, enterprise and AG career training model with curricula and resources tailored to needs of minority, low-income, limited-resource, small-scale farmers in the Northern Mississippi DeltaFormalize MDC's Delta Farm Start Recruitment Panel that will be composed of: two previous BFRDP participants who are also Gulf War Era II veterans, one of them being Mr. Andrew Key, Key Family Farms, who has built one of the most successful enterprises launched through MDC's BFRDP pilot AG enterprise program to date. The panel will also include Caroline Kennard, Director of Communications, Mississippi VA Board as well as Jerry D. Allhands, the Coahoma County VA Officer. These panel members with MDC Delta Farm Start staff will take input from MDC's military veteran leadership and use their own experience and expertise to implement a targeted rural veteran and veteran student referral and recruitment process as outlined in § 3. d.Finalize modifications to MDC's model curriculum as informed by MDC leadership and Delta Farm Start recruitment panel.Facilitate an Introductory Seminar for participants on the program and resources to introduce fundamental topics for this group such as farm/ranch enterprise ownership, cooperative associations, post-secondary education/training and community-supported agriculture, basic business planning, and farm management; initiate teambuilding among the Participants, and present agriculture's role and importance in the local economy and food security.Facilitate an Intensive 4 Day Workshop series hosted at the MDC AG and career training facility and will offer intensive practical learning in topics that are relevant to local agriculture and tailored to the target audience.Provide In-Depth - on farm training with Delta Farm Start collaborative partners. Over 4,398 hours of training, one-on-one on farm coaching and mentoring will be provided on-farm, in the field with 1-4 farmers, including the farmers cultivating the land where training is taking place.Additionally, Delta Farm Start will a) fund 60 micro grants of $1,650 to participants for continuing education, AG farm/ranch start-up or expansion expenses, or other AG related enterprises, b) access to 83 acres of donated land to farm for participants who do not own their own land, c) access to tractors, tilling and precision seeding equipment, at low or no cost to participating farmers, d) walk-through for individual participants with applications for FAS and NRCS Farm ID, crop insurance, irrigation and hoop house resources, e) collaborative partner processing plant prioritizes participant harvests, f) MDC installed at no cost to the project, cold storage and acquired cold transportation for product, g) secured and coordinated aggregate sales to buyers for participants, and h) access to quality seed and pesticide vendors as well as group discount rates for supplies. All in-depth, hands-on, on-farm training will be provided by Delta Farm Start program staff along with collaborative training partners:Up in Farms, Aggregate Buyer Coordination, Processing Plant, facilitation of harmonized GAP certification process and GAP group certifications, Dr. Bill Evans, Horticulturist (shared 1.0 FTE - 25% time dedicated to MDC Delta Farm Start)Alcorn State University (ASU), Vegetable Processing Plant, Percy Baldwin, Facility ManagerASU, AG Extension Program, John Coleman, Field CoordinatorNational Center for Appropriate Technologies (NCAT), Rockiel WoodsNRCS / FAS, Chauncey Newsome, Soil ConservationistAccompanying Self-Selected Classes and Targeted Training regularly offered by MDC's AG enterprise and workforce development programs will be available throughout the year for participants and will align with seasonally relevant topics. All training for Delta Farm Start as well as ongoing MDC training resources will be delivered both on- farm and off-farm, in the evenings, on weekends, utilizing small groups and one-on-one sessions, and scheduled during the off growing season when possible. Topics will include financial literacy, supervision and management, planting and marketing decisions, agricultural specialization, business management, risk management, accounting and taxation, capitalization, leasing and purchasing, government programs, operational planning and budgeting, contracts and negotiation, machine operations and repairProvide Access to Job Placement Assistance and Apprenticeships. Mentoring. A select group of Delta Farm Start team members, veterans and a community of beginning and transitioning farmers will be matched with participants to share experiences, troubleshoot, and coach participants through a larger farm/ranch enterprise.Objective 2: No less than 60 participants will have the tools to transition into meaningful, productive, profitable, and sustainable farm/ranch entrepreneurs, related AG enterprises or AG related careers. They will have the skills and resources necessary for success in the field of agriculture, community leadership, and to contribute to household food security and local economic sustainability.1) Year 1-2 Micro Grants and Year 3 Microloans. An outcome of completion of classroom and on-farm training will be access to financing to launch micro and larger enterprise efforts. Access to financial support is critical to enabling participants to launch those enterprise concepts proven viable through a completed short-form and traditional business plan.2) Alumni Events and Continuing Support and Monitoring of Economic Progress. As participants complete the program, they will remain valuable assets and future mentors and will be encouraged to engage in their own communities as well as continuing to participate in ongoing monitoring of economic outcomes post project.How and where the activities will be provided and appropriateness of approach;Intro and 4-Day workshops will be delivered at the MDC training facility, Food Hub and Demonstration Farm located at 1596 DeSoto Ave, Clarksdale MS, 38614, Delta Farm Start classroom training will accommodate each cohort according to their schedules and will be scheduled for larger groups of participants. On-farm training will be in small groups of 2-4 veteran AG farm or enterprise owner operators and will take place on the land to be farmed by at least one of the participants in the training. One-on-one TA/Coaching will take place on individual farms and Veteran / Student career mentoring will take place on campus or at the National Guard Family Assistance Center, although none of the targeted counties have a National Guard facility or office.Description of the pilot farm/ranch, facilities and equipment offered; MDC has 83 acres contributed to Delta Farm Start throughout the 6 targeted counties. The MDC AG and career training facility has an adjacent 4 acres that is farmed each season by beginning farmer/ranchers as part of hands-on training and those new farmers sell their produce through the on-site farmers market held weekly throughout the growing season. Delta Farm Start will also provide:Equipment AccessCold Storage (Freezer/Cooler) and Cold TransportationDeveloped aggregate buyersGAP certification

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience Of 110 trained new and potentially new growers throughout the 6 targeted Mississippi Delta Counties: Number started farming operations: 54 of 110 trained = 49% Number trained to prepare to start farming: 56 of 110 trained = 51% Number in first 10 years of farming that improved their success: 54 of 110 trained = 49% Number Limited Resource Producers: all 110 participants and all 54 producers = 100% Number African American beginning farmers: all 110 trained = 100% Number Women beginning farmers: 42 of 110 trained = 38% Number Veterans beginning farmers: 15 of 110 trained = 14% Number under the age of 50 (Young Farmers): 37.4 of 110 trained = 34% Number completing GAP certification: 2 of 110 trained = 1.8% Number participating in Genuine MS® : 4 of 110 trained = 3.6% Changes/Problems:Sales channels for participating growers were narrowed drastically due to Covid 19. Schools and restaurants closed throughout Mississippi and have no slated reopening dates putting a huge dent in anticipated opportunities for Institution and Aggregate sales. The project had to focus on aggregate CSA and grocery sales for PY2 - 3. (See detail under Accomplishments towards Objectives and Outputs on modifications due to Covid 19.) FarmQMS - was never fully functional for growers to implement on a wider scale. In PY3 it has remained at a beta testing phase with feedback from growers on how to improve the system. Grower feedback is primarily focused on a system that has a significantly simplified onboarding process as well as an improved and more intuitive user interface. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?N/A PY1 and PY2 - Covid 19 pandemic made this difficult in PY1, particularly since rural Mississippi has limited access to reliable online/wifi service when staff are working from home or are on-farm. However, MDC and collaborative partners did attended several virtual conferences in PY3 that are both regional and national. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Post PY3, growers have been involved significantly in planning and design of trainings made available to them in the current BFRDP funding cycle as well as RFSP and Delta RFBC program designs. They have also been a big part of strategic planning on how to generate increased sustainable income for the new BFRDP funding cycle. The new BFRDP design is working towards a big increase in activation of farm to school aggregate sales. The MDC BFRDP team will also leverage RFSP as well as RFBC funding for the 2022 BFRDP 3 year funding cycle. We will work in concert with all leveraged funding without duplication of effort. We will utilize BFRDP for training and on farm implementation of increased production strategies and leveraging both RFSP and RFBC funding for post farm gate sales. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Eliminate barriers to increasing harvest potential as well as resolve barriers to maintaining cold chain post harvest.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? OBJECTIVE 1: Implement proven farming/ranching, enterprise and AG career training model with curricula and resources tailored to needs of minority, low-income, limited-resource, small-scale farmers in the Northern Mississippi Delta. Outputs: 1 proven training model was implemented with 110 new farmer participants Delta Farm Start Curricula / Workbooks (*Note: available upon request along with training materials provided from each key training partner) Outcomes: 34 + 20 additional growers begun small-scale commercial farming operations through PY3 34 + 20 additional growers have participated in aggregate mid-tier sales and aggregate mid-size CSA programs -- this is throughout the Covid 19 pandemic - leading to the success of the larger scale CSA program launched by MDC Food Hub and supported by Alcorn State University, Feed the Children and by the Community Foundation of NW Mississippi. Additionally, standing purchase orders from MDC partner Alcorn State University Produce Processing Plant supported newly established growers. 54 of 110 Delta Farm Start trained beginning farm operations, produced and sold over 126,000 34 + 20 growers averaged approximately 3,432 pounds over a 26 week season in PY2 producing 185,328 lbs 54 growers averaged approximately 4,758 pounds over the 26 week season in PY3 producing a total of 256,932 lbs 54 growers went from 0lbs of commercial sales to 442,260 pounds total over PY2 and PY3 a 442,260% increase in production. Additional Supplemental Outcomes: Increase from 34 to 54 new producers = 58% increase Increase in pounds produced from what would have been an estimated 278,460 lbs to 442,260 lbs = also a 58% increase in production *Note: Of the 110 new farmers who completed training, 5 of those growers produced approximately 78,000 lbs per year PY2 and PY3 (about 600lbs per week), leaving the remaining 49 growers producing 2,190 to 3,651 lbs on average each 26 week season PY2 and PY3. This is about 84 - 140 lbs per week for the remaining 49 growers. Percent increase in production on average: These were all beginning growers at 0 pounds per week during the week season, the percent increase at approximately 132 lbs per week for the 26 week season = 132% increase in production on average. 5 of the 54 growers that established farming operations grew from approximately 100 lbs per week to an average of 600 lbs per week during the 26 week season = 500% increase in production on average Number started farming operations: 54 of 110 trained = 49% Number trained to prepare to start farming: 56 of 110 trained = 51% Number in first 10 years of farming that improved their success: 54 of 110 trained = 49% Number Limited Resource Producers: all 110 participants and all 54 producers = 100% Number African American beginning farmers: all 110 trained = 100% Number Women beginning farmers: 42 of 110 trained = 38% Number Veterans beginning farmers: 15 of 110 trained = 14% Number under the age of 50 (Young Farmers): 37.4 of 110 trained = 34% Number completing GAP certification: 2 of 110 trained = 1.8% Number participating in Genuine MS® : 4 of 110 trained = 3.6% OBJECTIVE 2: 60 participants will have tools to transition into meaningful, productive, profitable, and sustainable farm/ranch AG enterprises as entrepreneurs or to AG related careers, having the skills and resources necessary for success in the field of agriculture and to contribute to regional household food security and local economic sustainability. (*Note: Including supplemental) Outputs: 110 participants trained and provided tools to transition to meaningful, productive, profitable and sustainable farm/ranch AG enterprises 1 cold trailer provided in-kind by MDC Food Hub using cold bot system for CSA deliveries Stipends provided to growers for training, and for hosting 24 original plus 32 additional with supplemental funding for a total of 56 on-farm training days (2-3 per month), and expenses covered related to VAP sales as group purchases of packaging, labeling etc. approximately 30 growers attended each on-farm training day. MDC Delta Farm Start and all participants practiced strict VAP Kitchen Manager provided in collaboration with Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative housed under the Children's Defense Fund. Kitchen Manager trained 54 producers in Food Hub receiving procedures, sorting and grading in collaboration with Alcorn Vegetable Processing Plant Manager. Producers were also supported by the VAP Kitchen Manager to create VAPs for CSA boxes along with their fresh produce harvests. Outcomes: 3 CSAs managed by MDC Food Hub under the Delta Farm Start provided 5,238 lbs of fresh locally grown food per week to Delta families in need during the Covid 19 crisis = 291 boxes per week for a 12 week period during both PY2 and PY3 24 weeks total x 291 boxes per week x 18lbs of produce per box = 125,712 lbs of produce total delivered to families most at need during the Covid 19 crisis 2020 - 2021 and purchased from 54 growers at $3 per pound 291 families per week over 24 weeks (12 weeks each summer season of PY2 and PY3) = 6,984 families were fed local fresh produce through the Delta Farm Start 20,952 VAPs were added to these CSA boxes (3 items per box) across the 3 CSA programs managed by th3e MDC Food Hub VAPs were purchased through noted CSA partner client support at $5 ea Over 28 weeks (14 weeks each PY2 and PY3) 316,548 lbs of produce total was then received, processed and sold as part of Alcorn Processing Plant standing POs with Kroger and Walmart and then available for Delta families most at need to purchase at their local grocer during the Covid 19 crisis 2020 - 2021 Alcorn Processing Plant purchased bushels of purple hull peas, turnip/mustard/collard greens from 54 Delta Farm Start growers at $1.75 per pound % Change in behavior - 49% (54 total ) of participants began harvesting product weekly during a 26 week season 49% (54 total) of participants began selling produce and VAPs commercially on a weekly basis during a 26 week season No CSA's were available in the region prior to the Delta Farm Start - 3 CSAs were conducted each year of PYs 2-3 - 300% increase in available CSAs No less than 291 families per week incorporated fresh local food into their weekly meal prep, recipe cards were provided in each CSA box, 89% of families had not ever cooked turnips, beats or cabbage prior to receiving Delta Farm Start CSA boxes 291% increase in families incorporating local and regionally produced fresh vegetables into their weekly meal prep 89% of families (258 per week) learning and incorporating new vegetables into their weekly diet % Change in knowledge Number started farming operations: 54 of 110 trained = 49% Number trained to prepare to start farming: 56 of 110 trained = 51% Number in first 10 years of farming that improved their success: 54 of 110 trained = 49% Number Limited Resource Producers: all 110 participants and all 54 producers = 100% Number African American beginning farmers: all 110 trained = 100% Number Women beginning farmers: 42 of 110 trained = 38% Number Veterans beginning farmers: 15 of 110 trained = 14% Number under the age of 50 (Young Farmers): 37.4 of 110 trained = 34% Number completing GAP certification: 2 of 110 trained = 1.8% Number participating in Genuine MS® : 4 of 110 trained = 3.6% 291% increase in families incorporating local and regionally produced fresh vegetables into their weekly meal prep 89% of families (258 per week) learning and incorporating new vegetables into their weekly diet % Change in farm income 125,712 lbs of produce sold to CSA partners at $3 per pound = $377,136.00 20,952 VAPs (3 per CSA box) sold to CSA partners at $5 each = $104,760 316,548 lbs of produce sold to small scale aggregators at $1.75 per pound = $553,959 Total Income to 54 Participants over PY2 and PY3 seasons: $1,035,855 Total Project Cost: $598,806 Total Supplemental: $200,000 Total Funded: $798,806 ROI for Delta Farm Start = 29.67%

Publications

Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The Delta Fresh Start BFRDP has reached 98 beginning farmers. These growers are: 100% African American, 19% Female, 19% Veterans, 34% under the age of 50, 100% small-scale new commercial operations, 100% residents of targeted 6 Mississippi Delta counties Changes/Problems:Sales channels for participating growers were narrowed drastically due to Covid 19. Schools and restaurants closed throughout Mississippi and have no slated reopening dates putting a huge dent in anticipated opportunities for Institution and Aggregate sales. The project had to focus on aggregate grocery sales for PY1 and limited CSA sales. (See detail under Accomplishments towards Objectives and Outputs on modifications due to Covid 19.) However, in PY2 grower aggregate sales increased by 140%. FarmQMS - was never fully functional for growers to implement on a wider scale. In PY3 it has remained at a beta testing phase with feedback from growers on how to improve the system. Grower feedback is primarily focused on a system that has a significantly simplified onboarding process as well as an improved and more intuitive user interface. Data collection did not happen through FarmQMS in PY3 although we are hoping with revisions to the programming that in the 2022 BFRDP 3 year funding cycle this will be remedied. As noted in monthly reports provided to MDC, the evaluation team makes regular requests to the programming team for modifications to the FarmQMS system. The programming team regularly implementing the modifications for continued improved outcomes for growers. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?N/A PY1 and PY2 - Covid 19 pandemic has made this difficult in PY1, particularly since rural Mississippi has limited access to reliable online/wifi service when staff are working from home or are on-farm. However, MDC and collaborative partners have all attended several virtual conferences in PY3 that are both regional and national. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Post PY3, growers have been involved significantly in planning and design of trainings made available to them in the current BFRDP funding cycle. They have also been a big part of strategic planning on how to generate increased sustainable income for the 2022 BFRDP 3 year funding cycle. The MDC BFRDP team will also leverage RFSP as well as RFBC funding for the 2022 BFRDP 3 year funding cycle. We will work in concert with all leveraged funding without duplication of effort. We will utilize BFRDP for training and on farm implementation of increased production strategies and leveraging both RFSP and RFBC funding for post farm gate sales. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?N/A

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Implement proven farming/ranching, enterprise and AG career training model with curricula and resources tailored to needs of minority, low-income, limited-resource, small-scale farmers in the Northern Mississippi Delta. 98 farmers have been identified and enrolled as project participants (including added work completed with supplemental BFRDP funding) - of the 32 farms that had begun small-scale commercial farming operations in PY1, they have all continued to grow into commercial operations over the 2021 season and we have added two more for a total of 34 active growers that have completed mid-tier commercial sales in PYs 2-3. Growers participating in weekly trainings both on-farm and via zoom have shifted to aggregate sales, both the MDC Food Hub as well as collaborative partner Alcorn State University Produce Processing Plant have moved over 75,000 pounds of produce from the 34 growers that reached the stage of production or increased production in PY2. PY3 shifted to on-farm production practices and harvesting/sales option post production. Growers are all receiving individual farm data analysis through FarmQMS and on-farm T/TA and will begin to be trained on using data regarding decision making for daily small farm management that most impacts income through the end of the summer season and used for analysis through the Fall / Winter of 2022 and impact decision making beginning in Spring 2022, in PY3 FarmQMS has received feedback from growers regarding simplification of functionality that will be incorporated into the 2022 BFRDP 3 year funding cycle. Production is being monitored through on-farm visits with growers as well as piloting FarmQMS and expanded to 12 growers in BFRDP PY3. PY3 has produced weekly TA online meetings that are regularly attended by over 30 growers each week. All TA meetings are recorded and made available to all participating growers, as well as all Meeting Agendas, training materials and supporting information or info links. Objective 2: 60 participants will have tools to transition into meaningful, productive, profitable, and sustainable farm/ranch AG enterprises as entrepreneurs or to AG related careers, having the skills and resources necessary for success in the field of agriculture and to contribute to regional household food security and local economic sustainability. Total participants has been increased to 110 growers in PY3 with 34 new small-scale commercial farming operations having launched in PY1 and continued to increase operations in PY2 and finally tripled the total number of growers contributing to aggregate sales of participants in PY3 MDC and the BFRDP collaborative partners successfully launched a large-scale pilot CSA: Aggregate CSA and institutional sales for the 2021 season totaled over 75,000 pounds of produce grown by participating small-scale farmers - 75,000 pounds of produce went directly from participating growers onto the tables of Mississippi Families in need - receiving an average of 2,800 lbs per week, approximately 160 boxes per week, each box filled with an average of 18 pounds of fresh, locally grown produce over a 26 week season in PY2. Delta families who are more at risk for a negative outcome when coming into contact with Covid, families who are beneficiaries of the SNAP program throughout Mississippi's north delta region were a majority of the recipients of the CSA box program, some families were subsidized, some purchased the boxes themselves, box value held a value on average of $63 worth of both fresh produce, eggs and value added products each week. MDC and collaborative partners have been gradually incorporating decision making through FarmQMS for PY3. Due to the Covid 19 crisis, program activities are partially shifted production quantity and aggregate buyers - the sudden, overwhelming demand for product in order for aggregate buyers to fulfil CSA box programs with no-contact delivery to families has increased program service provision and number of grower participants. This response to the Covid 19 crisis requires MDC/FWOI to adapt to a much larger number of farmers and a much larger quantity of produce being processed through the growing MDC/FWOI Food Hub -- MDC/FWOI is using a combination of funding resources to meet the needs of the beginning farmers as well as the most at-risk families throughout Mississippi's Delta region. GROWERS EARNED $240,347.15 THROUGH MDC FOOD HUB IN PY2 (*Note: Sales data by participant available upon request.) However PY3 required the project to go back to the drawing board on aggregation and sales through other channels vs. the MDC established CSA box program. Anchor farms began to implement their own smaller scale CSA projects throughout PY3. There are a total of 3 smaller scale anchor farm initiated CSA box programs that were sustainably operated through project year 3. OUTPUTS Delta Farm Start PY3: DRA completes and submits all required reporting to MDC monthly to accompany invoicing as well as completes all reporting to the funding agency in a timely manner and ensure that any questions or information required by the project officer is addressed promptly. The Evaluation Team has continued to and expects to continue providing program services while practicing safety and social distancing on site in combination with remote data collection and online grower support/interaction although as of April 2021 interaction has begun to go back to pre covid style of interaction with vaccinated participants. *Note: all grower participants, MDC staff and contractual partners are fully vaccinated as of May 2021 The Evaluation Team is providing 2 weeklong site trainings and data collection site trips during PY3 Qtr 2 and Qtr 3 DRA organizes and hosts the standing weekly zoom grower and training teem meetings, and collects data from growers while on site during quarterly site visits, as well as through phone, email, and via zoom. (Note - Detailed data collection by participating grower, including grower sales receipts are available upon request.) PY3 to date (August 2022), the training team, which includes the evaluation team, has provided 4,160 hours of small group training and 520 hours of one-on-one training to growers. An additional 744 hours of small group training has been provided on-farm at 93 hours per month focused on on-farm integration of crop plans, conservation plan assistance as well as GAP technical assistance. The additional 93 hours per month is provided through BFRDP supplemental funding. This training has been provided to growers with a combination of MDC BFRDP staff and project partners, including Up In Farms, NCAT, Pesqueira Training Services, DRA Resources and Foot Print Farms as a mentor for smaller scale growers on how to shift to commercial production. Training hours have been confirmed by the evaluation team through data collection including training schedules and proof of grower attendance as well as on-farm one-on-one meetings held with growers and follow up interviews with growers confirming training efficacy and potential outcomes.For PY1 through PY3, the training team, which includes the evaluation team, has provided 12,480 hours of small group training and 3,108 hours of one on one training to growers. Training hours have been confirmed by the evaluation team through data collection including training schedules and proof of grower attendance as well as on-farm one-on-one meetings held with growers and follow up interviews with growers confirming training efficacy and potential outcomes. Bimonthly TA meetings have been added online for participants as well as bimonthly TA training team online meetings to coordinate all regional grower training efforts with collaborative partners as well as regional stakeholders. Evaluation team has submitted monthly reporting to MDC/FWOI in a timely manner and has ensured that any questions or information required by MDC administration or staff is addressed promptly.

Publications

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:The Delta Fresh Start BFRDP has reached 49 beginning farmers in PY1. These growers are: 100% African American, 19% Female, 19% Veterans, 34% under the age of 50, 100% small-scale new commercial operations, 100% residents of targeted 6 Mississippi Delta counties Changes/Problems:Sales channels for participating growers were narrowed drastically due to Covid 19. Schools and restaurants closed throughout Mississippi and have no slated reopening dates putting a huge dent in anticipated opportunities for Institution and Aggregate sales. The project had to focus on aggregate grocery sales for PY1 and limited CSA sales. (See detail under Accomplishments towards Objectives and Outputs on modifications due to Covid 19.) However, in PY2 grower aggregate sales increased by 140%. Number of participants and total acres farmed is anticipated to double in PY3. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?N/A PY1 and PY2 - Covid 19 pandemic has made this difficult in PY1, particularly since rural Mississippi has limited access to reliable online/wifi service when staff are working from home or are on-farm. However, MDC and collaborative partners have all attended several virtual conferences in PY2 that are both regional and national. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?N/A until PY3 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?GROWERS EARNED $240,347.15 THROUGH MDC FOOD HUB IN PY2 Increased number of new AG enterprises launched, sustain existing 34 new AG enterprises operating as a result of the Delta Farm Start, increased production through continued increased integration of FarmQMS will facilitate the creation of both physical and virtual access to aggregated produce inventory. The increased data collection on the status of each participant's crop(s) and harvest timing will also enable increased sales to both institutions and mid-tier grocery buyers. We anticipate to increase sustained AG enterprises to 60 from 34 by end of PY3 with commensurate increased, sustainable aggregate sales, meeting or surpassing another 140%. There is currently a participant list of 98 growers receiving training and support from which an additional 26 growers will be identified to support through to commercial sales in PY3

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: 98 farmers have been identified and enrolled as project participants (including added work completed with supplemental BFRDP funding) - of the 32 farms that had begun small-scale commercial farming operations in PY1, they have all continued to grow into commercial operations over the 2021 season and we have added two more for a total of 34 active growers that have completed mid-tier commercial sales in PY2. FarmQMS - an on-farm daily grower operations web based platform has been implemented with 6 participating growers, up from 2 in PY1 and data collection and monitoring has now begun. All participating growers will be integrated into the FarmQMS system by PY3 prior to the start of the growing season. FarmQMS will connect real time grower inventory and predicted harvests to MDC Food Hub as well as Institutional Buyers in PY3, increasing commercial transition options for participating growers. Growers participating in weekly trainings both on-farm and via zoom have shifted to aggregate sales, both the MDC Food Hub as well as collaborative partner Alcorn State University Produce Processing Plant have moved over 75,000 pounds of produce from the 34 growers that reached the stage of production or increased production in PY2. Production is being monitored through on-farm visits with growers as well as piloting FarmQMS with 6 growers to date and will expand to 34 growers in BFRDP PY3. Objective 2: Total participants has increased to 98 in PY2 with 34 new small-scale commercial farming operations having launched in PY1 and continued to increase operations in PY2 we are looking to double the number of growers contributing to aggregate sales of participants in PY3 Data collection continues for 6 anchor farms as well as 34 supplier farms -and Delta Farm Start will integrate all participating growers that are harvesting product for sales into the FarmQMS system in PY3 as well as targeting 26 additional new AG small-scale enterprises being launched from the 98 growers participating in and receiving training in PY2. MDC and the BFRDP collaborative partners successfully launched a large-scale pilot CSA in PY2. Aggregate CSA and institutional sales for the 2021 season totaled over 75,000 pounds of produce grown by participating small-scale farmers - 75,000 pounds of produce went directly from participating growers onto the tables of Mississippi Families in need - receiving an average of 2,800 lbs per week, approximately 160 boxes per week, each box filled with an average of 18 pounds of fresh, locally grown produce over a 26 week season in PY2. Delta families who are more at risk for a negative outcome when coming into contact with Covid, families who are beneficiaries of the SNAP program throughout Mississippi's north delta region were a majority of the recipients of the CSA box program, some families were subsidized, some purchased the boxes themselves, box value held a value on average of $63 worth of both fresh produce, eggs and value added products each week. MDC and collaborative partners have been gradually incorporating decision making through FarmQMS for the 6 piloted growers as well as integrating FarmQMS into 34+ grower operations up to 60 for the remaining PY3. Each week during PY2 the online TA meetings as well as on-farm training and demonstrations have led the team to work more extensively with Up In Farms, an existing collaborative partner to document on-farm training of season prep, supply purchasing, equipment use and conservation practices including rowing, mulch laying, transplanting, drip irrigation and high tunnel installations and much more. These demonstrations and their documentation have been scheduled twice per month for PY3 for the increased number of participants and will produce a curriculum with video documentation that is hands on and on-farm as well as continuing on-going on-farm support to ensure growers are on track for anticipated yield or are able to mitigate risks and issues as they are identified by both the growers as well as the TA training team.. This response to the Covid 19 crisis requires MDC/FWOI to adapt to a much larger number of farmers and a much larger quantity of produce being processed through the growing MDC/FWOI Food Hub -- MDC/FWOI is using a combination of funding resources to meet the needs of the beginning farmers as well as the most at-risk families throughout Mississippi's Delta region. Grower product was aggregated and repacked into CSA boxes for no contact delivery through the MDC Food Hub and will continue this way through PY3 including increased sales to institutions as well as family subscribers an increasing SNAP family subscribers. GROWERS EARNED $240,347.15 THROUGH MDC FOOD HUB IN PY2 OUTPUTS Delta Farm Start PY2: All project status and activity updates are verified by the Delta Farm Start Evaluation Team - DRA Resources. The evaluation team has adapted to the Covid crisis/risk and has communicated with all growers via phone as well as had T/TA providers from the training team verify information on-farm while they practice safe on-farm visits. Micro Grants Identified for Grower Awards PY2: Total Micro-Grants PY1: $28,902 Grower Sales PY2: Although Covid 19 impacted both institutional sales as well as market sales in PY1 - the on farm TA and FarmQMS customized for integration into daily small-farm management, paired with guaranteed buyers for all produce harvested enabled the 34 growers who have launched in PYs 1-2 to grow their production capacity and income -- PY2 participating beginning farmers sold: Total Grower Sales PY2: $240,347.15 - 140% increase in sales and income from PY1 Aggregator sales: $19,760 CSA Sales: $220,587.15 For PY1 through PY2, the training team, which includes the evaluation team, has provided 8,328 hours of small group training and 1,224 hours of one on one training to growers. This training has been provided to growers with a combination of MDC BFRDP staff and project partners, including Up In Farms, NCAT, Pesqueira Training Services, DRA Resources and Foot Print Farms as a mentor for smaller scale growers on how to shift to commercial production. Training hours have been confirmed by the evaluation team through data collection including training schedules and proof of grower attendance as well as on-farm one-on-one meetings held with growers and follow up interviews with growers confirming training efficacy and potential outcomes. Bimonthly TA meetings have been added online for participants as well as bimonthly TA training team online meetings to coordinate all regional grower training efforts with collaborative partners as well as regional stakeholders. FarmQMS reporting will become an integral component of BFRDP evaluation and reporting during the 2022 season. The Evaluation Team has continued to and expects to continue providing program services while practicing safety and social distancing on site in combination with remote data collection and online grower support/interaction. FarmQMS has begun to provide decision making data to growers and will continue to produce initial monitoring data for budgeting, crop plan implementation and increase grower training and capacity for inventory management and product creation that can incorporate UPC / SKUs for all buyers in PY3. As noted in monthly reports provided to MDC, the evaluation team makes regular requests to the programming team for modifications to the FarmQMS system. The programming team regularly implementing the modifications for continued improved outcomes for growers.

Publications

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The Delta Fresh Start BFRDP has reached 49 beginning farmers in PY1. These growers are: 100% African American, 19% Female, 19% Veterans, 34% under the age of 50, 100% small-scale new commercial operations, 100% residents of targeted 6 Mississippi Delta counties Changes/Problems:Sales channels for participating growers were narrowed drastically due to Covid 19. Schools and restaurants closed throughout Mississippi and have no slated reopening dates putting a huge dent in anticipated opportunities for Institution and Aggregate sales. The project had to focus on aggregate grocery sales for PY1 and limited CSA sales. (See detail under Accomplishments towards Objectives and Outputs on modifications due to Covid 19.) What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?N/A PY1 - Covid 19 pandemic has made this difficult in PY1, particularly since rural Mississippi has limited access to reliable online/wifi service when staff are working from home or are on-farm. However, MDC has set up staff with laptops at home and hotspots as necessary in order to provide more options for professional development in PY2 and beyond. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are planning to move ahead with a no-contact pick up or delivery CSA project with 100-300 families enrolled to be either sponsored or subscribed to increase sales opportunities for participating growers, we anticipate schools in MS will reopen in mid-Spring 2021 to increase institutional buyers for participating growers and to increase aggregate sales to aggregate buyers for restaurants by summer 2021. On-farm T/TA will continue as it has through PY1 while following Covid safety protocols. FarmQMS will enable real time inventories and projected harvests to be connected to the MDC Food Hub as well as Institutional and other aggregate buyers in PY2 to increase the options for a successful transition to commercial sales for participating small-scale growers

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Implement proven farming/ranching, enterprise and AG career training model with curricula and resources tailored to needs of minority, low-income, limited-resource, small-scale farmers in the Northern Mississippi Delta. 49 farmers have been identified and enrolled as project participants - 32 have begun small-scale commercial farming operations in PY1 FarmQMS - an on-farm daily grower operations web based platform has been implemented with 6 participating growers and data collection and monitoring has now begun. All participating growers will be integrated into the FarmQMS system by PY2 prior to the start of the growing season. FarmQMS will connect real time grower inventory and predicted harvests to MDC Food Hub as well as Institutional Buyers in PY2, increasing commercial transition options for participating growers. Fresh produce sales and delivery is now shifting in response to the COVID-19 crisis and growers will be integrated into a no contact delivery/pick-up CSA weekly box delivery program that will now be piloted with processed and frozen onions, greens, celery and squash as well as fresh greens and bell peppers and sweet potatoes beginning December 8 and continuing through the beginning of 2021 calendar year. Growers are all receiving individual farm data analysis through FarmQMS and on-farm T/TA and will begin to be trained on using data regarding decision making for daily small farm management that most impacts income through the end of the summer season and used for analysis through the Fall / Winter of 2020 and impact decision making beginning in Spring 2021 Production is being monitored through on-farm visits with growers as well as piloting FarmQMS with 6 growers to date and will expand to 20 growers in BFRDP PY2. Objective 2: 60 participants will have tools to transition into meaningful, productive, profitable, and sustainable farm/ranch AG enterprises as entrepreneurs or to AG related careers, having the skills and resources necessary for success in the field of agriculture and to contribute to regional household food security and local economic sustainability. Production coordinators are now involved weekly with on-farm T/TA with all participating growers throughout the Fall and Winter of 2020 Data collection continues for 2 anchor farms as well as about 27 supplier farms - although 49 growers are enrolled, approximately 20 who initiated cultivation during the 2020 late Spring and early Summer season, lost their crops to severe rains during the 2020 Summer hurricane season. However, micro grants and aggregate CSA purchases from growers have been postponed to December of 2020 due to Covid delays limiting launching of expanded or new AG enterprises in the MS Delta for the 2020 Season. Micro grants for PY1 and PY2 will be combined into PY2 beginning in Winter of 2021 and implementing a second round in the Summer season of 2021. Due to the Covid 19 crisis and the rapidly growing demand for local access to fresh produce, no contact delivery and less risk for families in the Delta, the CSA will ensure that families will make fewer trips into more densely populated areas in order to access fresh produce. Therefore the shift to implementing a large-scale CSA will reduce the potential exposures to Covid 19 for Delta families who are more at risk for a negative outcome when coming into contact with Covid. MDC and the BFRDP collaborative partners are continuing to shift to the launch of a large-scale pilot CSA enterprise with Fall greens (and other winter produce as noted under section one of this report) in December of 2020 and incorporating decision making through FarmQMS for the 3 piloted growers as well as integrating FarmQMS into 20+ grower operations by the Spring of 2021 and the remaining project year. This decision making process will follow the current trend in small and limited resource farming of shifting to no contact delivery direct to consumers and MDC will have larger aggregate sales safety procedures in place for the Spring 2021 season. This response to the Covid 19 crisis requires MDC/FWOI to adapt to a much larger number of farmers and a much larger quantity of produce being processed through the growing MDC/FWOI Food Hub -- MDC/FWOI is using a combination of funding resources to meet the needs of the beginning farmers as well as the most at-risk families throughout Mississippi's Delta region. BFRDP participants are continuing to provide produce to the Alcorn Processing Plant but will also begin to supply CSA box programs through the MDC Food Hub facility through aggregate sales that will not only benefit participating growers and increase their annual incomes, the CSA box delivery will benefit families in need throughout the Mississippi Delta region. The project has 100 initial sponsored families and will expand with additional subscribers by working with SNAP offices throughout the region. Initial 100 families are sponsored for weekly boxes for a 10 week period by the Manning Family Foundation, this initial CSA launch is scheduled for December 2020 through Feb 2021. It will transition into a larger scale CSA by summer 2021. ALL LARGER SCALE AGGREGATE, INSTITUTION and CSA PROGRAMING IS SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH IN SPRING 2021 OF BFRDP PY2 OUTPUTS Delta Farm Start PY1: All data collection is completed by the Evaluation Team, project status and activity updates are also verified by the Delta Farm Start Evaluation Team - DRA Resources. The evaluation team has adapted to the Covid crisis/risk and has communicated with all growers via phone as well as had T/TA providers from the training team verify information on-farm while they practice safe on-farm visits. Micro Grants Identified for Grower Awards PY1: Total Micro-Grants PY1: $14,400 Micro-Grants Carried Over to PY2: $18,600 Many growers were hesitant to expand or launch new AG operations in PY1 due to the Covid 19 pandemic drastically limiting restaurant, and institutional sales opportunities. The identified PY1 Micro Grant Awards fund micro grants to 32 growers that range from $100.00 to $2,100.00 Grower Sales PY1: Covid 19 impacted both institutional sales as well as market sales - however, Delta Fresh Start focused on aggregate sales to support growers through PY1 and to date participating beginning farmers have sold: Total Grower Sales PY1: $100,306 Aggregator sales: $27,945 Market sales: $12,434 Farm to Family Sales: $11,927 CSA Sales: $48,000 All sales have been confirmed by grower by sales source through data collection completed by evaluation team. Including purchasing reports provided by the Alcorn State University Processing Plan, the MDC Food Hub purchasing records and individual sales records provided by growers. To date, the MDC Delta Farm Start BFRDP has provided 3,893 hours of small group training and 568 hours of one on one training to growers throughout PY1. This training has been provided to growers with a combination of MDC BFRDP staff and project partners, including Up In Farms, NCAT, Pesqueira Training Services, DRA Resources and Foot Print Farms as a mentor for smaller scale growers on how to shift to commercial production. Training hours have been confirmed by the evaluation team through data collection including training schedules and proof of grower attendance as well as on-farm one-on-one meetings held with growers and follow up interviews with growers confirming training efficacy and potential outcomes

Publications