Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience Support the development of underserved women and minority new landowners,black family landowners with Heirs property, urban andrural property owners that willincreasethe viability to operate farm businesses in Georgia and Mississippi. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?CERTIFICATIONS GA partnered with facilitators from UGA - University ofGeorgia and I-Urban Farm and provided assistance to23 GA underserved farmers to acquire Food Safety Certificationand NineMS Delta participants received Food Safety Certification by Mississippi State University partnership. GA hosted two 8-hour PSA sessions Produce Safety Alliance(PSA Growers Training) Workshop in Covington GA on June 13, 2023 & July 16, 2024. MS teamed with Mississippi State University Extension Office in Marks, MS on November 13th. 23 GA BFRDP participants received Certificate of completion from NWIAA and FVSU. OUTREACH/RECRUITMENT & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES GA project coordinated initial outreach meeting Jan 27, 2022 at Agricultural Technology Conference Centergathering over 75 potential new farmers to raise awareness forbeginner farmers program. First recruitment and training at Fort Valley with Dr James Brown Program Leader for (ANR) Agriculture and Natural Resources GA & MS 60 participants were provided accommodations and transportation for 3 consecutive years to the Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference in Savannah Georgia in Jan 2022, 2023,2024. GA& MS project conducted the Beginner Farmer Development Mini Conference at Camp Truitt in College Park GA - March 4-5, 2022. Farming Fundamentals UGA, Nutrient Management & Composting, Hemp & Marketing Production, Small Business Finance UWGa, Starting an Herb Business, Plant Propagation Demo, Farm Business Taxes - Schedule F, Farmer Markets Building Blocks of Local Economies - North American Food & Farm -- Meal provided GA & MS conducted the 2023 Small Farmer Business Training Mini-Conference on March 3-4, 2023 at UGA University of Georgia in Griffin. Covered: Navigating Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Small Farm Business Finance, Vegetable Production using Raised Bed, Benefits of Cooperative Membership, Aronia: A new specialty crop, Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, Emergency Relief Program, Succession Planning - American Farmland Trust, Organic Brassica Production, EQIP Application, Intro to Beekeeping. Meal provided MS and its project partners offered more than10 vitual and in-person training opportunities -Soil Health Institute, Nawi Flores, Soil Scientist - presented to farmers on soil health and nutrient management on March 16th. Three virtual sessions presented by University of Georgia's Professor Vanessa Shonkwiler and Dr. Kevin Lamm on Pricing on various markets, Value-added Pricingand Connecting with Buyers. GA NWIAA and its project partners conducted Four Virtual Business Webinars for Small Farmers, 1. Farm Business 101 Farming Goals, UGA Farm Budget (Aug )2. Farm Business Session 2 - Plans and Structure Harris & Assoc. - Solar Tyme USA (Dec 14, 2023) 3. Building Online Farm Presence (Aug 31, 2023) 4. Women Gone Global Partners presented Women Building Food Systems through Apprenticeship Programs with DOL (Aug 15, 2024) Onlineprofiles created with checklist of activities for each new farmer one-on-one consulting offered by Harris & Associates. GA NWIAA project provided program participants opportunity and assistance to attend UGA Extension Food Science and Technology "From Homemade to Homerun: A workshop on Canned Food Products" at FoodPIC - UGA Griffin Campus Sept 30, 2023. Participants toured the FoodPIC Facility. GA participants were provided opportunity to attend the Small Engine Workshop in Sparta GA on Oct 2, 2023 hosted by Bread and Butter Farms and Georgia Organics to learn hands-on operationalskills withfarm equipment. Georgia NWIAA project collaborated with Fort Valley State UniversityExtension for the Production and Technology in Agriculture workshop with Facilitator Dr. James Brown Nov 15, 2023. Topics covered: Soil Conditioning and Plant Growth, Preparation for GAP Certification, Urban Agriculture, WIC Program, Farm Loans, Aquaculture Fish, Sustainable Demo Farm site visit. Captured farm groups across the state to attend sessions to improve farm practices. Over 60 in attendance to hear of project and its reach. MS - IHS conducted workshop on Nov.2023 using crop cover mix and application process to six row crop farmers at JKLM Farms. We demonstrated low impact application methods including drilling and aerial spreading. Also coordinated with Roy Davis of Simplot to provide siol test analysis on three farms in Tallahatchie MS MS provided opportunity and accommodation for 4 Delta farmers to attend the National Black Growers Conference in Memphis TN on December 14, 2023. MS and GA Project collaborated with UGA to conduct 3rd Annual Small Farmer Business Development Conference at UGA Griffin campus. March 15-16, 2024. Organic soil supplement, GAP checklist, grape production& funding opportunities for small farm businesses. Meal provided GA Participants were provided opportunityto attend the 1890 SARE FarmBoot Camp Workshop in Atlanta Georgia on Feb 7-9, 2024 Hosted by Fort Valley StateUniversity & Praire View A&M University. Estate Planning Basics, Dissaster Recovery for Producers and Ranchers, Crisis Communication for Disasters, In-person Breakout scenarios engaged farmers in decision making for their farm. GA NWIAA sponsored NETWORKING EVENT for over 70 participants and local minority growerswith NRCS hosted at FVSU Agricultural Technology Center. on Jan 25, 2024. Charlie Grace facilitator. Farmers Round table discussions.ContinuedOutreach on awareness of program to new participants and potential minority farmers. Meal provided. MS - IHS conducted outreach and transportation assistance to farmers two Field Day events in February and March at Davis Farm in Winona MS and Campbell's Farm in Lexington, MS Georgia project hosted On-Farm Field Day in collaborationwith Fort Valley State University Dr. Brown reachingover 50 attendees in Uvalda Ga on participant Millie Coleman of Farmer Millz Farm - July 2024 covering Plasticulture Demo, NRCS- Charlie Grace - drip irrigation, EQIP technical assistance, Jubilee Justice with Konda Mason - Rice production, Harris & Assoc -climate smart practices & strategies. GA FarmLink Access to Land covered land access program. Meal Catered Six Georgia participants were provided opportunity to attend the Global Growers Network - Land Access Field Day - Aug 12, 2024 in Conyers GA. GA FarmLink presented how to use platform to find farmland that is available for purchase or lease. USDA-FSA - Farm Service Agency and AgSouth Farm Credit provided guidance to helpparticipants navigate complexities of owning farmland. Professional Development GA and MS attended the Project Directors Conference held in Colorado. Shared with other directors on project strategies and successes. GA PD attended USDA-NRCS partner cross training and GeorgiaStateadvisory board meeting with Charlie Grace, Regional for Outreach Plan for FY 2025in Perry GA (Aug 1) MS IHS attended the National Association of Conservation District Annual meeting in Bismark, North Dakota to serve on a panel as a minority technical service provider. Discussed ideas to raise awareness and participation in USDA and NACD programs among minority farmers. (July 15-17) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?All events are emailed to participants as well as the use of social media for local organizations and community attendees. Facebook and instagram are the main source. Vendor set up at Farm workshops using banner and digital QR code and brochures. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
30 Georgia and 34 Mississippi BFRDP participants increased their knowledge of best production practices, learned food safety practicesthrough our partnerships with local HBCU universities, county exetension offices, ag community, experienced farm owners and farmer mentors. Hundreds of Hours of hands on farm mentorship on various new and existing farms. Recruiteda total of 64 Farmers for the project. Five socially disadvantaged women veteran participants were served thru GA project. MS - Through 26 site visits conducted MS - In Her Shoes (IHS) saw 28 participating new and beginning farmers implementing best practice lessons learned, the success is largely contributed to continuous engagement with participants on-farm consultations and stipends offered in the program. Ongoing impacts of financial assistance to Delta participants showing improvement to their operations. Georgia initiatedseveral outreach opportunities across the state prior to trainings at Fort Valley State University Extension - Ag Technology Center resulting in over 80 applicants signing up online during the term of the project. Missisippi utilized social media farm groups resulting in 46applicants. Outreach events exposed over 64 new BFRDP farmers how to navigate USDA programs to acquire needed equipment and assistance to have a sustainable farm. The project provided direct technical and financial assistance to13GA and FourMSnewstartup farms. NineGA and 12 MS farmers expanded farm plan to increase income. One on one technical assistance and site visits were provided to participants to gather the type of market for their farm to prepare for NRCS farm plan and visits. NineGA and Four MS disadvantaged farmers appliedfor USDA FSA NRCSprogram for the first time. Four GA participants applied and SevenMS beginner farmers were approved and received assistance for EQIP. IHS (MS) and(GA) Provided direct technical and financial assistance in helping farmers establish legally structured farm businesses. 18GA and 6 MS created new incorporate businesses and farm numbers 60 project Participants are more prepared to grow diversity of crops using skills learned in the various conferences in Savannah, Fort Valley State University, UGA, webinars, seminars and hands on mentorship trainings. They have been exposed to new and diverse markets via WIC, local farmers markets. Patchwork City Farms mentored participants informing them on where to get topline seeds and seedlings, natural soil amendments, placement of crops in the ground, care for produce when harvested, packing crops for market, clearing weeds, string tomatoes and more. MS - IHS entered in agreement with the Law Office of Watson Turnipseed to provide assistance with minority farmers in the Delta with Heir Property issues. Atty Turnipseed is experienced in probate and clearing clouded titles and deeds. GA BFRDP provided one-on-one consultation appointment with participant farmer and UGA SBDC - Small Business Development Center,Rebecca Mixon, Business consultantin Augusta office. We received GeorgiaTrends Small Business Guidebooklets and were distributedto participants to bring awareness to offices in their area and read about successful farms. MS attended a stakeholders meeting on May 15, 2023 with Mid-South Food Bank and Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce to discuss eligibility requirements and participation in the USDA Local Food Purchse Program for project participants. GA BFRDP provided direct financial assistance (stipends) to 23 new small farmers to implement farming practices and initiate GAP guidelines. Increased Economic Competitiveness 3 GA enrolled participantsearned MBE certification through NMSDC ACRES program having access to supply chain distributors in YR3 GA Participant cattle farmer now growing beets and other crops to supply her value-added juice product. YR3 GA - Six new farmers built/building farm structures/high tunnels on their farmland utilizing USDA resourcesand education. YR3 GA - five new farmers provided fresh food to low income communities accessing the Senior WIC market in Augusta, Macon, and Uvalda YR3 Due to the DFAP, MS project exceeded raising program awareness and participation due to workshops and one-on-one technical assistant to SD Farmers. 32 farmers were engaged by providing technical assistance to 12 farmers to apply to DFAP. Because farmers were able to see cohorts receiving contracts and accessing programs, ovetime we anticipate more applying and using USDA programs. MS - hosted soil sampling, soil health observation and netrient management training on March 24-26 by Robert Chappell who is a soil specilaist and organic farmer. The training was attended by Four Farming Apprentices enrolled in the agricultural career technical training program at Quitman. Feb 2024, IHS in partnership with Quitman County High School Career Technical Center kicked off the Apprenticeship program with three students in the school's Agricultureprogram providing 20 hours per week of comprehensive classroom and in-field education which includes both farm operation and financial mannagement training. Student work with IHS farm manager each week.
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Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Support development of women and minority farmers by increasing viability among minority and women operated farm businesses through crop diversity and exposure to new markets and increase access to fresh food in low income communities in Georgia and Mississippi. Changes/Problems:For the second part of the project a change was made inMentorship Farmer. The new Mentor is Farmer J - Jamila Norman with Patchwork City Farms. This has worked extremely well for the participants hands-on training,planting new crops and assisting with farm operations to planfor the weekly Farmers market. Former Mentor Gilliam's Garden did not adapt to process in a fashion to get the best result. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Co-hosted with Dr. Brown Fort Valley State University Fall 2022 Technology in Ag Training on Organic Soil, GAP, Soil Fertility, Sustainanable Farm Demonstration, Drone and Solar Applications, EQIP, WIC Program Experiences, Goat Milk Products, Aquaculture Fish Plant Growing Techniques, NWIAA Beginner Farmer Program Outreach 13 participants - Attended 2023 Southeast Region Fruit and Vegetable Conference numerous trainings on specialty crops, industry vendors offered items for small farm business expansion. Important Ag info for start-up farm, Making Money with your Farm thru Agritourism. 9 Virtual Workshop How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We partnered with local extension offices, and universities, other non-profit local community organizations, social media, mailing lists, flyer with QR codes, word of mouth. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Recuit new participants for 3rd year The plan will be to continue expanding Market access. Explore and connect new partners Form a Co-op for beginner farmers Form partnership with SBA Development Center
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
4 MS trainees Increase knowledge and participation in NRCS EQIP programs 21 Certifications - PSA Produce Safety Alliance Growers Training - attendees improved knowledge in food safety practices for accessing new markets 12- Georgia 9- Mississippi 3 GA farmers adapted new improvedrow crop growing methodsfor new markets 60% of participatants increased farm income 60% participants entered into new markets 5 GA Women farmers learned skill of installing plastic on High Tunnel, proper use of wiggle wire Outreachand recruited over 25 attendees fromAtlanta, Americus, Albany, Argon, Covington, Macon, Marietta, Fairburn, Fayetteville, Sparta, Savannah, Talbaton, Georgia gainedknowlegde in new and improvedProduction practices and Small Farm Business knowledge Over 70 attendees at our 2nd Annual 2023 Small Farmer Business Training Mini-Conference at UGA Griffin Campus Sessions included Navigating the Good Agricultural Practices, Small Farm Business Finance, Succession Planning, EQIP Application & Technical Asst, Offered registration and travel to the Southest Region Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah in Jan 2023, 4- Mississippi 9-Georgia participants Georgia - 4 Farmer Mentorship with new farm mentor utilizing hand on the farm operations and market prep Mississippi 7 Farmers Mentorship 462 hours Soil health, nutrient operation crop rotation and management consevation practices
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